These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Background of Romans…
- 1st – The Author…
- Paul…
- PAUL – whose life we followed from Acts chapter 13 to 28…
- He opens the letter with his greeting – Paul a bondservant of Jesus Christ – Romans 1:1
- The authorship of the book has been universally accepted from the early church!
- Epistles…
- Paul wrote THIRTEEN epistles – or letters [14 if we include Hebrews]
- In total they account for almost a THIRD of the New Testament….
- The EPISTLES [letters] of Paul can be broken up into THREE categories…
- FRIST – the THREE larger letters: Romans – I Corinthians – II Corinthians
- SECOND – the SIX smaller letters [4-6 chapters] written to FIVE churches…
- Galatians – Ephesians – Philippians – Colossians – I Thessalonians – II Thessalonians…
- THIRD – the PASTORAL Epistles: I Timothy – II Timothy – Titus – Philemon!
- 2nd – The Timing…
- Written on Pauls THIRD missionary journey [57-58 A.D.]
- Paul was taking an offering from Corinth [Achaia] – to the church in Jerusalem – Romans 15:26
- He spent THREE months in Corinth – during which time wrote Romans – Acts 20:3
- Acts 19:21 – “When these things were accomplished Paul purposed in the Spirit – when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia – to go to Jerusalem saying: After I have been there I must also see Rome.”
- 3rd – The Purpose…
- Preach the Gospel…
- Paul wanted to go to Rome – but when he wrote the book he had NOT yet been there…
- Before he went to MINISTER to the church – he wanted to introduce himself to them…
- The reason he wanted to go – was to PREACH the Gospel!
- Romans 1:15 – “I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”
- Solid Doctrine…
- Romans is a theological masterpiece – systematically presenting the doctrine of SALVATION…
- It explains our need for GRACE – Gods provision of righteousness through FAITH…
- And how we as believers should live in response to the GRACE of God!
- Romans 1:11– “For I long to see you… so that you may be established.”
- 4th – The Theme…
- The Gift…
- The Book of Romans – consists of 16 Chapters or 433 verses…
- Making it the LONGEST of all the thirteen EPISTLES of Paul [even if we include Hebrews]
- The book quotes about 57 times from the Old Testament [more than any other NT book]
- A reference to the Word of God [Greek] is made 29 times [more than any other book]
- GOD [θεός] is mentioned 161 times – JESUS [various forms] is mentioned 66 times…
- SIN [ἁμαρτία] 45 times – JUSTIFICATION [δίκαιος and various forms] 65 times…
- And GRACE [χάρις] is mentioned at least 31 times!
- Making the THEME obvious – God [Jesus] is telling us we are all SINNERS – Romans 3:23
- And the penalty [payment] for our SIN is DEATH – Romans 6:23
- But Jesus does NOT want us to DIE – so He made a way to JUSTIFY us…
- He provided the GIFT [χάρις] of salvation – through the CROSS of Jesus Christ!
- If someone gives us a GIFT – we do NOT have to accept it…
- Our part of salvation is being willing to believe and receive the GIFT of God…
- God does NOT want anyone to perish – but He gives everyone the CHOICE – II Peter 3:9
- He offers everyone the GIFT – and then lets us CHOOSE – John 3:16
- We can ignore it – decide NOT to take it – and miss out on heaven…
- Or receive from God the most amazing GIFT we will ever get – SALVATION!
- By Faith…
- There is ONE more KEY word – FAITH [πίστις] is mentioned 61 times…
- Because the way we receive GRACE [gift of God] – is through FAITH – Hebrews 11:1
- We CANNOT see God – and the GIFT God gives us is NOT something we can hold…
- It is something we believe in by FAITH – we trust God has FORGIVEN us of our SIN…
- By FAITH we believe that life is NOT about living here on earth…
- By FAITH we believe one day God will take us to be with Him forever in heaven!
