For the past week my boyfriend and I have been reading the book of Romans together. He's currently a four hour drive away, so we do this by way of Skype and biblegateway.com. Since I started this blog four chapters into Romans, I'll catch you all up to speed what we discussed and gained from each chapter.

Romans 1:
Aaron explained to that Paul is writting a letter to the Romans, more specifically the Roman Jews, or I guess the Jews in Rome. That's pretty much all we talked about in the chapter. This was actually one of my first times of reading the Bible without it being assigned from youth group/ Bible study. I have read with Aaron a few times before, like twice. So reading through Romans and having him help me understand all on my own is like a great achievement for me.

Romans 2:
I had a question about Romans 2:10-11 "but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹For God does not show favoritism."I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Why did the Jews get glory, honor and peace first? Doesn't them being first show favoritism? As Aaron had explained it to me the Jews were promised it first, because they were the first believers. At least I think that's what he meant.

Romans 2:25- 27 "Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. ²⁶If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? ²⁷The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker."

I could not understand this passage because I had no clue what the what the significance of circumcision was. In Judaism, circumcision is part of the law of their religion-- it's an act of cleanliness, much like the modern health reason to get circumcised. In essence circumcision is sorta kinda like righteousness (cleanliness, is next to Godliness).

Romans 3:
No one is righteous; righteousness is purity/without sin. Therefore Jesus Christ is the only one who is righteous because he's the only one that has lived without sin. However, you can be righteous "...through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.(Romans 3:22)"

Romans 4:
Here, Abraham is used as an example to tell us that God will grant a person righteousness of there faith even if they aren't following the rules set by the church just yet. This is not to say that one is not to follow the church's rules, but through your faith God will bless you before you are follow all the rules. Basically even brand new believers can achieve righteousness.

Skype Chat between Aaron and I about Romans 4:

[5/1/2010 11:45:55 PM] Aaron: righteousness: as sinless

[5/1/2010 11:46:06 PM] Aaron: also pure

[5/1/2010 11:48:03 PM] Aaron: Romans3:10As it is written:

"There is no one righteous, not even one;

11there is no one who understands,

no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away,

they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

not even one."[c]

[5/1/2010 11:49:30 PM] Christian n00b: so nobody is righteous?

[5/1/2010 11:49:45 PM] Christian n00b: but we are to try to obtain righteous

[5/1/2010 11:49:48 PM] Christian n00b: ness

[5/1/2010 11:50:02 PM] Aaron: nobody is with out sin except Jesus

[5/1/2010 11:50:16 PM] Aaron: yes

[5/1/2010 11:51:07 PM] Aaron: to be rightous and to be granted or given righteousness for our faith are the differance that Romans has been talking about

[5/1/2010 11:51:31 PM] Aaron: there is a differance

[5/1/2010 11:51:42 PM] Aaron: the be righteous is to be sinless.

[5/1/2010 11:53:03 PM] Aaron: to be greanted righteousness of our faith is that even though we have sinned there is forgivness and the give of rightousness ( to be made or have the quality of being sinless or pure: aka forgiven)

[5/1/2010 11:53:31 PM] Aaron: give =gift i think

[5/1/2010 11:53:46 PM] Christian n00b: ok

[5/1/2010 11:55:36 PM] Christian n00b: so what this chapter is saying is that though abraham is uncircumcised (not following the jewish law), he is still granted righteousness from God because he believes God

[5/1/2010 11:56:04 PM] Aaron: no, he said while he was still uncircumised

[5/1/2010 11:56:19 PM] Christian n00b: well was then

[5/1/2010 11:56:29 PM] Aaron: before he was given the command to be circumsized

[5/1/2010 11:56:30 PM] Christian n00b: started off uncircumcised i should say

[5/1/2010 11:56:37 PM] Christian n00b: okay

[5/1/2010 11:56:40 PM] Christian n00b: beans

[5/1/2010 11:57:07 PM] Aaron: he was granted rightousness and forgiven before he followed the jewish law

[5/1/2010 11:58:26 PM] Christian n00b: so like an average joe schmoe can receive righteousness by believing before he is like doing all the things his church says he should be doing?

[5/2/2010 12:01:54 AM] Aaron: yes, that is the general thought that if; one believes that Jesus is God and died to be the final sacrfice for all mankind, and has asked to be forgiven. then he is saved. This is made evident throught the way that he chooses to live his life. and the church saying all the things you "must do" are adding pressures that are not required for salvation.

[5/2/2010 12:02:06 AM] Aaron: Reading the bible is not to save you

[5/2/2010 12:02:52 AM] Aaron: it is to build your knowledge

[5/2/2010 12:03:02 AM] Aaron: baptism is not to save you

[5/2/2010 12:04:47 AM] Aaron: it is a way to show that you understand the significance of the Death barriel and resurection of Jesus and to show others that you are a christian.

[5/2/2010 12:06:17 AM] Aaron: alot of time churches read into the bible more than it is saying and then try to increase the difficulty of salvation

[5/2/2010 12:06:54 AM] Aaron: did i answer your question at all?

[5/2/2010 12:07:03 AM] Christian n00b: yes

[5/2/2010 12:07:05 AM] Christian n00b: thanks

[5/2/2010 12:07:07 AM] Christian n00b: :)

Aaron is in exams, so we did not get a chance to read Romans 5 tonight. I hope to read it tomorrow. Until then I think I'll set up a twitter account. I may use the twitter to update things like things I find difficult or easy about my faith.