In the light of God’s mercy shown to Jews and Gentiles, we should respond by living our lives wholly committed to God. our behaviour and thinking will change.

Paul states that government is God’s plan for society. Despite the different forms of government, Christians should respect and honour those in authority who are under God’s sovereignty. Christians should pay their taxes and pray for those in authority.

Following on Jesus' teaching, Paul also encourages the Christian community to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’. Our neighbour is people in the church community who need help which we can give. He introduces a sense of urgency in the light of the Second Coming of Jesus and the question of how we have used our opprtunities.

Having encouraged the Roman Christians to be sensitive and kind to each other, Paul encourages them to have a long-term commitment to Jesus. He explains that the Old Testament is full of encouraging examples of faith. He traces the purpose of God to start with the Jewish nation and then to bring in the Gentiles to the faith.

Paul's goal is that a local church will have strong character development, increase of knowledge and skills to develop the church. There will be weak areas that should be addressed. Paul was called to plant many churches wherever he went. He wants to visit Rome and then move on to Spain with the help of the Roman church. His mission involves his teaching, his actions and miracles.

Paul greets a long list of co-workers in Rome and urges them to welcome Phoebe who is probably the courier for the letter to the Romans. There is evidence of team work throughout Paul’s ministry.

Paul warns the church about people coming in and causing division by false teaching or false motives. More of his colleagues and friends are mentioned.

Paul explains that Jesus is the culmination of the law. He outlines the process of sharing the gospel and comments on the response of the Jews and Gentiles at that time.

Paul explains that God has a future purpose for the Jewish nation that has been hidden but has been revealed to Paul - that great numbers of Jews will believe in Jesus as the Messiah, once the number of Gentiles to believe is completed.

Background detail of the city of Rome and historical influences on the church are given. Paul is shown to be a man of prayer. He wanted to go to Rome to impart spiritual gifts, share fellowship and encourage their evangelism.