Romans is the “Constitution of Christianity”
Romans is the “Constitution of Christianity”
Doctrinal Section – Chapters 1-8
National Section – Chapters 9-11
Practical Section – Chapters 12-16
Doctrinal Section
1. Introduction – Theme – God’s Righteousness
2. Sin
3. Salvation
4. Sanctification
Paul wrote his major letters of Romans with I & II Corinthians during this third missionary journey. Romans clarifies our understanding of Jesus’ death (Romans 3:21-26)
The chief aims for Paul’s writing Romans was to prepare the people for his first visit there. He long had intended to visit the city, but circumstances had prevented it. Paul’s writing in anticipation of his visit was part of an effort to strengthen the Roman Christians in their faith (1:11-15)
Who founded the Church at Rome?
Romans 1:1-7 – Introduction
Paul’s Credentials
1. A slave of Christ (1:1)
2. An apostle of God (1:1)
Apostle translates apostolos, which has the basic meaning of a person who is sent. It referred to someone who was officially commissioned to a position or task, such as an envoy or ambassador. Cargo ships were sometimes called apostolic, because they were dispatched with a specific shipment for a specific destination.
The term apostle appears some seventy-nine times in the New Testament and is used in a few instances in a general, nontechnical sense (see Rom. 16:7; Acts 14:14). In its broadest sense, apostle can refer to all believers, because every believer is sent into the world as a witness for Christ. But the term is primarily used as a specific and unique title for the thirteen men (the Twelve, with Matthias replacing Judas, and Paul) whom Christ personally chose and commissioned to authoritatively proclaim the gospel and lead the early church.
The thirteen apostles not only were all called directly by Jesus but all were witnesses of His resurrection, Paul having encountered Him on the Damascus Road after His ascension. Those thirteen apostles were given direct revelation of God’s Word to proclaim authoritatively, the gift of healing, and the power to cast out demons (Matt. 10:1). By these signs their teaching authority was verified (cf. 2 Cor. 12:12). Their teachings became the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20), and their authority extended beyond local bodies of believers to the entire believing world.
3. Set apart to the Gospel (1:1-4)
Because Paul was called and sent by God as an apostle, his whole life was set apart in the Lord’s service. Even a person who has been called by God to a special type or place of service cannot be effective if he is not also separated unto God for the gospel of God.
a. Promised long ago
b. The gospel concerns the incarnation
c. The gospel declares Jesus to be God’s Son
4. Had received God’s grace and mission (1:5)
5. Acknowledged the enslavement of others (1:7)
a. They too were called
b. They too were beloved
c. They too were saints
d. They too were recipients of grace
Outline of the Gospel Paul Preached
I. His View of the Old Testament
a. It comes from God
b. Given through the prophets
c. It’s Holy
II. His View of the Lord Jesus Christ
a. He is God’s Son
b. He is the promised Savior
c. He is the Lord
d. He is man
e. He is declared
f. He is divine
g. He is risen
III. His View of the Gospel
a. It is of God
b. It was prophesied
c. It agrees with the Old Testament
d. It concerns God’s Son
e. It concerns the divine Savior
IV. His View
Paul’s Great Interest in the Roman Church Romans 1:1-16
The testimony of the church – 1:8
His personal longings in the Gospel – 1:9
His prayer – 1:9
His opportunity – 1:10-13
Impart some spiritual gift
To be encouraged together
To bear fruit among them
His debt – 1:14-15
Debtor
Ready
Romans 1:16-17 The Gospel and God’s Righteousness
I. Why was Paul never ashamed of the gospel
a. It is the good news from God Himself
b. It is the power of God to save
c. It is the revelation of God’s righteousness
II. The urgency of the Gospel
a. It saves
b. It reveals the righteousness of God
c. It makes possible a life of faith
d. It delivers from the wrath of God
III. Ashamed
a. There is the fear of intellectual shame
b. There is the fear of social shame
IV. Salvation
a. Deliverance from being lost
b. Deliverance from sin
c. Deliverance in the future from corruption
d. Deliverance from enemies and danger
e. Means to be whole
V. Righteous
a. Man has a serious problem – thinking he is righteous
b. The answer to man’s problem is faith
God’s Case Against Ungodly Men
I. The Subjects of God’s Wrath
1. The ungodly and unrighteous
2. Men who hold the truth in unrighteousness
II. The Reality of Wrath – Decisive Anger
1. There is God’s anger in judgment
2. There is God’s anger with those who disobey Christ
3. There is God’s anger with Israel
4. There is God’s anger at the hardness of man’s heart
III. Men Reject Truth “within” them – Conscious
IV. Men Reject Truth “without” them – Creation
V. Men do not honor God, nor give thanks
1. Result 1: Their imaginations become empty
2. Result 2: Their hearts become darkened
VI. Men become prideful and turn away from God
1. Result 1: They create God in their own image
2. Result 2: Idolatry
VII. So, how does God show his wrath? – four ways 1:24-32
1. God allowed to do as they willed
2. God gave them up to uncleanness
3. God gave them up to vileness
4. God gave them over to depraved minds
4 Propositions
1. All men everywhere have some light.
2. Light refused increases darkness.
3. Light obeyed increases light.
Men will be judged according to the light that they have.
