WEEK 1: Introduction: The Author and His Audience

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1 WEEK 1: Introduction: The Author and His Audience January 7, 2016 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God Romans 1:1 ESV It was Donald Gray Barnhouse who wrote, the epistle to the Romans has the most complete diagnosis of the plague of man s sin, and the most glorious setting forth of the simple remedy of justification by faith apart from the works of the law. H. A. Ironside wrote, The epistle to the Romans is undoubtedly the most scientific statement of the divine plan for the redemption of mankind that God has been pleased to give us. And the great reformer, Martin Luther, said of this great book, This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel, and is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much. This book is deep and profound, yet simple and practical. It is full of seemingly difficult doctrines, while also brimming over with easy-to-understand truths that provide insights into the gospel of salvation. But to understand the book, we must understand the one who wrote it and the audience to whom he was writing. Context is essential to grasping the full significance of this great book. Make it personal: As you listen to today s lesson, write down any thoughts, questions, or insights you have Ken Miller 7 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

2 Make it applicable: During your discussion time around the table, try to help each other come up with practical applications from the study. Write down any concrete steps you plan on taking to help make the lesson life changing. Make it a matter of prayer: Don t forget to leave time for prayer each week. Write down specific prayer requests. Take any applications you come up with above and make them a matter of prayer throughout the rest of the week Ken Miller 8 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

3 HOMEWORK Homework for Week 2 The Faith of the Righteous Romans 1:16-17 Read Romans 1:16-17 several times. - Write down any words or phrases that jump out at you, or any statements that confuse you. - Now think for a moment about what might cause you to feel ashamed of the gospel. What is it about the gospel that causes you to feel embarrassed at times? What is the definition that Paul gives for the gospel in these verses? - Write down what he says here: - Now put it in your own words. Read the following two passages and write down next to each one what they teach you about the gospel. 1 Peter 1:20 Ephesians 1:4 In verse 17 of Romans 1, Paul says that in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. What do you think he means by faith to faith? - And how has the gospel of God been revealed? Read the following two passages and write down next to each one what they teach you about righteousness based on faith. Romans 3: Ken Miller 9 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

4 2 Corinthians 5:21 According to Isaiah 64:6, what is wrong with all our righteous deeds? Read Romans 3: Write down what this passage tells us about the righteousness of men: Read Galatians 2:20. What does Paul say is the key to living the Christian life on this earth? - What do you think living by faith looks like for the believer today? Read 1 Corinthians 1: Why would someone who is lost consider the gospel to be foolish? What is it about the message of the gospel that is hard to believe? - How does the gospel reveal the power of God? 2016 Ken Miller 10 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

5 WEEK 1: Introduction: Romans 1:1-15 I labored diligently and anxiously as to how to understand Paul s word... the expression the righteousness of God blocked the way, because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is righteous and deals righteously in punishing the unrighteous. Although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner... therefore I did not love a righteous and angry God, but rather hated and murmured against him Then I grasped that the righteousness of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justified us by faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise... I broke through. And as I had formerly hated the expression the righteousness of God, I now began to regard it as my dearest and comforting word. Martin Luther Author - Paul o Formerly Saul of Tarsus o A Jew and Roman Citizen o A former Pharisee and expert in Mosaic Law o A persecutor of The Way (Acts 22:3-5, 26:12-28) - Servant doulos o A servant or bondman o Devoted to another to the disregard of one s own interest - Apostle apostolos o Messenger, he that is sent o A delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders - Set apart aphorizō o Separate, off limits o In a good sense: to appoint, set apart for some purpose But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles Galatians 1:15-16 ESV o 2016 Ken Miller If we are set apart to Christ, we are also set apart from all that is opposed to Him Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

6 There are so many Christians who are narrow and cantankerous because they have been giving up things instead of getting Christ. Donald Grey Barnhouse, Romans Content - Gospel euaggelion o Good tidings o The good news of salvation through Christ Put most simply, the gospel is an announcement a declaration. The gospel is not advice to be followed; it is news, good news about what has been done. Timothy Keller, Romans 1-7 For You o It is the gospel of God! Concerning His Son! Descended of David according to the flesh (human)! Declared to be the Son of God (divine)! According to the Spirit of holiness! By His resurrection from the dead Audience - Called klētos o Divinely selected and appointed o To belong to Jesus Christ (vs 6) o To be saints (vs 7) - In Rome o Written somewhere around AD 57 o Probably from Corinth o Addressed to believers both Jews and Gentiles - So why was Paul eager to preach the gospel to believers? The gospel is the way people are called to faith, and the way people grow in faith. Timothy Keller, Romans 1-7 For You the gospel is not only the most important message in all of history; it is the only essential message in all of history. Yet we allow thousands of professing Christians to live their entire lives without clearly understanding it and experiencing the joy of living by it. Christians are not instructed in the gospel. And because they do not fully understand the riches and glory of the gospel, they cannot preach it to themselves, not live by it in their daily lives. preaching the gospel to ourselves every day gives us hope, joy, and courage. The good news that our sins are forgiven because of Christ s death fills our hearts with joy, gives us courage to face the day, and offers us hope that God s favor will rest upon us, not because we are good, but because we are in Christ. Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace 2016 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church