One-Ministry

The Book of Romans

Part One

Lesson 49

 

 

The Epistles:

• We come now in our studies to the Epistles of the New Testament, and we find first, there are nine Epistles written by the Apostle Paul to seven Gentile churches- in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica.

• These epistles develop the doctrine of the Church. They give instructions as to her unique purpose in the purpose of God. The Church, you will remember, was “the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” Ephesians 3:9.

 

The Church:

• Through Paul alone we know that the Church is not an organization, but an organism (the Body of Christ); instinct with His life, and heavenly in calling, promise, and destiny.

• Through him alone we know the nature, purpose, and form of the organization of local churches, and the right conduct of such gatherings.

• Paul, converted by the personal ministry of the Lord in glory, is distinctively the witness to a glorified Christ, Head over all things to the Church, which is His body, as the eleven were to Christ in the flesh, the Son of Abraham and of David (Scofield Bible).

 

The Book of Romans:

• The Epistle to the Romans was written by Paul from Corinth during his third visit to that city. When Paul wrote it, the Gospel had been preached through the Roman world for about a quarter of a century and many groups of Christians had come into existence.

• Many questions had come out of these groups such as – God’s grace, the Gospel and the Law, the Abrahamic Covenant, and many other questions.

• Paul had not been to Rome when he wrote this Epistle.

 

The Central Message:

• Romans 1:16-17:

       For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it         is the power of God unto salvation to every one               that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the                 Greek.

 

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written the just shall live by faith.

The Structure of the Book:

• How the Gospel Saves- Chapters 1-8

• How the Gospel relates to Israel- Chapters 9-11

• How the Gospel Affects Conduct- Chapters 12-16

 

How the Gospel Saves-Chapters 1-8:

• These first eight chapters are doctrinal because they teach the basic doctrine of the Gospel. After a brief introduction (1:1-15) Paul immediately begins a doctrinal discussion on how the Gospel saves.

 

• From Chapters  1:18-3:20 we see man’s need for the Gospel:

  • First- The pagan man (Gentile)  1:18-32

    • Note: Verse 21-24 especially.

    • Note: Verse 24-28 “God gave them up”

  • Second- The moral man (hypocrite)  2:1-16

    • Both Jew and Gentile  2:11-12

  • Third- The religious man (Jew) 2:17-3:8

  • Fourth- All are in sin Jew and Gentile  3:9-20

 

• “But Now”- Justification 3:21-5:21

  • When you read the word “justify” in Scriptures, associate the word with “righteous” for they come from the same root of the Greek.

  • Note: Verses 3:24, 26, and 28.

  • In justification God declares a sinner righteous on the basis of his faith in Jesus Christ.

  • Redemption-(3:24)- means “to deliver, or save, by paying a price.” So He paid the price for our salvation, our justification.

  • I Corinthians 6:20

             For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify              God in your body, and in your spirit, which are                  God’s.

• “Propitiation” (3:25)- means simply satisfaction. Christ is our propitiation, (a satisfaction sacrifice), if we accept His shed blood.

• Hebrews 2:17

       Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made           like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful         high priest in things pertaining to God, to make               reconciliation for the sins of the people.

• The same word translated “mercy seat” is the same word “propitiation.”

 

• Paul selects one man in chapter 4 to illustrate “Justification:”

  • Romans 4:3

             For what saith the scripture? Abrham believed                God, and it was counted unto him for                                  righteousness.

 

• Genesis 15:6

       And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to             him for righteousness.

 

• Abraham believed- Romans 4:20-24

 

• Chapter 5:

  • Fruits of Justification-v.1

  • Access to His grace, rejoice in hope-v.2

  • Rejoicing in tribulations, patience, and hope-v.3-4

  • The free gift of God-v.12-21

  • Note v.18

 

• Chapter 6: Verbs are past tense

  • “Our old man was crucified”

  • Know-v. 3,6,9

  • Reckon-v.11

  • Yield-v.13

 

• Chapters 7 and 8:

  • Paul shows us how the Gospel deals with the sin problems in the actual experience of the believer.

  • Chapter 8 gives the glorious answer, Paul shows that the new life, law, and liberty of the Spirit in the believer are the ample answer to the cry.

  • The Holy Spirit is mentioned no less than 19 times in this chapter.

  • Romans 8:28

              And we know that all things work together for                  good to them that love God, to them who are                    called according to his purpose.

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