Commentary on Romans

By: Thomas Bear

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

On the cover of this book is a picture of the ancient Roman Colosseum that still stands today. In its early years, many Christians were killed in the Colosseum while thousands of Roman citizens watched from the stands. Most likely, some of these Christian martyrs had heard the book of Romans being read to them years before they laid down their lives for Jesus. Paul wrote the book of Romans to help establish them in the faith and to prepare them for the day of their death. He warned them that unless they held fast their confession firm to the end, they would not inherit eternal life. Their willingness to die for Jesus in the Colosseum proved that their faith was genuine.

Jesus and His Apostles taught that to inherit heaven, a person must be willing to lose his life for Jesus. The Christians to whom Paul wrote were serious. They knew that if they confessed and continued to confess their allegiance to Jesus, it could cost them their lives. Paul’s letter helped them to count the cost and to learn gospel truth that could propel them to their ultimate goal of eternal life with Jesus.

In the twenty-first century, many Christians assume that as long as they keep going to church and continue to hold tightly to the Apostle’s creed, they will inherit heaven. They lack the sense of urgency and seriousness that can prepare them for intense persecution. The book of Romans can reignite their faith if it is properly understood. This commentary was written to show what it means to live by faith with a greater sense of urgency, just as Jesus and His Apostles intended.