This is what we learn about God

• God has wrath (1:18-32)
• God is in Heaven (1:18)
• He has eternal power and divine nature (1:20)
• God is a Judge (2:2)
• God is kind (2:4)

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

Theological vocabulary: righteousness | belief | faith | salvation | grace |

circumcision | seal | wrath | Mosaic Law | justification

A. Salvation is by faith, not by works. Rom. 4:1-6

1. Abraham's belief was counted to him as righteousness before God. Rom .4:1-3

2. Works do not result in righteousness. Rom. 4:4-6

3. Righteousness comes from faith and not by works. Rom. 4:6-9 (See Ps. 32:1-5)

B. Righteousness is for both the Jew and the Gentile. Rom. 4:9-12

1. Faith came before circumcision. Rom. 9-10

2. Circumcision was a seal of one’s [covenantal] faith. Rom. 4:10-12 (see Gen 17:9-14)

3. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the seal of a believer’s faith in Jesus. (see Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 2:29)

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,  14  who is the guarantee [d]  of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Eph. 1:13-14

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Rom. 2:29

C. Righteousness does not come from following the Mosaic Law. Rom. 4:13-15

1. Righteousness only comes from faith. Rom. 4:13

2. If following the Law was the way to go, then faith and the promise of salvation would be null and void. Rom. 4:14

3. The Law brings wrath, for all men sin. Rom. 4:15 (see Rom. 3:23; James 2:10; Gal. 3:10-14)

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Gal. 3:10-14

D. The promise of salvation by faith rests on God’s grace, therefore it brings God glory.    Rom. 4:16-25

1. Just as Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness, so too does our faith bring us

salvation. Rom. 4:16-17

2. Abraham’s faith was evidenced by his unwavering belief in the promises of God. Rom. 4:18-22 (see Gen. 12:1-3: Heb. 11:1, 6)

Now the Lord said [a]  to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen. 12:1-3

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Heb. 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Heb. 11:6

3. Our belief in Jesus Christ brings about the forgiveness of our sins and therefore justifies us before God. Rom. 4:23-25

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Rom. 10:9-10