Book of Romans Quiz: Life in the Spirit and Israel's Story

1. Romans 6:1 poses an obvious objection to the teaching that grace abounds where sin increases. What is the objection, and how does Paul immediately answer it?

1. Objection: 'Can God's grace truly cover every sin?' Answer: 'Yes — but we must not presume on it'
2. Objection: 'Does grace mean we are free from all obligation?' Answer: 'No — we are obligated to grace and must respond with obedience'
3. Objection: 'Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?' Answer: 'By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?'
4. Objection: 'Should we live lawlessly since we are no longer under the law?' Answer: 'No — we are still accountable to God's moral standards'

2. Romans 6:3-4 explains the spiritual significance of baptism. What does Paul say baptism represents?

1. A public declaration of faith and commitment to the community of believers
2. A washing away of past sins and a fresh start in God's presence
3. An initiation into the covenant people through water, just as circumcision was under the old covenant
4. We were baptised into Christ's death so that, just as Christ was raised, we too may live a new life

3. In Romans 6:11, Paul gives believers a practical instruction based on their union with Christ. What does he tell them to do?

1. Confess your sins daily so that your relationship with God remains unbroken
2. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus
3. Pray daily to be filled with the Spirit so that sin loses its power over them
4. Resist the devil and he will flee from you — stand firm in your freedom

4. Romans 6:23 is one of the most famous verses in the New Testament. What does it say?

1. 'God disciplines those he loves — through hardship he removes the love of sin from his children'
2. 'Sin will not have dominion over you — you are not under the law but under grace'
3. 'The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord'
4. 'There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus — sin no longer has power over them'

5. Romans 7:7-25 contains Paul's anguished description of the inner conflict with sin. Scholars debate who 'I' refers to — Paul's pre-Christian self, his Christian experience, or the experience of Israel under law. What is the cry at the climax of this section?

1. 'Sin is in me and I cannot overcome it by my own power!'
2. 'The law is holy and good, but I am carnal, sold as a slave to sin!'
3. 'What I do I do not want to do — yet I keep on doing the very evil I hate!'
4. 'Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!'

6. Romans 8:1 opens with one of the most celebrated declarations in Paul's letters. What does he say?

1. 'God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus'
2. 'In Christ, you are a new creation — the old has gone and the new has come'
3. 'There is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ — all are one in him'
4. 'Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus'

7. Romans 8:14-17 describes the Spirit's role in adoption. What does Paul say the Spirit does in relation to our status as God's children?

1. The Spirit enables us to understand God's word and obey his commands as his children
2. The Spirit gives us assurance that our sins are forgiven and we will not face judgment
3. The Spirit seals us as God's property and guarantees our future inheritance
4. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children — and we cry 'Abba, Father'

8. Romans 8:18-22 contains Paul's teaching on the groaning creation. What does he say about the created world?

1. The creation groans because of human sin and its groaning will only cease when humans are finally removed from it
2. The creation has been given to humans to subdue and will pass away when its purpose is complete
3. The creation is good and will be renewed when Christ returns — sin has not fundamentally corrupted it
4. The creation was subjected to frustration not by its own choice, but it waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed

9. Romans 8:26 describes the Spirit's ministry when believers do not know how to pray. What does it say?

1. The Spirit gives us words to pray that go beyond our understanding
2. The Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groans — and the Father who searches hearts understands
3. The Spirit prays on our behalf when we are unable to pray for ourselves due to suffering
4. The Spirit translates our weak prayers and presents them perfectly before the Father

10. Romans 8:28 is one of the most comforting — and often misquoted — verses in the New Testament. What does it actually say?

1. 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose'
2. 'Everything that happens to a believer works out for their blessing in the end'
3. 'God causes all things to work together for good — for he is sovereign over all events'
4. 'The Lord works all things for good — no trial or suffering is without his purpose and care'

11. Romans 8:29-30 contains the 'golden chain' of salvation — a sequence of five linked actions God performs. What are they in order?

1. Created, chosen, redeemed, sanctified, glorified
2. Election, predestination, calling, justification, glorification
3. Foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified
4. Loved, called, forgiven, adopted, perfected

12. Romans 8:38-39 closes the chapter with Paul's great declaration. What does he say can separate us from the love of God?

1. Nothing — but he warns that persistent wilful sin can cause a believer to forfeit their salvation
2. Nothing created — but God himself may withdraw his love if a person utterly rejects him
3. Nothing in all creation — neither death nor life, angels, demons, height, depth, present nor future
4. Nothing that happens to us externally — but internal unbelief can sever the connection

13. In Romans 9, Paul addresses the painful question of whether God's word has failed regarding Israel. He argues that not all Israel is Israel. What does he mean?

1. Many who identify as Jews are not truly Jewish — their ancestry is mixed
2. Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel — God's election runs through the line of promise, not mere physical descent
3. The name 'Israel' now belongs to the church — physical Israel has been replaced
4. True Israel is anyone, Jew or Gentile, who keeps the law of Moses

14. Romans 9:20-21 contains Paul's response to human objections against God's sovereign election. What image does he use?

1. A farmer and seed — the farmer chooses which seed to plant and which to discard, and the seed has no say
2. A father and child — the child cannot choose its father but is loved unconditionally regardless
3. A king and subjects — the king chooses who will serve in his court without owing anyone an explanation
4. A potter and clay — the potter has the right to make from the same lump some pottery for special purposes and some for common use

15. Romans 10:9-10 presents the conditions for salvation in a famous two-part formula. What does Paul say?

1. 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved — you and your household'
2. 'Confess your sins and believe in Jesus — for the one who comes to him he will never drive away'
3. 'If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved'
4. 'Repent of your sins and be baptised — for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit'

16. Romans 10:14-15 presents the logical chain of gospel proclamation. What sequence does Paul lay out?

1. Belief, then baptism, then the Spirit, then service
2. Election, then calling, then hearing, then believing, then confessing
3. Hearing the word, then believing, then calling on God, then being saved — and hearing requires a preacher who is sent
4. Repentance, then faith, then confession, then discipleship

17. In Romans 11:1, Paul answers his own question 'Did God reject his people?' with a personal argument. What is it?

1. 'No! — For God has not finished with Israel; their full inclusion is still coming'
2. 'No! — For God's gifts and his calling are irrevocable; Israel's rejection is only temporary'
3. 'No! — I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people whom he foreknew'
4. 'No! — There is a remnant chosen by grace, as in the days of Elijah'

18. Romans 11 introduces the image of an olive tree with branches. What does the olive tree represent, and what are the natural and wild branches?

1. The tree is God's kingdom; natural branches are Old Testament saints; wild branches are New Testament believers
2. The tree is Israel; natural branches are the twelve tribes; wild branches are the Gentile nations added at Pentecost
3. The tree is the church; natural branches are Jewish Christians; wild branches are Gentile Christians grafted in
4. The tree is the covenant community; natural branches are ethnic Israel; wild branches are Gentiles grafted in through faith when some natural branches were broken off through unbelief

19. Romans 11:25-26 reveals what Paul calls a 'mystery' about Israel. What is it?

1. A hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved
2. God has elected a fixed number from both Israel and the Gentiles, and when that number is complete, the end will come
3. Israel will one day recognise Jesus as Messiah — but only at his second coming
4. The gospel will spread to all nations and then return to Israel, completing the circle of redemption

20. Romans 11:33-36 closes the doctrinal section of the letter (chapters 1-11) with a doxology. What does Paul exclaim?

1. 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has filled us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms'
2. 'Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever'
3. 'Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!'
4. 'To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine — to him be glory throughout all generations'