Book of Romans Study
Lesson # 3
By Rev. James May
Romans 1:13 – 22
In continuing to express his desire to go to Rome to be a blessing to the saints of God in that city, Paul begins now to explain why he hasn’t been there before and why this is the appointed time for him to go. Paul was ever led by the Holy Ghost and made it a lifelong challenge to do only what he was directed to do. Paul understood that without the leading of the Holy Ghost and the anointing of God, his preaching would accomplish little and there would be few churches established.
Let that be a lesson to all of us that we need the presence of the Holy Ghost with us at all times. Without his power and his presence we are destined to fail, but when God is with us, we cannot be defeated.
Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Paul had never met the saints at Rome yet he considered them brothers in Christ. No matter where someone may be from, what ethnic or national background they have, the color of their skin, or any other factors that people use to create barriers and division, when a man or woman is born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, then we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord, and all members equal in the eyes of the Lord, and all heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. With our Heavenly Father, there are no distinctions. We are all equal and all His own children.
Paul’s expression of calling them brothers also shows that he has the Love of God for them, for God loves all men, everywhere. Paul addressed both the converted Jews who were his brothers by blood and birth in the flesh, as well as the Gentiles who were his brothers by the blood of Jesus and the new birth of the Spirit. Whether Jew or Gentile, we are all brothers in the Lord when we are born again.
This is the first lesson that Paul has for the church, and the very foundation of the Christian Constitution; that all men are made equal through the blood of Jesus Christ, and all have equal Grace and Mercy from God our Father, and we all have the unlimited and unconditional Love of God directed to our hearts. In God, there is absolute equality and full citizenship. No one is preferred above another, whether you are a great Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher or a member of the church without a title. We are all equal in God’s kingdom. The only difference in our relationship with God will be in what our reward will be in Heaven due to our faithfulness and obedience to his calling; not on anything else.
Paul doesn’t want the Roman saints to be ignorant, unknowing and uninformed of their rights and privileges as fellow servants in Christ. He is no better than them. They are no less than he. Their only difference is in the calling of God upon their lives and the place that God has appointed them to occupy in his kingdom and church government.
Paul continues to say that he had wanted to travel to Rome many times before but had been “let” by the Holy Ghost. That word “let” appears a number of times in the Bible, including the time in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 where it says that, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
“Let” = kōluō (ko-loo'-o), which means, to prevent - forbid, hinder, keep from, let, not suffer, withstand.
In the passage of 2 Thessalonians it is the prayers of the church, in conjunction with the working of the Holy Spirit to set the timing and limit the power of civil governments in working toward the appearance of the Antichrist. When the church is taken away, and the Holy Spirit lifts all restrictions, then, and only then, can the Antichrist rise to power, at God’s appointed time.
In this letter to the Romans, Paul is restrained, hindered, prevented and kept from visiting the saints at Rome by the will of God. In God’s time, and in God’s way, Paul would go, but not until then. God had other works for Paul to do first; other places to preach; other churches to establish and needs to be met in the lives of other church leaders.
Under the direction and anointing of the Holy Ghost, Paul would eventually be given the freedom to travel to Rome and preach there, but God knows the hearts of all men and it he alone who governs his kingdom.
The saints at Rome held no place of pre-eminence or greater value, in the eyes of God than any other group of saints in the earth.
Only God knows where the fields are ripe unto harvest and where the most work must be applied to reach the souls of men. If Paul was to bear the fruits of ministry that God desired of him, he had no choice but to walk the path that was laid before him by the will of God.
Paul was going to Rome to teach and build up the faith of the saints there, to help them to understand the working of the Holy Ghost among them as they were faithful. He also desired to preach the gospel and gain more converts. None of this would be accomplished without the Holy Ghost empowering him to do the work.
Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Paul explains that the call of God upon his life as an Apostle, created within him a debt to preach the gospel wherever the Spirit would lead him. He was not limited to only the Jews, or only the Greeks or Romans, and not even limited in reaching out to those who were considered Barbarians who lived in places that were uncivilized by the standards of Greek, Jewish or Roman culture.
He also says that he was bound by his calling to preach to both the wise and unwise. Whether the world looked upon some people as educated, sophisticated, knowledgeable, refined and cultured, or whether the world considered some people to be wild, unwise, or uncouth, Paul was bound to preach the gospel to them all.
Paul understood that by the Grace of God, the wise would become as unwise when their eyes were opened to know the Truth, and that the unwise would be made wise by the knowledge of Christ. When the mind and heart are enlightened by the Holy Ghost, everything changes and Paul was to make no distinction among men when preaching the Truth of the Gospel.
Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Even though God had called Paul to preach to all men, he was especially ready to overcome every obstacle in order to preach to the saints at Rome as much as anyone else.
Paul desired greatly to preach at the greatest city of the Roman Empire; to find the most public of locations among the people of the city; to walk right up to the first seat of the Satanically inspired power of Rome; and to confront the devil and preach the gospel at the very source of all of the persecution of the church that came from the Romans.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Praise God for people who have a holy boldness to preach the gospel; to stand unwavering, unafraid and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord! Paul wasn’t ashamed of Jesus Christ, of the Cross of Christ and of the call of God upon his own life.
ARE YOU? AM I? Are we ashamed to the gospel? Do we cower in fear when the time comes to witness for Jesus? Are we willing to risk all for Jesus just like Paul did?
If we are ashamed of Jesus now, and refuse to confess him before men at every opportunity; the Bible tells us that he will not know us in the judgment. We must proclaim the gospel without fear, without compromise and with no shame; but with pride and conviction in knowing that what we preach is the greatest Truth and hope that a man could ever have!
Paul didn’t mince words! He said it like it is! He didn’t try to soft soap his speech to sooth the ears of the hearers. He tried, in the love of God, to speak in such a manner that would win souls; but if they found it offensive, it didn’t stop him from speaking the truth. It’s only when men hear and know the Truth; that they can be set free.
Words that comfort the heart, tell you how good you already are, and try to say that all is well and no repentance is necessary because you’re okay and I’m okay, will never save a soul. Men and women will go to the pits of hell believing that everything was okay between them and God because some preacher didn’t want to preach the Truth and offend them. The ultimate offense is when that soul is cast into the flames for eternity knowing that they were never told the Truth!
There are many today who only preach a part of the gospel. They use words that are uncertain and that bring no conviction for sin. Many Christians won’t act or witness as Christians in public for fear of rejection or ridicule, but only witness in private places, one-on-one. God expects more!
A lot of people blend the message of the gospel with their own ideas and interpretations, with their own best interests in mind, and refuse to take any chances of ruining their popularity, social acceptance or take a chance of bearing any reproach for the sake of Christ. They have milk toast message that always goes down easy and never upsets the heart of the listeners. They’re afraid of confronting sin or preaching the truth lest they lose their hearers, and the money that they give.
Paul preached the truth whether it meant souls would be saved, he would be beaten with rods, shipwrecked, cast into prison, locked in chains or whatever. His message was always the same and to the point. Jesus Christ is Lord, and all men need a Savior, for there is none Righteous, no not even one!
The power of God to save is not found in soft words and compromise, but in proclaiming the full Gospel message including sin and repentance, and acceptance of the sacrifice that Jesus made upon the cross that we might be saved from eternal death. Only by the foolishness of preaching the full gospel Truth can souls be won to the kingdom of God.
Preach it in love; in compassion; with mercy and grace; but preach it all! That’s how souls are won, and no other way! All people must heart the Truth, believe the Truth and walk in the Truth of the gospel because there is no other way to Heaven.
The Jews at one time had a definite advantage in their knowledge and dealings with God, but no more. God was reaching out to both Jew and Gentile equally. If either accepted the gospel, they were saved; if either rejected the gospel, they were lost!
