February 28, 2022


 A Suggested Outline of Romans

 Introduction (1:1–17)
     A. Salutation (1:1–7)      
     B. Explanation (1:8–17)
I. Sin (1:18–3:20—Righteousness Needed)
     A. The Gentiles under sin (1:18–32)
     B. The Jews under sin (2:1–3:8)  
     C. The whole world under sin (3:9–20)
II. Salvation (3:21–5:21—Righteousness Imputed)
     A. Justification explained (3:21–31)
     B. Justification expressed: the example of Abraham (4:1–25)
     C. Justification experienced (5:1–21)
III. Sanctification (6–8—Righteousness Imparted)
     A. Our new position in Christ (6)
     B. Our new problem in the flesh (7)
     C. Our new power in the Spirit (8)
IV. Sovereignty (9–11—Righteousness Rejected)
     A. Israel’s past election (9)
     B. Israel’s present rejection (10)
     C. Israel’s future redemption (11)
V. Service (12:1–15:13—Righteousness Practiced)
     A. Consecration to God (12)
     B. Subjection to authority (13)
     C. Consideration for the weak (14:1–15:13)
VI. Conclusion (15:14–16:27)
     A. Paul’s faithfulness in the ministry (15:14–21)
     B. Paul’s future in the ministry (15:22–33)
     C. Paul’s friends in the ministry (16:1–23)  
     D. Final benediction (16:24–27)

Roman 1-2 (HCSB)  God’s Good News for Rome
1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news — 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David   according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.  5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name, 6 including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling: 
7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. 
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world.  9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about His Son, is my witness that I constantly mention you, 10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.  11 For I want very much to see you, so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 
13 Now I want you to know, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome. 
The Righteous Will Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.  17 For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.   
The Guilt of the Gentile World
18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made.  As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.  God’s Good News for Rome
1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news — 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David   according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.  5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name, 6 including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling: 
7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. 
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world.  9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about His Son, is my witness that I constantly mention you, 10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.  11 For I want very much to see you, so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 
13 Now I want you to know, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome. 
The Righteous Will Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.  17 For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.   
The Guilt of the Gentile World
18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made.  As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.  for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 There is no favoritism with God. 12 All those who sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.  14 So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.  Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them 16 on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus. 
Jewish Violation of the Law
17 Now if  you call yourself a Jew, and rest in the law,  boast in God, 18 know His will, and approve the things that are superior,  being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the full expression  of knowledge and truth  in the law— 21 you then, who teach another,  don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. 
Circumcision of the Heart
25 For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God.
Lewis Walling
Sometimes unbelievers challenge our faith by calling the Bible a collection of old stories. While that may be true, time and again we find the same issues in our modern world. We need the same encouragement as Christians today. God’s Word provides that through the Scripture. How cool is that?!
Paul’s letter to the Romans is iconic. Many of the key verses to sharing the Gospel are found there. That’s exactly the point. Paul wrote this letter to the Christians at Rome to encourage
them. He wanted to remind them who they were, who Christ is, and who they became in Him. He also exhorts them to be unified in their beliefs without judgment. 
So, who are we? Paul tells us. Just as the members of the early Church, we are sinners. All of us. We are trapped by our sin and separated by it from God. Paul makes a distinction between Jews and Gentiles and demonstrates how all are affected by sin. The Jews thought they were “better” than the Gentiles because they were the chosen of God. Sometimes as Christians, we view ourselves as “better” than the unchurched around us. Nope. We all need to be saved from ourselves.




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