Romans

1
Romans

• The Gospel
• Written by Paul in 57 A.D.
• Key Verse 114-17

2
Romans - Themes

• Personal Paul announced his plans to visit
  Rome
  
• Doctrinal Romans presents a detailed and
  extensive discussion of the gospel
  
• Relational The apostle addresses a seething
  dispute between Jews and Gentiles
  
• Theological A defense and vindication is
  offered of Gods nature and plan for salvation

3
Romans - Themes

• Beware of assuming a single theme such as joy
  for Philippians
  
• Historical individual salvation was the theme of
  any epistle Romans Road (1600s)
  
• Paul probably did not think in individual terms
  (early 1900s)
  
• Recent scholarship focuses on Jewish - Gentiles
• Moo thinks both Justification by Faith and
  Gentile Inclusion both major themes leads to
  the Gospel

4
Romans - Immediate Audience

• House Churches in Rome
• Gentiles
• Jews

5
Romans - Time Line

• 33-37 AD Acts 2 lists Pentecost people from Rome
• Anti-Jewish Upheaval AD 38-41 Alexandria ,
  Palestine, Judea
  
• 49 - 54 AD Claudius expels Jews from Rome
• 49 AD Church struggles, meets about Jews
  Gentiles
  
• Acts 15, Gal. 21-15
• 54 68 AD Nero becomes emperor, welcomes Jews
  back
  
• Claudius poisoned by Neros Mother
• Nero murdered Mother possibly half-brother
• Nero allows Jews back into Rome
• 57 AD Paul writes Romans
• 64 / 65 AD Rome burns Nero blames Christians
• 68 AD Siege in Jerusalem begins after Jewish
  rebellion
  
• 70 AD Rome burns Jerusalem, temple destroyed

6
Romans - Style

• Typical Pauline Epistle
• Formal outline
• Opening Thanks
• Prayer
• Body
• Closing
• Extended closing
• Perhaps because he had never been there
• Written in Greek, perhaps as both a formal letter
  and also as a shortened circular.

7
Romans 2 Part Outline

• Doctrine (1-11)
• Duty (12-16)

8
Romans 6 Part Outline

• Obligation (11-117)
• Condemnation (118-320)
• Justification (321-521)
• Sanctification (6-8)
• Vindication (9-11)
• Exhortations (12-16)

9
I. Obligation (11-117)

• Paul the Servant (11-7)
• Servanthood, Sent, Set Apart for The Gospel
• The Obedience of faith
• Contrasts with not works of the law
• Prayer (18-10)
• I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the
  Gospel
  
• Has long prayed to visit Rome

10
I. Obligation (11-117)

• Purpose (111-13)
• Impart some spiritual gift (11)
• That you may be strengthened (11)
• That I may be encouraged (12)
• Eager to preach the gospel
• (Romans 111,13 2525-26 similar to II Cor.
  115-16)
  
• Passion (114-17)
• Pauls zeal for Gentile evangelism should spur us
  on to personal evangelism
  
• Pauls zeal for The Gospel includes disciplining
  people after conversion follow-up.

11
Condemnation (118-320)Ungodliness (118-32)

• An attitude of irreverence / rebellion towards
  God
  
• Worship that which is created (22-25)
• All men are religious need to worship
  something
  
• Therefore God allows unrighteousness 26-32
• Lesbian (26) then Homosexuality (27)
• Social (28-32)
• Sexual and other sins result of idolatry

12
Condemnation (118-320)Gods Judgment is
Impartial (21-16)

• Paul turns towards Jews
• Is according to truth (21-4)
• Has eternal consequences (5-10)
• ABC CBA Chiasm (6-11)
• Is impartial (211)
• Jews are judged like Gentiles
• New concept for Jews

13
Condemnation (118-320)Gods Judgment is
Impartial (26-11) Chiasm

• A God judges everyone according to his works (6)
• B People who do good will attain eternal life
  (7)
  
