Romans
At the time when Paul wrote his letters, most people used special scribes to write for them. These scribes could write neatly and quickly.
Many of these scribes were slaves. They were often educated men who had been captured during a war. These men were then sold as slaves.
Paul’s scribes were his fellow workers and friends.
1:16–17
In this letter, Paul explains everything he knows about Jesus.
Paul never stopped talking about God’s grace and about everything that Jesus did for us. He wanted to talk about it. That is because he wasn’t ashamed of the good news that he had received.
1 – 4
Paul writes that every single person sins. Everyone is guilty of sin, but God forgives everyone who believes in Jesus. He declares them not guilty, or righteous. He pardons them.
It’s like a court case. The judge gives a sentence to the person guilty of the crime. But that person hasn’t even started their sentence when this happens. Someone says that the punishment has already been served in full. So the judge says, You are pardoned. I declare you not guilty. You are free to go!
3:21–26
Jesus was willing to be punished in our place. That is why he can pardon us. That is how we become his children.
Joinme wonders if you have ever been punished for something you didn’t do. Did you perhaps take the punishment to protect someone else? Talk about your feelings when you were punished instead of the guilty person.
Jesus took the guilt of our sin on himself. And he took the punishment for us.
4:21–25
Paul says that God accepted Abraham because he believed God’s promises. Because of his faith, God pardoned him. He was made right with God. God accepts us when we believe in Jesus.
Read verse 25 a few times. Crafty has an idea to help you to remember this verse. Write the verse on a card. Under that, write the verse in your own words. Then write, This is the best news ever! Use this card as a bookmark. It will be a great reminder!
5:1
Talky found this verse that tells us how we can have peace with God. Talk with your friends about how you receive this peace. When you have God’s peace, it should show in the way you live. Living at peace among people is also a good thing. Talky wonders if you know a story about people who have made peace. Tell each other stories you have heard about people who have made peace with other people. If you have made peace with someone, tell that story. How did you feel after making peace with that person? Has someone ever made peace with you? Remember to share God’s peace with others.
5 – 8
Why are people who believe in Jesus filled with joy and peace? Paul gives us a few reasons.
They know that they are saved. They do what God wants them to do. They are free from the law. They are God’s children. Jesus is with them when life is hard. And nothing can separate them from God’s love.
6:1–14
Jesus gives us a new life. If we believe in him, we are no longer controlled by sin. Jesus has set us free from sin.
Arty wants you to look for the following words in the passage.
Father, Christ, sin, dead, grace, give and alive.
Write the letters of the words SET FREE one under the other.
See if you can match the words from the list with the letters in these two words.
6:23
Joinme read that God gives us a wonderful gift.
What gift does Paul say he gives us? Do we deserve this gift?
Why did God decide to give it to us? You will find the answer in John 3:16.
Wrap a box like a present. Then decorate it. Write the words you read in Romans 6:23 and John 3:16 on the gift.
You don’t pay for a gift. It’s free. But the person who bought it had to pay for it. Who paid for God’s gift to you? What did it cost him?
7:15, 18–19
Sometimes you want to do what is right, but then you forget and do something that is wrong. This also happened to Paul. Inny knows that it’s not always easy to do the right thing.
Think about everything you did today. Thank God for helping you to do the right thing. Ask his forgiveness for the wrong that you did.
8:1
This verse is very good news for you if you believe in Jesus.
Why is it good news?
God has forgiven you. You are no longer under his judgement. His Holy Spirit lives in you and shows you what to do. You are a child of God right now. And one day you will live forever with Jesus in heaven.
8:24–25
Talky read what Paul writes about Christians hoping for something that hasn’t yet happened? They hoped that Jesus would come back. And we have the same hope.
We say, I hope our team wins tomorrow! Can we be sure that it will happen? No. However, we can be absolutely sure that Jesus will come back. We are sure because God promised it.
Talk to a friend about these two kinds of hope. One is the Christian’s hope in Jesus. The other is the hope we have in our ordinary, daily living. Talk about the difference between these two hopes.
8:31–39
These verses are often called a victory song. Even though God’s children may suffer many hardships, they are still more than winners. That is because Jesus is with them. He will never stop loving them. And nothing can separate God’s children from his love.
8:35–39
Paul is sure that Jesus will never stop loving us. Thinky is so happy to know that Jesus will always be with us.
Read verses 35, 38 and 39. Make a list of all the things that can’t separate us from Jesus’ love. Then count them.
Sometimes life is very hard. And there are times when you are very unhappy. Even then you can be sure that Jesus is with you. You can know that he loves you.
10:10–13
Has someone ever promised you something and then broken their promise? What did that feel like? Choose a color from Hearty’s color chart on page 19.
Hearty thinks you must have felt disappointed and angry.
These verses tell us that someone who believes in Jesus will never be disappointed. He saves every single person who believes in him. It doesn’t matter who they are.
What is the opposite of disappointed? Choose a color from Hearty’s color chart that describes your answer.
12 – 13
We show that we love the Lord when we love the people around us. Paul tells us how to show love to other Christians. He says we must also show love to people who don’t believe in Jesus. Our whole life should shine with Jesus’ love. Even when we disagree with people, we must remember not to stop loving them.
12 – 16
In the first part of the letter Paul explains what we believe. The second part of the letter begins with Romans 12. In the second part, Paul explains how we must live. We must live to show people that we love the Lord Jesus.
12:1–2
In the Old Testament, people sacrificed animals to the Lord. They gave these animals to the Lord to show that their lives belonged to him. Christians no longer sacrifice animals. Instead, they give their lives for him. This means they obey the Lord in everything they do. This shows they belong to the Lord.
