The Book of Romans

Come follow me from Maurine and Scot

Maurine and Scot Proctor have spent extensive time in the Holy Land, researching the life of Christ. They have taught the New Testament in the Institute program for many years and have written books and numerous articles on the life of the Savior.

The book of Romans has some scriptures that are so familiar to us like “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16), and at the same time, we may sometimes find it hard to understand what Paul is saying beyond those scriptures we know well. Even Peter described Paul’s writing as “things hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:16) Let’s dive in and see if we can unwind some of the mystery.

 Scot

The title of the lesson is “The Power of God unto Salvation” and covers Romans chapters 1-6. 

Maurine

Background on Romans

The epistles of Paul are his letters written to the congregations he formed through his missionary work. They sometimes answer questions, teach more doctrine, regulate matters and keep him touch with the people he loved, much like we sometimes have visiting General Authorities at our stake or district conferences today. The exception to this is Romans, because when Paul wrote this he had never been to Rome, though he wrote them that he had desired “these many years to come unto you” (Romans 15:23). He told them that “your faith is spoken throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8) and he gives a long list of greetings to individuals.

This gives us a picture of the early world of the Church where there was at least some network of friendship and Paul said this, “without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:9).

Scot

It is also important to know that Paul’s epistles are arranged in the New Testament by length, not by chronology. In other words, Paul did not write Romans first, although it appears first. He wrote it from Corinth in the year 58 AD, and it is often considered his masterpiece. Though, we have to admit that saying something like that is like trying to name your favorite scripture. Where would you begin when you love so many?

Not ashamed

So let’s begin with that scripture we know so well. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). Paul was not speaking idly here. He had already demonstrated that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ by declaring it with power and boldness in the most threatening situations to the point of being beaten and imprisoned. Nothing stopped his witness or cowed him or crushed him.

Maurine

The reason it matters to see this example is because we live in an intolerant time when our allegiance to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all its particulars, including the Proclamation on the Family, will absolutely be challenged. Satan will invite us to hide our testimony in fear or timidity. He will tell us that being true to the gospel and declaring it openly will be threatening to our job or our friendships or our social standing. We may find that our social networks are full of people who do not want us to speak the truth and declare our devotion to God and his Son Jesus Christ. They may make you feel embarrassed or foolish. They may suggest that your standards or ideas offend them. The time will come, and you may have already experienced it in your own life that you will have to know what you believe and for what you are willing to take a stand. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”

Scot

Shame, of course, is one of the Adversary’s sharpest tools. He wants you to feel ashamed of the gospel so you will hide, so you will go along with the world, so you will abandon the truth you know to avoid being ridiculed or ostracized.

In those moments when you are tempted to be untrue or give up what you know because of fear or pressure, remember Paul. 

Maurine:

(Romans chapters 7-16) 

The Apostle Paul begins in this week’s readings with a bulls-eye on the struggles we have in this mortal experience and then tells us how to free ourselves from this bondage. 

Scot:

As I have spent hundreds of hours this year, studying the gospels, the apostles and now the writings of Paul, I am humbled by the fact that I truly feel closer to Jesus Christ and to my Heavenly Father than I did when I began.  These studies are truly blessing my life.  They just become more and more delicious to me every week.  I feel the Lord’s influence in my life, in my thinking, in my daily walk.  This has been just wonderful—I am giving you my testimony that this Come Follow Me curriculum is really working.

Paul and Nephi have the same concerns in this first section of our readings this week.  Listen to Nephi’s lamentation and then his conclusion:

16 “Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

17 “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am!  Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.  

18 “I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 “And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, (and here’s the lesson we all want to learn from this) I know in whom I have trusted.”  (2 Nephi 4: 16-19, emphasis added)

Maurine

This is all about our grandest intentions, our best desires and our actual performance in mortality.  

Paul iterates the same thoughts:

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I.” 

Or, it’s actually a little easier to understand this passage in the Revised Standard Version:

“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” RSV Romans 7:15

Then in verse 19:

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” (RSV Romans 7:19)
And Paul exclaims:  O wretched man that I am! (Romans 7:24)

Scot

Don’t we feel that way so often?  We try so hard to overcome a bad habit.  We work so hard to overcome an addiction or a sin.  We move forward with all the best intentions and we fail.  It’s one of the most frustrating things about mortality.

Thank goodness for this verse in the Doctrine and Covenants, about the gifts of the Spirit that are given to us as outlined in Section 46:

“For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do.”  (D&C 46:9)  OH!  That verse is so comforting to me—because I’m a “seeketh so to do” person! 

Maurine, remember that Home Front commercial the Church did back in the late 70’s with that little boy who is sitting at the table and his Mom says he’s going to be late for school and he was told he was such a slowpoke.  He said, “I was trying to…” and then he burst into tears.  Sometimes we feel that way in mortality on a daily basis—We are trying so hard.  And the Lord knows that and I testify that He recognizes and knows even our smallest efforts.

Follow the Spirit

Maurine

Paul invites us to understand the workings of the Spirit in our lives.  He says in Romans 8: 26:

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”  

I actually love the word “groanings” when related to the things of the Spirit.  But a better translation of “groanings” might be:  “but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say” or even this translation:  “But the Spirit Himself pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words.” 

But how do we come to recognize those groanings—those yearnings that can find no words?  Here’s a practical mini lesson on listening to the Spirit in our own lives.  Recognizing the Spirit and the various ways He talks to us is critical for our spiritual progress in this life.  I have noticed in years and years of teaching institute that many of my students report that they are not sure they have ever felt a direction from the Spirit or, if they have, they are not sure how to recognize it.  This is common thinking.

I believe the Holy Spirit communicates with us all the time and we MUST pay attention and come to understand HOW He speaks to us so that we can follow His directions.

Mini Lesson on Personal Revelation 

Scot

As we go through some of these thoughts, will you take note of how the Spirit speaks to you?  I’ve seen all too often the common misconception that you either have a burning in your bosom or you have a stupor of thought—and that’s it.  The Spirit communicates truth and revelation to us in numerous ways—and it is good to come to know some of those ways so we can be ready for those answers, thoughts, inspirations, guidance and insights when they do come.

First of all, Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

“God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ are giving away the secrets of the Universe if we will only not be offended at their generosity.”

 In a nutshell that is what we read in Romans. 

Con amor,

Vero