Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Romans chapter 1 as we continue our study through the Word of God and we begin this fascinating and challenging study of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans.  Before we get started, let me give you some background information.

            This epistle was written by Paul at the close of his third missionary journey from Corinth, at the house of Gaius according to Romans 16:23.  And the date of Paul’s writing of this epistle is in the spring of 58 AD, some have put it between 56 and 58 AD, but whatever the case, it was written before Paul went to Jerusalem with gifts for the church in Jerusalem from the Gentile churches.

            Now, during his three month stay in Corinth, (Acts 20:2-3), this Epistle was written and given probably to Phoebe who was from the church of Cenchrea, who then delivered this epistle to the churches in Rome, (Romans 16:1-2).  The theme of this letter can be summed up as follows: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!  In fact, many feel this is the most important book, theologically speaking, in the entire New Testament for it gives to us a systematic approach or presentation of Christian theology, it paints for us why the Gospel is so important to ever single person.

            I like the way that John MacArthur gives us a picture of what this epistle is all about.  He says:

            “The epistle to the Romans speaks to us today just as powerfully as it spoke to men of the first century.  It speaks morally, about adultery, fornication, homosexuality, hating, murder, lying, and civil disobedience. It speaks intellectually, telling us that the natural man is confused because he has a reprobate mind.  It speaks socially, telling us how we are to relate to one another. It speaks psychologically, telling us where true freedom comes to deliver men from the burden of guilt.  It speaks nationally, telling us our responsibility to human government. It speaks internationally, telling us the ultimate destiny of the earth and especially the future of Israel.  It speaks spiritually, answering man’s despair by offering hope for the future.  It speaks theologically, teaching us the relationship between the flesh and the spirit, between law and grace, between works and faith. But most of all, it profoundly brings God Himself to us.”

            Of this letter, listen to what some of the great men of faith had to say:

            John Calvin said: “When anyone understands this Epistle, he has a passage opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.”

            Martin Luther said: “It is the chief part of the New Testament and the perfect gospel . . . the absolute epitome of the gospel.”

            Frederick Godet (19^th century Swiss theologian) called this book: “The cathedral of the Christian faith.”

            Not only that, but this epistle has transformed the lives of those who have not only read it but applied it to their lives, like Augustine in the summer of 386, and Martian Luther, in August of 1513 as he was born again, and in May of 1738 John Wesley was saved as he read Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans. And my prayer for us as we begin this journey through Romans is that it will transform our lives, draw us closer to the Lord, and to have a clearer perspective of who we are and who God is!   In fact, the word “God” is used some 153 times in this epistle, that works out to the word “God” being used once every 46 words!  Thus, this letter is about God and we need to listen and obey what the Holy Spirit is showing us as we go through this epistle!

            Now, one more thing before we get into our text this evening, and that is the outline of this book.  I am going to give you this outline quickly, so don’t try to write it down, you can get a copy of it after study this evening.  Also, this is not the only way to break it down, but I think this will be helpful to you as we go through this epistle.  The outline goes as follows:

            With that said, let’s begin reading in Romans chapter 1, starting in verse 1 as we get into Paul’s opening salutation to the Believers in Rome in Romans 1:1-7, and let’s see what the Lord has for us this evening.

VERSE 1

            Paul starts our by saying he is a “bondslave” of Jesus Christ, DOULOS in the Greek.  A bondslave, according to Exodus chapter 21 is a slave who has served his master and is now free to go.  But, because he loves his master he wants to remain a slave and freely serve him, not out of obligation or constraint, but out of love.  Thus, they would take him down to the doorpost of the house and pierce his ear with an awl and place a gold ring in his ear signifying to all that he is a bondslave. That is how we are to serve the Lord, out of love, freely.  What are the marks in your life that tell others you are a bondslave of Jesus?  What things are manifested in your life that others will see?  Will they see your service unto the Lord out of love or out of constraint?

            Paul also says that he is an apostle, called by God to this position. The word “apostle” means one who is “sent out” and in a sense, we are all apostles, sent out with the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Gospel message.  We are not part of the primary apostles, the 12, or prophets for that matter because I believe those ministries have passed off the scene. Some may argue but notice what Paul said in Ephesians 2:20-22, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  You see, they have laid the foundation and you don’t keep laying a foundation, so those offices have passed off the scene and now the evangelists, pastor/teachers and teachers are building the rest of the structure.

