A Study of Romans: 1. The Gospel’s Power to Save

Comments on Romans “…the most profound book in all literature” “…the most important book theologically in the whole NT” “When anyone understands this epistle, he has a passage opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.” “…the cathedral of the Christian faith.”

Goals of this Series To give every Christian a fuller understanding of the riches they have in Christ To give every Christian confidence in their own justification To make every Christian a burning fire of faith and faithfulness, and an unashamed doer and teller of the gospel

Romans Chapter 1: The Gospel’s Power to Save Chapter 1-3: Man’s need for Salvation Chapter 3-5: Justification by Faith Chapter 6-8: Dying & Living by Faith Chapter 9-11: God’s Chosen People Chapter 12-16: Living for Jesus

Background Paul –Wrote the letter to them from Corinth between 56 and 58 AD –On the third missionary journey –Expected to deliver assistance to Jerusalem and then head for Rome The Roman Church –No one knows when it was established - Acts 2:10 –Primarily made up of Gentiles – Rom. 11:13 –Was well known among the churches – Rom. 1:7-8

Four Reasons Paul Wrote the Epistle To explain why he had not yet visited them (1:9-13; 15:18-23) To lay the groundwork for visiting them and getting assistance from them for further evangelism (15:23-24, 28) To provide a letter of recommendation for a sister in Christ (16:1-2) To share doctrinal teaching on justification

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You?

“As much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you … also … for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” – Romans 1:15-16

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You? “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” – Romans 7:24-25

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You? “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You? “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You? “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” – Romans 9:1-3

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You? “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” – Romans 12:1

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You? “to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ!” – Romans 16:27

What Does Being Justified by Faith Mean to You? Does it mean as much to you as it did to Paul?

Paul and the Gospel He was appointed an apostle in order to preach it (1:1-6)

Romans 1:1-6 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Romans 1:1-6 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Romans 1:1-6 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Romans 1:1-6 4 … Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 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, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Romans 1:1-6 4 … Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 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, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Faith IS “conviction of the truth of anything” – Thayer the belief of testimony – Heb. 11:1 depending on the trustworthiness of the one whose testimony we accept something we are wired for as human beings

Saving Faith IS NOT something we cannot have because of a spiritual deformity IS NOT any different IN KIND OR ORIGIN from any other type of belief only IN ITS OBJECT IS NOT a work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts IS the acceptance of the testimony of Scriptures (Rom 10:17) HAS as its object Jesus and His saving work on the cross REQUIRES the agreement of the will of man RESULTS in actions

Saving Faith RESULTS in Actions… … that conform with that faith … that demonstrate dependence on the trustworthiness of the object of that faith … that change our legal status from guilty before God to not guilty before God … which are called “the obedience of faith” or “obedience to the faith” (Rom. 1:5; 16:25-27)

Romans 1:5 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,

Romans 16:25-27 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Paul and the Gospel He was appointed an apostle in order to preach it (1:1-6) He wanted to preach it in Rome, too (1:14-15)

Romans 1:14-15 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Paul and the Gospel He was appointed an apostle in order to preach it (1:1-6) He wanted to preach it in Rome, too (1:14-15) He had tremendous respect for it (1:16-17)

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

The Gospel in Romans 1:16-17 It is God’s power

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

The Gospel in Romans 1:16-17 It is God’s power It saves those who believe it

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

The Gospel in Romans 1:16-17 It is God’s power It saves those who believe it It has universal application

Romans 1:16-17 NKJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Romans 1:17 ASV For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.

Romans 1:17 LONT For in it the justification of God by faith is revealed, in order to faith; as it is written, "Now the just by faith, shall live."

The Righteousness of God Justification => Righteousness = being judged right, not guilty by God (cf. Rom. 10:3) Not primarily speaking of good character or godliness Primarily speaking of our legal status before God

The Gospel in Romans 1:16-17 It is God’s power It saves those who believe it It has universal application It reveals God’s plan of justification by faith

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Romans 1:17 LONT For in it the justification of God by faith is revealed, in order to faith; as it is written, "Now the just by faith, shall live."

The Gospel in Romans 1:16-17 It is God’s power It saves those who believe it It has universal application It reveals God’s plan of justification by faith It was revealed to produce faith

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Romans 1:17 LONT For in it the justification of God by faith is revealed, in order to faith; as it is written, "Now the just by faith, shall live."

The Gospel in Romans 1:16-17 It is God’s power It saves those who believe it It has universal application It reveals God’s plan of justification by faith It was revealed to produce faith It is in agreement with the OT

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

The Gospel in Romans 1:16-17 It is God’s power It saves those who believe it It has universal application It reveals God’s plan of justification by faith It was revealed to produce faith It is in agreement with the OT It is nothing to be ashamed of

Comments on Romans “When you get the book of Romans, God gets you.”

What does being justified by faith mean to you?

Conditions of Justification Believe (John 8:24) Repent (Luke 13:5) Confess (Rom. 10:10; Matt. 10:32-33) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; John 3:5) Live Faithfully (Rev. 2:11)