The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now in a detailed study of Paul's epistle to the church in Rome. These are the notes for Session 1.
Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. Unlike with some of Paul’s other epistles, his purpose for writing Romans was not to correct detestable theology or rebuke ungodly living. The Roman church was doctrinally sound, but, like all churches, it was in need of the rich doctrinal and practical instruction this letter provides.
The overarching theme of Romans is the righteousness that comes from God: the glorious truth that God justifies guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.
This epistle’s name comes from its original recipients: the members of the church in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
There is no dispute that the Apostle Paul wrote this epistle or letter to the members of the church in Rome. A couple of things about Paul that we know from scripture. He was Jewish, and was a decident of Jacob’s son Benjamin so he was from the tribe of Benjamin as he says in Philippians 3:5. Paul was also a Roman citizen.
A person could become a Roman citizen by either birth or buying the privilege. Paul's birth in a Jewish family occurred in the city of Tarsus within the Roman province of Cilicia, which is in what is today Turkey. Although a Jew, his birth in the city grants him citizenship. This is due to Tarsus' designation as a "free city" by Rome.
He spent much of his early life in Jerusalem as a student of the celebrated rabbi Gamaliel
Acts 22:3 NKJV (“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Like his father before him, Paul was a Pharisee
Acts 22:3 NKJV “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Acts 23:6 NKJV But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
The Pharisees was the strictest Jewish sect
Philippians 3:5-6 NKJV circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
We all know about Paul’s miraculous conversion on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians in that city. That’s in Acts chapter 9. Most scholars believe that was about A.D. 33-34. ter his conversion Paul started preaching right away but there was a plot to kill him so he escaped and went to Arabia for three years
Acts 9:23-25 NKJV Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
During that time, he received much of his doctrine as direct revelation from the Lord. We talked about that in our study of Galatians.
Galatians 1:11-12 NKJV But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:17-18 NKJV nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
More than any other individual, Paul was responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. He made three missionary journeys through much of theMediterranean world, tirelessly preaching the gospel that he had once sought to destroy.
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, and we know that because of things he references in the letter for example Cenchrea which was Corinth’s port
Romans 16:1 NKJV I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
He also mentioned some people in addition to Phoebe, Gaius and Erastus, who were associated to Corinth.
I Corinthians 1:14-15 NKJV I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.
Romans 16:23 NKJV Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
The apostle wrote the letter toward the close of his third missionary journey (most likely in A.D. 56), as he prepared to leave for Palestine with an offering for the poor believers in the Jerusalem church.
Romans 15:25 NKJV But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
Phoebe was given the great responsibility of delivering this letter to the Roman believers.
Romans 16:1-2 NKJV I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. Unlike with some of Paul’s other epistles, his purpose for writing Romans was not to correct detestable theology or rebuke ungodly living. The Roman church was doctrinally sound, but, like all churches, it was in need of the rich doctrinal and practical instruction this letter provides.
The overarching theme of Romans is the righteousness that comes from God: the glorious truth that God justifies guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.
This epistle’s name comes from its original recipients: the members of the church in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
There is no dispute that the Apostle Paul wrote this epistle or letter to the members of the church in Rome. A couple of things about Paul that we know from scripture. He was Jewish, and was a decident of Jacob’s son Benjamin so he was from the tribe of Benjamin as he says in Philippians 3:5. Paul was also a Roman citizen.
A person could become a Roman citizen by either birth or buying the privilege. Paul's birth in a Jewish family occurred in the city of Tarsus within the Roman province of Cilicia, which is in what is today Turkey. Although a Jew, his birth in the city grants him citizenship. This is due to Tarsus' designation as a "free city" by Rome.