- 5th – The Division…
- FIRST – The doctrine of Grace – Chapters 1-8
- All have sinned – Chapters 1-3
- Saved by faith alone – Chapters 4-5
- Victory over sin – Chapters 6-8
- SECOND – Example of Grace [Israel] – Chapter 9-11
- THIRD – Living by Grace – Chapters 12-16
- 1st – The Author…
- 1st – Introduction to Rome… vs. 1-7
- 1st – Paul… vs. 1
- Bondservant… vs. 1
- Paul a bondservant of Jesus Christ!
- Paul opens his letter by defining THREE people…
- FIRST – Paul [Παῦλος] – whose name means SMALL or LITTLE…
- BONDSERVANT [δοῦλος] – literally a slave of Jesus Christ…
- Not someone he was made a slave – he CHOSE to be a slave!
- Jesus does NOT demand that we give our lives to Him – it is our CHOICE…
- We can CHOSE to live for ourselves – live for this world – in BONDAGE to this world…
- But the irony is when we give our lives to Jesus – that is when we are truly FREE!
- John 8:36 – “Therefore if the Son makes you free – you shall be free indeed.”
- Apostle…
- Called to be an apostle separated to the gospel of God!
- Called an Apostle [ἀπόστολος] – one who is sent out…
- NOT by the will [choice] of MEN – Paul was chosen by God – Galatians 1:1
- He was likely the TWELFTH apostle of Jesus Christ [replaced Judas]
- Not by the casting of LOTS – Acts 1:15-26 – but by Jesus – Acts 9:15
- Who SET him apart [ἀφορίζω] – to go and PREACH the GOSPEL – Acts 13:2
- But one of the greatest APOSTLES in history – one of the TWELVE…
- Saw himself as a servant [δοῦλος] first – then an APOSTLE [ἀπόστολος]!
- We do not equate being a SERVANT as being the GREATEST…
- But if we want to be GREAT – then we must become a slave [δοῦλος] – Mark 10:44
- The church is NOT supposed to look like the world…
- Leadership in the church should be DIFFERENT [not lording over others]
- The more we SERVE others – the GREATER we become in the Kingdom of God…
- Those who are GREAT in church do NOT tell others what to do…
- They are the ones who SHOW others what to do by SERVING!
- 2nd – Jesus… vs. 2-5
- The Word… vs. 2
- Which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures!
- SECOND – Paul goes on to define who Jesus Christ is…
- God had promised the hope of salvation – in His Word [prophets]
- There are over 300 prophecies in the Bible concerning the coming of Christ!
- Luke 24:27 – “Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets – [Jesus] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
- God and man… vs. 3-4
- Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.
- And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness.
- By the resurrection from the dead!
- Paul clarifies the Jesus of the Bible – is fully God and fully man…
- According to the FLESH [σάρξ] – He was born of the virgin Mary [in the line of King David]
- John 1:14 – “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us.”
- And DEFINED [ὁρίζω] as the SON of God – in POWER [δύναμις] through the Holy Spirit…
- SON of God – a title used to describe His position in the Godhead [second]
- Jesus is God almighty – proven through being resurrected from the dead!
- There are many CULTS today who confuse [misrepresent] the person of Jesus Christ…
- They may use the name JESUS – but it is NOT the Jesus of the Bible!
- We need to be careful when someone says Jesus – makes sure it is the RIGHT Jesus…
- There is only ONE God – who exists in THREE persons [Father – Son – and Holy Spirit]
- Make no mistake – the Bible is VERY clear – Jesus is both fully God and fully man!
- Grace… vs. 5
- Through Him we have received grace and apostleship.
- For obedience to the faith among all nations for His name!
- Through Jesus we have been given GRACE [χάρις] – so we can also be APOSTLES…
- APOSTLES [ἀπόστολος] – those who are sent among all the nations [ἔθνος]
- The term carries the idea of being like an AMBASSADOR…
- So that ALL [πᾶς] nations might also have FAITH in the name of Jesus!
- II Corinthians 5:20 – “We are Christs ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you.”
- We are the AMBASSADORS of Jesus Christ – for the good news of the Gospel…
- We are called to represent Jesus to a world that does NOT know about Him…
- We are called by the GRACE of God – Jesus gives us GRACE to be OBEY…
- He gives us the GIFT of His HOLY Spirit – to go and share the Gospel with the NATIONS!
