Romans Overview
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ROMANS OVERVIEW I. Purpose, Theme, and Authorship of Romans A. Purpose – Encourage both Jews and Gentiles in the Church at Rome to be faithful and obedient. B. Theme – God reveals and imparts His righteousness through the gospel to them that have faith. C. Authorship – The apostle Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, through the hand of Tertius. Paul wrote this letter from Corinth in approximately A.D. 57 or 58. II. Divisions of the book of Romans Chapter 1 – 1) Introduction, 2) The gospel and righteousness, 3) God’s wrath for the unrighteous Gentile. Chapter 2 – 1) God’s reward and punishment given impartially, 2) Jews proven to be unrighteous. Chapter 3 – 1) Guilt and accountability of both Jews and Greeks, 2) Justification by faith for both Jews and Gentiles. Chapter 4 – Faith has always been the only means of justification. Chapter 5 – 1) Exultation in God as a result of our reconciliation, 2) Death through Adam, but life through Christ. Chapter 6 – 1) Faith and immersion – dead to sin, alive to God, 2) Practical and practicing righteousness Chapter 7 – 1) The Christian has died to the Law, 2) Sin uses the Law to kill, 3) The means by which sin uses the Law to deceive and kill Chapter 8 – 1) The Spirit gives life, 2) Hopeful Sons of God, 3) Conquering in Christ. Chapter 9 – 1) Paul’s concern for physical Israel, 2) God’s sovereign plan, 3) God’s wrath and mercy, 4) Righteousness by faith. Chapter 10 – 1) Jesus is Lord, 2) Faith comes from hearing the Word. Chapter 11 – 1) The condition of Israel, 2) Ingrafting of the Gentiles, 3) God’s mercy to all. Chapter 12 – 1) Service and attitude toward God, 2) Service and attitude toward fellow Christians, 3) Service and attitude toward all men Chapter 13 – 1) Subjection to the governing authorities, 2) Love and light Chapter 14 – 1) Liberty in Opinions, 2) Edification Chapter 15 – 1) Strength to build, 2) Service to Gentiles Chapter 16 – 1) Greetings, 2) Conclusion ROMANS CHAPTER 1:1-15 (Introduction) 1:1 – “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” – Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, was raised strictly according to the law under Gamaliel. His zeal and understanding of the Old Testament is unquestioned both from his writings as well as from his pedigree – see Galatians 1:13-14, and Philippians 3:5-6. Here Paul describes himself as a bond-servant (douloj) of Christ Jesus. While some translations render this word to be “slave,” the context of Christianity makes this word mean so much more. He certainly is a slave of Christ Jesus, but he is a voluntary and willing slave. He patterns himself after the Servant named in Isaiah (Jesus Christ Himself). Paul refers to himself as a servant of Christ Jesus; there is emphasis upon both the fact that Jesus is our Savior (Matthew 1:21) as well as the fact that He is King (the anointed One). Paul also lets us know that he was called as an apostle (apostoloj – one sent out or commissioned). Paul was not simply an apostle of a church, although he and Barnabas were both apostles of the congregation at Antioch – Acts 13:1-3, 14:14. Paul was called as an apostle of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles; yes, he was even called from his mother’s womb – Galatians 1:15-17. What were the requirements for an apostle? They had to be eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry beginning with His immersion and ending with His ascension – Acts 1:21-22. Paul got to see Christ’s physical and heavenly ministry by means of revelation – Galatians 1 and 2, Acts 26:16-18, 1 Corinthians 11:23. As an apostle, Paul was set apart for the gospel of God. He clearly understood that his purpose was to proclaim the good news. 1:2 – “which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,” – Paul obviously expects Christians to see the Old and New Testaments as bound together in one complete unit. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed or the Old is by the New explained, the New is in the Old contained. The O.T., through the inspired writers, most certainly promised the gospel ahead of time. The promised Holy Spirit of the New Testament is the mystery of the Old Testament and is to be available to both Jews and Gentiles – Galatians 3:7-9. 1:3,4 – “concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 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,” – Jesus is the Son of God from all eternity; He is God. This Son became flesh and took on the form of man. According to the flesh, Jesus was of the seed of David. He was from the tribe of Judah, from which the kings were taken. His ancestry matched up with the words of the prophets concerning the Messiah who was to come. Paul, a natural-born Benjamite who was a slave to sin, but became a bond-servant of God due to his adoption as a son, contrasts his position to that held by Jesus. Jesus was the eternal son who came as a bond-servant to free those who were in bondage to sin. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was God’s declaration to us that Christ is the eternal Son. At Jesus’ immersion in the Jordan, God let John the Immerser know that Jesus was His Son. At the transfiguration, Peter, James, and John were told by God that Jesus was His Son. But it was at Jesus’ resurrection from the dead that God’s voice thundered to all mankind throughout history, “Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee” – Acts 13:32-33, Hebrews 1:3-5, 5:5-6. We know that the Holy Spirit was dwelling in Christ while He was in the flesh, but the full work of the Spirit in Christ could not be accomplished until His ascension – Acts 2:33. Now that Spirit of holiness can be sent to both Jew and Gentile who are obedient to the gospel. Both the imparting of life (to the Church) and the renewing of life (here in the resurrection) are attributed to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is described as God’s Son and our Lord. He is our Savior as well as our Sovereign. 1:5 – “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,” – Paul was specially appointed by Christ as an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 26:15-18, 22:21). Along with the responsibility was the grace or gift to empower him for his mission. The purpose of Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles was to bring about the obedience of faith. One of the main points of Romans is that true obedience can only come through faith. On the flip side of the coin, true faith always results in obedience. Faith and obedience are inseparably linked. While Paul in practice always gave an opportunity to those of Israelite heritage to respond to the gospel, his specially appointed mission was to reach the Gentiles. The glory of this great work was to go to Jesus Christ Himself who, through His death and resurrection, made it possible for the Gentiles to be a part of God’s chosen body. 1:6 – “among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ” – Paul now turns his attention specifically to those whom he is addressing. The church in Rome consisted largely of Gentiles. These Gentiles are now part of those whom Jesus Christ has called and chosen (Matthew 22:1-14). 1:7 – “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.” – All Christians regardless of background are truly beloved of God (I John 3:1). As a matter of fact, God has loved us for eternity; thus His plan to bring us back into fellowship with Him through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8). Note that we are not called to be saints, but that we are actually called as saints now. When we enter into covenant with Christ, we are now set apart for holy service. Christians truly are the “elect,” and the “chosen race.” The grace that is given to us through Jesus Christ brings great peace. We have been completely forgiven and we also have been empowered to overcome any temptations that Satan may throw our way. What an awesome, indescribable gift from God (His great plan) and Christ (whose sacrifice made it possible)! 1:8 – “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.” – Paul was truly thankful to God; he had a real friendship relationship with God. Note the personal emphasis on my God. Paul was thankful to God through Jesus Christ for it was only by Christ that he had a two- way relationship with Yahweh. Prior to Paul’s conversion, he had thought that he was serving God, but it was only through Christ that God even acknowledged his prayers. Paul was appreciative that the good news of their faith was going throughout the whole world. Rome really was the “capital of the world” in that day.