Romans 1:1-7 – Introduction to the letter to the church at Rome. 

• To bring about the obedience of the faith for the sake of his name among all the nations. Rom. 1:6

Romans 1:8-15 – Five reasons why Paul wanted to visit Rome (none of which were to see the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, or to go into the Colosseum!)

1. Thankfulness, 2. prayer, 3. the giving of spiritual gifts, 4. mutual encouragement of faith, 5. the preaching of the gospel. 

Romans 1:16-17 – A concise synopsis of salvation by faith

• The righteous shall live by faith. Rom. 1:17

Romans 1:18-32 – The fallout from the wrath of God. 

• The wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Rom. 1:1

A. What the unrighteous did. Rom. 1:18-23

• Having no excuse, for God had revealed his invisible attributes of eternal power & divine nature (Rom. 1:19-20) they: 

1. Suppressed the truth, Rom. 1:18 
2. Didn’t honor or give thanks to God. Rom. 1:21
3. Exchanged the glory of God for images. Rom. 1:22
4. Exchanged the truth of God for a lie. Rom. 1:25
5. Worshipped and served the creature, not the Creator. Rom. 1:25

B. As a result, God’s judgment came upon the unrighteous. Rom. 1:24-27

1. They became futile in their thinking. Rom 1:21
2. Their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom. 1:21
3. God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts – impurity and the dishonoring of their bodies. Rom. 1:24
4. God have them up to dishonorable passions – homosexuality. Rom. 1:26-27

• Contrary to nature | consumed with passion for one another | committing shameless acts. 

1. God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Rom. 1:28-32

C. Consequently, refusing to acknowledge God, they committed all sorts of evil and unrighteousness. Rom. 1:28-31

Covetousness | malice | envy | murder | strife | deceit | maliciousness | gossips | slanderers | haters of God | insolent | haughty | boastful | inventors of evil | disobedient to parents | foolish | faithless | heartless | ruthless | 

D. To make matters even worse… Rom. 1:32

Though they knew that their unrighteous acts were deserving of death, they brazenly gave approval to those who did the same. Rom. 1:32

A. Romans 2:1-5 – God’s righteous judgment upon those having hard and impenitent hearts who dare to judge others. 

1. Will have no excuse themselves. Rom. 2:1
2. Do the same things as those whom they judge. 
3. Will be found guilty as well. Rom. 2:2
4. Will not escape the judgment but will be rightly judged by God. Rom. 2:3
5. Don’t understand that God’s patience with sinners is intended to lead them to repentance. Rom. 2:4.
6. Are storing up wrath for themselves. Rom.2:5

B. Romans 2:6-11 – The difference in judgment between the righteous and wicked. 

1. God is a fair judge.

• He will render to each one according to his works. Rom. 2:6a
• It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Jew or a Greek, for God shows no partiality. Rom. 2:10-11

2. The judgment of the righteous. 

• The righteous are those who patiently seek for glory, honor, and immortality. Rom. 2:6b
• The righteous will receive eternal life, glory, honor, and peace. Rom. 2:9

3. The judgment of the wicked.

• The wicked are those who are self-seeking. Rom. 2:8a
• The wicked are those who do not obey the truth but rather unrighteousness. Rom. 2:8b
• The wicked will receive God’s wrath and fury. Rom. 8c
• The wicked will receive tribulation and distress. Rom. 2:9

C. Rom. 2:12-16 – All men have the Law of God, therefore those who sin will perish. 

1. Those who have the [oral/written] Mosaic Law will be judged accordingly.

• The hearers of the Law will not be justified before God. Rom. 2:13a
• The doers of the Law will be justified before God. Rom. 2:13b

2. Those who do not have the [oral/written] Mosaic Law will also be judged accordingly.

• The Gentiles have the Law of God written on their hearts. Rom. 2:15a 
• The conscience of the Gentiles bear witness to the Law written on their hearts. Rom. 2:15b

D. Rom. 2:17-24 – The four marks of a righteous Jew who follows the Law. 

1. A guide to the blind. Rom. 2:19a
2. A light to those who are in darkness. Rom. 2:19b
3. An instructor of the foolish. Rom. 2:20a
4. A teacher of knowledge and truth. Rom. 2:20

• Those who teach, preach, and boast should not dishonor God by breaking the Law. Rom. 2:24

E. Rom. 2:25-29 – Physical vs. spiritual circumcision. 

1. Those who are physically uncircumcised, but keep the law, are regarded as circumcised. Rom. 2:26
2. Jews are not Jews simply because of their physical circumcision. Rom. 2:28
3. Circumcision is of the heart, not by the Law, but by the Holy Spirit. Rom. 2:29