- Acts 1:8 – “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
- 3rd – The Romans… vs. 7
- Called saints…
- To all who are in Rome – beloved of God – called to be saints!
- THIRD – Paul finished up his introduction by defining the believers in ROME…
- He was writing to ALL [πᾶς] those who in ROME who were LOVED [ἀγαπητός] by God…
- Those who were called [by the Lord] SAINTS [ἅγιος]
- We might think SAINTS are dead believers who lived extraordinary lives…
- But the Biblical meaning of SAINTS are those whom God loves [ἀγαπητός]
- The word saints [ἅγιος] – means to be holy – set apart!
- We are NOT to look like the world – we are to be an example for them…
- It is when we are separate [saints] from the world – we can show them Jesus!
- Grace and peace…
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
- The twins of the New Testament [17 books open with this greeting]
- The order is always the same – Grace [χάρις] – then Peace [εἰρήνη]!
- Everyone wants PEACE – but they miss the KEY to acquiring PEACE – which is GRACE…
- GRACE – gives us forgiveness of sins – so we have PEACE with God…
- It is only when we have His GRACE – that we will find we have His PEACE!
- 1st – Paul… vs. 1
- 2nd – Desire for Rome… vs. 8-17
- 1st – Prayer for Rome… vs. 8-10
- Faith of Rome… vs. 8
- First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all.
- That your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world!
- Rome was the center of the gentile world – the superpower of its day…
- Their religion – revolved around the worship of HUNDREDS of gods [the Pantheon]
- Filling them with immorality [homosexuality – divorce – human trafficking] and corruption…
- The believers in Rome were bold – and stood up against that PAGAN culture…
- So much so their FAITH [πίστις] was talked about throughout the world!
- If you light a candle in the daylight it has little effect – but when it is pitch-black it shines!
- The darker the world becomes around us – the brighter the light of Jesus shines…
- The darker the world gets – the greater the need to be a LIGHT – Matthew 5:16
- Non-stop… vs. 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.
- Knowing the trials and temptations [as well as opportunities] for believers in Rome…
- Paul always PRAYED for them – to stand strong and uncompromising in their faith!
- Prayer is NOT something we are to do OCCASIONALLY…
- If something is on our heart – we are to PRAY continually about it – I Thessalonians 5:17
- Timing… vs. 10
- Making request if by some means now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you!
- Paul ASKED [δέομαι] God if NOW was the time [His will] for Paul to go to Rome…
- Because although he had the desire – he made sure it was the WILL [θέλημα] of God!
- Just because someone is on our HEART – does NOT mean it is from the Lord…
- Which is why we are ALWAYS praying – so we can confirm if it is the WILL [θέλημα] of God…
- And so that we are READY – if the Lord says GO!
- 2nd – Gift for Rome… vs. 11-12
- Established… vs. 11
- I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift – so that you may be established!
- Paul WANTED to come to Rome – so he could give them a [singular] GIFT [χάρισμα]
- The GIFT was SPIRITUAL [πνευματικός] – I Corinthians 12:1
- Paul was a gifted TEACHER – and desired to come ENCOURAGE the church…
- To STRENGTHEN [στηρίζω] them in the sound doctrine of the Word of God – Acts 20:27
- We all have GIFTS the Lord has given to us – I Peter 4:10
- And when we USE those GIFTS – we strengthen the CHURCH!
- Encouraged… vs. 12
- That I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me!
- The STRENGTHENING was NOT a one way street…
- Paul would also be ENCOURAGED [συμπαρακαλέω] by their FAITH!
- I may desire to STRENGTHEN you – but I also need to be ENCOURAGED by you…
- We NEED each other – there are NO super Christians – NO one has all the answers…
- One may be gifted in one area – while another is gifted somewhere else…
- We complement one another – together we are the BODY of Christ – I Corinthians 12:27
- 3rd – Debt to Rome… vs. 13-15
- Flexible… vs. 13
- I do not want you to be unaware brethren that I often planned to come to you.
