Romans 1-8

        In the beginning of Romans, Paul is talking about sin.  He tells of how we all sin and fall short of what God expects from all of us.  The first few chapters describe the sin and how no man is perfect.  Paul reveals though that we can be forgiven.  The acts we do to repent of our sins can never be enough to make up for the sins we commit.  We cannot save ourselves from our sins.  God does not receive anyone who is not perfect.  So how can we be forgiven?  Are we destined to be cast into outer darkness?  If this is so what is the point of being good?  What is the point of doing good works?  While we, ourselves, can never do enough to receive salvation on our own (since no one in this life is perfect) there is one greater than us all who can save us.  It is through His grace and mercy that we can hope for salvation after this life.  This person is Jesus Christ.  Jesus who suffered and died for us to release us from the bonds of death, is the only one who can help us reach salvation.  Even though we are judged by our actions, we can still be saved from our sins.  Because of what Jesus did for us, we can ask for forgiveness when we fall short of perfection.  Through faith in Jesus and in the Atonement we can hope for salvation.  This faith is known as justification through faith.  After we do all we can, faith in Christ does the rest.  This is the message Paul was preaching in the beginning of Romans.  It is a message of peace and love.  It proves that our God is a merciful and loving God who provides for us when we can not provide for ourselves.