CBCM Christian Education

English and Young Adult Sunday Schools - Sundays 9:45AM

Spring 2010

Romans Donald Chi Session Notes 1) Session 1 – Review of Romans 1-4 2) Session 2 – Review of Romans 2 and 3 3) Articles i) Articles Group 1 (Inspiration and Inerrancy) ii) Article 2 (The Truthfulness of Scripture)

Course Description Martin Luther, through this Epistle to the Romans, brought about the Protestant Reformation. He commented on Romans as the following: “This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes…it is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the entire Scripture." John Calvin, another giant of the Reformation, said, “ When anyone gains a knowledge of this Epistle to the Romans, he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture.” The Holy Spirit has used this letter to bring about revivals at crucial points in Church history. Today it is equally critical for us to return to Romans and return to the purest Gospel so that we would be able to bring the true and pure Gospel to others, and not some watered down version. For two to three quarters, we plan to cover such topics as law, Gospel, sin, punishment, grace, justification, sanctification, election, the plan of salvation, principles of personal godliness and morality, faith, righteousness, Christ, God, man, good works, hope, the cross, how we are to conduct ourselves toward everyone, and towards our government, and much more. It also answers many questions such as: ○ “What is the good news of God?” ○ “Is Jesus really God?” ○ “How can God send people to hell? ○ “Why are there all sorts of evils in the world? ○ “How can a person who has never heard of the Gospel still be held spiritually responsible?" ○ …and many more fundamental questions. Paul wanted to comprise in this one Epistle the whole Christian and evangelical doctrine and prepare an introduction to the entire Old Testament. This Epistle clearly establishes the proper Christian worldview and it serves as a biblical standard by which we can use to judge false doctrines and teachings so that we may stand firm and grow in the faith without wavering. For example, the term “law” has been commonly misunderstood by many. Another example is the concept of “predestination,” of which Paul devoted two chapters on this subject. It is clear by now that it is really critical that every Christian should devote time to study the basic truth as Paul has plainly laid out in the Romans. This is an opportunity for all to take advantage of the pure and true Gospel for personal spiritual growth and for evangelism.