- But was hindered until now – that I might have some fruit among you also.
- Just as among the other Gentiles!
- Paul did NOT want the brothers in Rome to be IGNORANT [ἀγνοέω]
- MANY times he had planned to come to ROME – Acts 19:21
- So he MIGHT [subjuntive] have FRUIT [ministry] among them as he did the other GENTILES…
- But up to that point he had been FORBIDDEN [κωλύω] to come…
- And when he eventually made it to Rome – it was as a PRISONER – Acts 28:16
- Paul made it to Rome WHEN and HOW God wanted…
- Therefore he was able to share the Gospel with Caesar – Acts 27:24
- If Paul had followed his PLANS – he would have NEVER gotten to see the KING!
- When God gives us His WILL – it does NOT mean that it will happen right away…
- And it RARELY happens in the way that we would expect…
- We may NOT always understand the methods of God – or His timing…
- But in the end His way always works out better than our very best plans!
- Debt… vs. 14-15
- I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians – both to wise and to unwise.
- So as much as is in me – I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also!
- Paul saw himself as being in DEBT [ὀφειλέτης]
- Not that he owed the church in Rome ANYTHING – his DEBT was to the Lord…
- God had CALLED him to go and be His WITNESS to the Gentile world…
- To those who spoke GREEK [Ἕλλην] – and those who did NOT [βάρβαρος]
- To those who were EDUCATED [σοφός] – and those who were NOT [ἀνόητος]
- Paul wanted to PREACH the Gospel to EVERYONE – including in ROME!
- Acts 22:14-15 – “The God of our fathers has chosen you… for you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.”
- Do we every stop and take a moment to ask: WHY did God choose us…
- There is NO question that it is because He loves us – John 3:16
- But might there be MORE to the story that that – does He have a plan…
- Might we have been CHOSEN so that we could go and tell OTHERS…
- We have DEBT – we belong to the Lord – our lives are His to use!
- I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price therefore glorify God.”
- 4th – Gospel for Rome… vs. 16-17
- Not ashamed… vs. 16
- I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation!
- Paul was NOT ashamed of the GOSPEL [Good News]
- Because the GOSPEL is the explosive POWER [δύναμις] of God to SAVE!
- We might be ASHAMED to share the Gospel because we think we LACK the right words…
- Or we think our lifestyle [actions] does NOT line up with our message…
- But it is NOT our words or actions that bring SALVATION…
- The POWER [δύναμις] is in the message – the simple truth of the GOSPEL!
- Jew First… vs. 16
- For everyone who believes – for the Jew first and also for the Greek!
- WHO can be SAVED – the answer is ANYONE who believes…
- Though we are given an ORDER – to the Jew FIRST – then to everyone else [Greek]!
- When we look at the Bible – it seem to be a VERY Jewish book…
- Beginning with Abraham – the whole Old Testament follows ONE nation…
- All of the PROPHETS – all of the KINGS – even all of the APOSTLES were Jews…
- But the Bible is NOT focused on Israel – it is focused on Jesus who came through them!
- The point is powerful for us – we received the Gospel FIRST…
- Are we CONTENT because we know we are SAVED…
- Or do we see the need to PASS it on – share it with EVERYONE else!
- By Faith… vs. 17
- For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.
- As it is written: The just shall live by faith!
- For the only way to be RIGHTEOUS [right with God]
- RIGHTEOUS [δικαιοσύνη] – first of 65 times this word is used in Romans [various forms]
- The only way to be RIGHT – is by [ἐκ] FAITH [πίστις] and continue in [εἰς] FAITH [πίστις]
- Because the ONLY way to be RIGHT with God is through FAITH…
- That is why it was WRITTEN – the RIGHTEOUS [δίκαιος] live by FAITH – Habakkuk 2:4
- This is the FIRST of THREE times this is quoted in NT – Galatians 3:11 – Hebrews 10:38
- With this statement Paul set up the next EIGHT chapters…
- We are saved by GRACE alone through FAITH alone – Ephesians 2:8
- 1st – Prayer for Rome… vs. 8-10