WEBVTT

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Introduction to the Epistles of the New
Testament Following the story told in the

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four Gospels and in the Book of Acts is a
series of letters written primarily to

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newly formed churches.

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Preserved for our benefit, too,
they are included in the New Testament.

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The Apostles nourished the believers in
these young churches through letters that

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were circulated and read to encourage
right thinking about God, themselves,

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and others.

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The Apostle Paul wrote the first thirteen
of these letters, starting with a letter

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to followers of Jesus who lived in Rome.

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Introduction to the Epistle of Paul the
Apostle to the Romans The Book of Romans

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was a letter sent to the young church in
Rome.

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The Apostle Paul wrote the letter,
never having been there, but he looked

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forward to visiting.

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Others who had come to faith in Christ
founded the church.

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This letter was likely written in A.D.

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57 from the city of Corinth in Greece.

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This important letter is the most formal
of Paul's letters.

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He writes like a skilled lawyer presenting
the case for God's plan of salvation.

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The church in Rome desperately needed
Paul's teaching, since they had not

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previously received instruction from an
Apostle.

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Romans is the most comprehensive,
systematic statement of Christian faith in

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the Bible.

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It explains the Gospel in basic terms,
yet its message is so profound that it can

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be pondered for a lifetime.

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Romans deals with many important
theological themes.

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Sin, salvation, grace, faith,
righteousness, justification,

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sanctification, redemption, death,
and resurrection.

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Paul shows that Israel, though presently
in a state of unbelief, has a place in

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God's sovereign redemptive plan.

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The letter concludes with an appeal to its
readers to work out their Christian faith

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in practical ways, both in the church and
in the world.

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None of Paul's other letters state so
profoundly the content of the Gospel and

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its implications for both the present and
the future.

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Remember as you listen that Paul
eventually did go to Rome.

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He went there as a prisoner of the Roman
government, where he was eventually

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executed.

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Paul's faithfulness to the good news of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the

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people whom he so dearly loved eventually
cost him his life.

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But now, because of Paul's words and
commitment, we too can know how we may

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have peace with God and receive eternal
life.