Intro to Romans
Notes
Transcript
Preliminaries
Preliminaries
Romans is so similar to Galatians but was written later and is more of an expanse and recapitulation of its contents.
Romans has been a help and guide for many.
The Influence of Romans on Church History
Augustine - 354-430 AD
At age 32, while sitting in the garden when he lived, he heard the voice of a boy or girl from a nearby house repeating over and over: Tolle lege! Tolle Lege! (Pick it up; read it; pick it up, read it). He interpreted it as a divine command. He writes, “So I quickly returned to the bench where Alypius was sitting, for there I had put down the apostle’s book when I had left there. I snatched it up, opened it, and in silence read the paragraph on which my eyes first fell: ‘Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof’ (Rom. 13:14). I wanted to read no further, nor did I need to. For instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished away (Augustine, Confessions, Book VIII, p 108, trans. Albert Outler).
Martin Luther,
Over 1,000 years later in 1483, Less than 10 years before Columbus would discover America, a young man was born. Raised in poverty and later went to college to study law.
During a storm, a lightning bolt crashed very near to him, throwing him from his horse and in great fear he cried out, "Help me St. Anne, I will become a monk."
Young Martin Luther struggle for years to find assurance of forgiveness of sins. He pondered as he said, "night and day" how he, a sinner, could ever stand forgiven before God, who is perfectly righteous and will one day judge all people. It was while reading Romans 1:17 that his life was changed forever: "The just shall live by faith."
He is known as the founder or leader of the Reformation.
John Wesley
About 200 years later in England a young man, zealous for God and trying to walk in all the light he could, attended a church meeting according to his own words, "UNWILLINGLY" on May 24, 1738, and listened as the leader read from Luther's preface to his Romans commentary.
Wesley wrote about this experience later, "While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation: And an assurance was given me, that he had taken my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sins and death."
Without the book of Romans we would not have much of Church History as we have it today.
Now I doubt we will cover all seventeen verses today but lets see how far we get.
Read: Romans 1:1-7
Read: Romans 1:1-7
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans was written by the Apostle Paul around the Spring of 58 AD While Paul was at Corinth (As Phoebe will bring the epistle to them after it is written Rom. 16:1).
Paul did not start the church at Rome but had a great love and burden for it.
As a side note - It is interesting that when we first come to know him he is called Saul - later he is called Paul. When I was younger I thought that was because of his conversion. But in reality the Bible never says that. But Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul was his Roman or Gentile name.
Paul is called Saul in Scripture until a certain event recorded in the Book of Acts. (See Acts 13:9) His clash with the sorcerer and false prophet Bar-Jesus (Elymas) at Paphos.
His reason for writing seems to be for three main reasons
To unify the Jews and Gentiles
To assist in maturity of believers Romans 1:11
Missionary deputation (He wants sponsors for Spain Missions) - Romans 15:24-29
To give a systematic doctrine of salvation
THE MAIN THEME of ROMANS: The Gospel of God (Rom. 1:1)
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God...”
The Gospel of God as revealed in Romans
Focus on Christ
Is for ALL people
To the Jew first, but also to the Gentile
It is by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Now lets look at the word -
The Need To Say Hello Rom. 1:1-7
The Need To Say Hello Rom. 1:1-7
The Greeting covers Seven verses. The longest of all of the Apostles Salutations.
It takes him six verses just to identify himself - probably because he did not start the church and has to establish who he is.
He establishes his credibility as an apostle
He calls himself a love slave of Jesus Christ - don’t get hung up on that word, he is just saying he is completly controlled by him.
He will beg the Christians to do this themselves later
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
He was separated or set apart for God to use.
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Romans 1:4 (NIV)
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul’s Prayer for the Church at Rome (Rom. 1:8-12)
Paul’s Prayer for the Church at Rome (Rom. 1:8-12)
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
In these opening verses, as in almost all of Paul's letters, he begins with a reference to his prayers of thanksgiving for his readers Wesleyan Bible Commentary - Wesleyan Bible Commentary – Romans.
Paul's thanksgiving (Romans 1:8)
People reveal by their priorities what is genuinely important in their lives. .. their faith
“First,New American Commentary - New American Commentary – Volume 27: Romans.
Notice Paul's Thanksgiving was THROUGH JESUS CHRIST - even our thanksgiving is because of Him!!!
Notice the two things he is thankful for
Thankful for "You ALL"
You all: consequently throughout the epistle we have no reproof or correction. Beet, J. A. (1999). Beet's Commentaries: Romans (electronic ed.) (Ro 1:8). Albany, OR: Ages Software.
Thankful that "Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world."
I suppose it could also be a faith that produced miracles - although I would think the Bible would record those
It could have been an agreesive evangelistic faith
It could have been a strong faith under pressure.
either.
What do people in your sphere of influence hear about your church, your Bible study group, your mission organization—or about you? Much is said about Christians and their ministries today. Word spreads rapidly about increased attendance, about innovative programs, about multimedia presentations, about new facilities, about conferences and seminars. But how often does one hear about a church that is known for its faith, as were the Christians in Rome?
Holman New Testament Commentary - Holman New Testament Commentary – Romans.
Paul's Intercession (Romans 1:9-12) Notice Paul's choice of wording - "God is my witness." God knows this is true - Paul appeals to the ultimate source of truth - What he is getting ready to say must really be true and genuine - " That he makes mention of them in his prayers without ceasing" This is quite a statement - Paul obviously was a man of prayer -
I also want to point out another phrase in verse 9 - The God who is his witness is the God Paul serves with his spirit in the gospel of his Son."
Paul seems to digress just for a moment for a personal testimony - perhaps this was to make sure they were all on the same page - We've all been there you meet someone who says they are a Christian but you sometimes will still poke around to see if what they mean be being a Christian is the same thing you mean by being a Christian.
Verse 10 - Paul's prayer wasn't just toward the Roman church but also toward his safe arrival there -
Verse 11 - He uses the word "Long" to see you - A great burning desire to visit them.
He wants to see them that he may impart spiritual gift - that to the end ye may be established.
12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
better reading NLT T When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
Paul's Purpose vising them (Romans 1:13) Here Paul gives his reason for wanting to visit them -
Paul's Perspectives which includes them (Romans 1:14)
Paul's preparedness to come to Rome (Romans 1:15)
I love the last part of this section
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.
We will have to save that for next time probably