ROMANS

Introduction

A few tings about Paul:

Romans is a “Personal” letter. First three chapters is a trial of the mind and heart of the Christian.

A. Paul always thanks God for his fellow labourers.

B. God is witness

Acts 24:14 ESV

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

C. Romans lays out the gospel, God to Man

The Wickedness of Man, God’s Judgement

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

What is righteousness? Being RIGHT with/by GOD.

Set the trial setting: 3 types of people here. You choose which you are! 1. The Wicked 2. The Godless 3. The Religious.

Vs 18-32

A. The Wrath of God

Colossians 3:1–6 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”

Romans 1:24–25 ESV

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

B. Exchanging Spiritual for Material

This leads to “vile” passions

vs 28-32

We don’t pick and choose what is wickedness.

The Debased Mind:

Filled with Unrighteousness, Sexual Immorality, Wickedness, Covetousness, Maliciousness

Full of Envy, Murder, Strife, Deceit, Evil-Mindedness, Whisperers

Backbiters, Inventors of Evil Things, Disobedience to Parents, Un-discerning, Untrustworthy

Unloving, Unforgiving, and Unmerciful