Romans — Week One

The Book of Romans

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  ROMANS 15:4

Overview

APRIL 23 / 24, 2022

“In a very basic sense, western civilization is a by-product of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Nothing was written by man that had a greater impact on modern history.”  RICHARD HALVERSON, AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER 

“The most profound writing in existence of all time.” 

SAMUEL COLERIDGE, ENGLISH POET

“If a man understands Romans he has a sure road open to help him understand the entire Bible.”  JOHN CALVIN, FRENCH THEOLOGIAN 

“The chief book of the New Testament … It deserves to be known by heart, word for word, by every Christian.”  MARTIN LUTHER, GERMAN THEOLOGIAN

“The most important book in the Bible.”  CHUCK SWINDOLL, INSIGHT FOR LIVING

“You just can’t say enough about this book. It’s the basic handbook for Christianity.  It has influenced millions of people. It’s changed history. Martin Luther started the Reformation because of the book of Romans. John Wesley started the Wesleyan revivals. Augustine became a Christian because of the book of Romans. All through-out history, God has used the book of Romans to influence people’s lives in amazing ways.”  RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH 

“Romans… Uuhhh… is that in the Old or New Testament?”  JIM HOLST

QUICK FACTS

• Dictated by Paul, written by Tertius – ROMANS 16:22
• Written in Corinth
• Paul’s only “Lecture Series”       
• Key Verse: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ROMANS 5:1

FOUR MEGA-THEMES OF ROMANS

1. Our Greatest PROBLEM:

“… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God …” 

ROMANS 3:23

God’s Prescription:

• Fear & guilt: Lack of grace turned upward
• Criticism & judgmentalism: lack of grace turned outward
• Perfectionism & depression: lack of grace turned inward

“… and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  ROMANS 3:24

2. Our Greatest CHALLENGE:

“I do not understand what I do … For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.” 

ROMANS 7:15, 19

God’s Solution:

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”  ROMANS 8:5

“The mind of sinful man is death; the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”  ROMANS 8:6

“… be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  ROMANS 12:2 (SEE 13:14)

1)  When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs.

2)  When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations.

3)  When you change your expectations, you change your attitude.

4)  When you change your attitude, you change your behavior.

5)  When you change your behavior, you change your life.

– DR. JOHN C. MAXWELL

3. Our Greatest CALLING:

God’s Direction:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”  ROMANS 12:11

“How can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”  ROMANS 10:14

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  ROMANS 12:21

4. Our Greatest FEAR:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”  ROMANS 8:35

God’s Answer:

“…neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  ROMANS 8:38-39

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?!”  ROMANS 8:31

Romans