By brother Ed
For Romans 1:1-23, I am going to preach it 3 ways that coincide with the “5 solas” of the Reformed Theology, namely,
Part 1. God’s Glory alone and Bible alone
Part 2. Christ alone and grace alone
Part 3. Faith alone
Part 1
God’s Glory is revealed through the Holy Scriptures (Rom 1:1-2)
Rom 1:1-23 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God– (2) the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
Observe:
(1) Paul was called and anointed by God to be the Apostle for the Gentiles (v5b), to preach the Gospel.
(2) The Gospel concerns a promised Christ, the Saviour, to be sent by God.
(3) foretold in the Hoy Scriptures, as authored by the Spirit, who works in our lives through faith and hope in the truth.
(4) so that through faith we can behold the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ the only hope for our salvation from the Penalty of sin, the Power of sin and the Presence of sin
(5) the bible reveals the knowledge of God (His Perfections and Will) and enables us to appropriate living faith and hope in God unto eternal life.
(6) In His greatness His Word operates in the earth and by His word He controls nature, including sending snow… frost.… hail.… icy winds, and breezes.
(7) In His Wisdom, the greatest display of grace from this great and powerful God to His chosen people, however, was that He gave His Word, His revelation, to His people.
(8) This gift of revelation is dispensed through faith.
(9) The Gospel is foolishness and stumbling block to the non-believers who are to perish.
(10) His Words impart life and light (Knowledge of God) to those who believe in Lord Jesus Christ.
Application: How has the bible expressed the Glory of hope in God?
(1) Do you delight in His Word and meditate on it daily? If not, why not?
(2) Do you bask in the presence of God through faith? If not, why not?
(3) How have the promises of God recorded in the bible helped you obey God’s Will to live a life of love for God’s Glory?
God’s Glory is revealed through the Gospel of His Son, Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 1:3-5a)
(3) regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, (4) and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (5a) Through him we received grace and apostleship
Observe:
(1) The Gospel concerns His Son, the very God Himself, the Supreme King of Universe,
(2) who also reigns as man on the throne of Jewish King David.
(3) Through His death and resurrection by the Power of the Holy Spirit
(4) Jesus is affirmed as Lord Jesus Christ, i.e. the Son of God, Joshua (Jehovah saves), the Anointed One.
(5) Through him we have access to the Father by one Spirit, through a new and living way.
(6) The light of the Gospel that display the Glory of Jesus, who is the image of God, supplies grace and wisdom to enable us to live out a Godly life, useful for God,
(7) We must follow His example as His follower. We shall attain personal victory.
(8) Jesus’ death vindicates the Holiness of God, Jesus’ resurrection displays the goodness of God in His ways
(9) Our God is a blessed God who loves us and is willing to give us all things.
(10) He proves this by not sparing His Son so that we might be saved.
Application: How have you invested eternally to display the Glory of God’s wisdom of salvation
(1) How do you respond to the love of God who sent His Son to die for us in order that we may be reconciled to Him?
(2) In what ways do live your life through which God’s infinite worth is displayed?
(3) Is your life characterized by trust and obedience like Christ? If not, why not?
(4) How is your life lived according to the Wisdom of meekness like Christ as a peace-maker?
(5) Do you live as an ambassador of the message of reconciliation like Christ? If not, why not?
God’s Glory is revealed through the church, the called-out ones (Rom 1:5b-17)
(5b) to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. (6) And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. (7) To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, Romans 1:8-17 described the church life that glorifies, a subject matter to study in another section.
Observe:
(1) Gentiles are also called to receive salvation from Christ to form the church, the called-out ones.
(2) Jesus is our cornerstone, built on the foundation of the Old and New Testament. Jesus is the living Stone, rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him. In him the whole building of the church is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. In him we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Also, like living stones, we are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The key is unity, demonstrating a public victory. Victory begins in our family, and then the church.
(3) Fallen men are born sinful but are made holy through adoption into God’s family and become like Him. We are holy because our Father is Holy. We were bought at a price. We are to honour God with our bodies.
(4) By the Spirit we are to put to death the misdeeds of the body. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to our earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. We worship only God. We are His image-bearer.
(5) As sons, we are chosen as co-heir with Christ.
(6) Men, like angels, are pure and rational beings made to worship, trust and obey God to reflect His goodness back to Him and to enjoy Him, singing praises to Him for His enjoyment. That is, the chief end of mankind is to glorify God and enjoy Him.
(7) God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
(8) Christ has given us a new command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
(9) In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, because God gives us new hunger and thirst to shun evil and do good.
(10) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Application: How have you lived in unity with other Christians to display the Glory of His love and goodness? (See later)
(1) How have you, out of gratitude, lived out the unity in Christ by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind?
(2) How do you live out a life characterized by trust and obedience?
(3) How do you consider others better than ourself?
(4) What do you do to look to others interests as well as your own.
God’s Glory is revealed through creation (Roman 1:18-23)
(18) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (19) since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (20) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
Observe:
(1) Eternal Power and divine nature are displayed in creation.
(2) There is no excuse to deny the existence and goodness of God.
(3) Creation displays the orderliness, the faithfulness and the immutability of God.
(4) It also displays the common grace that God gives to man.
Application: How has creation displayed God’s Glory of His infinite wisdom and power?
(1) What comfort and knowledge of God can you draw from observing creation?
(2) How does the observation help you worship Him?
(3) Do you give thanks to God?
Scriptures:
Rom 1:1-23 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for
the gospel of God– (2) the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
(3) regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, (4) and who through the
Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus
Christ our Lord. (5a) Through him we received grace and apostleship
(5b) to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. (6) And you
also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. (7) To all in Rome who are
loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from
the Lord Jesus Christ. (8) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith
is being reported all over the world. (9) God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his
Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you (10) in my prayers at all times; and I pray that
now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. (11) I long to see you so that
I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong– (12) that is, that you and I may be
mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. (13) I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order
that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. (14) I am
obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. (15) That is why I am so
eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. (16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to
the Gentile. (17) For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed–a righteousness that is by
faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
(18) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of
people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (19) since what may be known about God is plain
to them, because God has made it plain to them. (20) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible
qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has
been made, so that people are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they neither glorified
him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were
darkened. (22) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools (23) and exchanged the glory
of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.