The Majestic Book: Paul's Letter to the Romans

SERMON 1

THE MAJESTIC BOOK: PAUL'S LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Reading: Romans 1:1-17

1. THE TITLE OF THE LETTER

Literally translated - "To the Romans: of Paul, slave of Jesus Christ".

The title tells us three things about this book:

(1) It was written by the Apostle Paul. It is undoubtedly from him, for it bears the stamp of a highly-trained mind that was in touch with the realm of spiritual realities. It comes from the pen of the GREAT APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES. The letter reveals its Scriptural and apostolic authorship by speaking of the election of God in relation to the Jews, broadening it out to include the Gentiles who were outside the Law of Moses. Apart from the Law, righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ ALONE.

Here are the doctrines of the gospel. ROBERT HALDANE, in his commentary on Romans, states – “In the New Testament, the Epistle to the Romans is entitled to peculiar regard. It is the only part of Scripture which contains a detailed and systematic exhibition of the doctrines of Christianity." He continues – “Human wisdom cannot receive the doctrine in the Epistle to the Romans.” We agree, for spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned. (See 1 Corinthians 2:14)

Here, from this ex-Pharisee and Christian evangelist and scholar, comes the noblest and deepest of all Paul's pronouncements.

(2) It was written as a letter. An Epistle (επιστολή - epistolē in Greek) is a Letter. The Letter to the Romans is not a dry-as-dust theological work, intended to be read and understood only by College professors. It arose out of Paul’s own experience, and is his statement of beliefs to a church whose faith was spoken of in the whole world. (1:8) Therefore, Paul assumes correctly that they were able to take the strong meat of the Word! Paul intended to visit them shortly, so he wrote to put them in the picture as to what he believed. AND WHAT GREAT DOCTRINES HE TAUGHT! His letter was infallibly inspired by the Holy Spirit, and came from his pen alone.

(3) It was written to Roman Christians - or at least Christians visiting or residing in Rome. It is, in fact, a letter to all Christians - intellectuals or unlearned, highborn or lowborn, master or slave, rich or poor. All were able to receive his teaching by the Spirit, and attempt to understand it, and live it out in their everyday lives.

2. THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER

In his excellent Bible Commentary, MATTHEW HENRY asserts that – “… to render true Christian service, we must first know Christian doctrine.”

The letter is divided into two sections - doctrinal and practical. Chapters 1-11 are an exposition of the principles of the gospel.

Here is an outline of the entire Letter:

INTRODUCTION AND GREETING (1:1-17)

(1) Salutation (1-7)

(2) Situation(8-15)

(3) Summary(16-17)

1. AN EXPOSITION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL (1:18 -11:36)

(1) The doctrine of Condemnation (1:18-3:20)

(a) The Gentiles (1:18-32)

(b) The Jews (2:1-3:8)

(2) The doctrine of Justification by Faith (3:21-5:21)

(a) The ground of justification: God's grace (3:21-26)

(b) The means of justification: man's faith (3:27-4:25)

(3) The doctrine of Sanctification (6:1-8:10)

(a) The principle of holiness (6:1-11)

(b) The practice of holiness (6:12 - 7:25)

(d) The power of holiness (8:1-10)

(4) The doctrine of glorification (8:11-39)

(a) The evidence of coming glory (8:11-17)

(b) The expectation of coming glory (8:18-25)

(5) The doctrine of election(9:1-11:36)

(a) God's freedom of choice (9:1-29)

(b) Jewish failure by unbelief (9.30 - 10:21)

2. A PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL (12:1-15:13)

(1) The question of Christian morality (12:1-13:14)

(a) Personal morality (12:1-13)

(b) Social morality (12:14-21)

(2) The question of Christian action (14:1 - 15:13)

(a) Christian toleration (14:1-12)

(b) Brotherly unity (14:13-23)

CONCLUSION AND GREETINGS (15:14 - 16:23)

(1) The ministry of Paul is described (15:14-33)

(2) A servant of Paul is commended (16:1-2)

(3) Greetings to friends in Rome (16:3-16)

(4) Exhortation to the Roman church (16:17-20)

(5) Greetings from Paul's co-workers (16:21-23)

CLOSING BENEDICTION(16:25-27)

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In these Sermons, we will be considering only the first EIGHT CHAPTERS of Romans.

In them, you will find in detailed and systematic form most of the doctrines of the Christian faith, or as much as sermons can bear!

In his introduction to the book “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ” by John Owen, Dr. James Packer writes thus:

“There is no doubt the evangelicalism of today is in a state, of perplexity and unsettlement. In such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor's dealing with the soul, and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are ... we shall find that if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the Biblical gospel. Without realising it, we have, during the past century, bartered that gospel for a substitute product, which, though it looks similar enough in point of detail, is a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles, for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty."

