Understanding grace through Romans 1-6

The book of Romans is a coherent book that neatly encapsulates grace, both the definition and why we need it. The first 6 chapters tells us what we need to know.

Romans 1: (We all know God exists and have no excuse before Him). Paul introduces his letter with greetings, making clear that the purpose of the letter is to make its readers aware of the gospel of Christ. Romans 1 makes clear that there is a just God who hates ungodliness. We all know God exists in our hearts and that if we reject God, we cannot use the excuse of 'I did not know'. Paul explains that we are all evil in our hearts and God cannot stand it.

Romans 2: (All are guilty before God and there is nothing we can do to change that). Paul continues on from Chapter 1, making it clear that the gentiles are guilty before God. They are storing up wrath for themselves and will be punished by God for the sins they have committed. Paul goes on; although the Jews are God's chosen people, they are just as guilty as the gentiles. He explains that the Jews attempt to make themselves right with God through religious procedures such as circumcision and following the 10 commandments, but it is futile and will not work. 

Romans 3: (All fall short of God's glory). Paul makes clear that ALL have fallen short of the glory of God. There is none who are good in God's eyes, not one.

Romans 4: (Grace). Now we know that we all fall short of God's standards and that there is nothing we can do to earn his favour, Paul explains how the only way to God is through faith. Faith in Christ. Christ is the only perfect man ever to have lived. He died for you. In doing so He defeated sin. Having faith in ourselves or things we do is hopeless because we cannot make good of ourselves. We must have faith in Christ who is already good and has already accomplished what He set out to do, that is defeat sin and provide a way to reconcile us back to God.

Romans 5: (Justification). Romans 5 continues on what was learnt in Romans 4. By accepting God's grace we are reconciled to Him and are justified before God. Now, when we stand before God, God will see His Son, Christ, within us and the punishment that He has taken on our behalf. We will be justified before God. To be justified is to be 'Just if i've' never sinned.

Romans 6: (Sanctification). If we are justified before God we are no longer slaves to sin as we once were, but we are slaves to righteousness. We are literally a new person and we should possess a hatred towards the way we used to live and the things we used to stand for, because they were all completely against God. Sanctification can be seen as the never ending process of getting closer to God (James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.).

That's grace. Think it over.

-BACChristian