Romans Introduction: Beginning Our Journey Through Romans - From Guilt to Glory

Joshua Nichols
10 hours ago
8 min read

There are books of the Bible we visit from time to time, and there are books of the Bible that visit us. Some portions of Scripture comfort us gently, while others search us deeply, exposing the condition of our hearts and calling us to something greater. The Epistle to the Romans belongs firmly in the latter category. It is not merely a letter to read quickly and set aside. Romans is a message that confronts us, humbles us, and ultimately lifts our eyes to the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

For centuries, believers have recognized Romans as one of the most profound explanations of the gospel in all of Scripture. Augustine was transformed through its message. Martin Luther rediscovered the doctrine of justification by faith while studying its pages. John Wesley famously felt his heart “strangely warmed” while listening to Luther’s commentary on Romans. Time and again, God has used this letter to renew the church and awaken sinners to the grace of Christ.

As we begin a new series walking through this extraordinary book, we do so with humility and anticipation. Romans is not a letter that rewards haste. Like a great cathedral, its beauty can be admired from a distance, but its true magnificence is experienced only when we slow down, trace its structure, and stand beneath its towering truths.

Over the coming months, we will explore this letter carefully, verse by verse, argument by argument, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us through the inspired words of the apostle Paul. But before we begin that journey, it is helpful to step back and see the larger landscape of the book.

Why does Romans matter so deeply?

Why did God inspire this letter?

What does it reveal about the gospel?

And what should it produce in the lives of believers today?

Let us begin with the most basic question: why Romans?

Why Romans Still Matters Today

At first glance, Romans might appear distant from our modern world. It was written nearly two thousand years ago to Christians living in the capital of the Roman Empire. Their cultural context, political environment, and daily concerns were vastly different from ours.

And yet Romans remains astonishingly relevant.

The reason is simple: the fundamental human problem has not changed. Every generation wrestles with the same question that lies at the heart of Romans:

How can a sinful person stand righteous before a holy God?

The apostle Paul addresses this question directly in Romans 1:16–17:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’” (NASB)

Notice what Paul says here. The gospel is not merely helpful advice, moral guidance, or religious inspiration. It is the power of God for salvation. In other words, the gospel is God’s decisive answer to humanity’s greatest need.

Every culture attempts to solve the problem of guilt and righteousness in its own way. Some people attempt to justify themselves through moral effort, believing that if they do enough good things they will outweigh their failures. Others pursue religious rituals, hoping that external devotion will somehow satisfy God. Still others redefine morality altogether, convincing themselves that the problem of sin does not really exist.

But Romans dismantles every one of these approaches.

Paul declares that the righteousness we need cannot be achieved by human effort. It must be revealed by God and received through faith. This truth remains as urgent today as it was in the first century. Human pride still resists grace, and human hearts still attempt to justify themselves. Yet the gospel continues to proclaim that salvation comes not from us, but from God.

Romans is relevant because it tells us the truth about ourselves.

Later in the letter, Paul writes:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

That statement alone ensures that Romans will never become outdated. The diagnosis remains accurate because the disease remains present. Humanity is still fallen, still guilty, and still in need of the righteousness only God can provide.

But Romans does not stop with the problem. It proclaims the solution with breathtaking clarity:

“Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24)

This is the heart of the gospel. Sinners are declared righteous not because of their works, but because of Christ’s work. His obedience, His death, and His resurrection accomplish what human effort never could.

Why God Inspired This Letter

Understanding the relevance of Romans helps us see why it matters, but it also raises another question: why did God inspire Paul to write this letter in the first place?

Romans was written during a particular moment in the history of the early church. Unlike many of Paul’s other letters, he had not yet visited the church in Rome. Instead, he wrote to introduce himself, explain the gospel he preached, and prepare the church to partner with him in spreading that gospel further west.

Paul explains his desire clearly:

“I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you… so that I may obtain some fruit among you also.” (Romans 1:13)

But the letter serves a deeper purpose as well.

The Roman church was made up of both Jewish and Gentile believers, and tensions had begun to emerge between these groups. Questions arose concerning the role of the law, the place of Israel in God’s plan, and the nature of obedience under grace.

Paul writes Romans to address these issues not by offering sociological strategies, but by re-centering the church on the gospel itself. He shows that Jews and Gentiles stand on equal footing before God: equally guilty in sin and equally saved by grace. The gospel unites believers because it removes all grounds for boasting.

