Romans 1 - The Righteousness of God Revealed
Paul's Introduction to the Gospel and Humanity's Need for Salvation
Romans 1
The Gospel Exalted
1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,
3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake,
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.
9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,
10 always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.
11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;
12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far ) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
Unbelief and Its Consequences
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural *,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge * God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Three Questions
What is the central message of this passage from Romans 1?
How does Paul’s argument for the Gospel relate to the human condition?
What are the consequences of rejecting God and His revealed truth?
What is the central message of this passage from Romans 1?
The passage begins with Paul expressing his desire to preach the Gospel in Rome.
He emphasizes that he is "not ashamed of the gospel" because it represents "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes". This statement introduces the core theme of the passage: the contrast between God's judgment on those who reject Him and the salvation offered through faith in the Gospel.
Paul then proceeds to describe the fallen state of humanity. He argues that God's existence and attributes are evident through creation, leaving humans without an excuse for their idolatry.
Their rejection of God leads to a downward spiral of immorality and wickedness, which Paul describes in detail.
The consequences of their actions are severe, with God "handing them over" to their sinful desires and ultimately to death.
Therefore, the passage highlights the desperate situation of humanity apart from God. Their rejection of Him leads to judgment and death.
However, the passage also emphasizes the hope of salvation through the Gospel, which is available to both Jews and Gentiles. This salvation comes through faith and is contrasted with the futile attempts to earn righteousness through works.
How does Paul’s argument for the Gospel relate to the human condition?
Paul argues that the Gospel is necessary because of the fallen state of humanity. He describes the human condition as one of sinfulness, idolatry, and moral decay, which has led to God's wrath being revealed against humanity.
Paul states that humanity, though having knowledge of God through creation, has rejected Him and turned to idolatry.
This rejection of God has led to a degradation of human reasoning and morality.
Paul then provides a list of the consequences of this rejection, including impurity, degrading passions, unnatural sexual relations, and a host of other vices.
People have exchanged the truth of God for lies and worship created things instead of the Creator.
He emphasizes that people are fully aware of God's just decree that those who engage in such wickedness deserve death, yet they continue in their sin and even endorse it in others.
Paul's point is that humanity is in desperate need of salvation. The Gospel, which is the power of God for salvation, offers a solution to this predicament.
What are the consequences of rejecting God and His revealed truth?
When individuals reject God and His revealed truth, they face severe consequences, as outlined in Romans 1.
God allows them to follow their desires, leading to impurity and degradation: Those who reject God are handed over to their lusts, resulting in the degradation of their bodies. They engage in unnatural sexual relations, deviating from God's intended order.
They experience a darkened mind and make foolish choices: Their rejection of God leads to vanity in their reasoning and darkened minds. Claiming to be wise, they become fools, exchanging the truth of God for a lie and worshiping created things instead of the Creator.
Their lives become filled with wickedness and evil: They become filled with various forms of wickedness, including evil, greed, malice, envy, murder, treachery, and spite. They become gossips, slanderers, and haters of God.
They face God's wrath and judgment: The wrath of God is revealed against those who suppress the truth through their wickedness. They know God's just decree that their actions deserve death, yet they persist in them and even approve of others who do the same.
This passage emphasizes the dire consequences of rejecting God. It highlights how such rejection leads to spiritual, moral, and societal decay. The text serves as a warning and a call to embrace God's truth for salvation and a life aligned with His will.
Today’s Action
Romans 1, particularly verses 16-17, emphasizes the power of the gospel and living by faith. One action you can take to apply the teachings of Romans 1 is to share your faith with others. This can be done by:
Engaging in Conversations: Initiate or participate in discussions about your beliefs and the impact of the gospel in your life. This can be with friends, family, or even in community groups.
Check out this podcast as the hosts do a deep dive on this topic.