Our Bible study group - Roman Chapter 1

[Amanah]

I would love to be part of a bible study group, so I thought that maybe this would be something we could do online together.

I am no Bible scholar, far from it. But, what I am going to do is take the book of Romans and read a chapter a day or if not then every 2 days. Then I’m going to make comments on it, on what I think it might be saying.

I will post the comments and then anyone who wants to add to it can feel free to. The only resource I’m going to use is my new ESV study bible with notes.

Ok here goes:

Romans Chapter One

Paul, in his greeting introduces the gospel.

He says the gospel is the promise of the Messiah in the scriptures. So the gospel is the story of the lineage of the promised seed, beginning with the promise to Eve after the fall, through David, Isaiah, and all the other prophets. The gospel would be meaningless though without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Paul says that one of his jobs as an Apostle is to bring the church to saving faith which will produce obedience. So he is going to preach the gospel to the church at Rome. In the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the righteousness of God is satisfied, and we are made righteous.

Then Paul talks about mankind being able to comprehend God when they see his creation. But because they choose not to worship him, the created order becomes distorted. Men and women don’t fall under God’s leadership and they fall into all manner of sin. And then, like Timmy, they all deserve to die :( We all deserve to die.

So, there is my short and possibly inadequate summary of Romans Chapter One. Please feel free to join in our bible study and add comments of your own.

[Timmy]

. . . And then, like Timmy, they all deserve to die :(

If it makes you sad to think that, then stop thinking that! :D

[mfblume]

Paul refers to Jesus after the flesh and after the Spirit of holiness. This is because later in chapter 7 into chapter 8 Paul will speak about us being after the flesh or after the Spirit. So we see that we find in Jesus an example of how to walk after the Spirit. Christ was one thing after the flesh, but after the Spirit He was far more.

Romans 1

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

[TGBTG]

Romans 1
1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Paul first gives us his credentials, iow, he was called to be an apostle.

The gospel which Paul is teaching is actually something that God through the OT prophets had spoken about. (Cross reference: 1 Pet 1:10-12)
Moreover, Paul confirms the inspiration of the OT by referring to it as holy scriptures.

He goes on to say that the gospel of God is concerning the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. He tells us that Jesus is the Son of David according to the flesh and Jesus is the Son of God according to the Holy Spirit (Cross ref: Rom 9:5). Right there, he establishes the dual nature of Christ being God and Man.

[TGBTG]

Rom 1
5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Paul is greeting the Romans. The Romans are a devout set for their strong faith is known of by others. He prays for them too. We also ought to pray for others even when they seem to be standing strong in the faith.

[TGBTG]

Rom 1
11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Although the Romans were already in the faith (their faith was even spoken about by others), they could still use some "apostolic stirring". So even though we might think that we are well established in the faith, we should always keep seeking and learning to know more of God and experience him more in our lives.

Now, Paul does not just say he wants to impart them with an arrogant attitude. He says that he also will gain from them. This goes to underscore the point that a church leader should NOT see himself in the role of being the only one who has something to impart to the saints. The church leader should be humble enough to also be able to receive from the saints.

[TGBTG]

Rom 1
13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Paul being the apostles of the gentiles (ref: Rom 11:13) wanted to strengthen the faith of the Romans. Also showing there's no discrimination in the gospel. The gospel is for both wise and unwise. I think we can also see Paul's determination to preach the gospel in this verse. Now, for me, am I determined to preach the gospel with all that is in me?

[TGBTG]

Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Paul wasn't ashamed of Christ's gospel. Am I ashamed to declare Jesus Christ among my peers, friends, family,etc? (cross ref: 2 Tim 1:8, Mark 8:38)

Everyone that believes the gospel of Jesus Christ experiences God's salvation. (Cross ref: 1 Cor 1:23-24). The gospel was first preached to Israel and then to the gentiles (ref: John 1:12, Acts 13:46)

Rom 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

That is to say the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Christ. It starts with faith and it ends with faith (ref Hab 2:4).
The question then would be what is the righteousness of God? How do we understand the righteousness of God?

Early on in Gen 18, we see Abraham appealing to God's righteousness when God was gonna destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

Gen 18
23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

And from God's response, we see that God will NOT destroy the righteous with the wicked. We also see that because God is righteous, He will destroy the wicked. So wee see two things here:
1. It would NOT be just for God to destroy the righteous (ref: Gen 18:25)
2. It would NOT be just for God to NOT destroy the wicked. (ref: Nah 1:3)

We have to keep in mind the subject of the righteousness of God through out studying Romans.

Now back to Rom 1:17, it says God's own righteousness is revealed in the gospel of Christ. We will find out later how the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Christ.

[mfblume]

I. Jesus is a pattern for us.

While we see the dual nature of deity and humanity in Christ in Romans, we see that for a reason. We have somewhat of a similar situation in us as born again saints. We are one thing according to the flesh and another according to the Spirit.