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
How do we learn what is right and what God expects of each of us? First, we heart the gospel and we accept Christ as our Savior. Then we hear preaching and we read the Word of God. As we live each day, taking it one step at a time, we learn the will of God, and what God’s Word requires and what Jesus has done and continues to do for us.
From a walk of faith, one step at a time, living by faith, we learn what the righteousness of God is all about. It is not something you can reason in your own mind. It is not something that we learn through education. It is learned only in a daily walking by faith, trusting in Jesus to bring us through and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth. That’s what Paul means when he says, “the just shall live by faith”! We are made “just”, or right and holy, as we walk by faith; justified by Christ’s blood, made sanctified and holy one step at a time.
Paul refers to Habakkuk 2:4, which says, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” This passage is speaking of the Messiah that would arise in Israel after the time of Habakkuk.
What it says is that, “By the faith of men in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, shall men be made just.”
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Paul has been speaking of the doctrine of justification by faith in the righteousness of Christ alone, and by inference has proclaimed that no man can be justified by obedience to the Law alone.
Now Paul will be very plain and open in his teaching concerning the condition of the hearts of men, especially the Gentiles. According to the Law they were unholy and unrighteous. They were in danger of incurring the wrath of God as a matter of discipline and punishment for their sin.
Paul also is clear that the wrath of God poured out on them would be completely justified for the vengeance of a Holy God upon ungodly men is required by God’s holiness and righteousness. They deserved God’s wrath, but God desired to extend grace if they will only hear and repent!
There are only two ways to live, either by obedience to the gospel and acceptance of Christ, or by the rebelliousness and unrighteousness of sin and rejection of Christ. One gives salvation and life, the other give only death and the wrath of God forever.
God’s wrath upon sinful men has been revealed throughout history so that there can be no doubt.
*God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin, consuming every inhabitant with fire.
*God destroyed the world of sinful men in the flood of Noah’s day, wiping the world clean to start again.
*He turned Lot’s wife to a pillar of salt for her disobedience and love of the world. *He sent the plagues upon Egypt as judgments for the sin of Pharaoh against Israel. *And now, we see the things that are coming in these last days. God’s wrath is nothing to be ignored or toyed with.
The wrath of God fell upon those who were ungodly and unrighteous and refused to change their evil ways. Can God do any less in our day?
The whole earth has heard the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There may be a few out of the way pockets that have not heard, but every nation has had a witness. The world knows the message of the cross of Christ and the blood of Jesus, but most hold this truth in their hearts and refuse to confess it or live by it. Even if they do profess the gospel, many don’t live by it.
Nearly all men acknowledge that there is a God somewhere, and all men have an inborn knowledge of right and wrong that comes from the righteousness of God, but they don’t live by what’s right, and choose to do the wrong, ignoring the knowledge they do have, even it is not complete. Therefore, there will be no excuse when God’s wrath is poured out.
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
There are some things which could not be known of God by the understanding that we get through nature alone. But there are things of God that all men can know if they will only believe their own eyes.
Adam, the first man, had a perfect knowledge of God, and even after the fall, Adam’s sons, and each succeeding generation, though they were going ever deeper into sin and farther from God, still knew that there was One God who was glorious and full of majesty, completely perfect, all powerful, wise, good and righteous in every way.
All men are given a revelation, or knowledge that there is such a God, but all too many choose to reject that knowledge and deny that God exists, thereby condemning themselves to face his wrath. The light does no good if it is hidden too deeply within or snuffed out by decision to live as though there is no God.
But understand this: To refuse to believe; to refuse to obey; to refuse to accept the Truth of the gospel and acknowledge that God is; doesn’t keep the Truth from being the Truth. The Truth will no change, but all men who refuse to live by it will be judged by it and face God’s wrath for their rebellious hearts.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
What invisible things is Paul talking about? It’s not angels, those who are living in Heaven right now, nor is it what Heaven looks like or what God looks like.