He spent much of his early life in Jerusalem as a student of the celebrated rabbi Gamaliel
Acts 22:3 NKJV (“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Like his father before him, Paul was a Pharisee
Acts 22:3 NKJV “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Acts 23:6 NKJV But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
The Pharisees was the strictest Jewish sect
Philippians 3:5-6 NKJV circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
We all know about Paul’s miraculous conversion on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians in that city. That’s in Acts chapter 9. Most scholars believe that was about A.D. 33-34. ter his conversion Paul started preaching right away but there was a plot to kill him so he escaped and went to Arabia for three years
Acts 9:23-25 NKJV Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
During that time, he received much of his doctrine as direct revelation from the Lord. We talked about that in our study of Galatians.
Galatians 1:11-12 NKJV But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:17-18 NKJV nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
More than any other individual, Paul was responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. He made three missionary journeys through much of theMediterranean world, tirelessly preaching the gospel that he had once sought to destroy.
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, and we know that because of things he references in the letter for example Cenchrea which was Corinth’s port
Romans 16:1 NKJV I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
He also mentioned some people in addition to Phoebe, Gaius and Erastus, who were associated to Corinth.
I Corinthians 1:14-15 NKJV I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.
Romans 16:23 NKJV Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
The apostle wrote the letter toward the close of his third missionary journey (most likely in A.D. 56), as he prepared to leave for Palestine with an offering for the poor believers in the Jerusalem church.
Romans 15:25 NKJV But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
Phoebe was given the great responsibility of delivering this letter to the Roman believers.
Romans 16:1-2 NKJV I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
Background And Setting
Rome was the capital and most important city of the Roman Empire. It was founded in753 B.C. but is not mentioned in Scripture until New Testament times. Rome is located along the banks of the Tiber River, about fifteen miles from the Mediterranean Sea. In Paul’s day, the city had a population of over one million people, many of whom were slaves. Rome boasted magnificent buildings, such as the Emperor’s palace, the Circus Maximus, and the Forum, but its beauty was marred by the slums in which somany lived. According to tradition Paul was martyred outside Rome on the Ostian Way during Nero’s reign (A.D. 54–68).
Some of those converted on the Day of Pentecost probably founded the church in Rome.
Unlike with some of Paul’s other epistles (for example, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians), his purpose for writing Romans was not to correct aberrant theology or rebuke ungodly living. The Roman church was doctrinally sound, but, like all churches, it was in need of the rich doctrinal and practical instruction this letter provides.
Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. The letter also introduced him to a church where he was personally unknown but hoped to visit.
Historical and Theological Themes
Since Romans is primarily a work of doctrine, it contains little historical material. However, Paul does use such familiar Old Testament figures as Abraham, David , Adam, Sarah, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, and Pharaoh as illustrations. He also recounts some of Israel’s history, in chapters 9–11. Chapter 16 provides insightful glimpses into the nature and character of the first century church and its members.
The overarching theme of Romans is the righteousness that comes from God: the glorious truth that God justifies guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith inChrist alone. Chapters 1–11 present the theological truths of that doctrine, while chapters 12–16 detail its practical outworking in the lives of individual believers and the life of the whole church. Some specific theological topics include principles of spiritual leadership; God’s wrath against sinful humankind: principles of divine judgment; the universality of sin there's an exposition and defense of justification by faith alone; the security of salvation; the transference of Adam’s sin to all mankind; sanctification; sovereign election; God’s plan for Israel; spiritual gifts and practical godliness: the believer’s responsibility to human government; and principles of Christian liberty.
Interpretive Challenges
As the preeminent doctrinal work in the New Testament, Romans naturally contains a number of difficult passages. Paul’s discussion of the perpetuation of Adam’s sin is one of the deepest, most profound theological passages in all of Scripture. The nature of humanity’s union with Adam and how Adam’s sin was transferred to the human race has always been the subject of intense debate. Bible students also disagree on whether 7:7–25, where Paul is struggling with the sin created by trying to obey the law.