• C People who do evil will suffer wrath (8)
• C Wrath for those who do evil (9)
• B Glory for those who do good (10)
• A God judges impartially (11)

14
Condemnation (118-320)Gods Judgment is
Impartial (212-16)

• Those (Gentiles) who sin apart from the law
• parish apart from the (Mosaic) law
• The natural law written on their hears
• Mosaic laws are universal norms
• Their conscience bears witness
• Those (Jewish) who sin under the law
• Hearing the law is not enough
• Judged by the law
• Will be done through Jesus Christ (216)

15
Condemnation (118-320)Jews Need of the Gospel
(217-38)

• The Jew and having the Law (217-24)
• Jews do not obtain salvation thru having the Law
• The Jew and Circumcision (225-29)
• The Jews do not obtain salvation thru
  circumcision
  
• Christians and the New Testament
• Having it and reading it does not save
  Christians
  
• Christians are embarrassed by Holocaust

16
Condemnation (118-320)Jews Need of the Gospel
(217-38)

• Jewish Objections (31-8)
• Jews entrusted with the Word of God
• Jews have been circumcised
• But the Word of God shows righteousness of God
  and Jewish unrighteousness
  
• Israelites reasoned
• God granted them special status born righteous
• They had to obey the covenant to remain
  righteous
  
• They never believed they were saved by obedience

17
Condemnation (118-320)Jews Need of the Gospel
(217-38)Contemporary Significance

• False Security for born again Christians
• They walked up the aisle and were saved
• They are baptized
• They never truly submitted their lives to Jesus
• They never understood what true conversion is
• Their eternal salvation is therefore in jeopardy
• Our eternal security is based on a life of
  obedience
  
• Commitment to Christ is a serious commitment

18
Condemnation (118-320)Conclusion (39-20)

• All are under sin (9-18) (Notice subtle
  changes)
  
• Psalm 141-8 (Rom. 310b-12)
• Psalm 55-10 (Rom. 313a)
• Psalm 1401-4 (Rom. 313b)
• Psalm 104 (Rom. 314)
• Isaiah 594 (Rom. 315-17)
• Psalm 361 (Rom. 318)
• All are accountable, conscious of sin (19-20)
• The Law closes the mouth (19)
• The Law condemns all men (20)

19
Condemnation (118-320)Salvation by Good Works

• Salvation for both Jew and Gentile is available
  only by doing good works (26, 11, 13)
  
• The power of sin prevents both Jew and Gentile
  from doing good (39-19)
  
• Therefore No one can be saved by doing good
  (320)

20
Justification (321-521)The Righteousness of
God (321-26)
21
Justification (321-521)The Righteousness of
God (321-26)

• Martin Luther called this the chief point and
  the central place of the epistle, and of the
  whole Bible.
  
• Paul resumes argument left off in 117
• But the righteous shall live by faith (117b)
• Even the righteousness of God through faith in
  Jesus Christ for all who believe(322)

22
Justification (321-521)The Righteousness of
God (321-26)

• 323 Can be translated faith in Jesus or Faith
  of Jesus (faithfulness of Jesus). Moo thinks
  
  
• faith in is repetitive but is better. (Mark
  1122)
  
• atonement cover (seat of Moses) is better than
  propitiation (Jesus died on Day of Atonement.)
  
• His righteousness is activated only for those
  who believe, but is also for all those who
  believe.
  
• 324 Jesus paid the price a slave pays for our
  eternal salvation (see 39.)
  