Jesus BEGAN, as a man, as Son of David

Jesus LATER became Son of God with power.

Jesus always was Son of God, but resurrection made Him "Son of God with power"

This is a pattern for us.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2 Corinthians 13:4

Note "power" - Jesus is Son of God "with power".

HOLINESS - the key to power
Separation.
Jesus had power according to "spirit of holiness"
"Separation" (holiness) from fleshliness is the KEY to powerful Christian living.
But that is not taloking about clothing and how we dress.
It is talking about separating ourselves from a life of walking after the flesh, which is a life of exerting fleshly will power in order to serve God.
Trying harder is not the key for those who fail to live for Him
failure to rely upon HIS SPIRIT is the problem.
reliance on His Spirit to serve Him is what is later called walking after the Spirit!


Compare Romans 1:4 with 1:16.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16

Jesus is Son of God WITH POWER.
Gospel is the "POWER" of God to those who believe.
The GOSPEL of Christ is the power of God.

What is the Gospel?
Death, burial, resurrection of Jesus for us.
The phrase "For us" means "in our place" or "as us".
It becomes power of God "to everyone who believeth".

We are going to study Roman's message of the power of God for our lives as we continue in Romans. THAT IS THE POINT of the Book.

We need to understand how "holiness" caused Jesus to have power, and see that this holiness will also give us power.
It will work for us, too!

[mfblume]

II. RIGHTEOUSNESS

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17

Paul said that believing the Gospel is where you will find the righteousness of God revealed in the world.

Notice it is not OUR righteousness he is talking about.
Righteousness of God!
Our righteousness is result of our good deeds.
Our righteousness stinks in God's nostrils.
The best we can be is not good enough for Him.
That is why he gave the Gospel to us.

What is righteousness?
It is what you need to go to heaven one day.
The state of being "right with God".

The Old Testament demanded one to obey rules in order to be righteous.
These rules involved doing physical good things.
If all the rules were kept, one would be called "righteous".
The problem was that no man could keep all the rules.

Referring to the Law of the Old Testament, and getting new converts to the Church to keep it, Peter said:

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Acts 15:10

Jews craved righteousness, because they knew that was what they needed to see God.

In the New Testament, we find a different path to righteousness besides "works".

Where is righteousness revealed?

How can I become righteous?

What can I do to be ready for Heaven?

ANSWER:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:16-17

Where did Paul say righteousness is revealed?

How can I get righteousness in my life to be revealed to all, including God, so He can take me to heaven?

It is found in the people who believe the Gospel!

"Every one that believeth"
Believe what?
Believe "the gospel of Christ:"
It's as though Paul said, "Aha! Here is how we find that illusive righteousness! Here is how it is revealed! By Faith!"

But it is not just "righteousness"

What is revealed is the righteousness of God!
Imagine God giving us HIS righteousness when we believe the Gospel of Christ!!
It is what the Jews Craved!

Not only do we get righteousness, but it is REVEALED in us.
Everybody can see it!

"As it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Paul said this is exactly how the Old Testament foretold where righteousness would be found
"As it is written" means, "this is just how the Old Testament said it all along!"
The Old Testament already said: "The just shall live by faith" long ago!
Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Hab 2:4
"Just" = "righteous"
Shall live in what way?
Shall live JUSTLY and RIGHTEOUSLY
Like saying, "The perfect man lives like that because of ...."
This means "the ones who are just and righteous are LIVING like that because of their FAITH."
FAITH is the pathway to righteousness.
Habakkuk did not reveal that it was God's Righteousness we would get by faith, but the New Testament reveals that it is His!
Is one thing to have righteousness, but quite a great thing to have HIS righteousness!
If it is GOD'S righteousness, then it is a GIFT, because OUR righteousness results from something WE did to earn it.
All we do is believe - no work to it.
To every one that believeth;
Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:

[mfblume]

III. BELIEVETH

Righteousness is revealed to every one that BELIEVETH.
Gospel is POWER of God to every one that believeth.
When "eth" is on the end of a word it means it is a continual doing of what the word concerns.
BELIEVETH means continually believing.
Righteousness is revealed from faith to faith
Ongoing faith
Not a one time thing as though, "I believed way back in 1961, and have not exerted any faith since then.'
You will not see righteousness revealed in those people.
Those who are revealing righteousness are those who "live" by faith - believeth
To "live" by something is to SURVIVE by it constantly.

Christ "liveth" by the power of God

"yet he liveth by the power of God." 2 Corinthians 13:4

[mfblume]

IV. GENTILE GUILT

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:18-20

1. Righteousness is revealed in the believer.

2. Wrath is revealed in those who know God and yet refuse to serve Him.

3. If you could "believe" in God and think you do not have to serve Him and live for Him, why did Paul say that the ones who know about God and yet refuse to serve Him and glorify Him have wrath revealed in them? and that righteousness instead is revealed in the "believer?"

