Romans 1

Romans 1 study notes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Here to be set apart has the same connotation as something holy for the LORD (reminds me of how the priests were set apart to serve the LORD). For we are set apart by Him to delight on Him, to Love him, he’s our happiness. It is granted by God through justification in Christ by grace.

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,1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

7. Observe, faith and obedience are distinct, though inseparable “The obedience of faith.” Faith, indeed, is obedience to a gospel command, which enjoins us to believe; but it is not all our obedience. Justification and sanctification are distinct acts of God; justification respects the person, sanctification the nature; justification is first in order of nature, and sanctification follows: they are distinct, but inseparable; every justified person hath a sanctified nature, and every sanctified nature supposeth a justified person1

1 Charnock, S. (1853). The existence and attributes of God (Vol. 1, p. 505). Robert Carter & Brothers.

For the sake of His name denotes that it wasn’t because anything we did to deserve it, but it was the Lord’s doing.

  For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—

12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:11–12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

There are similarities and differences between talents and spiritual gifts. Both are gifts from God. Both grow in effectiveness with use. Both are intended to be used on behalf of others, not for selfish purposes. First Corinthians 12:7 states that spiritual gifts are given to benefit others and not ourselves. As the two great commandments deal with loving God and others, it follows that one should use his talents for those purposes. But to whom and when talents and spiritual gifts are given differs. A person (regardless of his belief in God or in Christ) is given a natural talent as a result of a combination of genetics (some have natural ability in music, art, or mathematics) and surroundings (growing up in a musical family will aid one in developing a talent for music), or because God desired to endow certain individuals with certain talents (for example, Bazeleel in Exodus 31:1–6). Spiritual gifts are given to all believers by the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:3, 6) at the time they place their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. At that moment, the Holy Spirit gives to the new believer the spiritual gift(s) He desires the believer to have (1 Corinthians 12:11).1

1 Got Questions Ministries. (2002–2013). Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

 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 Greek1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Verses 16–17 are pivotal verses in the New Testament. They state concisely and with unusual clarity a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith. The heart of v. 16 is that the gospel is the saving power of God. Salvation is not only initiated by God but is carried through by his power. To say that the gospel is “power” is to acknowledge the dynamic quality of the message. In the proclamation of the gospel God is actively at work in reaching out to the hearts of people. The gospel is God telling of his love to wayward people1

1 Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 70). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

 To really hear the gospel is to experience the presence of God. The late evangelist Dwight L. Moody commented that the gospel is like a lion. All the preacher has to do is to open the door of the cage and get out of the way!1

1 Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 70). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Cranfield’s view is that the righteousness of God refers to humans’ righteous status that results from God’s justifying activity. He argues (1) that a number of occurrences of “righteousness” in Paul’s letters support that view (e.g., Rom 5:17; 10:3; Phil 3:9; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21), (2) the emphasis on faith in v. 17b favors the view that righteousness is a status conferred on persons rather than an activity of God, (3) the quotation from Habakkuk focuses attention on the one justified and not on God’s justifying activity, and (4) the structure of the argument that lays heavy emphasis on the status of one who has received God’s gift of justification.1

1 Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, pp. 72–73). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

1:19–20 Verses 19 and 20 tell why the wrath of God is being revealed. God, in his creation, has provided sufficient evidence of himself to hold accountable all who reject that revelation. What can be known of God is perfectly clear. God himself made it plain. Theologians call this natural revelation (as distinguished from special revelation). Attempts by the medieval church to prove the existence of God on the basis of creation are commonly held to fall short of their goal. There is no doubt, however, that creation is the work of a Creator. To demand some sort of absolute proof of God’s existence is simply an indication of the recalcitrant nature of fallen humanity.1

1 Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, pp. 77–78). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:32). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

32. We come back to the thought that these sinners do not act out of ignorance. Granted that no evildoer ever understands all the implications of the wrong he is doing, it still remains that he knows enough to know that he is doing wrong. It is the point that Paul has been stressing throughout this chapter, namely that God has revealed enough of himself for people to know what is right and what is wrong1

1 Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 99). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.