| Teacher: David Olthoff (Matt Tully) Series: Romans (Acts) |
David's Notes | |
Hello and greetings to everyone. For those that may not know me, my name is David Olthoff.
One day I was having lunch with Rusty when he asked me to speak about Romans 1.
In retrospect I am grateful because I was reminded how Romans had made a significant impact on my life.
You see, in Matt Tully’s basement a few years ago several of us sat down to study the book of Romans. It was then I understood the power of the gospel.
If someone says to you “you are right with me”, what do they mean?
If you could choose anyone to say that to you, who would it be? (spouse, parents, kids, sports hero, the President?)
How about from God?
Romans teaches because of our faith, God looks us in the eye and says, “you are perfect with me”. How great is that? Can anyone be the same after knowing this?
Throughout history the book of Romans has made a great impact on many others;
As he sat, he heard children playing a game in the distance. He thought he heard them chanting something like: “Take up and read! Take up and read!”
Thinking God had a message for him in the words of the children, he picked up a scroll laying nearby and began to read: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”. The story goes on to say he didn’t read any further at that time, he didn’t have to. Through the power of God’s Word in Romans, Augustine gained the faith to give his whole life to Jesus Christ at that moment.
Luther the monk went on to say: “Night and day I pondered until… I grasped the truth-that the righteousness of God given to us is through grace and sheer mercy and that God justifies us by faith”. He went on to say; “At that very moment I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise”. Martin Luther was born again, and the Reformation began in his heart.
Paul most likely wrote the book of Romans in the city of Corinth on his third missionary journey around 53-58 AD.
Back then traveling from place to place on foot could be treacherous so it is believed Paul wrote this letter so comprehensively that should something happen to him, the Romans would have the entire Gospel message.
In verse 1, Paul identifies himself first as a servant of Jesus Christ and secondly an apostle.
John Wesley, an English cleric, theologian and evangelist once said; “A servant of Jesus Christ is a higher title than “monarch of the world”.
I like thinking about that statement. Because of our faith, we hold a bigger title than “ruler of the world”. That’s kind of cool and wonderful, isn’t it?
In verses 2-6
Paul speaks of God’s Son Jesus Christ as the center of the gospel.
In verse 2, he starts out by telling his readers the gospel story was first promised through the prophets. Paul wanted to make certain his readers understood this wasn’t his own new idea but something very old in the plan of God.
Verse 3, He mentions “our savior was born in the lineage of David according to the flesh”. Old school Jews in the crowd certainly knew who David was and I’m sure that caught their attention.
Verse 4: (Jesus is) declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Holy Spirit, by the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus had a human side being born into the world, but the proof of his deity is His resurrection from the dead.
Verse 5;
“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith”
The gospel gave Paul and the church grace and apostleship, and those two gifts produced obedience to the faith.
A British theologian named Adam Clarke who lived in the 1700s stated; “Without the GRACE, favor, and help of the Holy Spirit, Paul could not have become an apostle.” I think this to be true. Before meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was a Christian hater, right? Grace and Apostleship hit Paul straight between the eyes on the Damascus road. He became saved and his first words were very apostle like; “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6).
Verse 8
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world:
In my readings, I learned Paul was thankful for the good reputation of the church in Rome. ALSO…Because of its location, this church had a special visibility and opportunity to glorify Jesus throughout the Empire. The Roman Empire brought world peace and order AND they brought an excellent transportation system to the world. Paul used all these advantages in spreading the Gospel.
Verse 15
Paul says in verse 15…”I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”
Charles Spurgeon, an accomplished Baptist preacher of the 1800s admired Paul’s “I am ready” motto he carried with him.
Spurgeon states;
In addition to “being ready to preach” in verse 15,
· Paul was ready to suffer (Acts 21:13).
· Paul was ready to do unpleasant work (2 Corinthians 10:6).
· Paul was ready to die (2 Timothy 4:6).
Paul was the “I am ready guy”.
In Verses 16-17…Paul introduces the theme of his letter: the righteousness of God.
16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God’s salvation plan for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Leon Morris, an Australian New Testament scholar said this of verse 16;
The gospel is certainly news, but it is more than information; it has an inherent power. “The gospel is not advice to people, suggesting that we lift-up ourselves. The Gospel is power. We don’t lift ourselves up with the truth. The Truth lifts us up.