Romans 7:21-25 NKJV I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
describes Paul’s experience as a believer or unbeliever or is a literary device and not intended to be autobiographical at all. The closely related doctrines of election and the sovereignty of God have confused many believers. Others question whether chapters 9–11 teach that God has a future plan for the nation of Israel. Some have ignored Paul's teaching on the believer’s obedience to human government in the name of Christian activism, while others have used it to defend slavish obedience to totalitarian regimes.
So you see there’s a lot in this book and we’re going to have some fun.
Rome was the capital and most important city of the Roman Empire. It was founded in753 B.C. but is not mentioned in Scripture until New Testament times. Rome is located along the banks of the Tiber River, about fifteen miles from the Mediterranean Sea. In Paul’s day, the city had a population of over one million people, many of whom were slaves. Rome boasted magnificent buildings, such as the Emperor’s palace, the Circus Maximus, and the Forum, but its beauty was marred by the slums in which somany lived. According to tradition Paul was martyred outside Rome on the Ostian Way during Nero’s reign (A.D. 54–68).
Some of those converted on the Day of Pentecost probably founded the church in Rome.
Unlike with some of Paul’s other epistles (for example, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians), his purpose for writing Romans was not to correct aberrant theology or rebuke ungodly living. The Roman church was doctrinally sound, but, like all churches, it was in need of the rich doctrinal and practical instruction this letter provides.
Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. The letter also introduced him to a church where he was personally unknown but hoped to visit.
Historical and Theological Themes
Since Romans is primarily a work of doctrine, it contains little historical material. However, Paul does use such familiar Old Testament figures as Abraham, David , Adam, Sarah, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, and Pharaoh as illustrations. He also recounts some of Israel’s history, in chapters 9–11. Chapter 16 provides insightful glimpses into the nature and character of the first century church and its members.
The overarching theme of Romans is the righteousness that comes from God: the glorious truth that God justifies guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith inChrist alone. Chapters 1–11 present the theological truths of that doctrine, while chapters 12–16 detail its practical outworking in the lives of individual believers and the life of the whole church. Some specific theological topics include principles of spiritual leadership; God’s wrath against sinful humankind: principles of divine judgment; the universality of sin there's an exposition and defense of justification by faith alone; the security of salvation; the transference of Adam’s sin to all mankind; sanctification; sovereign election; God’s plan for Israel; spiritual gifts and practical godliness: the believer’s responsibility to human government; and principles of Christian liberty.
Interpretive Challenges
As the preeminent doctrinal work in the New Testament, Romans naturally contains a number of difficult passages. Paul’s discussion of the perpetuation of Adam’s sin is one of the deepest, most profound theological passages in all of Scripture. The nature of humanity’s union with Adam and how Adam’s sin was transferred to the human race has always been the subject of intense debate. Bible students also disagree on whether 7:7–25, where Paul is struggling with the sin created by trying to obey the law.
Romans 7:21-25 NKJV I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
describes Paul’s experience as a believer or unbeliever or is a literary device and not intended to be autobiographical at all. The closely related doctrines of election and the sovereignty of God have confused many believers. Others question whether chapters 9–11 teach that God has a future plan for the nation of Israel. Some have ignored Paul's teaching on the believer’s obedience to human government in the name of Christian activism, while others have used it to defend slavish obedience to totalitarian regimes.
So you see there’s a lot in this book and we’re going to have some fun.
The Good News
1) What’s the worst news you’ve received in the last year?
2) What’s the best news you’ve heard in the last year?
Paul starts his letter with some very good news, and we’ll find out what that good news is when we get into chapter 1.
Background of the Passage
Newspapers, news magazines, and television news shows contain constant reminders that most news is bad and seems to be getting worse. What happens on a national and worldwide scale, however, is simply the magnification of what is occurring on an individual level. As personal problems, animosities, and fears increase, so do their counterparts in society at large.
There is a terrifying power that grips human beings at the very core of their being and left unchecked, it pushes them to self-destruction in one form or another. That power is sin, and that is always bad news.
The little bit of good news is often a brief break from the bad. And sometimes what appears to be good is really counterfeit.