We look in Romans for a glorifying of God, an uplifting of the Lord Jesus Christ, a deep reverence before a holy God, thankfulness in the heart for salvation, holiness of life, a deep trust in the electing purposes of God, and an assurance that no one will ever pluck us out of hand of God our Father.

This first section of Romans is the mainspring of all that mighty working of God in the Protestant Reformation – teaching that is often called REFORMED THEOLOGY, but is far better called BIBLICAL THEOLOGY.

As we go through these studies, let us see if this last statement is justified. Let us now consider an outline of the five sections on doctrine.

JOHN CALVIN is right to point out that, on the basis of Paul’s teaching in Romans, man does not have the ability to save himself. Therefore, we are bound to ask, “On what basis, then, does God do his work of salvation?” Paul’s Letter fully answers that question.

SERMON 2

ROMANS 1:1-4

LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF AND MY SAVIOUR

Reading: Acts 9:1-25

INTRODUCTION

Before we embark on the major doctrine of Romans, let us take note of the introduction (not that it is without doctrine!). (1:1-17) Here, we find three things:

a) The salutation of Paul to Rome (1-7)

b) The situation in which Paul finds himself (8-15)

c) A summary of the whole of the letter (or, at least chapters 1-8). (16-17)

1. In this first section (1-7), we note THE SALUTATION (GREETINGS) OF THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMAN CHRISTIANS.

Let us consider the first part of greetings: FROM PAUL. (1-4)

HANDLEY CARR GLYNN MOULE (Bishop of Durham) wrote a delightful exposition of this letter which, in his reading of it, caused him to be overcome “with an ever deeper reverence and wonder over the text, which he has been permitted to handle, a text so full of a marvellous man, above all, so full of God."

As Dr. DONALD GUTHRIE put it, “[Here is a] document which arose directly from the pulsating experience and matured reflection of a practical man of God ... The Epistle then take on something of the nature of a spiritual stocktaking in which Paul records for the benefit of a wider group of Christians his deep meditations on the great problem of man's relationship with God.”

In Romans, we find an answer to question, "How can a man be right with God?” Paul answered completely and definitively. He himself was changed on the road to Damascus when he came face-to-face with the risen Christ. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4, 22:7, and 26:14) And why was he not addressed as PAUL?"

SAUL = "Called for, or lent to" [God]. Paul = “Little”. Why the change of name? On his first missionary journey, he came to Cyprus where he made his first Gentile convert - Sergius Paulus, the proconsul. (Acts 13:6-12) This Latin name suited Paul’s purpose, as he had been called to be an APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES. (Acts 26:16-18) The great Saul - Pharisee, the Hebrew of Hebrews, and fanatical religionist (Philippians 3:4-6), who spoke at least three languages fluently, was no more, and the man who remained became little under the hand of God, but was mighty and greatly used in the purposes of God.

This is how Paul introduces himself. He then produces his credentials.

A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST - here lies the origin of his humility. He was once Christ’s bitterest enemy, and the vicious persecutor of the Church. He was little in metaphorical stature, but now he has become Christ’s greatest servant. Servant = slave (δουλος - doulos in Greek), signifying both humility and dignity.

a) It implied lowliness in service. He considered himself a bought slave, just a minister of his Master.

b) Yet there was dignity in slavery. He belonged to the household of Christ, and considered himself as his exclusive property; and he was always speaking well of him. His name was associated with Jesus, and this commanded respect wherever he went.

Paul once coveted the title of Rabbi = teacher; but now he is a slave of Jesus Christ. This he considered better than the possession of university honours, just being a slave of Jesus Christ. “Servant” (slave) also implies complete surrender of all his personal liberty to Christ.

CALLED [TO BE] AN APOSTLE” - here is a passing reference to his old name SAUL = "called for", or "lent". On the road to Damascus, Christ called him to service. He was not called by men's appointment, but by God. He had seen Jesus. The latter part of verse 1 reveals Paul’s qualifications for writing such a letter. He was an APOSTLE (αποστολος -apostolos = someone sent with a message.

Saul had been made “little” (Paul), but he was eminent in ministry, raised up in the purposes of God. Jesus sent out 12 apostles to go and preach the gospel. But Paul was equal in authority with any of them, for Christ had called him also. His work was as divinely inspired and authoritative as Peter, or Andrew, or any other - “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:9)

ROBERT HALDANE - “The term apostle being placed at the beginning of the epistle impresses the stamp of divine authority on all that it contains.”