Now the city of Rome thought it knew all about power: Power is the one thing that Rome boasted of the most. Greece might have its philosophy, but Rome had its power. Despite all their power, the Roman people were powerless to make themselves righteous before God…and they knew it!
The Romans of Paul’s day, even the proud Romans looked for salvation. Philosophers spoke of their broken condition in the meeting places all the time. They knew they were sick and needed help. For some in Rome, Paul’s message would be epic.
Verse 17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed.”
Simply put, the gospel reveals the righteousness of God.
Martin Luther said it was the happiest day in his life when he discovered the righteousness of God in Romans. Luther paraphrased the words; “God’s Righteousness” with “God’s verdict of righteousness upon the believer.” I like that.
John Murry, a Scottish theologian stated; “This declaration of righteousness is even greater when we understand that this is the righteousness of GOD, given to the believer. It is not the righteousness of even the most holy man. It is God’s righteousness, and we are given this through faith in Jesus.
Verse 18 (to the end of Romans chapter 1) Paul explains the guilt of the human race and the greatest peril facing the human race is the Wrath of God.
I must confess, in the past I’ve secretly objected to the idea of the wrath of God because I used to equate it with human anger or revenge.
But the wrath of God here is not that way. The wrath of God is completely righteous in character.
Let me explain;
Paul speaks against Romans who were behaving very poorly AND refusing to acknowledge God.
Sexual lust was rampant. Idol worship was popular and apathy toward God’s very existence was the worst of their sins.
But God expresses His wrath in a surprising way. (I’d think he’d just crush the revolt?) But no, He gave them over to their sinful desires which gave them the quality of life they deserved. Rotten living, anxiety, pain and all the rest.
God is perfect in His ways, amen?
In conclusion,
Today, I live in more peace because through my faith I have been made right with God and my eternal future in Heaven is secure.
It been years since I’ve woke up in the morning nervous with anxiety like I used to.
Today I thank God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit for bringing us the truth in book of Romans.
One day I was having lunch with Rusty when he asked me to speak about Romans 1.
In retrospect I am grateful because I was reminded how Romans had made a significant impact on my life.
You see, in Matt Tully’s basement a few years ago several of us sat down to study the book of Romans. It was then I understood the power of the gospel.
- In Romans, we learned that through our faith in Jesus, we are made right with God.
If someone says to you “you are right with me”, what do they mean?
If you could choose anyone to say that to you, who would it be? (spouse, parents, kids, sports hero, the President?)
How about from God?
Romans teaches because of our faith, God looks us in the eye and says, “you are perfect with me”. How great is that? Can anyone be the same after knowing this?
- Romans also taught me that as believers, our eternal future is secure in Heaven.
Throughout history the book of Romans has made a great impact on many others;
- In the summer of 386 it made a great impact on St Augustine. (Augustine was a predominant theologian, philosopher and writer.) He knew his life of sin and rebellion against God left him empty and feeling dead; but he just couldn’t find the strength to make a final, real decision for Jesus Christ.
As he sat, he heard children playing a game in the distance. He thought he heard them chanting something like: “Take up and read! Take up and read!”
Thinking God had a message for him in the words of the children, he picked up a scroll laying nearby and began to read: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”. The story goes on to say he didn’t read any further at that time, he didn’t have to. Through the power of God’s Word in Romans, Augustine gained the faith to give his whole life to Jesus Christ at that moment.
- The letter of Romans impacted Martin Luther also.
Luther the monk went on to say: “Night and day I pondered until… I grasped the truth-that the righteousness of God given to us is through grace and sheer mercy and that God justifies us by faith”. He went on to say; “At that very moment I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise”. Martin Luther was born again, and the Reformation began in his heart.
Paul most likely wrote the book of Romans in the city of Corinth on his third missionary journey around 53-58 AD.
Back then traveling from place to place on foot could be treacherous so it is believed Paul wrote this letter so comprehensively that should something happen to him, the Romans would have the entire Gospel message.
In verse 1, Paul identifies himself first as a servant of Jesus Christ and secondly an apostle.
John Wesley, an English cleric, theologian and evangelist once said; “A servant of Jesus Christ is a higher title than “monarch of the world”.
