蕭昶欣/英文/CFM/8月5-11日
1Recording promptings will help you remember what the Spirit is teaching you.
2Consider also recording how you feel about these promptings.
3By the time Paul wrote his Epistle to Roman Church members, who were a diverse group of Jews and Gentiles, the Church of Jesus Christ had grown far beyond a small band of believers from Galilee.
4About 20 years after the Savior’s Resurrection, there were congregations of Christians almost everywhere the Apostles could reasonably travel—including Rome, the capital of a vast empire.
5But while Paul’s immediate audience was the Roman Saints, his message is universal, and it includes all of us today: “The gospel of Christ … is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16, italics added).
6The epistles are letters written by Church leaders to Saints in various parts of the world.
7The Apostle Paul wrote most of the epistles in the New Testament—starting with Romans and ending with Hebrews.
8His epistles are organized by length.
9Although Romans is the first epistle in the New Testament, it was actually written near the end of Paul’s missionary journeys.
10For more information about the epistles, see Bible Dictionary, “Pauline Epistles.”
11The following definitions may help you better understand the Epistle to the Romans:
12The law:When Paul wrote of “the law,” he was referring to the law of Moses.
13Similarly, the word “works” in Paul’s writings often referred to the ceremonies and rituals of the law of Moses.
14Paul contrasted this law with “the law of faith” (see Romans 3:27–31), or the doctrine of Jesus Christ, who is the real source of our salvation.
15Circumcision, uncircumcision:Anciently, circumcision was a token or symbol of the covenant God made with Abraham.
16Paul used the term “circumcision” to refer to Jews (the covenant people) and “uncircumcision” to refer to Gentiles (those who are not of the Abrahamic covenant).
17Circumcision is no longer necessary as a token of God’s covenant with His people (see Acts 15:23–29).
18Justification, justify, justified:These terms refer to the remission, or pardoning, of sin.
19When we are justified, we are forgiven, declared guiltless, and freed from eternal punishment for our sins.
20As Paul explained, this is made possible through Jesus Christ (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Justification, Justify,” scriptures.lds.org; see also D. Todd Christofferson, “Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 18–25).
21In Romans, words like righteous and righteousness could be seen as synonyms for words like just and justification.
22Grace:Grace is “divine … help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.”
23Through grace, all people will be resurrected and receive immortality.
24In addition, “Grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.”
25We do not earn grace through our efforts; rather, it is grace that gives us “strength and assistance to do good works that [we] otherwise would not be able to maintain”.
26(Bible Dictionary, “Grace”; see also Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 107; 2 Nephi 25:23)
27Paul’s teachings show that some of the Jewish Christians in Rome still believed that obedience to the rites and rituals of the law of Moses brought salvation.
28This may seem like a problem that doesn’t apply anymore since we don’t live by the law of Moses.
29But as you read Paul’s writings, especially Romans 2:17–29, think about your own efforts to live the gospel.
30Are your outward performances, such as taking the sacrament or attending the temple, leading you to conversion and strengthening your faith in Christ? (see Alma 25:15–16).
31How can you ensure that your outward actions are leading to a change of heart?
32See also Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 32–34.
33Some people may feel discouraged at Paul’s bold declaration that “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).
34But there are also hopeful messages in Romans.
35Look for them in chapters 3 and 5, and consider why remembering that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) is an important step toward learning to “rejoice in hope” through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:2).
36Paul taught that the gospel should change the way we live.
37What statements in Romans 6 would you use to help someone understand how the gospel has helped you “walk in newness of life”? (verse 4).
38What personal experiences would you share?
39As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of your family.
40Here are some suggestions:
41How can we show that we are “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ”?
42Some people might say that because we are “justified only by [God’s] grace” (Joseph Smith Translation, Romans 3:24 [in Romans 3:24, footnote a]), there are no requirements for us to receive grace.
43Even though we can never do enough to “earn” God’s grace, God does ask us to do certain things to receive it.
44What can we do to receive grace?
45What tribulations have we experienced?
46How have these tribulations helped us to develop patience, experience, and hope?
47What did Paul say in these verses about the symbolism of baptism?
48Perhaps your family could plan to attend an upcoming baptism.
49Or someone in your family could share pictures or memories from his or her baptism.
50How does making and keeping our baptismal covenants help us “walk in newness of life”?
51Baptism symbolizes beginning a new life as a disciple of Christ.
52For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
53Ask questions as you study.
54As you study the scriptures, questions may come to mind.
55Ponder these questions and look for answers.
56For example, in Romans 1–6 you could look for answers to the question “What is grace?”
![[license_name]](https://phab.wmfusercontent.org/file/data/74pabljogcsnddfc2fxw/PHID-FILE-drvxer3igopuuwy5clj7/cc-by-sa.png){kind=small}
