100 | How to Ignite Your Faith: Unpacking Romans for Busy Christians (Bible Study)

Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog

Wrestling with whether God can truly love you through your imperfections? The book of Romans offers profound answers that have transformed believers for centuries. This powerful New Testament letter isn't just theological doctrine—it's a lifeline for anyone caught between spiritual aspirations and human limitations.

Paul's masterpiece begins with a sobering reality check about our universal brokenness before revealing the revolutionary solution: justification by faith alone. Just as Abraham was credited as righteous simply for believing God's promises, we too are made right with God not through perfect performance but through trusting in Christ's completed work. This paradigm shift from religious striving to grace-filled surrender changes everything about how we approach our relationship with God.

What makes Romans especially relatable is Paul's raw honesty about his own spiritual struggles: "What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Sound familiar? Yet this confession leads to the triumphant declaration that "there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus" and the assurance that absolutely nothing can separate us from God's love. From this foundation of security, Paul shows us how to walk this journey as "living sacrifices"—transformed by renewed thinking and expressing Christ's character through genuine community.

If you're tired of exhausting yourself with spiritual perfectionism or feeling like you're never quite measuring up, this episode offers the freedom you've been searching for. Subscribe now, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and join me next week as we continue discovering how to live on purpose in Christ. Ready to experience a personal reset in your spiritual journey? Visit PaulaBehrens.com/coaching to book your Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour today.

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Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:01):
Do you ever lie awake at night wondering if
you're really following what Godwants for you?
Do you ever find yourselfpouring your heart into pleasing
Him, yet in the midst of youreveryday imperfections, you
wonder if God can truly love andwork through you as you grow in
your faith journey?
The book of Romans offerspowerful answers to these and
other worries.
This book is not just a letterfrom the Apostle Paul, it's a

(00:25):
profound narrative of God's lovelifting us from brokenness to
glory.
Today we'll explore thisamazing New Testament book of
grace.
But first funny story.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church
congregations full-time,everyone assumed I had my daily
devotional time perfectlyorganized.
But truth be told, there weremornings I could barely find

(00:48):
five minutes to catch my breath,let alone dive into deep
reflection.
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes, I
realized that even in my chaosthere was a lesson.
Embracing God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
that true success in mydevotional life requires
prioritizing my spiritualpractices.

(01:11):
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?
I'm Paula and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God, but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,

(01:33):
this podcast is for you.
Please take a moment to followthe show, leave a review and
share with your friends who needa little biblical encouragement
today.
Hey friend, I know howexhausting it can be to chase
after a devotional routinethat's just not working for you,
constantly restarting with goodintentions while fighting

(01:53):
through distractions that keeppulling you away from God.
I've walked that path myself,that cycle of trying my best but
falling short.
That's why I designed the Aromaof Christ Coaching Hour, where
we focus on creating a PeaceRESET to bring emotional
alignment and clarity into yourspiritual life.
Imagine stepping into a rhythmthat truly refreshes your soul,

(02:15):
anchoring you in God'srefreshing presence for that
lasting sense of calm you'vebeen craving.
Small steps add up, sister, andthis is your invitation to make
it doable today.
Let's turn your quiet time intoa source of thriving faith.
Save your seat now for an Aromaof Christ Coaching Hour plus
Peace RESET at paulabehrens.
com/ coaching.

(02:36):
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
It's time to start breathingpeace into your walk with Jesus.
All right, let's get started.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.

(02:56):
Imagine first century Rome, avibrant city buzzing with energy
, as soldiers march on marblestreets and merchants trade in
bustling markets.
The aroma of frankincensefloats through the temple air
during worship, while in hiddenhomes believers gather to share
bread, sing hymns and studysacred scrolls.
This diverse group includesJews rooted in ancient

(03:18):
scriptures and Gentiles newlycaptivated by Jesus' message.
They strive for unity, faithfulendurance under Caesar's rule
and deeper insight into thegospel.
Paul, though never having metmany of them, holds them dear
and writes his letter to theRomans to inspire, teach and
strengthen their walk withChrist.
He opens with a bolddeclaration, a kind of thesis

(03:42):
statement for the whole book,saying, I am not ashamed of the
gospel because it is the powerof God that brings salvation to
everyone who believes.
You can almost feel the urgencyin his words, as though he can
hardly contain the glory of whathe's about to unfold.
He begins by laying bare theuniversal human condition.

(04:03):
Now, whether you're a paganworshiping carved idols or a
moral person who prides yourselfon doing right, Paul says you
stand guilty before a Holy God.
He describes the downwardspiral of humanity, how people
exchange the truth of God for alie, worship created things
instead of the Creator andplunge deeper into sin.