I like thinking about that statement. Because of our faith, we hold a bigger title than “ruler of the world”. That’s kind of cool and wonderful, isn’t it?
In verses 2-6
Paul speaks of God’s Son Jesus Christ as the center of the gospel.
In verse 2, he starts out by telling his readers the gospel story was first promised through the prophets. Paul wanted to make certain his readers understood this wasn’t his own new idea but something very old in the plan of God.
Verse 3, He mentions “our savior was born in the lineage of David according to the flesh”. Old school Jews in the crowd certainly knew who David was and I’m sure that caught their attention.
Verse 4: (Jesus is) declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Holy Spirit, by the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus had a human side being born into the world, but the proof of his deity is His resurrection from the dead.
Verse 5;
“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith”
The gospel gave Paul and the church grace and apostleship, and those two gifts produced obedience to the faith.
A British theologian named Adam Clarke who lived in the 1700s stated; “Without the GRACE, favor, and help of the Holy Spirit, Paul could not have become an apostle.” I think this to be true. Before meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was a Christian hater, right? Grace and Apostleship hit Paul straight between the eyes on the Damascus road. He became saved and his first words were very apostle like; “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6).
Verse 8
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world:
In my readings, I learned Paul was thankful for the good reputation of the church in Rome. ALSO…Because of its location, this church had a special visibility and opportunity to glorify Jesus throughout the Empire. The Roman Empire brought world peace and order AND they brought an excellent transportation system to the world. Paul used all these advantages in spreading the Gospel.
Verse 15
Paul says in verse 15…”I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”
Charles Spurgeon, an accomplished Baptist preacher of the 1800s admired Paul’s “I am ready” motto he carried with him.
Spurgeon states;
In addition to “being ready to preach” in verse 15,
· Paul was ready to suffer (Acts 21:13).
· Paul was ready to do unpleasant work (2 Corinthians 10:6).
· Paul was ready to die (2 Timothy 4:6).
Paul was the “I am ready guy”.
In Verses 16-17…Paul introduces the theme of his letter: the righteousness of God.
16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God’s salvation plan for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Leon Morris, an Australian New Testament scholar said this of verse 16;
The gospel is certainly news, but it is more than information; it has an inherent power. “The gospel is not advice to people, suggesting that we lift-up ourselves. The Gospel is power. We don’t lift ourselves up with the truth. The Truth lifts us up.
Now the city of Rome thought it knew all about power: Power is the one thing that Rome boasted of the most. Greece might have its philosophy, but Rome had its power. Despite all their power, the Roman people were powerless to make themselves righteous before God…and they knew it!
The Romans of Paul’s day, even the proud Romans looked for salvation. Philosophers spoke of their broken condition in the meeting places all the time. They knew they were sick and needed help. For some in Rome, Paul’s message would be epic.
Verse 17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed.”
Simply put, the gospel reveals the righteousness of God.
Martin Luther said it was the happiest day in his life when he discovered the righteousness of God in Romans. Luther paraphrased the words; “God’s Righteousness” with “God’s verdict of righteousness upon the believer.” I like that.
John Murry, a Scottish theologian stated; “This declaration of righteousness is even greater when we understand that this is the righteousness of GOD, given to the believer. It is not the righteousness of even the most holy man. It is God’s righteousness, and we are given this through faith in Jesus.
Verse 18 (to the end of Romans chapter 1) Paul explains the guilt of the human race and the greatest peril facing the human race is the Wrath of God.
I must confess, in the past I’ve secretly objected to the idea of the wrath of God because I used to equate it with human anger or revenge.
But the wrath of God here is not that way. The wrath of God is completely righteous in character.
Let me explain;
Paul speaks against Romans who were behaving very poorly AND refusing to acknowledge God.
Sexual lust was rampant. Idol worship was popular and apathy toward God’s very existence was the worst of their sins.
But God expresses His wrath in a surprising way. (I’d think he’d just crush the revolt?) But no, He gave them over to their sinful desires which gave them the quality of life they deserved. Rotten living, anxiety, pain and all the rest.
God is perfect in His ways, amen?
In conclusion,
Today, I live in more peace because through my faith I have been made right with God and my eternal future in Heaven is secure.
It been years since I’ve woke up in the morning nervous with anxiety like I used to.
Today I thank God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit for bringing us the truth in book of Romans.
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