What’s something you’d be embarrassed to admit you believe or care about in front of people?
02
Section 2 · 10 min
Context of the Book
Who wrote it, to whom, and why
Discuss
What do you already know or think about Romans?
Author & Setting
WhoPaulapostle to the Gentiles
Whenc. AD 57about 25 years after the resurrection
FromCorinthmost likely
A church Paul had never visited
Jewish believers+ Gentile believers
AD 49
Claudius expels the Jews from Rome
Later
Jewish believers return
AD 57
Paul writes to the church
Why Paul Writes
1To explain the gospel
2To unite Jew and Gentile
3To gain support for Spain 15:24
The Shape of Romans
We are here
1–3
3–5
6–8
9–11
12–16
The Problem
The Solution
New Life
God & Israel
Living It Out
Discuss
If you were writing to a church you’d never met, what would you want them to know first?
03
Section 3 · 10 min
Called
Romans 1:1–7
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Romans 1:1–4
Paul’s Identity v1
He is aServant
He wasCalled
He isSet apart
The Gospel Is…
1Promised in Scripture v2
2About the Son, descended from David v3
3Declared Son of God in power v4
4…by the resurrection v4
Discuss
Paul gives a concise summary of the gospel in verses 1–4. Can you put it in one sentence of your own?
5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:5–7
Who You Are vv6–7
Called to belongto Jesus Christ
Lovedby God
Called to be saintsholy, set apart
04
Section 4 · 5 min
Paul’s Heart
Romans 1:8–15
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Romans 1:8–12
Paul’s Heart for Them
v8Thankful
v9Praying
v12Mutualencouragement
13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Romans 1:13–15
Under obligation · v14
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
Discuss
Why would Paul feel he “owes” the gospel to people? Who are you “under obligation” to?
05
Section 5 · 10 min · The center
The Thesis
Romans 1:16–17
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16–17
Phrase 1 of 5
“not ashamed”
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Phrase 2 of 5
“the power of God”
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Phrase 3 of 5
“to everyone who believes”
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Phrase 4 of 5
“the righteousness of God is revealed”
Romans 1:17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Phrase 5 of 5
“The righteous shall live by faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Discuss
Why might someone in Rome be tempted to be ashamed of a message about a crucified Jewish man?
Discuss
What’s the difference between the gospel being “true” and the gospel being “power”?
06
Section 6 · 12 min
Why We Need It
Romans 1:18–32
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:18–20
The diagnosis · v18
Wrath against those who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth
Clearly seen · v20
His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived… So they are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Romans 1:21–23
The root · v21
They did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.
Discuss
Why does Paul start with ingratitude instead of a specific behavior?
24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:24–25
26For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Romans 1:26–28
“Exchanged”
3×
v23the glory of the immortal God→images
v25the truth about God→a lie
v26natural relations→what is contrary to nature
“God gave them up”
3×
v24…to impurity, in the lusts of their hearts
v26…to dishonorable passions
v28…to a debased mind
Discuss
What does it mean that God’s judgment can look like giving us what we want?
The list · vv29–31
unrighteousnessevilcovetousnessmaliceenvymurderstrifedeceitmaliciousnessgossipsslanderershaters of Godinsolenthaughtyboastfulinventors of evildisobedient to parentsfoolishfaithlessheartlessruthless
Romans 1:29–31
32Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Romans 1:32
Discuss
Which sins in this list are “respectable” ones we tend to excuse?
07
Section 7 · 3 min
Tie It Together
Romans 1:16–32
Discuss
Why does Paul put the good news(16–17) right before the bad news(18–32)?
We cannot save ourselves.
The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
Romans 1:16
08
Section 8 · 8 min
Application
Three ways to live Romans 1 this week
1Identityv7
Where are you living from performance instead of from being called, loved, and a saint?
2Not Ashamedv16
Where this week do you tend to hide your faith? What would “not ashamed” look like there?
3Humilityvv29–31
Which sin here do you tend to excuse?
unrighteousnessevilcovetousnessmaliceenvymurderstrifedeceitmaliciousnessgossipsslanderershaters of Godinsolenthaughtyboastfulinventors of evildisobedient to parentsfoolishfaithlessheartlessruthless