(04:23):
It's not a comfortable picture.
It's raw, unsettling andpainfully honest.
And maybe that's why it hits sohard, because somewhere deep
down we recognize ourselves init.
We've all turned away.
We've all tried to be our owngods.
As Paul's words build like acourtroom case, you can almost

(04:45):
hear the gavel drop in chapter 3.
There is no one righteous, noteven one.
The whole world is heldaccountable to God.
It's as if he pulls the maskoff our self-righteousness and
says see, you can't fix yourself.

(05:06):
When guilt feels overwhelmingPaul's tone changes like
sunlight breaking through clouds, as he states, but now, apart
from the law, the righteousnessof God has been made known.
The righteousness is giventhrough faith in Jesus Christ to
all who believe.
This pivotal moment of thegospel reveals that we are made

(05:29):
right with God, not by ourefforts or rule keeping, but by
trusting in Jesus' completedwork on the cross.
This is the essence ofjustification by faith and the
message of Romans.
Paul emphasizes that this ideaisn't new by pointing to
Abraham's story.
Abraham was declared righteousnot by following the law, which

(05:53):
well, didn't exist then, butbecause he believed God's
promise.
Paul stresses it was creditedto him as righteousness and
extends it to us saying, thesewords were also for us.
Picture Abraham, childless andold, looking at the stars and
trusting God's promise ofnumerous descendants.
It's this faith, not perfectactions, that God values, simply

(06:19):
taking him at his word.
Paul beautifully illustrates thelife transformed by the
indwelling Holy Spirit.
This is not just dry doctrine.
It is vibrant, heart-renewingreality.
He says, therefore, since wehave been justified through
faith, we have peace with Godthrough our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Can you sense the release inthose words?

(06:42):
No more fleeing in guilt, nomore striving for acceptance.
We stand in grace, rejoicing inthe hope of God's glory.
This is not abstract theology.
It is God embracing hischildren, whispering: You are
renewed, you are beloved, youdwell securely with me.

(07:06):
Paul's storytelling takes acosmic turn as he compares Adam
and Jesus.
Through one man's disobedience,sin entered the world and death
through sin spreading to allpeople like a deadly infection,
but through one man's obedience,Jesus, grace overflowed to many
.
Picture a river overflowing itsbanks, rushing through every

(07:27):
dry place.
That is what God's grace does.
It doesn't just patch up thedamage of sin, it floods over
it, washes it clean and leavesnew life in its wake.
Because of this, Paul says weare no longer slaves to sin, but
alive to God in Christ Jesus.
We have died with Christ andbeen raised with him.

(07:49):
Can you hear the freedom inthat?
The chains are broken, theprison door is flung wide open.
You don't have to keep livinglike a prisoner when God has
declared you free.
Yet Paul is not naive about theongoing struggle with sin.
Romans 7 stands as one of themost brutally honest chapters in
all of Scripture.

(08:12):
Paul admits I do not understandwhat I do, for what I want to
do I do not do, but what I hateI do.
Have you ever felt like this,determined to pursue
righteousness, yet stumblingover the same temptations,
weaknesses and old habits?
Paul's words resonateprofoundly, reflecting our own

(08:33):
internal battles.
But despair doesn't have thelast word.
Paul cries out who will rescueme from this body of death?
Thanks be to God, who deliversme through Jesus Christ, our
Lord.
Then an even more powerfultruth emerges.
There is now no condemnationfor those who are in Christ

(08:54):
Jesus, not for yesterday'smistakes or this morning's
missteps.
The indwelling Holy Spiritbegins the cleansing process,
moving us into the likeness ofChrist, changing our heart's
desires, setting us free fromthe law of sin and death.
This revelation marks the shiftfrom struggle to triumph, where

(09:15):
the sanctifying work of theSpirit leads us into victorious
living.
Romans 8 is like standing on amountaintop with the wind of
God's Spirit rushing around you.
Paul says, the Spirit testifiesthat we are God's children, and
if children, then heirs,co-heirs with Christ.
He speaks of creation itselfgroaning as it waits for the

(09:36):
revealing of the sons anddaughters of God.
He assures us that in allthings, God works for the good
of those who love him.
And then, in one of the mostsoaring crescendos of Scripture
he asks, Who shall separate usfrom the love of Christ?
Shall trouble, hardship,persecution, famine, nakedness,

(10:01):
danger or sword?
No, for I am convinced, Paulwrites, that neither death nor
life, neither angels nor demons,nor anything else in all of
creation will be able toseparate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus, ourLord.
Let that settle into your soul.
Nothing can separate you fromhis love, nothing.
At this point in the letter,Paul pauses to address the

(10:21):
mystery of God's plan for Israelin chapters 9 through 11.
His tone becomes tender andsorrowful.
He says he would be willing tobe cut off from Christ if it
could mean salvation for hisfellow Israelites.
He wrestles aloud with how somany of God's chosen people
rejected the Messiah.
Yet God's promises have notfailed.

