Romans01

 

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS

Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (which He had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 and declared, with power, to be the Son of God, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, 5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name, 6 among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ:  7 To all those in Rome who are beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.  

QUESTIONS

  1. What is Paul’s view of himself?
  • a servant of Jesus Christ (v.1)
  • called to be an apostle (v.1)
  • separated unto the Gospel (v.1)
  1. What is Paul’s view of Jesus Christ?
  • He’s the Son of God (vv.3,4)… our Lord (v.3)… and a descendant of David (v.3)
  1. What is Paul’s view of his mission?
  • To proclaim the Gospel of God (v.1) … as an apostle (vv.1,5)
  1. What is Paul’s view of the Gospel?
  • It had been promised by the prophets (v.2)
  • It is about Jesus Christ (v.3)
  1. What is Paul’s view of the Romans?
  • They are also called (v.6)
  • They are loved by God (v.7)
  1. How was Jesus declared to be “the Son of God”?
  • By His resurrection from the dead (v.4)

 

PAUL’S DESIRE TO GO TO ROME

Romans 1:8-15

8 First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, is my witness that, without ceasing, I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

The Reason for Paul’s Desire 

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me.  13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was not able to,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.  14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  

QUESTIONS 

  1. What is Paul thankful for?
  • That the faith of the brethren in Rome is spoken of (v.8)
  1. What did he often pray for?
  • A prosperous journey (v.10)
  • To visit the Christians in Rome (v.10)
  1. According to v.10,what is Paul’s desire?
  • To visit the brethren in Rome
  1. Why did Paul long to see the brethren in Rome?
  • To impart some spiritual gift (v.11)
  • To be comforted with them by their mutual faith (v.12)
  • So that he might have some fruit among them (v.13)
  1. What do you understand “fruit” (in v.13) to mean?
  • Converts to Christianity
  1. Whom do you understand “Greeks” and “Barbarians” to be?
  • The Greeks – not ethnic Greeks, but cultured persons, who’d been exposed to Greek culture;
  • The Barbarians – uncultured persons, who, when they spoke, sounded as if they were saying “bar-bar” (William Barclay).

COMMENTS

These first 15 verses of chapter 1 say much about his relationship to the gospel.

  • Paul was saved and set apart for the gospel (1:1).
  • He was given the privilege and responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

The gospel had so transformed the lives of the saints in Rome that resulted in their faith being heard of in distant places (1:8). The bond which united Paul and the saints in Rome was their common faith in the gospel It is because of the common faith that Paul had long wished to visit and fellowship with them.    

GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE 

Romans 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, 17 for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  

QUESTIONS

  1. What does “gospel” mean?
  • It means good news.
  1. What/Whom is the Gospel about?
  • It is about Jesus Christ.
  1. What is the Gospel?
  • It is the power of God unto salvation.
  1. What is the Good News about Salvation?
  • To everyone who believes
  1. What is the passage saying about Faith?
  • It is the key to living faith.
  • The key to righteous living
  1. What is the Good News about Righteousness?
  • God has revealed the way to true righteousness
  1. What is the link between Righteousness and Justification?
  • Justification is the declaration of righteousness.
  • To justify someone is NOT to make him righteous, BUT to treat him as righteous.

COMMENTS

Romans 1:16-17 introduces the theme of the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God is directly linked with the gospel. If the gospel was Paul’s calling, the joyful experience of his readers, it was also the revelation of God’s righteousness. In these two introductory verses, Paul asserts his confidence in the gospel and gives us two reasons for his boldness in proclaiming it:

  1. First, the gospel is the “power of God for the salvation” of both Jews and Gentiles.
  2. Second, the gospel reveals the righteousness of God.

The rest of the letter is Paul’s explanation of the basic truth that THE GOSPEL REVEALS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.  

  • The Gospel is good news … BUT it is only GOOD for those who believe it.

 

THE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF ALL PEOPLE  … All have sinned (1:18 – 3:20) In the following verses, Paul sets out his theology of the gospel in a way that showss the righteousness of God. He begins with man’s problem, moves to God’s solution and then shows man’s potential — the living out of God’s righteousness as a result of belief in the gospel. Paul’s purposes:

  1. to demonstrate man’s sin and his need for a righteousness that is from God and
  2. to show that man’s sin actually demonstrates God’s righteousness. See Romans 3:5a.

Paul’s point is made with two major thrusts.

  1. toward “heathens” the pagans, “self-indulgent sinners” (1:18-32). directed A self-righteous Jew would certainly think of the sinners described in chapter 1 as Gentiles.
  2. toward “self-righteous sinners” (2:1-8).

  UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE CAUSE OF GOD’S WRATH  Romans 1:18-32 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it to them.  20 For the invisible things of Him, even His eternal power and Godhead, from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, so that they are without excuse, 21 because when they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful.  Instead they became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened.   THE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF SELF-INDULGENCE  Romans 1:22-32 Self-indulgence – An Abuse of Freedom 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into images made like corruptible man, birds, four-footed beasts and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves. 25 They changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections, for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.  27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men, working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was appropriate. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.   The Fruit of Self-Indulgence 29 Being filled with all kinds of unrighteousness – fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity – they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful, 32 who, knowing the judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.   The “self-indulgent sinners” (1:20-32) are those on whom the wrath of God is revealed (1:18). The wrath or judgment is the result of their being “given over” by God. (1:24, 26, 28) These sinners have rejected the natural revelation of God, which can be known through His creation, doing that which is unnatural instead.  

  1. fornication,
  2. wickedness,
  3. covetousness,
  4. maliciousness;
  5. envy,
  6. murder,
  7. debate,
  8. deceit,
  9. malignity;
  10. whisperers,
  11. Backbiters,
  12. haters of God,
  13. despiteful,
  14. proud,
  15. boasters,
  16. inventors of evil things,
  17. disobedient to parents,
  18. Without understanding,
  19. covenant-breakers,
  20. without natural affection,
  21. implacable,
  22. unmerciful:

     

 

Scroll to Top