Romans 1 Bible Study

Context:

Paul

Saul of Tarsus

Born in 5 AD

Roman citizen (spoke greek the language of the romans)

30 AD Jesus was crucified

31 AD Pharisee

Well known for persecuting Christians

Book of Acts

32 AD Stephen

Acts 7:54–8:3 (ESV)

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

34 AD Road to Damascus

Acts 9:1–19 (ESV)

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

Acts 9:20–22 (ESV)

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Name myth

Paul is Roman name

Timeline of Paul

Converted in 34 AD

Fleeing from persecuting jews for 12 years

47 AD started going to cities and preaching the gospel

Went on 3 missionary journeys

Estimated that he walked over 10,000 miles on his journeys

NY->LA 4x

What his journeys were like

2 Corinthians 11:24–27 (ESV)

Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Wrote 13 epistles meanwhile

Romans

Romans was the 6th

Older and very developed in faith

Goes first because greatest work

Complex theological writing

Go slow to get it all

So Fruitful

Purpose- to get the gospel right

Gospel- good news

Romans 1:1 (ESV)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Servant of Christ

Farmer hires from market for day then go back home

Choose wether to work next day

Greek- δουλοσ

Slave

Eats, breathes, and lives for/with master

Ownership

God payed for us

We don't get to do our own thing

Apostle- "one who is sent out"

Pauls mission to the gentiles

Set apart

Acts 9- Chosen Instrument

Romans 1:2 (ESV)

which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Jesus was not just Gods stroke of genius after 4000 years of struggling

He was the plan from the beginning

OT as many as 574 prophecies about Jesus

Conservatively over 300

All have come true

Huge evidence for Jesus being God

Romans 1:3 (ESV)

concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

King David- famous bible character

Great king Ruled Israel

2 Samuel 7:12–13 (ESV)

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Example of prophetic scripture

Jesus descendent of David

Romans 1:4 (ESV)

and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Jesus' resurrection proved He is the Son of God

He didn't just live again then die like the people He brought back to life

He appeared and disappeared at will

He passed through locked doors

He never died

Romans 1:5 (ESV)

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

Two things we receive from Christ

Grace

forgiveness of sins

His love for us

Mission

Apostleship- being sent out

Paul is writing to the whole church

Not limited to bible apostles

Not just pastors or missionaries

Great commission- Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Why do we not go to Heaven the second we're saved?

The only reason we're here is mission work

Everything else is on the side

Not our mission, God's

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

His love for others

Purpose of those two gifts to bring obedience of faith

Not just believing

Obedience through faith

God's wish for us is to be Holy

1 Peter 1:14–16 (ESV)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

2 Peter doesn't say God's will is for all is to believe it says all to repent

Repentance- a change of mind that results in a change of action

Change in direction from sin to God/Holiness

Talked a lot about this

2 reasons he calls us to be Holy

It is what's best for us

Our actions are judged by non-believers and are meant to lead them to God

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Obedience is part of our mission

Romans 1:6 (ESV)

including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Stumped me

They're one of the nations

Romans 1:7 (ESV)

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saints can also be translated Holy ones

Not a religious title

Anyone truly in Christ is a Holy one

Paul wishes them peace and grace

Romans 1:8 (ESV)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

Rome was very large and had a huge cultural impact

Its a crucial city to have a church in

Also why Paul wanted to make sure they had the gospel right

Paul says through Jesus Christ

John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We can only have a relationship with God, because Jesus died

He became the bridge between us and God the father in many ways

Romans 1:9–10 (ESV)

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

Paul says he serves in his spirit

John 4:23 (ESV)

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

What do you think it means to worship in spirit and truth/serve in spirit?

Why not just worship/serve?

God doesn't just want us to go to church, serve, and give because were supposed to

James