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Life Changing Letters 1 FEATURING the AMAZING JOURNEY VIDEO SERIES BNEXT BIBLE STUDY PARTICIPANT’S GUIDE Life Changing Letters 1 FEATURING THE AMAZING JOURNEY VIDEO SERIES BNEXT STUDY AMAZING JOURNEY VIDEO Salvation Explained : Romans 1–8 z The Greatest Gift Salvation Applied : Romans 9–16 z Crazy Politics Guidance for Confused Christians : 1 Corinthians z Mystery of Time An Example for Wayward Christians : 2 Corinthians z Ministry Madness The Gospel of Liberty : Galatians z A Gracious Tragedy The Triumphant Church : Ephesians z Stand Your Ground The Triumphant Christian : Philippians z To Live is Christ The Triumphant Christ : Colossians z Christ Over All STUDY BNEXT William P. Campbell STUDY BNEXT Welcome to BNEXT Amazing Journey I am excited to share this journey through God’s Word with you. This electronic version contains the same material as the printed version. It allows you to electronically record your answers to the questions which are part of each lesson. Following each question, you will find a blue text box. Click or touch the box and the field within it will turn white allowing you to type in your answer. Your answer will automatically be saved when you exit the text box. Should you need more space for your answer, the text box will automatically expand and place a scroll bar on the right-hand side. The Scripture covered by each lesson is listed on the mast of the page. Read the Scripture passages and then begin working your way through the lesson. Each lesson in this series contains three pages of commentary, followed by three pages of questions that will assist you dig deeper and reflect on God’s Word. An important component of BNEXT Amazing Journey are the videos that accompany each series. To access the videos associated with this particular series, see the link below my signature. Also we have included, in the last pages of this digital version, a Leader’s Guide that will enable anyone to facilitate a small group. Once you have completed this BNEXT Amazing Journey series, I hope you will consider leading others through this study material. Again, thank you for allowing me to share this amazing journey with you. Your brother in Christ Jesus, William P. Campbell BNEXT Amazing Journey Video Link The BNEXT Amazing Journey Bible study series and videos are copyrighted. As purchaser you are only authorized to use the written, digital, and video content for individual study and/ or as a facilitator in a group meeting. Purchasers are prohibited from copying, sharing, or redistributing the study content and/or the link to the videos with anyone else. https://mediazilla.com/Dp5p3hqi9 pw: BAJ-lcl1-811 © 2018 Scripture Awakening | BNEXT SERIES LIFE CHANGING LETTERS 1 | LETTERS OF PAUL STUDY BNEXT LESSON 1 Salvation Explained | Romans 1-8 Introduction More than half of the 21 letters in the New Testament were written by Paul. Romans was not the first one written but is found first in our Bibles because it provides the fullest explanation of the concept most central to our faith: salvation. Romans provides the clearest and most logical presentation of the doctrine of salvation in all the Bible. Luther called it, “The masterpiece of the New Testament,” declaring that “it deserves to be known by heart, word for word, by every Christian.” The goal of this lesson is for us to understand the basic truths, the general flow, and a simple outline of the glorious book of Romans. Therefore, since we have Background and Overview been justified through faith, we have peace with We know from Acts that Jews from around the civilized world were in Jerusalem for Pentecost when the Holy Spirit poured forth—thousands were called by God into the kingdom of light. It God through our Lord is likely that some of these first converts brought the gospel back to Rome. Nearly three decades Jesus Christ. later, Paul would have opportunity to fulfill his great ambition to visit Rome, that he might build them up in their faith (Romans 1:11-12). Paul did get to Rome—in chains. Before this visit, which Romans 5:1 was near the end of his third missionary journey, Paul wrote the letter we now call Romans. Why did Paul write this letter? For more than a quarter of a century, the gospel had been spread- ing and churches arising around the Roman Empire. Christians everywhere had deep and trou- bling questions