Romans 1-8: Christ Our Righteousness in Heaven – Our Life on Earth – EBOOK

CLICK FOR PRINT VERSION!!

Romans – the 5th Gospel

Romans is called by many the “fifth gospel.” It is “Paul’s gospel.” Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell the story of Jesus here on earth from His incarnation to His death and His resurrection, and His ascension. The significance of these events, especially everything accomplished in His death and resurrection, did not become clear (in teaching) until after He went to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Paul’s Gospel describes what Christ is doing now, not only in the heavens before God (as our High Priest and Advocate, Propitiation and Righteousness) but also as the Spirit in us.

Chapter 1-4 show us the function of the law, which was to bring us to an agreement with God’s judgment on the fallenness of man, which was exhibited in the cross of Christ. Christ is our righteousness, manifested in the Heavens, apart from the law. He is God’s righteousness put on display, and God is vindicated in being able to deal with us, even though we are sinners. By faith in Him, we are “justified,” which not only brings us forgiveness of sins but qualifies us for the inheritance and makes us heirs together with Christ!

Chapters 5-8 teach  us to agree that we were not only forgiven but we were righteously judged and “put away” (crucified) with Christ, the Last Adam. Now God has begun something New with the resurrection of Christ, who dwells in us as the Spirit (Rom 8:9-11). The main Goal of His working in us is to bring us out of the atmosphere of condemnation, death, slavery, bondage, and fear and into the liberty of the sons of God and the atmosphere of the Spirit of sonship (Rom 8:1,2,6,12,15-17). Thus we will walk according to the Spirit, and we “reign in life by the one, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17).