Romans 1-3

Romans 1

The book of Romans was written by Paul the Apostle around A.D. 56–58

• The letter was likely written with the help of Tertius, who physically wrote the letter as Paul dictated it.
• Most likely written while Paul was in Corinth during his third missionary journey
• Addressed to Christians in Rome

 Greeting and Introduction

• Paul identifies himself
  • “a servant of Christ Jesus”
  • “called to be an apostle”
  • “set apart for the gospel of God”
• Describes the gospel:
  • promised beforehand through the prophets
  • concerning Jesus Christ
• Jesus descended from David according to flesh and declared Son of God in power through resurrection
• Paul greets believers in Rome

Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome

• Paul thanks God for the Roman believers’ faith
• Says he constantly prays for them
• He longs to
  •  visit them
  • encourage them
  • to impart spiritual gifts
• Explains he has been hindered from coming
• Feels obligated to preach to:
  • Greeks
  • barbarians
  • wise
  • foolish

Paul is “not ashamed of the gospel”

• Gospel is:
  • “the power of God for salvation”
  • for Jew first and also Greek
• God’s righteousness is revealed through faith
• Quotes Habakkuk 2:4“The righteous shall live by faith”

 Humanity Rejects God

• God’s wrath is revealed against ungodliness
• Unrighteousness suppresses truth
• God’s existence is evident through creation
• Although people knew God:
  • they did not honor Him
  • became futile in thinking
  • Exchange glory of God for idols

 God Gives Humanity Over to Sin

• Repeated phrase “God gave them up”
• Humanity falls into:
  • impurity
  • dishonorable passions
  • sinful desires
• Exchanged truth for lies
• List of sins includes:
  • envy
  • murder
  • deceit
  • pride
  • disobedience to parentsPeople not only practice evil but approve it in others

Romans 2

Warning Against Hypocrisy

• Those who judge others are also guilty
• God’s judgment is righteous
• God’s kindness is meant to lead to repentance
• Hard and unremoreseful hearts store up wrath

God Judges Impartially

• God “will render to each one according to his works”
  • Eternal life for those who seek God
  • Wrath for selfish disobedience
• No partiality with God:
  • Jew and Gentile alike accountable

 Gentiles and the Law

• Gentiles without the Mosaic Law still have conscience
• Law written on hearts
• Conscience συνείδησις (syneidēsis)
  • accuses (internal condemnation) 
  • excuses (internal defense system) 
• God will judge secrets through Christ

Jews and the Law

• Jews boast in the Law,  teach others but fail themselves
• Examples:
  • stealing
  • adultery
  • dishonoring God
• “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you”

True Circumcision

• Physical circumcision alone does not save
• True Jew is inwardly transformed
• True circumcision:
  • of the heart
  • by the Spirit

Romans 3

Jewish Advantage 

• Jews had advantage because they received God’s oracles
• Human unbelief does not cancel God’s faithfulness
  • Paul quotes 51:4
• Paul says evil does not have to happen to prove God good
  • Let us not say “Let us do evil that good may come”

All Humanity Is Guilty

• Both Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin
• Series of Old Testament quotations show universal sinfulness:
  • “None is righteous”
  • “No one seeks for God”
  •  Psalm 14:1-3
  • Psalm 53:1-3
  • Psalm 5:9
  • Psalm 140:3
  • Psalm 10:7
  • Isaiah 59:7-8
  • Psalm 36:1
• The Law reveals our sin rather than saves us from it

Righteousness Through Faith

• God’s righteousness revealed apart from the Law
• Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ
• All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory
• Believers are:
  • justified freely by grace
  • redeemed through Christ
• Jesus presented as propitiation by His blood
  • New word learned! Propitiation: sacrifice to make peace or amends

Faith Upholds the Law

• Boasting is excluded-it shouldn’t be anywhere. We did nothing of our own merit. 
• Justification is by faith apart from works
• God is God of both Jews and Gentiles
• Faith does not overthrow the Law: it establishes it

Application

We learn that sin is universal and NO ONE can save themselves. Religion or the Law alone cannot make someone righteous…Salvation is a gift of grace received through faith in Jesus Christ.