about their new-found salvation, such as: If God saves us by grace, why did God give the Law to Moses? If sin is now pardoned freely, has God lowered His standards of righteousness? If God is glorified through forgiving our sins, should we encourage people to sin that we might bring greater glory to God? If God gives us victory over the penalty of sin, what about the power of sin? The book of Romans can be divided as follows: Salvation Explained: Romans 1-8 1:1-17 Salvation Introduced 1:18–3:20 Sin’s Penalty and Power 3:21–5:21 Salvation from Sin’s Penalty 6–8 Salvation from Sin’s Power Salvation Applied: Romans 9-16 z 9–11 Salvation and God’s Sovereignty Watch Amazing Journey Video 12–16 Salvation and Christian Living “The Greatest Gift” © 2018 Scripture Awakening | BNEXT 1 SERIES LIFE CHANGING LETTERS 1 | LETTERS OF PAUL STUDY BNEXT LESSON 1 Salvation Explained | Romans 1-8 But God demonstrates His Salvation Introduced (Romans 1:1-17) own love for us in this: Paul’s glorious introduction exalts the gospel of salvation and the Christ of the gospel (Romans while we were still sin- 1:1-7). It declares Paul’s longing to visit the Christians in Rome (Romans 1:8-15) and ends with two ners, Christ died for us. verses that lift high the theme of the letter: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 5:8 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:16-17). Sin’s Penalty and Power (Romans 1:18–3:20) In this section, Paul shows that Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32), Jews (Romans 2:1-3:8), indeed all peo- For as high as the heav- ple (Romans 3:9-20) are under the power and penalty of sin. No one is exempt, whether atheist, ens are above the earth, religious, pagan, or moralist. Paul brings us all into God’s courtroom. Here, God’s Law and our so great is His love for consciences stand—irrefutable witness to the guilt of our sins. those who fear Him; as The word sin means to “miss the mark.” We know that none of us is perfect. In our own defense far as the east is from the we might say, “But, God loves me and will overlook my ungodliness. He will not condemn me!” west, so far has He re- Let us remember the words that open this section: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness…” (Romans 1:18a). Our efforts to avoid God’s sure judgment moved our transgressions are useless when confronted with His perfect standard of righteousness. Sin has a powerful from us. grip on our lives—our penalty is just. Psalm 103:11-12 This section of Romans closes with the eternal and righteous Judge’s intent clearly expressed: “…that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God” (Romans 3:19b). Salvation From Sin’s Penalty (Romans 3:21–5:21) As surely as God’s condemnation and wrath fall upon all of us as a penalty for sin, His offer of pardon is freely offered to everyone. The only requirement from God is belief: “This righteous- ness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference…” (Romans 3:22). Standing before God by ourselves, He sees in us no righteousness. Standing on faith in the righ- teousness of Christ, God looks at us in His Son and sees in us perfect righteousness. There is no matter of degrees here. Our justification in the sight of God is, first, a legal matter—not a moral matter. A person who trusts in Christ can look at his past sins and say, “It is just as if I’d never sinned.” (A good way to remember the implications of the word justified.) Paul makes this point crystal clear by way of explanation (Romans 3:21-31), illustration (Abraham: Romans 4:1-25), and application (Romans 5:1-21). Through our Savior’s inestimable sacrifice we are saved from the just punishment of our personal sins (Romans 3:21-5:11), as well as from the penalty due for our sin nature—our inherited sin (Romans 5:12-21). Salvation From Sin’s Power (Romans 6–8) News in the daily paper is often so bad we think it cannot get worse—but it does. In Paul’s letter © 2018 Scripture Awakening | BNEXT 2 SERIES LIFE CHANGING LETTERS 1 | LETTERS OF PAUL STUDY BNEXT LESSON 1 Salvation Explained | Romans 1-8 ...for all have sinned and to the Romans, the good news is so good that we might think it cannot get better. But it does! Not only has God canceled sin’s penalty through Christ’s death and resurrection, He has also fall short of the glory of broken sin’s power.
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