4. A believer is someone who LIVES for God, not just believes He exists.

5. Believing Him is worshipping Him and serving Him.
Verse 19 says that what we need to know about God is given to everyone at one point or another.
Verse 20 says nature and creation reveal God.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psalm 19:1
Romans 10:18 says the same thing.

If no preacher preached to you, creation still has preached to you.
No excuse.
Heavens declare that God is real.
]Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:21
Verse 21 says - it is dangerous to know God and not choose to live for Him and glorify Him.

Something happens to those people.
They begin to think about it.
They make excuses to not serve Him.
Paul calls these "vain imaginations".
"Foolish" reasonings from a "foolish heart"
They think of self and not God.
A PERSON: "I won't glorify God because of this or that!"
B PERSON : "Does God exist?"
A: "Yes."
B:"Paul says wrath of God is revealed to you."
Forget about God's desires.
THEN THE HEART TURNS FROM FOOLISH TO EVIL!
"Foolish heart was darkened".

6. IDOLATRY

When a soul refuses to glorify God when God makes Himself known to them through creation, something happens.
Heart becomes dark - evil.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Romans 1:26
Idolatry is an attempt to avoid glorifying God.
They know something greater than man has made all creation.
But they do not want this "god" to be greater than them.
Their "vain" imaginations make them picture God as a man at the most, or a lower creature.
[indent]And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Romans 1:23

We see a lessening and lowering more and more in the sequence of creatures mentioned, from man, down to birds and beast and lower still to creeping things - serpents.
Serpent worship very common in world.
Like sticking head in sand and refusing to believe.
]Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Romans 1:24

Physical filth

HOMOSEXUALITY

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. Romans 1:26-27

No one is born a homosexual.
No such thing as homosexual "love".
Paul called it "vile affections".
He did not say "vile changing to homosexuality" as though being born one is alright (some think those "born" homosexual are alright - but those who go to it for kicks are sinners.)
He said "vile affections".
People call God "three persons".
Lower god to manhood.
Not just physical filth - mental filth.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Romans 1:28-31

[mfblume]

It is easy to read one chapter at a time, or one passage from a chapter, and not oversee the entire book and learn what the purpose of the entire book is, and what chapter 1 has to say towards that end.

Paul later shows us in the entire book how we can come to a place of victory over sin and the fleshliness of walking after the flesh to try to serve God. So, to lead to that end, he lists the truth of the righteousness of God, not of ourselves, revealed in us. And he goes on to say how much gentile filth was in the world, apart from the Israelites. But he is setting his readers up, for in chapter 2 he is going to lay it on the Jews who were religiously "cultured" under Law, while these Jews had disdain for the gentiles due to their filth and sinfulness. Paul is ready top prove that even though Jews had Law, they STILL SINNED, and he is doing that in order to show us how JUST LIVE BY FAITH and not by law.

In orderto show the purpose of chapter 1 we have to see the contrast between chapter 1 and chapter 2.

V. JEWISH GUILT AS WELL

1. Paul explained the gentile guilt of sin in Chapter 1.
Idolatry.
Homosexuality and lesbianism.
Haters of God.

2. Now God speaks to people who glorify God as God - correctly!
People who obey the Old Testament - Israelites.

3. Gentiles receive wrath of God due to sins of chapter 1
But Jew cannot judge Gentile if Jew is sinning, too.
Jews were proud people.
Hear Paul talk about gentile sinners and feel good.
Paul said they are sinners too if they did not commit sins.
Jews in "same boat".

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Romans 2:1-3

And this brings us to chapter 2.

[mfblume]

So, Romans 1 gets to the point of Gentile sin and iniquity, and then gets read for showing sin in Israel as well, BECAUSE ROMANS IS GOING TO SHOW THE FUTILITY OF KEEPING LAW (which is really only self-effort) IN ORDER TO BE RIGHTEOUS. And Paul needed to teach this because believers must also know that we cannot serve God correctly through WORKS and fleshly effort. That is walking after the flesh. We have to serve God with THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. And believers can be just as wrong as Jews were in thinking they can live for God through fleshly will power and effort. But such will find they cannot succeed, and are just as guilty as the lost until they learn it is HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS we must manifest that can only be revealed by a walk of FAITH, for the JUST SHALL LIVE NOT BY WORKS BUT BY FAITH.

So, it is key to read Chapter 1 with the overall purpose of the entire book in mind, or we miss the point Paul made in chapter 1.

[scotty]

Great stuff here, lovin this.

Keep it coming.

[Timmy]

Great stuff here, lovin this.

Keep it coming.

Notice I'm (mostly) staying out of this? Y'all can have your fun. :D

[Jermyn Davidson]

This thread is awesome!

[scotty]

This thread is awesome!

Agreed! :thumbsup

Amanah, please start a new thread for each chapter. I don't want to lose track of all this.

[Amanah]

I'm going to start at new thread this Friday,
I've been looking at Romans chapter 2,
just haven't had time to start the thread up yet.
I have some important questions about that chapter though.