|
LESSON 2
TEACHERS OUTLINE
ROM 1:1-17
The
Good News Paul Preached to All the World
_________________________________________________________________________________
The Meaning of the Word Gospel
The word means “good
news”. In ancient times the word was associated with the arrival or
dedication of an Emperor and pronouncement that he was a divine ruler and
blessing.
In the
context of Rome this would be meaningful, Paul preaches that it is Jesus the
divine ruler who brings the blessings of righteousness as a gift from God.
Why Did Paul Write Romans
He had completed his
mission in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Palestine, and wanted the church in
Rome to send him on to Spain to preach to the Gentiles in that region (Rom
15:17-29).
In the Roman letter he lays
out his Apostolic “ambassadorial” credentials and the theology of his
message.
He knows his message will
create tensions within the Jewish-Gentile Christian community in Rome, so he
clarifies his message of Grace through faith, answering Jewish sensitivities
that he was opposed to the Law of Moses (the Torah) and the election of
Israel through Abraham.
He addresses the tensions
that naturally arise between different ethnic and theological persuasions
(Rom 14, 15).
The Theme of Romans
God is a righteous and
faithful God who justifies all men, both Jew and Gentile, on the same
grounds, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 1:16, 17).
He makes no distinction
between Jew and Gentile, all have sinned and are under the power of sin (Rom
3:9), so all are justified on the same ground.
No human being can be saved
or justified by keeping the law (Torah).
The purpose of the law of
Moses was to clarify sin and indict men for sinning.
The only means of
justification is by God’s grace accessed through faith in Jesus Christ.
Some Characteristics of Paul’s Gospel
- It is a Gospel from God
and concerning God – he is a righteous God (Rom 1:1, 16, 17.)
- The Gospel concerns
God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Messiah (Rom 1:4-9).
- The Gospel is God’s
Power to Save (Rom 1:16).
- The gospel is God’s
power to save all who believe because in the gospel God’s righteousness is
revealed through his faithfulness (Rom 1:16, 17) to encourage faith in Jew
and Gentile alike.
- The gospel which reveals
God’s righteousness in Jesus Christ was promised in the Old Testament (Rom
1:2).
Lessons From Rom 1:1-17
-
This is a
gospel about God’s righteousness and faithfulness.
-
This gospel
concerns a divine king, Jesus Christ.
-
This is
powerful gospel that draws on the power of God to reach the human heart.
-
This gospel
springs out of the faithfulness of God and calls people to faith in God.
-
The gospel
involves an obedient faith which implies that man has to respond in an
appropriate manner to faith in order to benefit by the power of the
gospel.
-
This gospel is
not something new and against God’s previous action in the law or Torah,
but is a fulfilment of the law-Torah.
-
Paul is eager
and under obligation to preach this gospel to the Romans, both Jew and
Gentile.
Notes:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