Later Paul expresses his hope that the church will be united in Christ:

“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)

The goal is not superficial harmony but unity grounded in truth.

Ultimately, Romans was written for the glory of God among the nations. Paul longs to see the gospel advance beyond Rome to the farthest reaches of the known world. This missionary vision culminates in a doxology that captures the heart of the entire letter:

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

Romans exists to produce a church that is grounded in truth, united in Christ, and devoted to the glory of God.

What Romans Reveals About the Gospel

At its core, Romans is a book about revelation. Paul is not presenting philosophical speculation about God. He is proclaiming what God Himself has made known through the gospel.

The central theme of the letter is the righteousness of God.

This phrase appears throughout Romans, and it carries profound significance. God’s righteousness refers not only to His moral perfection but also to His saving action, His commitment to remain just while justifying sinners.

This becomes clear in Romans 3:21–22:

“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested… even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe.”

Here we encounter the stunning reality of the gospel. God does not compromise His justice in order to save sinners. Instead, He satisfies His justice through the atoning work of Christ.

Jesus lived the perfectly obedient life that we failed to live. He died the sacrificial death that our sins deserved. And through His resurrection, He secured eternal life for all who trust in Him.

Romans presents Christ as the Second Adam, the representative head of a new humanity. Where Adam brought sin and death, Christ brings righteousness and life. The righteousness that saves us is not something we achieve, it is something we receive. And we receive it by faith.

Paul insists that salvation comes “from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). In other words, the entire Christian life, from beginning to end, is grounded in trusting God’s grace rather than relying on our own efforts.

This truth humbles human pride while exalting the sufficiency of Christ.

The Roadmap of Romans

Because Romans contains such rich theology, it is helpful to understand how Paul organizes his argument. The letter unfolds in a deliberate progression that leads the reader from the problem of sin to the glory of God.

First, Paul exposes humanity’s universal guilt (Romans 1–3). Both Gentiles and Jews stand condemned before God. Every attempt at self-justification collapses under the weight of divine truth.

Second, Paul reveals the solution: justification by faith (Romans 3–5). Through the redemptive work of Christ, sinners are declared righteous and brought into peace with God.

Third, Paul describes the transformation that follows salvation (Romans 6–8). Believers are united with Christ, freed from sin’s dominion, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, Paul addresses God’s sovereign purposes in salvation history (Romans 9–11). These chapters explore the relationship between Israel and the church while emphasizing God’s mercy and faithfulness.

Finally, Paul turns to the practical implications of the gospel (Romans 12–16). Justification leads to transformation. The gospel reshapes how believers worship, love one another, relate to authorities, and live in the world.

This movement, from guilt to grace to glory, reveals the breathtaking scope of God’s saving work.

The Goal of Romans

What does God intend to accomplish through this letter?

Romans is not merely a theological textbook. It is a call to transformed lives.

After eleven chapters of doctrinal explanation, Paul begins Romans 12 with a single word: “Therefore.”

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice.” (Romans 12:1)

This verse captures the ultimate purpose of Romans. Theology leads to worship. Grace produces obedience. The gospel transforms not only our beliefs but our entire lives.

Romans aims to produce believers who live humbly, love sacrificially, endure suffering with hope, and worship God with grateful hearts.

The letter ends with another doxology:

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel… to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 16:25–27)

Everything in Romans ultimately points to the glory of God.

A Final Invitation

As we begin this journey through Romans, we must recognize that its message is not merely theoretical.

It confronts every one of us with a personal question: Are we right with God?

Paul tells us plainly that no one is righteous on their own (Romans 3:10). Yet he also declares the astonishing good news that righteousness has been revealed through Jesus Christ for all who believe (Romans 3:21–22).

That means salvation is not earned, it is given.

If you are trusting in your own goodness, your own effort, or your own religious background, Romans will gently but firmly dismantle those false foundations. It will point you again and again to Christ as your only hope.

And if you are weary, burdened by guilt, or uncertain whether God could ever accept you, Romans offers a promise of grace:

“Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24)

The gospel invitation is simple and sure:

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

So as we step into this series, may we do so with humble hearts and eager faith. May the Spirit of God use this letter to deepen our understanding, strengthen our hope, unite our church, and magnify the glory of Christ.

For in the end, Romans leads us to the same confession that closes its central argument: