Many people--even those who think of themselves as followers of Jesus--believe being a Christian is mostly a matter of avoiding bad things and doing good, religious things, good things that will make God happy. Jesus didn’t think that way, though. Neither did the Apostle Paul.
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to explain that being a Christian is not about being religious. In fact, trying to be good to make God happy won’t get a person very far at all. Instead, God uses his great power to save those who are not--who cannot be--good by forgiving them and making them his children. We don’t become a Christian by being religious, and we don’t remain a Christian by being religious. We become and remain Christians by following Christ in faith. That is much different than being religious.
Paul's letter to the Romans is an attempt to lay out carefully what that means. In this first chapter, I will comment less and simply includes some questions about the text.
Romans 1: 1-7, Greeting
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to explain that being a Christian is not about being religious. In fact, trying to be good to make God happy won’t get a person very far at all. Instead, God uses his great power to save those who are not--who cannot be--good by forgiving them and making them his children. We don’t become a Christian by being religious, and we don’t remain a Christian by being religious. We become and remain Christians by following Christ in faith. That is much different than being religious.
Paul's letter to the Romans is an attempt to lay out carefully what that means. In this first chapter, I will comment less and simply includes some questions about the text.
Romans 1: 1-7, Greeting
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
From the text, some questions:
What can we tell about the readers of this letter?
What can we tell about the readers of this letter?
How was Jesus proven to be the Son of God?
How does this salutation differ from the ones in Galatians, Philippians, other epistles? (In general, it is longer. Why?)
Romans 1: 8-12, Your involvement in the Gospel
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
Q.
What is the state of the church in Rome?
Has Paul met the people in the church of Rome?
What is the state of the church in Rome?
Has Paul met the people in the church of Rome?
Why is Rome such an important location for a church?
The last quarter of the book of Acts describes Paul long journey to Rome, fulfilling an expectation given him in an earlier vision.
Romans 1: 11-13, My longing for you
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
Paul hopes to see the church in Rome strengthened, just as churches in southern Turkey and Greece grew during the visits described in Acts.
Romans 1: 14-15, Paul's desire to preach the gospel (transition)
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
Romans 1: 16-17, The power of the Gospel
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
Romans 1: 16-17, The power of the Gospel
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Which people groups does the gospel benefit? In what order?
What is revealed in the gospel? Who is the source?
How is Righteousness distributed?
Romans 1: 18-23, God's wrath
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Q.
What is the opposite of God's righteousness? (What attribute of God makes righteousness so important?)
What is the opposite of God's righteousness? (What attribute of God makes righteousness so important?)
Does mankind need God's righteousness? Why?
Describe mankind's response to God.
This passage has a famous assertion, that God's work is visible in creation, displayed in the universe around us.
Romans 1: 24-27, God's reaction
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Q.
According to Paul, how did God respond to mankind's response?
Romans 1: 28-32, The depravity of mankind
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
According to Paul, how did God respond to mankind's response?
Romans 1: 28-32, The depravity of mankind
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Q.
What is the "natural" result of not being interested in God?
What is the "natural" result of not being interested in God?
This passage is, in some ways, very depressing. It claims active conflict between God and humankind. Paul starts with this as his thesis and then builds his arguments towards a solution.
My notes on the letter to the Romans comes from an Adult Bible Study at Mt. Pleasant Community Church in Michigan, with friend and colleague, Dr. Tim Hall. (Tim, I miss our times together!)
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