The year 2017 marked the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
At this time, many people have felt the need to reflect on the crisis facing the Korean church today and ask again what the gospel is.
The reason we must reread Romans at a time when voices calling for church reform are growing louder is because the gospel that Martin Luther (1483-1546) discovered in Romans was the biblical basis for the Reformation. Many people understand Paul's gospel represented in Romans as the gospel of the atonement of the cross, that is, the gospel of going to heaven after death by believing in Jesus and receiving forgiveness of sins, and they have read the entire New Testament through the lens of this gospel of heaven.
As a result, the problem arose that even the gospel of the kingdom of God, which the Synoptic Gospels clearly emphasize, was misunderstood as the gospel of the atonement of the cross.
Therefore, this book seeks to reveal the full gospel contained within the book of Romans, namely, the gospel of the kingdom of God, by rereading it.

The “Kingdom of God” that the Bible speaks of and the “heaven” that many people think of are not the same thing.
For example, let's think about how we typically use these two terms.
We usually say that we “go” to heaven.
But the kingdom of God is here.
The Lord's Prayer also includes a request for the Father's kingdom to "come."
The Kingdom of God that the Bible speaks of cannot be simply equated with the “heaven” that we usually speak of.
_“Introductory remarks”

Today, the “Kingdom of God” has become a very familiar term that all Christians encounter frequently.
So I think everyone knows what that means.
Of course, we cannot say for sure that everyone does not know what that means.
But strictly speaking, the term that is being used without a clear understanding is “Kingdom of God.”
Chapter 1 “What is the Gospel?”

Paul refers to the gospel as “the gospel of his Son” (Romans 1:9).
Jesus Christ is the gospel.
In fact, once we know about the gospel, we realize that this is the most accurate definition of the gospel.
The very existence of Jesus Christ is the gospel! But more explanation is needed.
Chapter 2: “The Gospel of Romans”

To say that faith is synonymous with obedience also means that faith involves actions.
A life of obedience naturally includes good deeds.
Strictly speaking, faith is not followed by action.
Rather, actions are included within the faith itself.
That is the salvation that Paul speaks of.
Chapter 2: “The Gospel of Romans”

The fact that Romans contains so much discussion about the dominion of sin proves that its theme is the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Because it is a trace of an effort to show the kingdom of God in contrast to the rule of sin.
Just as the Ten Commandments replace the command to serve God alone with the clause against serving any other god, Romans reveals the kingdom of God by warning against the dominion of sin.
Chapter 3: “This Generation and the Kingdom of God”

Why is the issue of the relationship between Jews and Gentiles so centrally addressed in the Epistle to the Romans? It's because the task Paul sought to address through Romans was to establish a universal church that transcended the boundaries between Jew and Gentile.
Even the topic of justification by faith can only be properly understood when viewed in this context.
The teaching of justification by faith is not an answer to the question of how we can go to heaven after death, but rather an argument for the possibility of Gentiles becoming God's people with the same qualifications as Jews.
Chapter 4: “The Kingdom of God and God’s Righteousness”

A prominent key word in the theme text of Romans (Romans 1:16-17) is “gospel.”
In the introduction to Romans (Romans 1:2-4), Paul comprehensively defined the gospel and mentioned the kingdom of God. He then introduces his plan to spread the gospel in Rome (Romans 1:8-15) and explains the gospel in detail through the thesis statement.
Chapter 4: “The Kingdom of God and God’s Righteousness”

In Romans 3:24-25, Paul clearly shows that the cross is not only atonement, but more fundamentally, redemption, a transfer of sovereignty from the dominion of sin to the kingdom of God.
The atonement of the cross is only one of the many meanings of the cross of Christ.
The most fundamental meaning of this is liberation from the dominion of sin.
This clearly shows that the discussion in Romans is taking place within the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Chapter 5 “Justification by Faith”

The law has this positive function of revealing the true nature of sin.
But the law also carries with it a serious problem.
The fact is that the law exposes the reality of sin, but has no power to actually solve that sin.
Just as modern medical technology can diagnose terminal cancer but cannot completely cure it, and thus ultimately causes mental illness in cancer patients, hastening their death, so the law reveals its incompetence in the face of the sin it has exposed.
Chapter 5 “Justification by Faith”

God offered us a covenant on the cross of Jesus Christ.
God establishes the kingdom of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ and asks us to become citizens of that kingdom.
To accept that offer and make the God of Jesus Christ my Lord is to believe in Jesus.
By believing in Jesus, we enter into a covenant relationship as the people of the Lord God.
Chapter 5 “Justification by Faith”

Christians are caught between the kingdom of God and the dominion of sin.
Although the kingdom of God has already begun and the dominion of sin has been doomed, it still has a powerful influence.
Romans 5-8 repeatedly urges us in such situations not to return to the dominion of sin.
Chapter 6: “The Hope of Glory”

A life of faith is neither about abandoning my will nor about doing things according to my will.
Rather, the life of faith is “setting my will straight.”
The old man must die on the cross and be resurrected as a new man.
The body of sin, the body of death, must be destroyed and the body of life must be resurrected.
We must overcome our distorted selves and regain our true selves.
Without self there is no freedom.
When our true self is established in this way and our will is aligned with God's will, we enjoy complete freedom.
Chapter 6: “The Hope of Glory”

Our salvation is sure.
But that certainty is not due to a rigid doctrinal system, but to God.
So the object of our faith is not doctrine, but God.
Our faith is not limited to accepting certain facts, but is defined as establishing an intimate covenant relationship with God, the subject of those facts.
Therefore, the certainty of our salvation does not depend on any fact or system, but on God Himself.
Chapter 6: “The Hope of Glory”

With the coming of Jesus, the kingdom of God has already begun on this earth.
From the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord, we became His people, working together to build the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God has already begun.
But it's not finished yet.
Because this generation, the order of the Pharaohs, still survives and exerts influence.
In this reality, we must mature our faith in God's sovereignty and establish the kingdom of God in every area of ​​our lives.
Of course, the kingdom of God is established by God himself.
Because it is “God’s” kingdom.
We simply surrender everything to God's lordship.
Living only by grace.
By the grace of God, we can only continue to run towards the goal.
We must walk that path step by step with faithfulness toward the Lord.
Chapter 6: “The Hope of Glory”

--- From the text