Paul repeatedly states in his epistles that he was trying to get to the church in Rome. His ministry throught Asia minor and Greece was growing like wild fire and he spent most of his third missionary journey at Epehesis (three years). The church there was most likely started shortly after Pentecost, it was required that Jews attend this no matter where they were and when they returned to Rome they were Christians.
Paul goes on for almost three chapters describing the effects of unrightousness of man and the turning point is 3:21:
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference" (Romans 3:21,22)
The law is a recurring theme and the Righteousness of God is the heart of the emphasis. There is a pattern in Pauline epistles that start with doctrine and then goes into more practical exortations after. Paul finishes his doctrinal portion in the 11th chapter and begins the practical part in 12. Here is my outline if anyone is interested:
1. The Righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel of Christ and the wrath of God against all unrightousness.
2. God's righteous judgement and the hardness of the hearts of both Jew and Gentile
3. God's righteousness justified and his righteousness imputed by faith through the blood of Christ.
4. Abraham and David as examples of righteouness granted through faith.
5. Christ is the new Adam and the old nature was crucified with him. This is a punishment that we have all richly earned and yet God gave his Son as a substitute.
6. Dead to Sin and alive to God, slaves to sin leading to death or righteousness leading to eternal life. Every Roman road to salvation quote from the end of this chapter. 'The wages of sin is death'.
7. The law did not provide righteousness it only condemned the sinner. Sin is impowered by the law even thought it is holy, righteous and good. However I am not so I, along with Pau, cry out O Wretched Man that I am, who will save me from this body of death! I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
8. This is suitable for memorazation and every serious student of the New Testement should know it by heart. There is no condemnation for those who walk in the Spirit and not according to the flesh.
9. This is both a horrible lament for the rejection of Christ by Israel and the hope that Israel will be saved. We are warned not to judge Israel in this and Paul makes one of his most heart rending expositions of the implications of the Gospel being rejected by Israel. It broke his heart that they rejected Christ.
10. He continues with this exposition and quotes extensivly from the Old Testement.
11. Bottom line, Israel'e rejection is neither total nor final. Thats not an interprutation, thats the Gospel.
12. Living sacrifices and walking in the faith.
13. Submitting to authority and loving your neighbor as yourself.
14. The law of liberty and the law of love. This is spoken of thoughout the New Testement, it is refered to as the fruit of the Spirit, the royal law, the mark of a disciple and the clothing of the saints. We could do an encyclopedia on this theme alone.
15. He pours his heart in this one urging them to bear one anothers burdens and expresses just how much he longs to meet them.
16. Most of this is personal in nature but there is one thing here we should heed. Mark those who are divisive and argue against the Gospel and avoid them.
I think that the reason this one is so long is because he had so many things he wanted to share with them but couldn't get to Rome.
Grace and peace,
Mark
