Introduction to Romans:
No other portion of Holy Scriptures so completely sets forth the great doctrines of Christian faith as does Paul’s Epistle of Romans. Nothing ever written is as powerful in confronting the mind of man with the great truths of God.
All of man’s alibis, all of his pretenses, all of his attempts at self-justification are crushed by this book. The Apostle Paul’s logic thoroughly demolishes every argument which man can muster against the claims of God.
Romans has rightly been called “the Constitution of Christianity,” “the Christian Manifesto”, and “the Cathedral of the Christian Faith”. Nowhere will you find a more complete defense of Christian doctrine.
Herein, are recorded the doctrines of justification, sanctification, condemnation, the perseverance of the believers, total depravity of man, the last judgment, the fall of man, the revelation of God in nature, and many more. The most widely known is the “Roman Road”, but along the road there is much more to learn.
As capital of the Roman Empire, Rome was the largest and most important city in the first-century world. In 1914 an inscription was discovered by Ostia which indicated that in 14 A.D. the city had a population of 4,100,000. (Jack Finegan, Light From the Ancient Past, p. 288)
It is impossible to determine with any great certainty who founded the church. It is generally accepted that when Paul wrote Romans there was a church of considerable size there. The book of Romans makes it clear that the church’s congregation included both Jews and Gentiles.
Romans were written by Paul from Corinth on his third missionary trip. The events of the Epistle fit perfectly into the chronology of Acts 20:1-5. Most Bible scholars agree it was written in the range of 56-58 A.D., but the spring of 57 seems to be the most likely.
This is the first of an extended series that examines Paul’s timeless teaching from the book of Romans. I will also make them available on-line so that you might share them with others.
Let us pray…………………..
Romans Outline:
Text: Romans 1
OUTLINE:
I. Introduction 1-17
A. Greeting to the Romans vs. 1-7
B. Paul’s Personal Feelings vs. 8-15
C. Paul’s Statement Concerning the Reason for the Epistle vs. 16-17
II. The Need for the righteousness of God 1:18 – 3:20
A. For the heathen vs. 18-32
1. the heathen have clearly seen God vs. 18-20
2. the heathen have clearly rejected God vs. 21-23
3. the heathen have clearly become vile vs. 24-32
B. The Need of the Moralist 2:1-16
1. Condemned by his own judgment vs. 1
2. Condemned according to truth vs. 2-5
3. Condemned according to works vs. 6-10
4. Condemned without respect of persons vs. 11-16
C. The Need of the Jew 2:17-3:8
1. His law cannot make him righteous 2:17-24
2. His circumcision cannot make him righteous 2:25-27
3. His birth cannot make him righteous 2:28-29
4. His arguments cannot make him righteous 3:1-8