Hope for Home, Liberia: Romans Devotional #7: They are under Sin

Chapter Summary Pictures:

Before we move forward in this study, I need to introduce you to chapter summary pictures. You may have noticed that today's picture is oriented vertically on the page while other pictures lay horizontally. The pictures that stand vertically are chapter summary pictures while those that lay down horizontally summarize verses within each chapter. While teaching these lessons in Liberia, we clip the pictures to a clothes line so people can see the message of Romans from beginning to end. Since the chapter summary pictures stand vertically, it is easy to see where one chapter ends and another begins.

We use a lot of repetition in our teaching and have our students take turns retelling the story behind each picture. By the end of the study, our students are able to retell the message behind each picture and thus retell the book of Romans by memory. For us, this is the solution we have discovered for training illiterate or barely literate ministers of the Gospel. Our pictures, along with recorded Scripture (distributed on micro memory chips or solar powered audio Bibles) become their oral and visual Bibles. As you go through this study, take time to review past pictures. Make it your goal to memorize the message behind each picture.

Let's take a moment and review the flow of the book of Romans. Romans is divided into 5 parts. For now, it is not important to know the chapter breakdown for each section. Try to memorize this flow for Romans:

Part 1: Sin

Part 2: Salvation

Part 3: Sanctification

Part 4: God's Sovereignty

Part 5: Our Service.

Today, we start the study of sin (Chapters 1-3). Let's take sin, place it under a microscope and see what we learn. I have to warn you, the study of sin leads us to dark and hopeless places. Though the journey ahead is dark, we must go through it so we can understand the fullness of salvation (Chapters 3-5).

Look again at the summary picture for Romans 1. The message of chapter 1 is, "They are under sin." Later we will learn that the message of chapter 2 is, "You are under sin." For today's devotion, read Romans 1:19-32. As you read, circle the words "they," "them," and "their" in your Bible. You will be surprised how often they occur. Notice the words "you," "your," and "yourself" are not mentioned in chapter 1. These words are reserved for chapter 2. Chapter 1 is about "their" sin and chapter 2 is about "your" sin. As you read chapter 1, do not think too much about your sin. Chapter 1 is not about "you." It is about "them." Let your mind wander as you look at the effects of sin in other people.

Note: Chapter 1 uses the words "they," them" and "there" to describe Gentiles. Chapter 2 uses the words "you," "your," and "yourself" to describe Jews.

Prayer to Pray:

Father, please help me understand the Gospel's message. I want to see it clearly. Use its message to change my life. I know that the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. Please pour out this power on me. Save me and make me holy.

Review:

Overview of the Gospel: