The Gospel: The Power of Salvation
Articulating the Basic Principles of Our Faith
From the Book of Romans
Tentative Course Outline
March 2 Introduction Romans 1:1-17
The Working of the Triune God
The Power of Salvation
March 9 The Problem of Sin Romans 1:18-3:20
The Need for Redemption
March 16 The Essence of Grace Romans 3:21-5:21
Principle of Being Justified By Faith
March 23 Being “Born Again” Romans 6:1-23
The Meaning of Baptism
New Life in Christ
March 30 Redeemed but Still Struggling With Sin Romans 7:1-25
April 6 The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life Romans 8:1-11
Of the Believer – Part I
April 13 The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life Romans 8:12-38
Of the Believer – Part II
April 20 The Sovereignty of God
Illustrated in Israel Romans 9-10
April 26 The Israel of God:
Bringing together Jew and Gentile Romans 11
May 4 Life in the Community: Part I Romans 12:1-8
Serving in the Spirit
May 11 Life in the Community: Part II Romans 12:9-21
What Love Looks Like
May 18 Life in the Community: Part III Romans 13
Responsibility to Authorities
May 25 Life in the Community: Part IV Romans 14-15
Unified by Faith
Lesson I
Articulating Our Faith
Introduction
Romans 1:1-17
I. Introduction:
a. The Occasion of Romans
i. Written at the height of the Apostle Paul’s ministry in Asia Minor
ii. Expresses Paul’s full understanding of the gospel
iii. May have been written as a treatise on brining Jew and Gentile together to support and bolster his continuing ministry involving Christians in Jerusalem as well as Gentile communities in Asia
1. See Acts 9:15-16
2. Galatians 1:10-24
iv. The development of Paul’s understanding of the gospel: Thessalonians through Galatians, Corinthians and Romans
b. Bring Jew an Gentile Together
i. Understanding the role of “torah” (the law) in revealing “life” in God
ii. God’s intention for us to live by “torah”, yet our inability to do it
iii. Draw in Romans upon concepts in the Old Testament:
1. Abraham
2. Jacob / Esau
3. The Nation of Israel
iv. The need to bring Jew and Gentile together as “one”
1. The Central Issue in First Century Christianity
2. Christianity as an extension of Judaism
3. The eventual split within Judaism after AD 70 and the destruction of the Temple
c. The Structure of Romans as an Outline of the Gospel
i. Exposition of the gospel reveals its power
ii. Conviction of Sin, Need for Justification by Faith, the Role of the Holy Spirit, New Life in Christ
d. Definition of Terms
i. Gospel: good news
ii. Justification: being made right (a legal term)
iii. Sanctification: to be set apart and made like God
iv. Holy: (from the same root as sanctification) – to be sanctified
v. Saint: (from the same root as sanctification) – the ones being made holy
e. Questions of Explaining Our Faith
i. What are your questions?
ii. What questions do friends of yours have?
Lesson I
Romans 1:1-17 (page 2)
II. The Working of the Triune God
a. What is the “trinity”?
i. How would you explain the three-in-one God?
ii. The term “trinity” is not a Biblical term, but a construction of how we understand God based on scripture
iii. History of the understanding of the trinity
1. The need to defend monotheism against accusations that Christians worshipped two Gods: God (YHWH) and Jesus
2. The understanding of “one substance” three forms: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are divine.
3. No subordination of deity, but a model of mutual submission and role
4. God’s revelation of himself to us in history:
a. God’s essence
b. God’s working
b. The Working of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in Romans
i. The working of God through the Spirit in raising Jesus from the dead: principle of power through declaration
1. The gospel is declared / announced
2. Romans 1:4, 8
ii. God works through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit
a. The Gospel is Power
i. The gospel is not a philosophy or a “construction” of the world order
ii. The gospel is the power of God for salvation
iii. The gospel is based on faith, not “reasoned” principles or earthly wisdom
iv. The gospel is a revelation of God’s righteousness (his justice)
b. The Principle of Salvation: Romans 1:16-17
i. We are both saved from being lost, and saved unto a new life with God. Salvation is not just an escape but more an appointment for participation in the divine life: empowered to be what God intended for us to be.
ii. There is an ordering: first for the Jew and for the Gentile.
iii. It is revealed through faith, for faith.
iv. The one who is righteous will live by faith or the one who is righteous through faith will live.