Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 1of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

One of the books in the bible I ever struggled to understand was the book of Romans. When I finally understood it’s message and application, it has become one of my favorite books. I wonder if you have ever spent some time studying it. I hope to share from the first chapter which lays a foundation for the entire book.

Allow me to lay a ground work and in the next couple of sessions do some study from the first chapter.

This epistle’s name comes from its original recipients: the members of the church in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire (1:7). To understand some background and setting, we learn that Rome was the capital and most important city of the Roman Empire founded in 753BC. Paul was martyred outside Rome. Some of those converted on the day of Pentecost probably founded the church at Rome Acts 2:10 and Paul had sought to visit the Roman church but had been prevented from doing so (Rom 1:13). In God’s providence, Paul’s inability to visit Rome gave the world this inspired masterpiece of the gospel doctrine.

The book of Romans is a doctrinal book, it’s a book that lay out the logic Christianity. The first 11 chapters are orthodoxy (theological truths doctrine, teaching) and the remainder 6 chapters are Orthopraxy (practical living or right practice). Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. The letter also introduced him to a church where he was personally unknown, but hoped to visit soon for several important reasons:-1. To edify the believers, Vs.11 2. To preach the gospel vs. 15, 3. To get to know the Roman Christians, so they could encourage him vs. 12; Chapter 15:32, better pray him Chapter 15:30, and help him with his planned ministry in Spain Chapter 15:28

This epistle to the Romans is placed first, not because of the priority of its date, but because of the superlative Excellency of the epistle, it being one of the longest and fullest of all, and perhaps because of the dignity of the place to which it is written. The overarching theme of Romans is the righteousness that comes from God: the glorious truth that God justifies the guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.

If you read the first 3 chapters, you discover that Paul’s first mission is to pull the curtains to expose unrighteousness that condemns man, Romans 1:18-3:20, he wants to prove that all men are guilty before God and instead of just saying it, he paints it in in full color. I’m glad he does not stop there praise God. I pray we learn a little bit about this amazing book. Blessings Ev