Romans Study Series 1

Opening Remarks & Introduction

OPENING REMARKS

It has been said, when people read, study, and hear the book of Romans, big things happen.

Historical Examples:

Augustus of Hippo — “I flung myself down beneath a fig tree and gave way to the tears which now streamed from my eyes.… In my misery I kept crying, “How long shall I go on saying ‘tomorrow, tomorrow’? Why not now? Why not make an end of my ugly sins at this moment?” … All at once I heard the singsong voice of a child in a nearby house. Whether it was the voice of a boy or a girl I cannot say, but again and again it repeated the refrain “Take it and read, take it and read.” At this I looked up, thinking hard whether there was any kind of game in which children used to chant words like these, but I could not remember ever hearing them before. I stemmed my flood of tears and stood up, telling myself that this could only be a divine command to open my book of Scripture and read the first passage on which my eyes should fall.… So I hurried back to the place where Alypius was sitting … seized [the book of Paul’s epistles] and opened it, and in silence I read the first passage on which my eyes fell: “Not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not in quarrels and rivalries. Rather, arm yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ; spend no more thought on nature and nature’s appetites” (Romans 13:13–14). I had no wish to read more and no need to do so. For in an instant, as I came to the end of the sentence, it was as though the light of confidence flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled. (Confessions, 177–78)11 Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 3–4.

Martin Luther — Wrestled with his guilt before God until he grasped the meaning of Romans, particularly — 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.”

“I labored diligently and anxiously as to how to understand Paul’s word … the expression ‘the righteousness of God’ blocked the way, because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is righteous and deals righteously in punishing the unrighteous. Although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner … therefore I did not love a righteous and angry God, but rather hated and murmured against him …11 Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 7.

“Then I grasped that the righteousness of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us by faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise … I broke through. And as I had formerly hated the expression ‘the righteousness of God,’ I now began to regard it as my dearest and most comforting word.”11 Timothy Keller, Romans 1–7 for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2014), 7–8.

We could say “Romans” let Luther to recover the gospel in Germany and through Europe. This ultimately led to the Protestant Reformation.

John Wesley — It is believed his conversion was accredited much to hearing someone read Luther’s preface to his commentary on the book of Romans.

Even though these men believed things you and I would not adhere to, we can’t deny God using them in a powerful way throughout Christian history. The book of Romans was the means of breaking their hardened hearts.

We could say the letter to the Romans has repeatedly changed the world by changing people!

What makes this book so impact-full? Because it is about the GOSPEL!

Time Period — Written through Paul probably during his third missionary journey, possible from Corinth, Greece to the church in Rome around AD57.

What to expect from this study

Prepare your hearts to be shaped and you life changed when reflecting on God’s gift of righteousness.

To ask yourself, “Have I ‘broken through’ into the freedom of the gospel?”

INTRODUCTION

Let’s keep Paul’s thesis in view as we study this letter (vv16-17)

Interesting…Paul’s gospel saturated letter was written to believer.

Paul not only considered the GOSPEL as the means to be guaranteed heaven, but the means to shape one’s life and motivate them for service.

Romans is not just about personal salvation. It is also about personal growth.

Think about these terms and tell me if they should only impact the unbeliever: Life, hope, peace, joy, faith, obedience, righteousness, love, etc…

The simple fact that Paul is writing this letter should add to your confidence in the gospel.

Paul is writing from the vantage point of experience.

What would be the overarching significance of this letter: SLIDE

The GOSPEL is the very framework of this letter.

The GOSPEL is defended.

The GOSPEL shapes Christian living and fuels missions.

It reveals the nature of God, sin, and salvation.

Paul addresses some apparent division that was common within the churches in Rome. He clarifies what unifies them.

Christian Jews and Gentiles are instructed on how to relate to one another. How to live in harmony for God’s glory.

Paul was seeking support for his mission to Spain.

CHAPTER 1

Paul speaks to his devotion

Romans starts with a very common introduction. However, it becomes far more than the customary.

slave n. — a person who is legally owned by someone else and whose entire livelihood and purpose was determined by their master.

Paul’s choice of words to describes his status in Christ IS one of humility and deep devotion.

He saw himself as someone obliged to serve and withOUT exclusive rights to his own life.

Question — How did this perspective impact Paul’s effectiveness?

Often times, Paul’s circumstances should have pushed him to be embrace the “self-life” (personal safety & well-being).

It took a gaze at the cross of Jesus to bring a human will to have no regard for himself.

This posture spoke to new ownership!

Paul brings our attention to AUTHORITY:

“called to be an apostle”

His role came with determined responsibility (founding churches)

He had to speak and act with authority.

Paul had to remind people many times that he was not some “run-of-the-mill” preacher…he was an Apostle sent by God.

Question — Does authority make a difference in people’s response to what you have to say? Whether or not they should apply what you are declaring?

Paul spoke with great balance: A slave with authority.

This tension was definitely a challenge to keep in balance.

It was a balance that empowered Paul to capture the audience of a diverse crowd.

It is a balance you and I must grasp!!!

Paul’s DESTINY

“separated to the gospel of God”

Ref: Galatians 1:15 “15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,”

His conviction was that God had set him apart from the day of his birth to be a “gospel of God” man. This meant, of course, that he looked at his heritage, his education, his personality, and his gifts as being part of the divine plan11 D. Stuart Briscoe and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Romans, vol. 29, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982), 24.

He believed that even the horrific mistakes he made when persecuting Christ followers would be used to equip him.

To Paul it was no accident that he had Roman citizenship, Greek culture, and Jewish training. God had separated him from the womb11 D. Stuart Briscoe and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Romans, vol. 29, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982), 24.

There were no selfish dreams that captivated him.

(1:5) Paul knew God had given him all it would take to fulfill his calling.

Illustration: During World War II Churchill cabled Roosevelt, “Give us the tools and we’ll finish the job.” God had cabled Paul and said, “I’ve given you the tools (grace), now finish the job (apostleship).”11 D. Stuart Briscoe and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Romans, vol. 29, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982), 24.

(v5) Of all the places God’s Spirit led Paul, he knew there would be obedience to the faith (Damascus, Arabia, Cilicia, Syria, Achaia, Macedonia, Galatia, desiring to press beyond Rome on into Spain)

Paul had great CONFIDENCE IN HIS MESSAGE

Illustration: I’ve had salesman really over the top excited about the product or car they were trying to sell me. They eventually move to work for their former competitor.

Paul never changed teams for the love of wealth.

Many of course accused Paul of fabricating his own message.

Paul states clearly where his message came from (v2)

(v3) Paul knew that his message did not center around a mere man (v4).

This teaching of Jesus’ incarnation infuriated the Gnostics in Paul’s day (all matter is essentially evil)

The contrast between v3 and v4 shows Jesus’ deity must be clearly understood.

Question — Give me some examples that illustrate both Jesus’ humanity and Jesus’ divinity.

Paul illustrates that even when man gave his worst, God gave His best!