The invisible things are the very nature and character of God such as who he is, that he exists, that he is powerful and that he is alive. These are the “invisible things”, yet they are seen if we will only open our eyes to see.
What about the creation itself? God created all things and we can see his power, glory and majesty in the creation itself if we will only try. Just by using our brain, the ability to think and reason that God gave us, we can see the reality of God around us.
Only in the past 100 years or so has man finally found a way to try to discredit the creation of all things by God, because man doesn’t want to believe that he should be accountable for anything he does. Yet mans flawed reasoning does not negate the truth that God is still God.
(By God’s grace, I plan on a series on Revolution Against Evolution shortly. Evolution is a lie from the pits of hell, designed to wreck the faith of men in a God of Creation. Evolution has never been proven. It’s a theory that men love to accept because it removes accountability to God. And they have proclaimed it to be true without any facts to back it up. Even many who have proclaimed its truthfulness are now denying its logic. Yet it is taught as fact, without facts to back it up. It would take a lot more faith for me to believe that I came from a hairy ape than to believe that my God created me in his own image. It’s all about faith, and what you want to believe anyway. )
Look around you! Everything around you has a design and a purpose. The entire universe is set in order and operates under very specific laws. That this could be an accident is ridiculous, but that it is so because of the intelligence of a divine and all-powerful God is fully believable.
If it were not for the effects of sin in the fall of man, your body would be perfect. If it were not for the effects of sin, all of nature would be perfect. All of this proclaims the unity and perfection of the God that created them, and one day soon, He will make all things perfect once again for those who will believe in him.
There will be no acceptable excuse for not believing in God when we face the judgment. All who reject the Truth will be forever punished without exception. Men who believe the lie rather than accept the truth will burn forever!
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Why will God’s wrath be poured out upon those who are ungodly? It’s simply this: All men are given a measure of faith to believe and know that there is a God, but not all men choose to believe and use that faith. They do not glorify God, not confess his reality in their hearts. The do not honor him as Creator. They do not trust him, love him or serve him. They refuse to worship him, or even consider his will for their lives. They are not thankful of his blessings. They reject God’s offer of mercy.
Instead, they become self-centered and vain in their own minds and suddenly every evil manner of conduct is birthed in their sin-darkened and spiritually blinded way of thinking. Every imagination and thought in their hearts is to do evil and go farther from God all of the time. Their own pride won’t allow them to seek God’s truth, and their flawed thinking shows in their inability to reason things correctly.
In time they run to atheism (no God), pantheism (Everything is God), polytheism (Many Gods) and idolatry (false, man-made gods), or they cast God from their consciousness completely (if I don’t think about it, it will go away). All of these are lies of Satan and will condemn a soul to face the wrath of the One Holy God!
They go ever deeper into spiritual darkness. Their thinking is based solely upon the wisdom of men, and the devil is sitting there, pushing them ever farther and deeper into darkness, until they are fully lost and no longer desire to know truth and will fully accept the lies and be lost forever.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
You will never find a teacher, a professor or anyone else who denies or tries to destroy your faith in God, who considers himself to be a fool. They all think they are so much wiser because they’ve learned from the best that man has to offer. Then they will cover their pride in their vanity by professing to be great philosophers who love wisdom and brag of their great knowledge and understanding.
But regardless of how “wise” they think they are; God call them fools if they do not believe and serve him.
David said in Psalms 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…”
The voice of those who say that God is dead; that there is no God; that God is whoever or whatever you say he is; that all god’s created by man are the same; that all religions are the same and lead to the same end; those voices are the voices of the greatest fools among men.
These are the voices of the ungodly that will face the wrath of God. Sadly, they convince many to agree with them and are as the blind leading the blind because neither will open their eyes. Both the fool and those who agree with them will face the wrath of God against ungodly men very soon.
