A Study on Romans: Chapter One

Some may have been ashamed of the Gospel

• Timothy (2 Tim 1:8, 12, 16)
• Christianity not popular in Rome
• Associated with Judaism
• Less vocal, less visible

Paul's argument

• Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek

Difference

• The gospel itself is the key to his boldness
• Not just message, but his motivation
• Expounds in Romans 1-3

Paul's style

• One verse is the conclusion of previous section
• Also the start of the next
• Example is Romans 1:15
• Paul's relationship to the Romans (1:1-15)

Paul is eager "to preach the gospel" in Rome (1:15)

The gospel is the "power of God for salvation" (1:16)

The gospel reveals the "righteousness of God" (1:17)

Importance of an introduction

• arouse interest and attention of audience
• build a relationship
• provides a mentality of ministry

Paul's greeting

• Longest greeting in any of his epistles
• Cf. 1 Thessalonians (1) , 1 Timothy (2), 1 Corinithians (3)
• "Paul, a bond servant of Christ Jesus" (1-7)
• Ends with "Grace to you and peace from God"
• Gospel summary (1:2-4)

Clues

• Explains the bond with these Roman saints
• He has not yet visited them
• That is why he is eager
• He has not founded this church
• He is also unknown to them

Model for ministry

• says how much he cares for them
• he says how often he tried to visit them
• how diligently he has prayed for them
• "where he is coming from"
• "where he is going"

Three segments

• Greeting that identifies both writer and recipients (1:1-7)
• Explores the relationship of Paul with the saints at Rome (1:8-13)
  • describes his prayers
  • plans concerning them
• theme of the epistle

Romans 1:1-7

From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. 2 This gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh, 4 who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we have received grace and our apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name. 6 You also are among them, called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

An apostle (1:1)

• set apart for the gospel
• also its proclamation among the Gentiles (1:5)
• Not unexpected or distinct from God's dealings with Israel (1:2-3)
• Fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ (1:3-4)

Belief in the Triune God

• the Father (2)
• the Son (3-4)
• the Holy Spirit (4)

The Power of the Gospel

• not just profession of faith
• also in the practice, "obedience of faith" (1:5)
• most of them were Gentiles (1:6)

Other fundamentals

• the resurrection of Christ from the dead (4)
• Not new, but fulfills God's promise in the OT (2)
• God's provision of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles (5-6)
• Sovereign calling (5-7)
  • calling to salvation
  • calling to service
  • calling to a Christian lifestyle of obedience

Paul's Calling

• Strong sense of calling
• resulted in authority
• equally strong sense of servanthood and humility
• "bondslave"

Unity and Continuity

• Promises from the OT
• Now in the Gospel
• Jews and Gentiles
• The Gospel unites all believers

Common and Unique

• Paul shares a precious faith
• shares in being divinely called of God unto salvation
• Yet he is "called as an apostle"
• "Set apart for the gospel"
• Each one to follow their own calling (12:3-8; 1 Cor. 7:7)

Romans 1:8-13

First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness that I continually remember you 10 and I always ask in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God. 11 For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, that we may be mutually comforted by one another's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often intended to come to you (and was prevented until now), so that I may have some fruit even among you, just as I already have among the rest of the Gentiles.

Another basis for his ministry to the Romans

• not to trouble shoot problems
• just to encourage them and be encouraged by their faith (1:12)

Watch out for False Prophets

• 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
• Be on guard

Visit to encourage them

• Paul wanted to encourage them
• Planning a visit
• Consistently prevented (1:13)

Romans 1:14-17

I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 Thus I am eager also to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, "The righteous by faith will live."

Thus

• v. 15.
• Conclusion and summation of previous section
• Paul, an apostle to the Gentiles
• Many Roman saints were Gentiles
• Paul eager to preach the gospel to them

For

• Vv. 16, 17, 18 each begin with "for"
• An explanation of v. 15
• v. 16: Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel
• God's power works in and through the gospel to save people
• Salvation is for the Jews and Gentiles
• It is obtained by faith
• Not a cause of shame but confidence

Another reason

• Through the gospel, God's righteousness is revealed to people
• God's power to save is revealed
• Also God's righteousness in saving is revealed
• God is righteous in His condemnation of all as sinners (1:18-3:20)
• God is righteous in providing a righteousness for people
• This is obtained by faith, not works

God's righteous is revealed in this

• universal sinfulness of all
• No exception, without distinction
• Requires God's righteous judgment
• Human lack necessitates provision apart from human source

Panorama of sin described

• Various sins described
• Infinite variety and variation
• Not all sins are the same
• Like cancer, deadly and can infect any part of body

Three categories of manifestations

• idolatry (1:18-23)
• unnatural immorality and perversion (1:24-27)
• self-righteousness, pride and evil deeds (28-31)

Pattern evident in sin

• rejection of some revelation concerning God
• God's nature is revealed to all by creation (1:20)
• God's righteousness is revealed by the Law of God (1:32, 2:1-29)
• Revelation is replaced or exchanged with falsehood (1:23,25,26)
• Rejection is due to sin (1:18)
• Results in greater sin
• God "gives them over" to their sin results in greater evil-doing

Progression in sin

• things go from bad to worse
• from the present consequence of sin (1:18)
• to the future, eternal judgment of God on sin (2:5)
• progression from unrighteous to self-righteous
• first, they reject God's revelation
• later, they affirm and profess to accept God's revelation
• first, they set God aside and worship things
• later, they take God's place themselves

Most guilty

• not the heathen
• those who know more about God than the others
• yet do not obey, worship, nor serve Him

"God gave them over"

• Doesn't mean give up
• Homosexuals are not beyond help or salvation
• 1 Cor 6:9-11
• Not that some were lost
• ALL are universally lost
• God's grace is greater than all our sins

God's grace

• Given over to sin
• Also delivered from their sin
• God's forbearance and patience should lead to repentance (2:4)

Principle Two

• The Gospel assumes that all humans are sinners
• Condemned by works, unable to save themselves
• The Gospel is for those who are hopelessly lost
• No one too sinful for salvation

Principle Three

• No status among sinners
• No status among saints
• Divine judgment and salvation remove all pride and superiority
• Nothing we do merits God's favour or blessing
• Salvation is made available because of what Jesus has done

Principle Four

• The Gospel is our message
• Also our motivation
• It is the means of saving people
• Also makes us bold to proclaim and practice their faith