A first look at Romans: Notes from last night

by | Sep 10, 2013 | Monday Study Notes | 0 comments

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Last night we began our Autumn journey through Paul’s letter to the Romans, looking at the first seven verses of Chapter 1. Here are the notes:

1.   Notice the structure of the verses.

“Paul” (v.1)…”to all who are in Rome” (v.7)

  1. Things about Paul (v.1 & 5) (“a slave and apostle”)
  2. Things about Paul’s message (v.2-3)
  3. Things about who Paul’s writing to (v.6-7)

2. Working out from the center

Things about Paul’s message (v.2-3) (“The Gospel of God”)

1.    It is not a new thing, but was promised by the ancient Israelite prophets (v.2)—by God. 
2.   It is about Jesus. (v.3) God’s good news is…Jesus.
Who He is is the good news for all of us.

  1. He “came” into the family of David’s descendants. (v.3)
    1. He pre-existed
    2. He is part of the royal line prophesied to save and rule the world forever (See Psalm 2, Psalm 110, and Psalm 89:19-29)
  2. He was then “declared” or “appointed” the “Son-of-God-in-Power” (v.4). That is, He took on a new status as ruler over the world, after death and resurrection (See Mt 28:18, Acts 2:32-33)

Paul’s message, what God wants everyone to know, is that He has provided a man who has the power and authority to fix everything. He came and showed us how good and trustworthy and powerful he is, then he died in our place and rose from the dead. Right now he is carrying out his plan through everyone who relies on Him. Soon He will come back to wipe out evil completely and rule the earth forever. God’s good news is about who He has provided for us.

Things about Paul (v.1 & 5)

v. 1  He’s a bondservant of Jesus Christ

  1. Called to be an apostle
  2. Separated to the Gospel of God

v. 5 He Received grace and apostleship

  1. For the purpose of brining about faith and obedience
  2. Non-Jewish in focus, worldwide in scope

Paul was a person God himself chose and appointed for the task of proclaiming this message. The message is to proclaim Jesus as God’s answer, and to call all people to trust and obey Jesus as their Lord and only hope.

Things about who Paul’s writing to (v.6-7)

  1. They were in the city of Rome
  2. They were Christians

3.   What this letter is for us

1.  a word “from God” (v.7), not just from Paul.

2.  a channel of Grace and peace for you.