(10:43):
There is a remnant chosen bygrace, and the Gentiles have
been grafted into the olive treeof God's people.
It's a reminder that God's waysare higher than ours.
Where we see pieces, he seesthe whole tapestry.
And when Paul contemplates thisvast plan, he breaks into

(11:03):
praise saying, Oh the depth ofthe riches, of the wisdom and
knowledge of God.
How unsearchable his judgmentsand his paths beyond tracing out
.
It's as if words fail him andall he can do is worship.
Then comes the turning pointfrom theology to practice, from
what God has done to how we nowlive.

(11:25):
Romans 12 begins with apassionate plea.
Paul writes, Therefore I urgeyou, brothers and sisters, in
view of God's mercy, to offeryour bodies as a living
sacrifice.
Do not conform to the patternof this world, but be
transformed by the renewing ofyour mind.
This is where the gospelbecomes daily, tangible and

(11:46):
earthly.
It is not just about believingthe right things, but becoming
the kind of people who reflectJesus in everything we do.
Paul describes a communitymarked by sincere love, humility
, generosity and forgiveness.
He says, bless those whopersecute you.
Rejoice with those who rejoice.

(12:06):
Mourn with those who mourn.
Do not be overcome by evil, butovercome evil with good.
Can you imagine how differentthe world would be if we lived
like this?
What would it look like for youpersonally to live as a living
sacrifice today?
Paul goes on to show how thistransformed life plays out in

(12:27):
society.
In chapter 13, he says tosubmit to governing authorities,
not because they are perfect,but because God is sovereign.
He urges believers to fulfillthe law through love, reminding
them that love does no harm to aneighbor.
He says the hour has come towake from sleep, to put aside
deeds of darkness and to clotheourselves with the Lord Jesus

(12:48):
Christ.
There's a sense of holy urgencyhere.
Life is short.
Eternity is near.
It's time to live fully awake.
Chapters 14 and 15 deal tenderlywith the tensions between
strong and weak believers.
Some eat anything, others onlyvegetables.
Some observe special days,others treat every day alike.

(13:09):
Paul says in essence stopjudging one another on
disputable matters.
Each of you stands or fallsbefore your own master.
Instead of tearing each otherdown, we are called to build
each other up, the stronger tobear with the failings of the
weak, just as Christ bore ourweaknesses.
May the God who gives enduranceand encouragement give you the

(13:31):
same attitude of mind towardeach other that Christ Jesus
had, Paul prays, so that withone mind and one voice, you may
glorify the God and Father ofour Lord Jesus Christ.
What would it look like tobring that spirit of unity into
your own relationships, yourfamily, your church, your
friendships?
As Paul closes his letter, henames person after person,

(13:55):
greeting them like belovedfamily, Phoebe, a deacon, who
likely carried the very letterto Rome, Priscilla and Aquila,
who risked their lives for him,Andronicus and Junia,
outstanding among the apostles,and many, many more.
It's a beautiful reminder thatthe gospel is not just a set of
doctrines.
It is lived out in realrelationships, among real people

(14:18):
who love and serve one another.
Paul warns them to watch out forthose who cause division and to
stay rooted in the truth.
And then he ends with adoxology so full of wonder it
almost sings, To the only wiseGod be glory forever through
Jesus Christ, amen.
This, my friend, is the book ofRomans.

(14:39):
It takes us by the hand andwalks us from guilt to grace,
from slavery to freedom, fromstriving to surrender.
It shows us that salvation isnot about what we can achieve,
but about what Jesus has alreadydone.
It invites us to live not infear but in faith, not in
condemnation but in confidence,not in isolation but in love.

(15:00):
It is the power of God forsalvation and for transformation
to everyone who believes.
I want to pause and speakdirectly to your heart.
Maybe, as you've been listening, something deep inside you is
stirring.
Maybe you've realized that,while you know about God's grace
, you don't always live likeit's really yours.

(15:21):
Maybe you're weary fromstriving or stuck in old
patterns that keep pulling youaway from the freedom Jesus
offers.
Friend, you don't have to staythere.
One way I help women step intothis freedom is through what I
call the Aroma of ChristCoaching Hour plus Peace Reset.
In this gentle yet powerfulhour together we'll use the

(15:42):
Aroma Freedom Technique, alongwith essential oils, to release
emotional blocks, reset yourheart in God's peace and create
a devotional rhythm that fitsinto your real life.
It's a sacred space to breatheagain, reconnect with God and
step forward in His grace.
If your heart is longing forthat kind of reset, I invite you
to book your Aroma of Christcoaching hour today at

(16:05):
PaulaBehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
Let's walk this sacred journeytogether, surrounded by truth,
purpose and the sweet aroma ofhis presence.
Thank you for tuning in todayand remember, just like setting

(16:28):
biblical boundaries, it's okayto say no to things that don't
serve you well, like that thirdpiece of cake at the church
potluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share it
with a friend and leave a reviewso that we can reach even more
women like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.
Join us next week as wecontinue to discover how to live

(16:49):
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intohim and walking in his wisdom.
See you next time.