Studies in Romans

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IntroductionThe Importance of the BookThere are many reasons why this is considered the most

important of all of Paul’s epistles:

1. It provides the most complete expression of the doctrine of salvation.

2. It answers the most basic questions about how to live the Christian life.

a. "How can I be at peace with God?" b. "How can I grow as a Christian?”c. “Why do I seem to fail in my Christian life?”d. "How can I be sure that I am a Christian?"

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IntroductionThe Purpose of the BookWhy did Paul write this letter to the church at Rome?

1. He wanted to be a blessing to the church in Rome and in turn be blessed by their fellowship.

2. When released from prison in Corinth hoped to make Rome his base for a proposed evangelistic trip to Spain and wanted Rome to be his headquarters. This letter of introduction is like a “calling card”.

3. He wanted to correct the theological error of antinomianism. [False teaching that taught that Christians were free to break God’s moral law]

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IntroductionThe Style of the BookThis epistle is different from Paul’s other letters. He is writing from his prison cell in Corinth to a church that he did not plant and so he had no working relationship with the congregation. For this reason we do not find Paul responding to the usual local pastoral problems.

Of all of Paul’s letters, this one provides us with the most comprehensive, systematic theological instruction.

Corinth

Rome

Caesarea

Sidon

Syracuse

Rhegium

Crete

MyraMalta

Jerusalem

Galacia

Greece

Egypt

Syria

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IntroductionThe Structure of the BookRomans is a carefully constructed letter. Although it differs in style

from Paul’s other works, it retains a common structural characteristic, where, “Gospel commands follow gospel instruction”.

In other words, Paul urges believers to see what they are in Christ, what the gospel has done for them and what resources it has made available to them, before encouraging and exhorting them to be what they are in Christ [Chap 12]. Paul teaches that, Christian behaviour flows from a clear grasp of Christian doctrine. This is why understanding doctrine is so important.

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Summary of ContentsOPENING REMARKS: 1:1-17BAD NEWS : Universality of sin and its condemnation 1:18 - 3:20GOOD NEWS : A gospel that changes our relationship to God 3:21- 5:21HOW TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN : 6:1- 8-39

Sanctification 6:1-23The Place of the Law 7:1-25Life in the Spirit 8:1-39

A SHORT DETOUR : Questions concerning Israel 9:1-11:36HOW A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO LIVE : 12:1-15:13 In our various relationships 12:1-13:14 Dealing with the ‘weak’ and the ‘strong’ 14:1-15:13PAUL’S GENTILE MINISTRY, POLICY AND PLANS : 15:14-33GREETINGS AND CLOSING DOXOLOGY : 16:1-27

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Studies in RomansOpening Remarks Part 1

Chap.1v1-17

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17Paul's Credentials v1By presenting his credentials – his calling card – there are several

things that Paul wants his readers to know about him. 1. Persecutor to Proclaimer. First, the significance of his name. The Roman Christians may understandably have been suspicious of him. They knew him as Saul the persecutor of the church. But his new name, ‘Paul’, is a reminder of the change that took place in his life – no longer a persecutor of the church but a proclaimer of the gospel.

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17

Paul's Credentials v12. ‘Bondslave’. Jesus taught that leadership was about service. Mk.

10.45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” see also Lk 22.25-27 we read, “Jesus said to them...the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves...but I am among you as one who serves.”

Paul patterned his life on Jesus’ servant role, a willing bondslave of Jesus

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17

Paul's Credentials v1

3. ‘Apostle.’ Paul did not speak on his own behalf nor was he offering human opinions. He writings like those of the other apostles were inspired.

He was divinely commissioned and authorised to speak for God. The Greek word ‘apostalos’ means one who has been sent out with a message.

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17

Paul's Credentials v14. ‘Set apart for the gospel’. Writing to the Galatians Paul says, “But

when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man” [Gal 1.15- 16]. He was set apart from the time of his Birth for the apostolic task entrusted to him. God has a plan for all of our lives and those plans are in existence even before we are born. And even before we come to faith all that we are involved in God takes to shape us and make us useful in his service.

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17

His Gospel’s Credentials v2-51. The Gospel is rooted in the O.T. ‘promised beforehand through the

prophets in the Holy scriptures’. Paul knew the importance of showing that Christianity was not a new religion but something that grew out of Judaism. The fulfilment of O.T. promises.

The fact that Judaism still existed as it did was because the majority of the Jews rejected Jesus and his teaching. Jesus alluded to this when he spoke of the difficulty of putting new wine into old wineskins. Matt 9.17

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17His Gospel’s Credentials v2-52. It is Christ-centred, ‘regarding His Son’. What makes the Christian

message of salvation so unique? All the other major world religions can operate as systems of religion without those who

founded them.Islam can work without Muhammad, Buddhism without Buddha etc. But the salvation offered by Christianity would not exist without Jesus and the death he died.

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17His Gospel’s Credentials v2-53. It proclaims Jesus to be a human Saviour, ‘who as to his human

nature a descendant of David’. The significance of the genealogies in both Matthew and Luke is to demonstrate Jesus’ human origins. His humanity was real and not an apparition.

But a further purpose of the family tree in[Matt 1.6-16] was to show Jesus to be a descendant of David’s royal line through which God had promised the Messiah would come. 2Sam.7.12-13.

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17His Gospel’s Credentials v2-54. It proclaims a divine Saviour. ‘He was declared with power to be

the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead’. The resurrection was God’s stamp of authenticity on Jesus’ claims to be God’s Son. Governments have official stamps used to authenticate documents. The resurrection is God’s official stamp that says, ‘Jesus is my Son’.

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Opening Remarks 1v1-17His Gospel’s Credentials v2-55. It is Goal-orientated, ‘to call people from among all the Gentiles to

the obedience that comes from faith’. There are two great elements in salvation. a. God rescues us from something: a life of disobedience and sin and

the awful consequences of that. b. God rescues us to something: to himself and a life of obedience and righteousness and the marvellous consequences of that.

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