The essence of Paul’s letter to the Romans, however, is that there is for real good news that is truly good. Paul, who was an apostle and a minister of the gospel which is good news. The good news that he brought is that in Christ sin can be forgiven, selfishness can be overcome, guilt can be removed, anxiety can be alleviated, and people can, indeed, have hope and eternal glory.
You could actually sum up the entire sixteen chapters of Romans in the first seven verses.
Romans 1:1-7 NKJV Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
He was so excited by his message of good news that he couldn't wait to introduce his readers to the gist of what he had to say.
We already read the first seven so let’s now read
Romans 1:8-17 NKJV First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
bondservant (v.1)—the Greek word for servant or slave, but given a Hebrew sense here by Paul to imply willing service for a beloved, respected master so Paul was a willing servant. He was also an apostle —Literally, “one who is sent;” this title was given to Christ’s original twelve disciple, then, after Judas’ betrayal and suicide to Matthaias
Acts 1:20-26 NKJV “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
An apostle was someone who had actually seen and been instructed by Christ and Paul had been.
Acts 22:12-14 NKJV “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
Galatians 1:11-12 NKJV But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
—Paul had been set apart (that is, specially selected) by God for his ministry to the Gentiles.
Galatians 2:7-8 NKJV But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),
Romans 1:1-4 NKJV Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
The word declared meant literally, “to distinguish, or mark off,” this is the Greek word from which the English word “horizon” comes; as the horizon marks clearly the boundary between earth and sky, the resurrection marks Christ as the Son of God come in the flesh.
Romans 1:5 NKJV Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Obedience to the faith means true saving faith which always produces obedience and submission to the Lordship of Christ.
Three Types of Faith
A. Intellectual Faith (Natural Faith)—Believing something is true without proof or commitment. For example, a person can intellectually believe Jesus was a real person who performed miracles but not accept the fact that He was God in Man.
B. Faith in God— Believing in God’s existence and His abilities. A person with this kind of faith possesses a confident conviction that God will fulfill what He has promised.
C. Saving Faith—Believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a living person, for the forgiveness of sin and trusting Him because He provides eternal life with God. It isn’t enough to simply believe in the actions of Jesus Christ or the abilities of God. True saving faith is more than that; it is a personal relationship with the Savior.
Having a saving faith is key because it determines our eternal destiny. Many people are deceived. They think because they go to church, are baptized, and tithe regularly, they are saved. They know Jesus intellectually, but they don’t have a relationship with Him.
Romans 1:9 NKJV For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
When Paul said serve with my spirit, the word translated serve can also be translated worship.
It brings to mind what Jesus told the woman at the well
John 4:23-24 NKJV But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Romans 1:11-12 NKJV For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Spiritual gift the Greek word for “gift” is charisma and means a gift of grace, a divine enablement.
We did a study on spiritual gifts and what did we say was the purpose of spiritual gifts?
The purpose of the spiritual gifts is to edify (build up), exhort (encourage), and comfort the church.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Romans 1:14 NKJV I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
Paul believed that he was under obligation to fulfill his ministry because of God’s calling and the Gentiles’
Romans 1:16 NKJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
The gospel or good news that salvation comes by faith it is that in Christ sin can be forgiven, selfishness can be overcome, guilt can be removed, anxiety can be alleviated, and people can, indeed, have hope and eternal glory.
Understanding the Text
What does this passage reveal about the promise of the Good News
Romans 1:2-4 NIV the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Verses 8–15 provide interesting insights into Paul’s character and motives, as well as the kind of behavior that should mark all true spiritual leaders. What admirable qualities do you see in these verses?
Summing Up …
“Some people object to terms such as salvation and being saved, claiming that the ideas they convey are out of date and meaningless to contemporary men and women. But salvation is God’s term, and there is no better one to describe what He offers fallen humankind through the sacrifice of His Son. Through Christ, alone, people can be saved from sin, from Satan, from judgment, from wrath, and from spiritual death.
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