• 325-26 Christs sacrifice vindicates Gods
  Justice

23
Justification (321-521)Justified by Faith, not
Works (327-31)

• Paul appears to be addressing Jews here
• We are saved on the basis of faith 22,26, 28, 30
• Mosaic Law (works) does not contribute to
  Justification
  
• We uphold the Mosaic Law because
• It is a testimony to the gospel (41-25)
• Bringing Conviction of sin (319-20)
• Guidance for the Christian Life (138-10)
• Standard of Guidance of Gods Holiness, now
  fulfilled in Christ (84)

24
Abraham Circumcision Summary (Genesis)

• Abram traveled from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran,
  then to Canaan at age of 75 (124)
  
• Abrahamic covenant given by God to Abram (121-3)
  
  
• Abram gives Melchizedek King of Salem 10
  receives a blessing from him (1418-21)
  
• Abram believed in God it was reckoned as
  righteousness (156)
  
• Hagar bears Abram now 86, Ishmael (1616)
• Abraham is 99 requires circumcision
  (161,11-14)
  
• Isaac born when Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90
  (214-5)
  
• Lord tries to kill Moses uncircumcised son (Ex.
  424-26)

25
Justification (321-521) Old Testament
Illustration (41-25)

• Apart from works (Vertical) (41-8)
• When we work, we are owed our wages
• God does not owe us anything
• Therefore we cannot be saved by working
• Apart from the circumcision (Horizontal)
  (49-12)
  
• Abraham spiritual father of all who believe as
  himself (Jews Gentiles)
  
• Faithfulness preceded circumcision by 17 years
• Section addresses both Gentile Christians
  Messianic Jews
  
• When we are saved, Catholics taught we became
  righteous, reformers taught we only are credited
  with righteousness

26
Justification (321-521) Old Testament
Illustration (41-25)

• Faith, not Law, Secures the Promise (413-17)
• The promise is based on faith, no the law
• The promise unites both Jewish and Gentile
  Christians
  
• The faith was firm and unwavering
• Is a Promise (418-22)
• Faith is distinct from the law
• Faith has no power of itself, only due to God
• Faith is based on Gods Word

27
Justification (321-521) Old Testament
Illustration (41-25)

• For Us thru God (423-25)
• One of the few times Paul discusses faith in God
  (not Jesus) as the basis for our salvation
  
• John 1244-50 further describes Jesus
• God credits us with righteousness
• So why cannot we be saved by faith in God not
  Jesus?
  
• Old Testament saints, like Abraham, were saved
  this way
  
• Abraham believed in Gods plan for him
• Jesus is perfect reflection of God Heb 11-3
• When we reject Jesus, we also reject God.

28
III. Justification (321-521) The Benefits of
Justification (51-11)

• This Assurance inclusio with 818-39 brackets
  the next section
  
• Hope for Final Salvation is another great
  theme
  
• Peace and Hope (51-4) see Isaiah 3217-18
• God loves us in Christ (555-8)
• God acted for us in Christ (59-11)

29
Justification (321-521)The Reign of Grace and
Life (512-21)

• Adam, Sin, and Universal Death (512)
• A Sin Came into the world through Adam
• B With sin came death
• B Death spread to all people
• A Because all people sinned
• Death is both spiritual and physical
• Paul is teaching about the universality of death

30
Justification (321-521)The Reign of Grace and
Life (512-21)
31
IV. Sanctification (6-8)Freedom from Bondage to
Sin (61-23)

• Enslaved to God (15-23)
• What then?
• Shall we sin?
• Because we are not under law but under grace
• May it never be
• Do you not know ?
• You are no longer a slave to sin
• You are now slave to righteousness
• Therefore you have the benefit of sanctification,
  and the outcome, eternal life.

• United to Christ (1-14)
• What shall we say then
• Are we to continue in sin?
• So that grace may continue
• May it never be
• Or do you not know
• Jesus was dead and lived again
• So we also died thru Jesus and can live again
• Therefore do not be under sin.

