Inductive Bible Study: Romans 1:1-17

Intro

Series - Studies On The Book Of Romans

Part 1 - Romans 1.1-17

Text - Romans 1.1-4

Romans 1:1–4 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born 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.

Background

Paul was the author of this epistle (Romans 1.1)

this was written around 56 AD when Paul was at Corinth, toward the end of his third missionary journey

Gaius was his host - Romans 16.23

Gaius was baptized by Paul in Corinth - 1 Cor 1.14

Rome was a city of about 1-4million Jews and Gentiles

the purpose

to express his desire to see the saints in Rome and impart spiritual things to them

to prepare the saints for when he comes (which never happened) by giving them instructions on the doctrine and Christian service

About the Epistle

considered to be Paul’s masterpiece

the most complete presentation of the gospel

Overview of the Epistle

See Illustration no 1: Overview of Romans

The Salutation

Paul introduces himself

Romans 1:1 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

a bondservant

grk. DOULOS, a slave

a slave is legally owned by his master, whose entire livelihood and purpose was determined by the master

a bondservant is what Paul IS

called to be an apostle

an apostle is what Paul is to DO

separated to the gospel of God

grk. APHORIZO, excluded;

not the same as ‘sanctified’

separated is how Paul is to LIVE

Acts 13:1–2 NKJV

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Galatians 1:15 NKJV

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,

the life of a servant of God is separated from the social functions

Paul describes the gospel

Romans 1:2–3 (NKJV)

2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

a promise of God

about the Jesus Christ

Paul descibes Jesus Christ

Romans 1:3–4 NKJV

3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born 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.

born of the seed of David according to the flesh

declared to be the Son of God

Personal Testimony

His appreciation of the saints

Romans 1:8 NKJV

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

the believers’ faith - is the main concern of the true servant of God

earthly things - are secondary to faith

His prayer for the saints

Romans 1:9–10 NKJV

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 some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.

prayer is 1 of the 2 most important work of the minister

Acts 6:3–4 NKJV

3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

His longing to help the saints

Romans 1:11–12 NKJV

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

his desire is to “impart” spiritual gifts

imparting is equipping

Ephesians 4:12 NKJV

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

true ministers are servants, not lords; they exist to equip the saints in the ministry and in the word

His debt to the saints

Romans 1:14–15 NKJV

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

debtor - a person with an obligation to pay

he considered his calling a necessity, not a privilege

Acts 9:15–16 NKJV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

1 Corinthians 9:14–18 NKJV

14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

true service springs out of a grateful heart

true service springs out of a life that has seen the grace of God thransform sinner’s life

His boldness in the gospel

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

ashamed - embarassed

the gospel story is an embarassment to the Jews

they killed their own Messiah

Jewish leaders were behind the death of Christ

the cross - the Lord was killed in the most embarassing way

true servants of God are not ashamed to share the gospel story, because they take pride in its power to save the sinner from the power of sin

Theme Introduced

Romans 1:16–17 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Here Paul introduces the theme of his epistle - the gospel of salvation.

the gospel is the power of God to salvation through faith

the gospel reveales the righteousness of God through faith

Conclusion

Paul as a servant of God was unique in that he was ‘separated” to the gospel of Christ.

no other apostle claimed the same work of God

Paul as a servant of God is a mirror through which all servants of God should reflect on themselves.

his testimony are not hard to practice - they were very practical

Paul as a chosen vessel of God also reflects the value of the gospel that he preached.

the lifestyle of the servants of God reflect the value of the gospel that they proclaim to the people.