The Book of Romans Chapter 1 Study Manual Romans 1: 1-5 * Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. * (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) * Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the flesh; * And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: * By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name. Paul is speaking of himself as being a bondman or slave of Jesus Christ, a slave by free choice, yet owned and purchased by Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6 : 19-20 * What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have with God, and ye are not your own? * For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God. We do not belong to ourselves, Jesus bought us out of Satan s kingdom with His own redeeming blood, as blood-washed people, we belong to God, and are member of Christ s kingdom. Romans 1 : 6 * Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: This verse states that we are the called of Jesus Christ. The next verse states to what Jesus has called us. Romans 1 : 7 * To 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. Jesus called us to be saints; we become saints by grace through faith. A saint is one who is set apart and declared holy, through faith in the blood of Jesus. Saints are sanctified ones, freed from the quilt of sin by the blood of the everlasting covenant. (1)
Romans 1 : 8 * First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. These Roman believers had such strong faith that the whole known world was talking about them. Romans 1 : 9-15 * For 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: * Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. * For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. * That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. * Now 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. * I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. * So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. Paul wanted to visit the Romans and impart spiritual gift to them. Spiritual gift can be imparted, or passed on from one person to another. This is the purpose of Laying hands on an individual during ordination, as Paul reminded Timothy. 1 Timothy 4 : 14 * Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on the hands of the presbytery. Paul was hindered from bringing the gospel to Rome because there were so many other places that needed him. Instead of visiting Rome he wrote to the Romans, and we have that letter which was inspired by God the Holy Ghost. Romans 1 : 16-17 * 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. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God, unto salvation. (2)
The truths of the gospel are not preached or understood in many churches. They don t have the power of the gospel working in them. The power of the gospel brings, freedom from guilt of sin, righteousness, healing, prosperity, eternal life and a glorified body in the coming kingdom. The just shall live by faith. God s righteousness cannot be earned by the individual. It can only be acquired through faith. Righteousness received by faith is both old and New Testament teaching. Habakkuk 2 : 4 * Behold, his soul, which is lifted up, is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. The just shall live by faith we don t just visit faith once in a while. The just live by faith; living by faith is a way of life. Romans 1 : 18-20 * 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 shewed 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. Every person that has lived in a physical body has an in-born knowledge of God s wrath and judgment against their sins. Paul is teaching that God has revealed himself to all mankind. Especially to those who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Everyone knows that God will judge sin, but many choose to live in sin, live in unrighteousness. Regardless of their inborn knowledge, that they will be judged and condemned for their sins. God gives every individual the right to choose, there can be no doubt, that every person has at some time during their lifetime clearly seen and understood that God exists, and will judge sin. Paul says in verse 20. This in-born witness of God causes the individual to clearly see, so they are without excuse. Therefore, no one will be able to stand before God on judgment day and say, I did not know you God. Everyone has an in-built, in-born knowledge of God and his judgment against sin. The whole world is without excuse. (3)
Romans 1 : 21-23 * 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. * Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, * And changed the glory of the corruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beast, and creeping things. The first step in rejecting God is not to glorify Him as the supreme, all knowing, unquestionable God. Secondly, they were not thankful. Thankfulness is a sign of humanity, we must at all times have a heart full of thankfulness towards God, who gave His life to save us from damnation. Unthankfulness is the second step in rejecting God. After these two steps have been taken, then the individuals mind is free to begin imagining foolish, wicked and idolatrous thoughts, which leads to the heart being hardened against God. Although they thought themselves to be wise they become fools. Instead of serving and honoring the invisible creator, they made gods with their own hands, and worshipped them. Idols in the image of corruptible man such as Mary, saints, Buddha etc. also birds and beast. God hates idolatry. Romans 1 : 24-27 * Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: * Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever * 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 recommence of their error which was meet. God gave them up, they become reprobate, cast off from God. Because of free will, God will not continue to convict the rebellious. He will give them up to their own heart lusts. Those who rebelliously continue to practice such sins as Idolatry, homosexuality, lesbianism, in spite of their in-born witness become so hardened against God, that God gives them up He lifts His convicting power and leaves them to wallow in their sin. (4)
