Part 2. Sin and Wrath: Chapter 1:18 - Chapter 3:20

A seven part series on the Letter to the Romans. Why would Paul write his longest letter to a church he had not founded or even visited? This expositor believes the answer lies in its history, culminating in a major crisis which could have split the whole church into two denominations. Originally Jewish (Acts 2:10–11), it soon attracted Gentiles, who were left on their own when Claudius evicted all Jews (Acts 18:2). In their absence a teaching emerged which we now know as ‘Replacement Theology’, believing that God has rejected the Jews and turned instead to the Christian Church as his chosen people on earth, a view which, alas, is now widespread.

Paul’s carefully argued answer shows how much believing Jews and Gentiles have in common, both in sin and salvation, in flesh and Spirit. This approach treats ‘Chapters 9–11’, (divisions never in his letter) as an integral part of his appeal, reaching its climax in a threefold challenge to the arrogance of the Gentile believers in Rome (11:18, 20, 25) in not warmly welcoming back into the fellowship the Jews who were allowed to return under Nero. This ‘key’ unlocks the whole epistle, from the solemn warning that believers can lose their salvation (11:20–22) to the careful instruction on how to live with ‘disputable matters’ such as diet and days (14:1 – 15:13); and ends with so many commands to greet each other with ‘a holy kiss’ (16:16). However, as with most of Paul’s practical counsel, all this is firmly rooted in sound ‘gospel’ theology.

Part 1. Introduction: Right(eous) Relationships Chapter 1 Verses 1-17

A seven part series on the Letter to the Romans. Why would Paul write his longest letter to a church he had not founded or even visited? This expositor believes the answer lies in its history, culminating in a major crisis which could have split the whole church into two denominations. Originally Jewish (Acts 2:10–11), it soon attracted Gentiles, who were left on their own when Claudius evicted all Jews (Acts 18:2). In their absence a teaching emerged which we now know as ‘Replacement Theology’, believing that God has rejected the Jews and turned instead to the Christian Church as his chosen people on earth, a view which, alas, is now widespread.

Paul’s carefully argued answer shows how much believing Jews and Gentiles have in common, both in sin and salvation, in flesh and Spirit. This approach treats ‘Chapters 9–11’, (divisions never in his letter) as an integral part of his appeal, reaching its climax in a threefold challenge to the arrogance of the Gentile believers in Rome (11:18, 20, 25) in not warmly welcoming back into the fellowship the Jews who were allowed to return under Nero. This ‘key’ unlocks the whole epistle, from the solemn warning that believers can lose their salvation (11:20–22) to the careful instruction on how to live with ‘disputable matters’ such as diet and days (14:1 – 15:13); and ends with so many commands to greet each other with ‘a holy kiss’ (16:16). However, as with most of Paul’s practical counsel, all this is firmly rooted in sound ‘gospel’ theology.

A message of hope and warning to believers

“Many of us have an ambiguous attitude towards the future. We have a mixture of fascination and fear. We would like to know what is going to happen, but then we are not quite sure that we would like to know.”

With insight borne of a lifetime of study and preaching, David Pawson guides you through the biblical teaching on the Second Coming and the last things (death, judgment, heaven, and hell). In his warm and engaging style, David provides both a challenge and comfort to those who have, perhaps for the first time, found themselves considering the question of mortality and the afterlife. In doing so, he addresses pertinent questions such as:

What will happen when Christ returns? When will that be? What is hell? Who will go there? What will heaven be like? Will our relationships be the same there? How should we prepare for the afterlife now?

Drawing on the teachings of Jesus, David urges us to heed Christ’s warnings about birth pangs or signals and spiritual and physical struggle in the End Times. He challenges Christians to treat life as a preparation for the world to come and to find comfort in the promise of heaven where “God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.”