Paul begins this letter with admiration and prayers (Romans
1:1-15). He then declares the grand theme of Romans, that the
gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16-17). It
reveals God's righteousness, and discloses his plan of
redemption.
Righteousness denotes the legal status of being "in the right."
People who secure a verdict of innocence before God are called
"righteous." They have a right standing before God.
God is righteous
God is "in the right," but needs no "right standing" before a
higher authority. He is the sovereign creator and law-giver
(Psalm 50:6, Isaiah 33:22).
God exercises righteousness because his judgments are just and
error-free (Genesis 18:25, Psalm 9:8). Righteousness originates
from God.
Romans 1 Outline
1:1-15
Introduction
1:1-7
Greetings
1:8-15
Paul's prayers for the Romans
1:16-17
Theme: Power of the Gospel
1:18-32
Failure of the gentiles (guilt before God)
1:18-20
They denied evidence of God's existence
1:21-25
They exchanged truth for a lie
1:26-32
Forsaken by God for wickedness
Sin: Everyone's Problem
Paul shows that all are guilty of sin, from gentiles who lacked
God's law (Romans 1:18 – 2:16) to Jews entrusted with it (Romans
2:17-29).
Since all sinned (Romans 3:23), we all need to be saved from the
wrath of God (Romans 5:9). God's response to evil is wrath.
God's wrath is not "flying off the handle." It is the product of
God's holiness.
Christ: God's Rescue Plan
At its core, Romans is about God's plan to rescue us. While the
Mosaic Law could not remove sin (Hebrews 10:4), Christ's blood
could (Romans 3:24-26). God delivered Jesus for our sins, and
raised Jesus for our justification (Romans 4:23-25).
Rejected for Rebellion
Meaning "in the wrong," wickedness is rebellion against God. God
gives the wicked up to their own evils (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).
Men served idols (Romans 1:22-25, Jer 10:5), and developed
depraved minds (Romans 1:28-32).
Rebellion begets divine rejection (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).