Lesbian, homosexuality and sexual sin, outside the marriage relationships is an abomination in the sight of God. It was, under the terms of the Old Covenant, and continues to be an abomination under the terms of the New Covenant. Abomination is something hateful and disgusting in God s sight. Leviticus 18 : 22-24 *Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination * Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before the beast to lie down thereto; it is confusion * Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you. Romans 1 : 28 * 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; They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, means, they choose to rejects their in-born knowledge of God and His judgment against such sexual sin. Romans verse 27 states, 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. And received in themselves that recompense of their sins which was meet. People who continue is such sexual sin, as homosexuality, Lesbianism, fornication and adultery have chosen to do that which God has forbidden so He lifts his convicting power and gives them up to their own hearts lusts. Such people are not under God s divine protection, so the curse of the law automatically works against them. They bring punishment upon themselves; the curse of aids is rampant in this world of sin and sex. Such people are reprobate. A Reprobate is a person whom God has turned away from, because they refused to hear and obey, that in-born knowledge of God and his judgment against their sexual sin. Romans 1 : 29-23 * Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (5)
* Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, * Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: * Who knowing the judgment of God, that they, which commit such things, are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Paul then gives us a list of other sins, which are an abomination in God s sight. There are no little sins or big sins in God s sight all unrighteousness is sin. Fornication is sin. Fornication sexual sin out side the marriage covenant. Wickedness is sin. Wickedness evil works. Covetousness is sin. Covetousness wanting to own that which belongs to some one else. Maliciousness is sin. Maliciousness spiteful, is having hatred in the heart, and plans evil works against those who do good. Envy is sin. Envy is jealousy. Jealousy is every bit as bad as murder or Homosexuality. Sin is sin in God s sight. Murder is sin in God s sight. Murder to kill some one, abortion is murder. Debate is sin. Debate quarreling and arguing, is sin in God s sight. Deceit is sin in God s sight. Deceit to lie to cheat, to mislead, or deceive another. Malignity is sin in God s sight Malignity is to slander or misrepresent another, in simple words, if you malign some one, you tell lies about them. Whisperers is sin. Whisperers are gossips. Gossips are people with big mouths, always talk, talk, talking. Usually they don t know the true facts, so make up their own stories, which are lies. Backbites are sinful people in God s sight. Backbiters speak against you behind your back, but are as sweet as sugar to your face. Keep your mouths from backbiting; it is hateful in God s sight. God sees and hears everything. Pride is sin in God s sight. Pride is having a very high opinion of your self. Lucifer was cast out of heaven because he had a very high opinion of himself, his name was changed to Satan the evil one, and he (6)
was cast out of heaven. Pride will always bring a person low and cause them to loose the blessing of God. Boasters are sin. Boasters have big mouths who speak very highly of themselves, their achievements, their possessions. Inventors of evil things- instruments used for evil purposes. Disobedient to parents - Children who disobey their parents are sinners in God s sight. Covenant breakers Covenant breakers are people who cannot be trusted to keep their word. Without natural affection could mean homosexuality as not being normal or someone who is hard hearted, who shows no natural love towards others. Jesus said a new commandment I give you Love one another. Implacable is sin. Implacable- means unyielding, too proud to say sorry, or to proud to admit you were wrong. Unmerciful an unmerciful person shows no love, grace, mercy or forgiveness towards others. Romans 1 : 32 * Who knowing the judgment of God, that they, which commit such things, are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. People who willfully continue in those sins mentioned in our text, do not loose their knowledge or understanding of what is right and wrong but they loose God s conviction about their sinful life style. They still know they are wrong and sinful, but they don t care, and take pleasure in their sinful life style. The cry of our heart should be, Lord I hate sin, I do not want to indulge in sin, don t ever lift your convicting power from me. Let me always be humble and obedient. (7)