            Then Paul says that he has been “separated to the Gospel of God.”  The word “Gospel” comes from the Greek word EUANGELION and Paul uses it some thirty-six times in this epistle. This word simply means “good news” or “glad tidings.”  I know that some would like to make their own doctrine on what the Good News, the Gospel is all about, but as we are going to see in a few minutes, it is God becoming flesh, dwelling among us, dying on the cross of Calvary for our sins and rising the third day from the dead having paid in full the penalty for our sins.  That is Good News especially when you place in front of it all the bad news that has permeated generation after generation, all our sins are forgiven in Christ, which is truly great news!

            One last point before we move on and that is Paul’s remarks about being separated unto the Gospel of God.  Poole tells us: “Some think he alludes to the name of Pharisee, which is from separating: when he was a Pharisee, he was separated to the law of God; and now, being a Christian, he was separated to the gospel of God.”  An interesting thought!

VERSES 2-4

            People think that the Gospel is a new idea, but it is not!  The Old Testament prophets spoke of the Messiah and the work He was to do, not only for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles.  And here Paul clearly shows us the humanity of Jesus – born of the seed of David, and also His divinity – declared to be the Son of God.  The Greek word for “declared” is HORIZO and we get our English word “horizon” from it.  In other words, in response to Jesus being God, He has always been God and will always be God just as the Horizon stretches forth across the sky!

            Paul, in Philippians 2:6-11 says this in regards to the incarnation, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

            When God became flesh, when He dwelt among us, He emptied Himself of some of His Godly attributes which did not make Him any less God, for as I have said, Jesus has always been God and He always will be God!    Then in John 5:18 we are told, “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”  Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus?  Because He, being a man, made Himself equal with God and the Jews rejected Jesus being God, they rejected Him being the Messiah!

            And for those who still want to deny the deity of Jesus, listen to what God the Father has to say regarding Jesus, the Son in Hebrews 1:8-9, “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.’”  If God the Father calls Jesus God then who am I to argue with that!

            What is the evidence of Jesus being the Messiah? His resurrection from the dead, that He had the power to rise the third day from the dead!  Jesus said in John 10:18, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”  And the reality is, His whole life was a testimony to the fact that He is the Messiah as He fulfilled down to the tiniest detail all that the prophets said regarding Him!

VERSES 5-6

            How are we saved?  Not through works, being baptized, being good, being a member of a church, keeping the Ten Commandments, obeying the Sermon on the Mount, serving God, tithing, being nice, none of these things will save you!  Paul simply says that we are saved “through Him. . .” not through us and what we have done.  You see, all you must do is receive the gift of grace that God has given to us by faith, repent of your sins, ask Him to be Lord and Savior of your life and you are saved!  It is not just a head knowledge of who Jesus is nor is it just a belief that He is God, for James tells us “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!”  James 2:19.  You see, it is a head knowledge that sinks deep down into our lives, our hearts and is manifested in our actions, it is a faith that works not for salvation but is the evidence that you are saved!

            It is as one dying saint said, “Grace is the only thing that can make us like God.  I might be dragged through heaven, earth, and Hell and I would still be the same sinful, polluted wretch unless God Himself should cleanse me by His grace.”  Then it is out of that relationship we become apostles, or sent out ones, ambassadors for Jesus.

            Paul puts it this way in II Corinthians 5:18-21, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  As we make peace with God through Jesus we then can bring to others the peace of God, that reconciliation through Jesus Christ, we are His ambassadors!

VERSE 7

            How did the church in Rome get started?  Some like to believe it was through the Apostle Peter but there is nothing to substantiate that claim.  Paul hadn’t been to Rome yet, so it wasn’t through his efforts.  During Pentecost many people traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast and when they saw the power of the Holy Spirit come down upon the disciples and heard Peter speak of Jesus, many got saved, so as they returned home, some may have lived in Rome and brought Jesus to their family and friends there.  Also, believers from other areas that Paul ministered in may have traveled to Rome to spread the Good News of Jesus.  Common people doing a mighty work through the power of God!  And look at the love Paul has for these believers he has not even seen yet, the love of God extended to them through Paul.

            Today, in the Catholic Church, several years after her death, Mother Teresa is on her way to becoming a saint.  Now it doesn’t take a theologian to figure this out, but Paul was not writing to the dead believers in Rome, but living saints and the only reason they were called saints is because they have believed and received Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives.  Thus, there is Saint Stephen sitting over there.  I see Saint Julie in the front row.  And you can just call me Saint Joseph – sounds good, kind of a heavenly ring to it!  The word “saint” or HAGIOS in the Greek means “set apart” or “sacred.”  Obviously that can’t be done by our own efforts, our own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Jesus imparted to our lives by faith!

