The Book of
Romans 1
32 verses≈ 5 min1 personBSB
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In this chapter
Where we are
- 1–3:20The problemEveryone needs the gospelChapter 1
- 3:21–5The answerRight with God by faith
- 6–8New lifeFree in Christ, led by the Spirit
- 9–11God and IsraelHis promises stand
- 12–16Living itLove in a church of Jews and Gentiles
Paul Greets the Saints in Rome
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—
Romans 1:1
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the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead
Romans 1:4
Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7
Stylised map · locations approximate
On the map
From Corinth to Rome
Paul writes from Corinth, probably in the three months he spent in Greece around AD 57. Phoebe of Cenchrea, Corinth’s eastern port, probably carried it west to Italy and on to Rome: several weeks’ travel to a church Paul had never seen, to all in Rome who are “loved by God.”
Unashamed of the Gospel
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
The righteous will live by faith.
Romans 1:17
Reflect
Not ashamed
Paul was heading for the capital of the world with a message about a crucified Jew, and he could still say, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Where are you most tempted to keep quiet about Jesus? Who is one person you could be ready to tell, gently and plainly, what the gospel means to you?
God’s Wrath against Sin
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
0:20
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Question
Quick question
Paul says no one can plead ignorance of God, because the world itself speaks of Him.
What does Paul say has been “clearly seen” since the creation of the world?
For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
The downward spiral
Whiteboard
Paul traces a slide, not a sudden fall. It begins with knowing God and refusing to thank Him. Thinking grows dark, worship turns to lesser things, and at last God lets people have what they chose. It is the story of the whole human race, and it is why everyone needs the gospel Paul has just announced.
Pray
Mercy for all of us
Romans 1 ends in darkness, but the letter doesn’t. Paul has already told us why he is “not ashamed of the gospel”: it is God’s power to save “everyone who believes.” Thank God that no one is beyond His reach. Ask Him to keep your heart thankful, to guard you from exchanging His truth for something easier, and to make you gentle and hopeful toward everyone you meet.
You’ve experienced
Romans 1
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A verse to carry with you
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
Romans 1:16
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