SERMON: “New Testament Overview, Part 6: Romans”







New Testament Overview
Part 6: Romans

  • I. Introduction
    • We’ve completed the historical section of the NT.
    • The question for new believers (and old) in the church is: What should we believe? 
    • This Session: An Overview of the Book of Romans
  • II. Romans
    • AUTHOR: Paul
      • Apostle to the Gentiles
      • Wrote this letter from Corinth, Cenchrea (16:1)
      • A marvelous treatise which demonstrates his intelligence and theological training (cf. Phil. 3:4–6).
      • Yet, humble, written by the chief of sinners (cf. 1 Tim. 1:12–15)
    • AUDIENCE: Roman Christians 
      • Jewish and Gentile
      • Not unbelievers — Rom. 1:6–7
        • “Called”
        • “beloved”
        • “saints”
    • DATE: AD 57
      • at the close of Paul’s third missionary journey during the “three months” he was in Greece (Acts 20:3)
    • THEME: Righteousness of God
    • OUTLINE
      • I. Revelation of God's Righteousness (1 – 8)
      • II. Vindication of God's Righteousness (9 – 11)
      • III. Application of God's Righteousness (12 – 16)
    • Some call this “The Gospel According to Paul”
      • What is his gospel? — Romans 1:16–17
      • Does “faith” conflict with what Jesus said?
      • Is Paul presenting “another gospel”? (cf. Gal 1:6–8)
    • Paul presents God’s grace as undeserved and unmerited — something that gives life to the dead!
    • “But the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4)
    • The Righteous... (Who are they?)  Romans (Rom. 1:17)
    •                            ...Shall live… (How?)   Galatians (Gal. 3:11)
    •                              ...by faith!         Hebrews (Heb 10:39)
    • Overview
      • Introduction (1:1–17)
      • Condemned by God’s Righteousness (1:18–3:20)
        • Unbelief and God’s Judgment (1:18–32)
        • Condemnation of the Jews & Impartiality of God (2)
        • Condemnation of the whole world (3:1–20)
      • Justified by Christ’s Righteousness (3:21–5:21)
        • Justification by Faith (3:21–31)
        • Justification illustrated w/Abraham and David (4)
        • Justification summarized: Christ and Adam (5)
          • (Headship — 5:15–21)
          • First Adam
            • 15   By one man’s transgression …many died
            • 16   Through one transgression …judgment, condemnation
            • 17   Through transgression …death reigned
            • 18   One transgression …condemnation to all men
            • 19   One man’s disobedience … the many made sinners
            • 21   Sin reigned in death
          • Second Adam
            • By one Man’s gift of grace …grace abounds to many
            • Through one gift …justification from many transgressions
            • Through one …much more grace, righteousness, life
            • The act of righteousness …justification offered to all
            • One man’s obedience …many declared righteous
            • Grace reigns to eternal life in Christ
      • Sanctified in Christ’s Righteousness (6–8)
        • Sanctification and sin: old and new life (6)
          • Can we stop sin from reigning? (v. 12)
          • How? Consider (v. 11) and Present (vv. 13–14)
          • Not by a work of the flesh (law-keeping) but of the Spirit!
        • Sanctification in Christ and the battle with flesh (7)
          • The Law reveals our unrighteousness and need for Christ (v. 7, 12)
          • Sin contaminates the flesh, creating conflict with the Law (v. 14)
          • Only Christ can deliver us, not the flesh or law-keeping (vv. 24–25)
        • Sanctification and the Holy Spirit (8)
          • There’s no condemnation in Christ (v. 1)!
          • There’s a sure promise in Christ (vv. 28–30, the “Golden Chain”)
          • There’s no separation from Christ’s love (vv. 35–39)!
      • Defending God’s Righteousness (9–11) What about the Jews, then?
        • Israel’s past – election (9)
        • Israel’s present – rejection (10)
        • Israel’s future – restoration (11)
          • Some branches broken off, and we were grafted into the promises (v. 17)
          • God decreed a partial hardening upon them “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (v. 25; cf. Luke 21:24)
      • Appling God’s Righteousness (12–16)
        • Responsibilities toward God and society (12)
        • Responsibilities toward government and neighbors (13)
        • Principles of Christian liberty – freedom and responsibility (14)
        • Practices of Christian liberty – Christ's example; Paul's purpose (15)
        • Conclusion – praise and greeting (16)
  • III. Conclusion
    • Christians should know theology
      • It’s about knowing God
      • It’s about knowing God’s Word
      • It’s about knowing God’s Ways
    • Next Time:
      • The Rest of the Pauling Epistles?
        (1 & 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon)

Popular posts from this blog

Controversy about Alistair Begg and Gay Weddings?

Image
Last week, Alistair Begg got himself into hot water.  His ministry, Truth for Life, posted a video which included his advice to a grandmother concerned for a grandchild trapped in the transgender lifestyle.  Moreover, this grandchild is getting married and has hopefully invited the grandmother to the wedding. Begg the grandmother two questions.   He asked her if she had expressed her disapproval of the lifestyle, and he asked if she had expressed disapproval about the wedding.   The grandmother said she had on both accounts.   His advice, therefore, stunned the grandmother: He told her to attend the wedding with a gift in hand! We can all sympathize with the drive to be as loving as possible, but let’s back up and consider a few points.   Christians look at Scripture and see biblical prohibitions against practically every expression on the current LGBTQ+ spectrum.   From both the Old Testament and the New, passages condemn such behaviors as deviati...
Read more

How Was the Trauma Training Today?

Image
Because we are including so many more foster children and children from broken homes into our fellowship, our church participated in a trauma training session today.  Our main purpose was to gain practical insights into how to handle situations where children who have experienced trouble act out their emotions.  To that end, we can be thankful for our time together.  However, there were many errant teachings included which we must reject.  ERRANT TEACHING ON THE BRAIN The presentation alleged that the brain is physically transformed through traumatic events, creating “holes” in it and in its ability to process information.   This is possible, but there is a lot of debate on this subject.   The subject is relatively new, based on the largely anecdotal research of Dutch psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, published in his book The Body Keeps the Score .   Secular psychologists and even some Christian counselors (who are not always biblical in their app...
Read more

Caution regarding the teaching of Lysa Terkeurst

Image
We received a mailer at our church this week advertising an event with "Six-Time New York Times Bestselling Author and CEO of Proverbs 31 Ministries," Lysa Terkeurst.  I don't know anything about the event organizers, so I won't name them, but I had this name mentally flagged and went to check into it.  She's a member of Steven Furtick's Elevation Church, which should rightly tell you to avoid her already.  She also regularly preaches to men, partners with false teachers, and teaches false doctrines such as contemplative prayer and use of the Enneagram.   You can read more about her here:  https://michellelesley.com/2015/07/31/leaving-lysa-why-you-shouldnt-be-following-lysa-terkeurst-or-proverbs-31-ministries/
Read more