PAUL’S EPISTLE TO THE ROMAN CHURCH

1:1-15

Paul is separated to God’s gospel, which He promised in the Scriptures before the coming of Christ, who is the seed of David (v.1-3)

God has now fulfilled the promises through Christ’s death & resurrection. (v.4)

God, through Christ, has now given apostleship and grace to Paul and his men, for obedience to the faith among the nations; among whom is the Roman church. (v.5-7)

Paul’s thanksgiving and desire to visit the church in Rome (v.8-15)

PAUL’S GOSPEL SUMMARY

1:16-17

The gospel reveals God’s righteousness:

As God has promised (see v.2), through His power (v.16), He has accomplished redemption through Christ. Thus, God is righteous to fulfill His covenant promise.

This gospel has come “from faith”, or from God’s faithfulness. This gospel is given “to faith”, or to those called unto obedience to the faith.

As the Scripture as taught and anticipated: “The just shall live by faith” Hab.2:4

GOD’S IMPARTIAL JUDGMENT & THE QUESTION OF THE OLD MOSAIC LAW

1: 18 – 32 2:1-16 2: 17-24 2:25-29 3:1 – 8 3:9-20

God’s wrath against God will judge Jew & Gentile Jews are sinful Gentiles having the Spirit If Gentiles now do the Law Apart from Christ the

wickedness impartially. Yet here’s the catch: just like Gentiles. are now “inwardly” true Jews: what good is it to be a Jew? Jews are “under sin” and the

-Gentiles are now “doers” of the Law! - A Gentile now “keeps” If the Jews failed, will God’s Gentiles are “under sin”.

-How is this, if Jews are “in the Law”? and “fulfills” the Law! faithfulness fail? No. The Old Law only shows sin. - Gentiles are “in the Spirit.” No one is justified through it.

GOD’S WORKED THROUGH CHRIST, WITHOUT THE OLD LAW GOD APPLYING CHRIST’S WORK, ESTABLISHES THE LAW

3:21-26 3:27 – 31

Without the Law, God has fulfilled His promises, manifesting His The “Law of works” before Christ is a contrast to the “Law of faith” after Christ. (v.27)

righteousness as the covenant keeping Redeemer. (v. 21) The “Law of faith” refers both to Jesus’ faithfulness to the cross and our faith in Him.

Through Jesus’ faithful work, God has accomplished redemption. (v.24) Believers are now justified apart from the Old Law, and only through Christ’s work.

Wrath is satisfied and justification is now accessible to all through faith. Justification is now for Jews and Gentiles, through this new “Law of faith”.

By fulfilling His promises, punishing sin, bringing redemption, and justifying This new “Law of faith” actually “establishes” what the old Mosaic Law intended. (v.31)

sinners, God has demonstrated His personal righteousness (v.25,26)

JUSTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED BEFORE JUSTIFICATION HAS BEEN PROMISED TO COME JUSTIFICATION HAS BENEFITS

4:1 – 12 4:13 – 25 5:1 – 11

Abraham was regarded as justified. God promised Abraham and his seed, the world, as an In the present time we have God’s peace,

Abraham was accounted righteous by faith. inheritance through the righteousness of faith, hope, and love.

Uncircumcised Abe was justified, and thus ungodly to Jews. God’s promise to Abraham included the justification In the future we “shall be saved” having now

Nevertheless, Abraham was declared righteous that God would give his descendants. been justified by God and reconciled

as a Gentile, without doing any works of the Old Law. Abraham’s children (Jew or Gentile) are now justified to God. (v.9,10)

Abraham received God’s justification before circumcision, through faith in Christ, for God has fulfilled His

therefore Gentiles can receive the same declaration promises through Jesus’ work of death and resurrection.

through faith.

CHRIST’S JUSTIFICATION CONQUERS ADAM’S CONDEMNATION

5:12 – 8: 39

GOD’S ELECT REMNANT & GOD’S FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW

Romans 9 – 10:13

Chapter 9 Chapter 10:1 - 13

Key Observations:

The “righteousness of faith” refers both to Christ’s work for us (10:5), and our faith in Him (9:30). Through this “faith” God promised to Abraham and his seed, the world. (4:13)

The “righteousness which is of the Law” (10:5), or “the Law of righteousness” (9:30-31) refers to the good anticipation of how the Law desired life and righteousness only to be

accomplished in Christ. The Law could never give this glory, nor its own promises, during its time nor within its power. (3:21) (Phil.3:6,9 is about the Law before Christ.)

Our “righteousness” in Christ (10:4) is the long-anticipated new covenant position that now justifies us, since we are now reckoned (6:11) to be in His death and resurrection.

“Justification” is a new-covenant, legal, and two-fold-eschatological declaration. In retrospect, it fulfills the past Law(10:4). In prospect, it secures the future judgment (5:9).

Our justification produces Spirit-wrought and Lawful fruits, which the future judgment will inspect (2:6) and justify (2:13-16); after the Spirit completes our resurrection (8:23).

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO ISRAEL

Chapter 10:14 – 11:36

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