Slowly but surely, long summer nights fade into cool autumn evenings. Leaves begin to change colors as the last blooms of the year make their all too short appearance in gardens and fields. They are joined by crimson ivies and swept by cool morning breezes in the soft, occasionally hazy, morning light.

With the change of seasons comes a change of pace. The rush and activity of summer settles into a slower autumn rhythm. As schools start back up and vacation schedules come to a close there is often a greater sense of routine, normalcy. Adjusting to that routine can be dull and mundane or – if we are purposeful – it can be an invitation to set our hearts before the Lord and ask that He awaken new life within us.

Being intentional with our autumn schedules and routines can give us the opportunity to carve out additional time for the secret place. Whether it’s an extra fifteen minutes each evening or perhaps two hours each weekend, this time can be an invaluable for digging into scripture. And that’s exactly what we’ll be doing here on the blog.

These next eight weeks will be a focused study through the book of Romans. We’ll be asking the Lord to illuminate this section of scripture to our hearts that new life might rise up from within us. Fullness, vibrancy, and truth will be at the center of our prayers as we ask God to move in our hearts.

We’ll begin next week by looking at Romans 1 and 2. Before jumping in, though, we’ll take a bit of time to look at the context of this Pauline epistle.

Historical Context

Written from Corinth to the church in Rome, this epistle is Paul’s exhortation of the church of Rome to journey further into faith and life with Christ. The Roman congregation was healthy and strong at the time. While he had not yet visited them, he wanted to ensure that they were well equipped to continue standing strong in their faith as ardent followers of Christ and join in the mission of sharing the Gospel. Having just written to the Galatian church on justification, the focus of righteousness and fullness of life in Romans seems a logical progression.

And the book of Romans is just that: an exhortation on actively living in the vibrant gift of righteousness through Christ. It gives a lens through which we can view the Old Testament through the Gospel. This is largely seen through the theme of sacrifice throughout the epistle. John refers often to the sacrificial ceremonies of ancient Israel but provides a new framework for those living in the Kingdom of God. Where the Levitical sacrifices of atonement (Lev 1, 4, 5, 16), celebration (Lev 3), and dedication (Lev 2) were pillars of the practice of faith for God’s people under the Old Covenant, Paul shows the church how atonement, celebration, and dedication are key components of faith in Christ.

A general outline of the book consists of six parts:

1. Introduction: The Revelation of Righteousness (Rom 1:1-17)
2. Justification, or the Imputation of Righteousness (Rom 1:18-5:11)
3. Life in Christ (Rom 5:12-8:39)
4. God’s Righteousness in His Relationship with Israel (Rom 9:l-11:36)
5. God’s Righteousness at Work (Rom 12:1-15:13)
6. Conclusion: Purpose, Plans, and Praise of the Work of Righteousness (Rom 15:14-16:27)

Keeping that overarching structure in mind as we press into two chapters of Romans each week may be a helpful reference point. Additional resources about the Book of Romans can be found here, here, and here. This introductory post will also be included on the study overview page alongside quick links to each post. More than a purely historical or entirely factual factual study of this text, though, my hope that the next seven weeks will be an opportunity for us to step more fully into the vibrant realities of life in Christ.

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So, dear saints, as you pull out warm sweaters, sip on mugs of hot cider, and watch the leaves turn to their pretty autumn hues, ask the Lord to stir up new life in your heart. Set your heart before this book; allow Him to speak to you. Dig in trusting that even as the liveliness of summer subsides into the stillness of fall He is willing and able to bring vibrancy into your own life.