Romans Chapter 1:1-17 Please think about the Questions in Section VI
I. Romans 1:1
Entering Credentials
a. Name
b. Job Description
c. Expertise/Training
II. Romans 1:2-4
Paul’s Christology—His Doctrine of Christ
Paul tells the church in Rome whose team he is on…which propositions or facts of Christ he affirms as true.
a. Prophesy is fulfilled in Christ
b. Physical lineage of Christ—his humanity
c. Proved to be Son of God through the Resurrection—his divinity
III. Romans 1:5
By Christ and for him Paul lived out his calling to bring the obedience of faith to all Gentiles.
***Rather than teaching Christ as something that would make their lives better…Paul taught that our faith in the gospel is an obedience issue. When we hear the gospel we make a decision either to obey through faith in Christ or disobey by rejecting Christ and having no faith.
IV. Romans 1:7(b)
The grace of faith always precedes the peace given to God’s chosen people. (This is a greeting we read Paul use repeatedly in his epistles.)
V. Romans 1:8-13
Paul is telling the church in Rome his desire to visit them so that:
a. They can be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith,
b. To have a harvest of believers, and
c. To preach the gospel to Greeks and to non-Greeks in Rome
VI. Romans 1:16-17
Paul’s Mission Statement: There is no shame in preaching the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew then for the Gentile.
The Gospel gives:
a. A righteousness revealed—Through Whom?
b. Righteousness provided by God—Why is this needed? How does God make this provision?
c. Beginning and ending in faith—How do I receive the righteousness God provided?
d. “The righteous will live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
Paul’s intent for the entire book of Romans is summed up in his lengthy greeting. He will spend the last half of chapter one through chapter eight explaining the gospel. Then in chapters nine through eleven he goes to great pains to address God’s purpose in redemptive history. From chapter twelve through the first half of fifteen he applies what he has taught in very practical ways to help the church live in a Christ-like manner. His closing thoughts and final doxology are included in the last half of chapter fifteen and chapter sixteen.
