ROMANS---THE RATIONALE OF REDEMPTION
INTRODUCTION
1. Comments on the book
A. “This is in every sense the greatest of the epistles of Paul, if not the greatest in the New Testament.” --Theissen
B. “Great intellectuals, like those of Augustine and Luther and Calvin, have discussed it only to discover depths beyond their depths.” --Shaw
C. “O St. Paul, had thy one work been to compose an epistle to the Romans, that alone should have rendered thee dear to every sound reason.”
--Godet - “The Cathedral of the Christian Faith.”
D. “The most profound work ever written.” --Coleridge
E. “The chief book of the New Testament and purest Gospel.” --Luther
2. Author - Paul (1:1)
3. Date: 56-60 A.D. from Corinth
Robert Lee says: “The epistle was written to the Christians of Rome in the month of February, A.D. 58, at Corinth, in the house of a wealthy Corinthian Christian, called Gaius (16:23), by Paul, who had as amanuensis, Tertius (16:22), and was taken to Rome by a well-to-do widow named Phoebe, who went there on some private business (16:1, 2).”
PAUL’S WRITINGS - Paul’s epistles are commonly put into four groups.
1. The Eschatological Group - those dealing with the Second Coming of Christ (I and II Thessalonians)
2. The Anti-Judaic Group - written because of controversy with Judaistic teachers (I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Romans)
3. The Christological Group - those which center their teachings around the character and work of Jesus (Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, Hebrews)
4. The Pastoral Group - those written to young preachers touching matters of church organization and government, and practical instructions concerning evangelists, pastors and other Christian workers (I and II Timothy, Titus)
CHRONOLOGICALLY
The sixth of Paul’s epistles (I Thessalonians; II Thessalonians; I Corinthians; II Corinthians; Galatians; Romans; Philemon; Colossians; Ephesians; Philippians; I Timothy; Titus; II Timothy; Hebrews)
KEY WORDS
Law (78); righteousness (66); faith (62); sin (60); death (42); in Christ (33); flesh (20); impute (19)
PURPOSE OF THE BOOK
1. It answers the question, “How should man be just with God?” (Job 9:2)
A. It reveals and expounds God’s way of justification.
B. It shows how the Gospel saves sinners. The apostle demonstrates that all men, Jew and Gentile alike, lack the righteousness of God, but God has graciously provided it through the redeeming death of His Son, so that one may be freely justified on the ground of faith in Christ.
2. To relate the doctrines and principles of the Gospel message to daily living. Paul points out that justified man is responsible to bear a witness to God in the various spheres of life.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEME
1. Paul draws attention to the fact that “all”, Jew and Gentile, are sinners and without excuse and face the wrath of God. (chs. 1-3)
2. Salvation is available to the sinner, but only on the grounds of faith in Christ. (chs. 4-5)
3. Man is not only saved from the penalty of sin, but the power of sin as well, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (chs. 6-8)
4. Jewish Christians had become confused because the Gospel of salvation made no distinction between Jew and Gentile. Some reasoned that because favor was also offered to the Gentiles that God had broken His promises and covenants with them. Paul reassures them of God’s continued love for Israel and shows that though the Gentiles are enjoying the full privileges of the Gospel, Israel has not been forgotten or cast away. (chs. 9-11)
5. Beginning with the call to full consecration, the last five chapters are practical. Paul shows how Christianity relates to the various relationships of life. (chs. 12-16)
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK
I. DOCTRINAL EXPOSITION (1:1-8:39)
A. Condemnation (1:16-3:20)
1. Of the Gentiles (1:1-2:29)
2. Of the Jews (3:1-8)
3. Of all men (3:9-20)
B. Justification (3:21-5:21)
C. Sanctification (chs. 6-8)
II. DISPENSATIONAL HARMONIZATION (chs. 9-11)
A. The tragedy of Israel’s rejection (9:1-5)
B. The justice of Israel’s rejection (9:6-29)
C. The cause of Israel’s rejection (9:30-10:21)
D. The extent of Israel’s rejection (11:1-10)
E The duration of Israel’s rejection (11:11-36)
III. PRACTICAL APPLICATION (12:1-15:13)
A. The believer in relation to God (12:1, 2)
B. The believer in relation to his gifts (12:3-8)
C. The believer in relation to his fellow-believers (12:9-16)
D. The believer in relation to men in general (12:17-21)
E. The believer in relation to the state (13:1-14)
F. The believer in relation to the weak brother (14:1-15:13)
IV. CONCLUSION 15:14-16:27