            Then Paul speaks of the Siamese Twins of the New Testament, Grace and Peace!  Paul uses the Greek greeting of CHARIS and the Jewish greeting, SHALOM, linking both Jew and Gentile together into the family of God.  The word “grace” speaks of getting what we don’t deserve, and in this case it is eternal life when we should get death because of our sins.  The word “peace” speaks of rest.  The thing is, you will never find Paul speak of the peace and grace of God, never in that order, why?  Because you can’t experience the peace of God until you first know the grace of God in your life, you have made peace with God through Jesus Christ!

            Thus, in Romans 1:1-7 we see Paul’s opening salutation and now in Romans 1:8-17 we see Paul’s introduction to this epistle.

VERSE 8

            Paul’s statement here tells me their faith was real, it wasn’t dead, they lived what they believed and it was a light to those who were living in darkness, so much so that word spread of their faith without telephones, radio, television, internet and-so-on.  May our faith be that real, may we live what we believe because as we walk in Christ, people will notice!

VERSES 9-15

            Paul lay’s his heart open here to these believers in Rome. He desires to come to them, not to be exalted, not for a sight-seeing tour of the city, but that he may bless them, encourage them to continue in the work, to forge ahead and not become discouraged!  His desire was to build them up in the faith!

            That passion to bring the Gospel message anywhere and everywhere was in the heart of Paul who was just waiting for God’s timing, God’s will in the matter. God promised Paul he would go to Rome and just as God promised, God will bring it to pass, maybe not like Paul thought, as a prisoner!  Paul was a man who was ready to preach and to serve, he was willing to suffer for the Gospel sake, he would do whatever it took, even unpleasant work, and Paul was ready to die. It is hard to stop a man like that!  Of Paul, Newell said, “Talk of your brave men, your great men, O world! Where in all history can you find one like Paul?  Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, marched with the protection of their armies to enforce their will upon men.  Paul was eager to march with Christ alone to the center of this world’s greatness entrenched under Satan with the word of the cross, which he himself says is to the Jews, and offence; and to the Gentiles, foolishness.”

            I pray that as we minister to people we would be praying for them, wanting to bless them, see fruit in their lives, as Paul did.  How much easier it is to tear down, to destroy a person than it is to build them up in the faith, to bless them!  It is as Paul said in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Have you stirred someone up today?  I don’t mean in a bad way, which is easy to do.  But have you stirred someone up in love and good works, have you encouraged them in the faith to walk, to move forward?  If not, there is still time in the day!

VERSES 16-17

            In these two verses we see the theme of this epistle, THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!  Paul says that he is not ashamed to speak forth this Gospel, why?  Because the Gospel is the power of God to salvation, it is what we need to be saved!  Morris says this regarding the Gospel: “The gospel is not advice to people, suggesting that they lift themselves.  It is power.  It lifts them up.  Paul does not say that the gospel brings power, but that it is power, and God’s power at that.”

            The problem today, like back then, is the Gospel is not very attractive to people.  In it man’s sin is exposed and their hopelessness to do anything about it on their own.  Thus, to make the Gospel more appealing we change the message as Geoffrey Wilson wrote: “The unpopularity of a crucified Christ has prompted many to present a message which is more palatable to the unbeliever, but the removal of the offense of the cross always renders the message ineffective.  An inoffensive gospel is also an inoperative gospel.  Thus Christianity is wounded most in the house of its friends.”  Let us not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation – how?  For all who believe – do you believe?

            Thus, God reckons us sinners not as sinners because of our faith in Jesus. It is not that God found a reason to prove us righteous, but as Murray said: “The righteousness which is unto justification is one characterized by the perfection belonging to all that God is and does.  It is a ‘God-righteousness’.”  Thus, we are not only saved by faith, but we now live by faith!  Then why do we go back to the idea of a works salvation?  Paul said in Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”  You see, a salvation by faith not by works!

            As you can tell, there is no way we are going to finish this chapter tonight.  Now I don’t want to scare you, but when the great Bible expositor Donald Grey Barnhouse taught the book of Romans, it took him 11 years of Radio broadcasts to finish.  It will take me just a little less!  Thus, next time we will conclude Romans chapter 1 by looking at God’s condemnation against man, that all have sinned, the whole world is guilty before God and we will see this section of God’s condemnation in Romans 1:18-3:20.

            Now I don’t want to let you leave here tonight with God’s condemnation on your mind, for there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. In fact this section has dealt heavily with the Good News, the Gospel message so let me leave you with these words from Jesus, as He said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”  John 3:16-21.  AMEN!