32
IV. Sanctification (6-8)Freedom from Bondage to
the Law (71-25)

• Chapter 61-23
• Death to Sin (2, 17)
• I Identifies with Christs Death (4)
• Walks in Newness of Life (4)
• Christs resurrection(4,5)
• Fruit Bearing (22)

• Chapter 71-6
• Death to the Law)4)
• I Identifies with Christs Death (4)
• Serve in newness of The Spirit )6)
• Christs resurrection (4)
• Free from Law (2, 3, 6)
• Fruit Bearing (4)

33
IV. Sanctification (6-8)The Law (77-25)

• The Coming of the Law (77-12)
• Life Under the Law (713-25)
• Applies to Jewish non-believers
• Romans 714, 16 describes non-believers
• Roman 718 does not describe believers
• Christians can apply this passage to describe
  their daily lives but remember
  
• We are slaves to righteousness
• We are not slaves to sin and should not sin

34
IV. Sanctification (6-8)Assurance (81-39)
35
IV. Sanctification (6-8)Assurance (81-39)

• The Role of the Spirit (81-17)
• Sufferings and Glory (818-25)
• Prayers of The Holy Spirit (826-27)
• Purpose of the Father (828-29)
• Three Questions (831-39)
• Who will bring any charge against those God has
  chosen?
  
• Who is he that condemns?
• Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

36
V. Vindication (9-11) Israels privileges
Gods Prerogative (9)

• Israels Privileges (91-5)
• Israel loved by Paul (91-3)
• Israel blessed by God (94-6)
• Gods Prerogative (96-29)
• Promise of God(96-13)
• Justice of God (914-18)
• Glory of God (919-29)
• Israels Pursuit (930-33)

37
V. Vindication (9-11) Christ, the Climax of
Salvation History (10)

• Salvation (101-13)
• Not by Works (101-5)
• Only by Faith (106-13)
• Evangelism (1014-15)
• Repudiation (1016-21)

38
V. Vindication (9-11) Israel not entirely
rejected, Gentiles (11)

• Remnant among Israelites (111-10)
• Temporary Replacement by the Gentiles (1111-21)
• Riches of God (1133-36)

39
Exhortations (12-16) Dedicated Service (121-21)

• Jews Gentiles get along as both groups are
  members of one body
  
• Commitment to God (121-2)
• Correct Assessments (123-8)
• Do not think too highly of yourself
• Concern for One Another (129-16)
• Coals for Offenders (1217-21)

40
Exhortations (12-16) Be Subject to Government
(131-14)

• Pauls instructions to unique Rome situation.
  Apply carefully applying to our situation today.
  
  
• Remember Rome will smash Jerusalem 70 A.D. just
  13 years in the future.
  
• Respect for God-ordained Authority (131-7)
• Responsibility for God-supplied love (138-10)
• Reading for Gods Appointed Day (1311-14)

41
Exhortations (12-16) The Strong and the Weak
(141-1513)

• Who are strong and weak?
• Ex-idolaters newly converted from paganism
• Ascetics
• Legalists
• Jewish Christians (for the most part) that are
  continuing the conscious commitment to Jewish
  regulations regarding diet and days.
  
• Stewardship

42
Exhortations (12-16) Closing (16)

• Those Greeted
• Prisca (Priscilla) Acts 182-3, highly esteemed
• Most had Roman or Greek names (to avoid
  persecution.)
  
• Warnings about false teachers
• Applications
• Support your pastors and church leaders
• Always support the gospel and remove false
  teachers.

43
Bibliography

• Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament,
  4th ed. Grand Rapids Zondervan, 2003.
  
• Harrison, Everett F. Romans through Galatians.
  The Expositors Bible Commentary with the New
  International Version, Grand Rapids Zondervan,
  1976.
• Martinez, Ted. Talbot Roman Lectures. La
  Mirada Biola Bookstore, Summer 2004.
  
• Moo, Douglas J. The Epistle to the Romans. The
  New International Commentary on the New
  Testament. Grand Rapids Eerdmans, 1996.
  
• _____________ Romans. Zondervan Illustrated
  Bible Backgrounds Commentary. Grand Rapids
  Zondervan, 2002.