New Testament: Book of Romans

Romans 1:16–17 (KJV 1900)

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.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans: Pauls greatest work.

Who was Paul?

Jewish Rabi named Saul of Tarsus

Pharisee

Devout to the Torah and Jewish traditions

Jesus and Christians were a threat!

Face to face with Jesus

Commissioned an Apostle to the Gentiles

Travels the Roman Empire using his Roman name; Paul telling the world about the risen Jesus.

Church planter

Communicated by letters to churches offering connection, instruction and direction

Written late in his ministry to the Romans “Pros Romaious” or to the Romans

Other context:

Church in Rome was well established and made of of both Jews and Gentiles.

But…

Acts 18:1–2 KJV 1900

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

Historically about five years later, Jews were allowed to return.

What they found greatly concerned them!

A very Gentile church… all the customs they thought so important were completely ignored by the Gentiles.

Fight starts: Sabbath, kosher, circumcision, Law vs. Grace,

Paul is attempting to unify the church so that they could become a staging ground for his reaching Spain.

He uses a questions and answering style formate to the letter.

He explores the significance of the sacrificial death of Christ.

One of the most systematic presentations of doctrine in the Bible.

Fullest explanation of the Gospel; The Good News, the Life, Death and Resurrection

While it is a book of theology, it is also a book of practical exhortation.

It is more than just facts to be believed but a life to be lived!

The Book of Romans

Four parts written as one flowing letter that explains the Gospel.

Part one: Revelation of God’s Righteousness in chapters 1-4

Part two: Creation of a New Humanity in chapters 5-8

Part three: Fulfillment of God’s Promise to Israel chapters 9-11

Part four: Unifies the Church

Part One:

1:1-17: Introduction as the Apostle preaching and teaching the Gospel: Jesus is the Son of God and King of the Nations.

Key points to the Gospel:

It is God’s power to save

Revelation of God’s righteousness

Verses 18-32: retells the Genesis story from chapters 3-11

Humanity is trapped in sin and selfishness

The human heart is broken

Mankind has fallen into idolatry

Explains idolatry:

Finding ultimate significance in things created and worshiping the created thing.

Worship the creature rather then the Creator!

Which end in the extreme perversion; homosexuality.

Man is found guilty!

Chapter 2 - 3:8: Israel is as broken as the rest of humanity.

Israel should know better because they have the Torah.

All humanity is broken!!!

Chapter 3:9-26: The Good news is the Gospel!

While humanity is trapped in sin and guilty as charged

BUT there was a sacrifice that paid for EVERYONE’S sins!

He is faithful… we did not deserve it but he did it anyway.

He is just… he had to pay the price.

He rose from the dead in new life… so that we could have new life.

Jesus became what we are so that we can become what He is!

Chapter 4: Justification through faith

Justification is a powerful, rich Old Testament term.

Means to declare or proclaim to be righteous.

Accounting term.

Balancing the checkbook.

If you need 10 and only have one you are seriously short.

So to be “right” you have to receive 9 more.

God adds up your life and says you have 3, so I am going to give you 7 more… you are right-eous!

You are Justified - Just as if I’d never sinned!

Justification gives you three new things!

New status: made right with God

New family: made a child of God

New future: transformed life

So Paul answer the question who is or can be a part of God’s covenant family?

Go back to Genesis 12, 15 - Paul says Abraham was declared righteous.

How can this happen?

When Abraham believed and lived the impossible, it became reality!

So Paul’s message 2000 years after Abraham, we see the reality of God’s promise to Abraham.

Only now it was made up of every type of human there was…

And 4000 years later it is only more evident!

When we trust and obey God we are Justified!

Conclusion: Summarize chapters 1-4

All humanity is hopelessly trapped in sin and has to be rescued!

The Law cannot save you!

God’s righteousness can save you!

In doing so, God created a faith-based, multi-ethnic family of Abraham!

Next chapters, Paul would teach how this new family is called into a new way of life together!