God's Righteousness - Intro to Romans

For us to get a good understanding of the letter we need to do some background work today. So, for the most part today, and hopefully just for today, sit back and take in some information, maybe take some notes as we open this great book together.

History/setting:

Jewish Christians exiled from Rome (AD49) under Claudius

Claudius was concerned about the growing number of Jewish Christians and that they may cause an uprising, so there was the exile. Part of the exile are such people at Aquila and Priscilla whom we read about in Act18.

Jewish Christians return to Rome (AD55) under Nero

Some years later when they returned the Jewish Christians now find mainly a Gentile church and there was some division that was caused because of it. Though there is one church there was division between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians, that is a part of the reason this letter is written.

Date: It is believed written about (AD56-57) from Corinth (Rom15:22-24)

This would have about the end of Paul’s 3rd missionary trip.

Romans 15:22–23 NASB95

22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you

Romans 15:24 NASB95

24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—

Purpose

To remind the church of the righteousness of God is for all (1:16-17)

Rom1:16-17 “16 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 Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.””

To impart spiritual gifts (1:11)

ROm1:11 “11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;”

The Spiritual gift is believed to be some gift of the miraculous nature since only an apostle could give that.

To strengthen in unity (1:8-15, 15:15-16)

Not going to read all of this passage now but in brief

They were proclaiming the gospel and it was known throughout the world (v.7)

I want to come to you, finally may it happen (v.10)

May we be encouraged in faith together (v.12)

I have to preach the gospel, i am under obligation to do it (v.14-15)

To prepare them for his visit (1:8-15; 15:20-32)

Paul had been prevented from coming before Rom15:22 “22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you;”

Now, the gospel has been preached everyone else and I must go to Spain (v.24); but first need to go the Jerusalem (v.25) - - - carrying the financial gift from the churches in Asia to the struggling church in Jerusalem.

When he comes it will be with the full blessings of Christ (v.29) and by the love of the Spirit (v.30); coming in the joy by the will of God (v.32)

Authorship: Paul (1:1); Tertius (16:22)

Rom1:1 “1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,”

and then as you get to the end of the letter the writer, scribe, identifies himself

Rom16:22 “22 I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.”

Letter carrier: Phoebe (16:1)

rom16:1 “1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;”

Founding: Ever wonder who founded the church? (Rom15:20; Act2:10)

It was not Paul for had not been there.

It was not Peter for if Peter had then Paul would not have gone and build on another mans foundation (Rom15:20)

So, chances are it was by the visitors from Rome that were in Jerusalem at Pentecost

Acts 2:10 NASB95

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

They heard and saw so much how could they not take it and share it? We can learn from that today too.

Some quotable quotes about Romans

Larry Deason quotes

“If you get Romans, God gets you.”

John Stott states

“The epistle to the Romans is the fullest and most coherent manifesto of the Christian gospel in the New Testament. In it the apostle Paul unfolds ‘the whole counsel of God.” There is a grandeur, a comprehensiveness, a logic about his exposition which has commanded the admiration and compelled the study of all succeeding generations.”

This is the Book of Romans, this is what we are about to delve into together!

(Insert - A letter picture here)

Most are familiar with letter writing, have written letters. Most start with date, address, a salutation, a brief opening, then the heart of the letter, a conclusion, maybe an exhortation and signature.

These days the art of letter writing is not such much that, most are by E-mail’s or by short abbreviated texts.

In Paul’s letter to Romans it is not this format, for they did not know him personally, he had not been there. So Paul starts with the ending, he identifies himself, he qualifies himself, qualifies his message, then spends the next 11 chapters on the righteousness of God, then in chapters 12-16 the relationship man is to have with God and each other.

This is not a “to whom it may concern” letter this is specific and intentional. It was purposeful and intentional then and it is still purposeful today for us. Romans is consider the Magna Carta of righteousness and there is much we can learn from it .

Here is where the hope of going this morning is.

The author - the who (vv.1-2)

The message - the what (vv.3-7)

The recipients and the reason - the why (vv.6-7)

The Who - Character, calling, credentials

Contrary to letters of today, letters of yesteryear would start with the writers name. The writer identifies himself. Paul goes even further in the opening verses.

Romans 1:1–2 NASB95

1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

What can you learn about the writer from these verses (1-2)?

This leads me to ask a couple of personal questions for you to reflect on

Do you know who you are (ref: Isa61:10)?

No doubt Paul knew who he was, but maybe all the recipients did not know so he needed to give more information to identify himself.

Do we walk in the truth of knowing who we are, who God created us to be?

Here is another example of someone who knew in whom we can learn from too.

Isa61:10 “10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Do you know what you have been called to do (Ref: Act13:2)?

Paul knew he had been called, been set apart

Act13:2 “2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””

Paul’s calling - An apostle (v.1)

His character was

A bond-servant first and foremost, more than just an ally, but someone who was committed to fulfill the calling, one committed to serve.

A bond-servant is purchased possession, Jesus even was identified as taking on the form of a bond-servant (Php2:5-11)

But look at this passage

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NASB95

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

The Message

The message is much more important than the messenger. The messenger is needed to deliver the message. But now may we start to turn to the message about God’s righteousness.

Romans 1:2–3 NASB95

2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,

Romans 1:4–5 NASB95

4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,

Romans 1:6–7 NASB95

6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gleaning from the scripture

What do you see in this section, make some quick notes.

How did God make the promises according to (v.2)?

Through His prophets in the holy scriptures

What was the proof offered of the declaration found in (vv.3-4)?

The declaration is Jesus is the Son of God who came with power

The proof was the resurrection from the dead!

What is the results of the declaration (v.5-6)?

We receive grace

We are called then to be obedient to the faith

Let me expound on this some in short order

This starts with a promise- the gospel, the fulfillment in Christ and the church (v.2) the fulfillment of the prophesy and the the covenant

Luke 24:44–46 NASB95

44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,

You may note down 1Pt1:10-12 for your notes too 1Pt1:10-12 “10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

The personification in Christ became the person of Christ who came as the exact representation of God in the flesh for

Jesus was a human and came in the flesh (v.3)

He was deity for He was born of a virgin, and was raised from the dead (v.4)

Paul knew that his power, his authority was not of his own but through the resurrected Christ . It was the foundation of his apostleship and is, or should be the foundation of our message too!

Recipients and Reason

This should be in short order since I’m sure our time is short, but don’t let the time keep you from the depth and strength of the passage.

Romans 1:6–7 NASB95

6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The recipients

The called

This the called, the sanctified, those set apart, the rescued, the redeemed (note down 1Cor1:1-2; Col1:13-14)

The beloved

This is the beloved in Rome, whom are loved by the Lord (note down 2The2:13-14)

The saints

And that is what you are a saint, meaning you are holy not by your deeds, but by Gods work in you and through you.

The reason

That you may have peace from God and Jesus Christ.

(Summary to close)

You are called, you are beloved, you are holy, you are in receipt of God’s righteousness and what a great journey will have as we continue through the book of Romans. let these opening verses soak in. God’s righteousness is revealed through Jesus Christ and the church!