SEPARATED UNTO THE GOSPEL OF GOD - yet Paul was not only called to the office, but was confirmed by the election of God even before he was born – “Separate = PHARISEE. But his call was not to the old Law, but to the "gospel of God", the message of the New Covenant in Christ – “But it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles”. (Galatians 1:15)

SET APART = APHORISM in English, which is a choice saying. God made something worthwhile of him, and set him apart to preach the gospel of God.

GOSPEL = Evangel, the good news of salvation. No Law of good works could save us, only God, by an act of his sovereign will and grace. We do not enter into a covenant with God; we can only accept God in Christ as the author and substance of our salvation.

This is further explained in verses 2-4: NOTICE:

1) The antiquity of the gospel which he “promised before”. God never breaks a promise, particularly one of blessing. He promised salvation many times in Old Testament, which was foreshadowed in different types, in ceremonies, even in laws, and in the writings of the prophets.

Here is no new gospel, an upstart new religion. It was a fulfilment of numerous promises in the Scriptures.

a) Particularly the promises found in the prophets. They wrote of Jesus’ coming - “Of this salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating then he testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” (1 Peter 1:10-11)

b) The promises in the Holy Scriptures. This was the reason for the writing of Old Testament

HOLY = set apart. It is the final authority for the faith of the gospel. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself ... Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:27,45-48)

2. In this second section, we note THE SUBSTANCE OF THE GOSPEL (3-4) – “concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

a) Here is the basis for the Christian faith. Here is list of Christ’s titles. He is God's Son - “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...” John 3:16) JOHN TRAPP comments on these two verses – “Here is a lofty and lively description of Christ's sacred person". “The gospel of God” only concerns his Son. He is “the author and finisher of our faith”. (Hebrews 12:2) Where Christ is not uplifted, there is no preaching of the gospel.

JESUS CHRIST - a description of the work Jesus came to do. CHRIST (Χριστος - Christos in Greek) = Anointed with oil, which has the same meaning as Messiah in Hebrew. JESUS = Deliverer - “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) He is OUR LORD – he has authority over us. (4) He is both our Saviour and our Lord = JEHOVAH (usually replaced respectfully by the Jews with ADONAI = (also Hebrew for Lord):

a)Lord because it signifies his godhead, having the right to the title JEHOVAH. It also signifies his sovereignty. “Jesus Christ is Lord”. (Philippians 2:11)

b) Lord because the centre of Christian doctrine is the Person of Christ.

1) Jesus was truly a man - born of the seed of David according to the flesh”. (3) He experienced fully the human condition. He was true flesh and blood.

BORN = he became a man. He was born in the normal way, “of the seed of David”. He was born of a virgin who was descended from David. Luke 1:27 describes her as “a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, [also] of the house of David”. There is an emphasis here on his mother Mary. Jesus was not the son of Joseph, but he was born of natural descent from David through Mary.

“According to the flesh” - “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of God, fall of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

2) Jesus was truly God – “declared to be the Son of God with power”. (4) This was attested by God in the TRANSFIGURATION – “This is my beloved Son; hear him." (Matthew 17:5)

WITH POWER – that is, invested with divine power. Christ came to break the stranglehold of sin, the flesh, and the devil. He was able to overcome the kingdom of Satan. Why? Because of “the spirit of holiness” – another way of describing the Holy Spirit. What was he in himself? He was sinless, as God is sinless. God is holy, and so is his Son.

DECLARED THE SON OF GOD ... BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. He was sinless, so hell could not hold him; and it cannot hold us, who are made righteous through Christ and his cleansing blood. We are thus empowered to live holy lives in the power of his resurrection.

RESURRECTION proved that Christ was the Son of God because he alone could, by his own power, raise himself from the dead – “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18) Through him, we will rise from the dead also.

By rising from the dead, and exercising his power, and by his sinlessness and holiness, he secured righteousness for us before a holy God forever. That is the Saviour we have, and that is the Saviour Paul knew.

SERMON 3

ROMANS 1:5-15

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAUL AND ROME

Reading: Romans 1:5-15

INTRODUCTION

In our first sermon, we considered how Paul introduced himself and his Saviour (1-4) We notice two more things:

● The kind of church that Paul was addressing

● Paul's relationship with that church.

Here we find displayed the heart of true pastor. The tender heart of Paul is opened up as we see Paul's great desire to meet the Christians in Rome for fellowship.

We now come to the second part of Paul's greetings. He introduces himself to the Roman Christians by producing his credentials:

● he was a slave of Jesus Christ;

● he had been called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ

● he had been separated for the purpose of preaching the gospel, which is "old, yet

ever new".

This Man of power, who rose from the dead - God's Son - is Jesus Christ our Lord. He had called Paul to preach to Gentiles. God had to command the reluctant Ananias – “Go, for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentile, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

1. PAUL'S GREETINGS TO A EUROPEAN, GENTILE CHURCH (WITH