The Gospel refers to good news. Romans contains some very good news indeed. However, many miss the implications of what's revealed in Romans because of misconceptions about the importance of Romans, and to whom it is really directed. Romans is not considered to be a "gospel" in the normal sense of understanding the term. However, by lifting up the idea that there is indeed a gospel in Romans it's hoped that you'll see it differently in the future, and recognize new significance for it.
Romans is the first of the letters written by Paul that occurs in the Biblical text. It's placed first by The Holy Spirit because it carries tremendous importance to a specific group of people, The Church. The Church means those who have truly chosen to believe in the redeeming sacrifice of YAHUSHUA, The Messiah, in His death, resurrection, and ascension as the once and final price paid to cover our Sin. It is not the "organized church" as seen in denominations, congregations, etc. It consists only of those who truly believe YAHWEH and trust in Him alone.
Paul wrote letters to seven Church groups, or assemblies (ecclesia). These seven groups essentially comprised the whole extent of The Church (the Body of The Messiah). Romans, as the first of these presented in YAHWEH's Word, is of paramount importance to the Believer. It sets forth the most essential doctrines that YAHWEH has established for "The Church". Because of this it is essential that every Believer comes to know and understand this great book, and its importance for them.
Please do not read Romans casually if you are a Believer. Ask YAHWEH and His Holy Spirit to reveal to you The Truth as it is contained in Romans (This is a wise procedure for any Scripture reading.). It just may change your perspectives significantly.
What follows is an abbreviated form of Romans, with portions of the text highlighted to draw your attention to the concepts found in Romans that relate to faith in YAHUSHUA, and His Father, YAHWEH. While this provides an interesting perspective, it is not intended to replace the Book of Romans. Please be sure to read the entire book so you have the complete context of what is said. The text is corrected to provide the proper rendering of some of the more important terms.
Messiah is presented as The Messiah, for He is the only promised Messiah of YAHWEH. The proper personal names of YAHWEH and YAHUSHUA are given in place of their normally presented false counterparts (The Lord, God, Jesus, etc.) Christ is presented as "The Messiah", since "Christ" is a Greek perversion of the Hebrew concept of The Anointed One. He is The Messiah. In some cases "the Lord" is replaced with the term Sovereign, which is more in keeping with the Hebrew concept of the rulership of The Messiah over His followers. As you read the text with these changes, notice how much more life comes into the text. When the proper names are used it glorifies YAHWEH and YAHUSHUA as they deserve to be honored and glorified. Please refer to he Really Important Stuff in the List of Articles on the right side of the page for more detail on why thest changes are appropriate and important.
Ch 1:1…the gospel of YAHWEH 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, YAHUSHUA, The Messiah, our Master, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of YAHWEH with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of YAHUSHUA, The Messiah; 7 to all who are in Rome, beloved of YAHWEH, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from YAHWEH our Father and the Sovereign YAHUSHUA, The Messiah.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of The Messiah, for it is the power of YAHWEH to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of YAHWEH is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
18 For the wrath of YAHWEH is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of YAHWEH is manifest in them, for YAHWEH has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew YAHWEH, they did not glorify Him as YAHWEH, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible YAHWEH into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore YAHWEH also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of YAHWEH for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than The Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason Yahweh gave them up to vile passions.
28 And even as they did not like to retain YAHWEH in their knowledge, YAHWEH gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of Yahweh, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of Yahweh, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Ch 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of YAHWEH leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of YAHWEH, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
13 …for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of YAHWEH, but the doers of the law will be justified
Ch 3:10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after YAHWEH. 12 They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one."
21 But now the righteousness of YAHWEH apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of YAHWEH, through faith in YAHUSHUA, The Messiah, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of YAHWEH, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in The Messiah, YAHUSHUA, 25 whom YAHWEH set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance YAHWEH had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in YAHUSHUA.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Ch 4:12 Abraham…while still uncircumcised...
20 He did not waver at the promise of YAHWEH through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to YAHWEH, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up YAHUSHUA, our Sovereign, from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Ch 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace (reconciliation) with YAHWEH through our Sovereign, YAHUSHUA, The Messiah, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of YAHWEH.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of YAHWEH has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time, The Messiah died for the ungodly.
8 But YAHWEH demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, The Messiah died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
17…much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, YAHUSHUA, The Messiah. 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
Ch 6:6 our old man (old nature) was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with The Messiah, we believe that we shall also live with Him,…
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to Yahweh. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to YAHWEH in The Messiah, YAHUSHUA, our Sovereign. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of YAHWEH is eternal life in The Messiah, YAHUSHUA, our Sovereign.
Ch 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in The Messiah, YAHUSHUA, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to The Spirit. 2 For the law of The Spirit of Life in The Messiah, YAHUSHUA, has made me free from the law of sin and death.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to The Spirit, the things of The Spirit.
7…the carnal mind is enmity against YAHWEH; for it is not subject to the law of YAHWEH, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please Yahweh. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in The Spirit, if indeed The Spirit of YAHWEH dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the spirit of The Messiah, he is not His.
11 But if the spirit of Him who raised YAHUSHUA from the dead dwells in you, He who raised The Messiah from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit, who dwells in you.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by The Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
26 …The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love YAHWEH, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
31… If YAHWEH is for us, who can be against us?
Ch 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of YAHWEH who shows mercy.
Ch 10:8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth The Sovereign, YAHUSHUA, and believe in your heart that YAHWEH has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
13 For "whoever calls on the name of YAHWEH shall be saved."
Ch 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Ch 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of YAHWEH, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to YAHWEH, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Yahweh.
3… YAHWEH has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
(Note: Ch 12:10-21, & Ch 13:1-2 provide more input on how to LIVE the life of faith in The Messiah.)
Ch 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Ch 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to YAHWEH; and if we die, we die to YAHWEH. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are YAHWEH's.
17 …the kingdom of YAHWEH is …righteousness and peace and joy in The Holy Spirit.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Ch 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of The Holy Spirit.
Ch 16:17 Now I urge you, brothers, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Sovereign, YAHUSHUA, The Messiah, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
19…I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And The God of Peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.