Romans Sermon Series

  • Dr. Tom Ricks
  • Mar 7, 2012
  • Series: Romans: The Righteousness of God

Romans graphic

Click here for an introduction to Romans 8 and 9

Romans Overview
The Righteousness of God

Theme: “The covenant … was established so that the creator God could rescue the creation from evil, corruption and disintegration and in particular could rescue humans from sin and death.” - N. T. Wright 

At the apex of Paul’s epistles stands his great tome to the Christians in Rome.  Written well into his career as an Apostle, missionary, church planter and evangelist (56 – 57 AD), he has completed well over 20 years of ministry and three missionary journeys. Now as he travels through Rome on his way to share the gospel in Spain, Paul hopes to spend time with the disciples in that great city.

By way of introducing himself and addressing the needs of this congregation, the great Apostle is consumed with the righteousness of God and how it is most gloriously demonstrated in the person and work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  While many commentators see Romans as a treatise on “justification by faith alone,” this perspective falls short of Paul’s most central concern.  Inspired by the Holy Spirit, this “servant of Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:1) puts God’s righteousness on display for all to see and, in doing so, gives a detailed explanation as to how the application of that righteousness is salvation for both Jew and Gentile.     

In making his apologetic, Paul covers the wide spectrum of human depravity; the need for salvation, God’s glorious character, the failure of the first Adam, the provision of the second (Jesus Christ), and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing sinners to God’s grace.  He wrestles with the issue of the Jew’s rejection of their Messiah and God’s sovereign Lordship over every aspect of salvation.  However, the Apostle is not just painting a theological masterpiece; he also gives a third of his attention to how we are to live in light of God’s righteousness in Christ Jesus.    Romans is both glorious and highly practical and therein lies the beauty of its timeless message.

Context:
- Audience - Written to Jewish and Gentile believers living a tense and uneasy co-existence in Rome’s Christian community.  In 40 AD, all Jews were expelled from Rome including Jewish Christians (Acts 18:1-2).  In 54 AD, the ban was lifted, the Jews return to Rome and the Jewish disciples of Jesus return to a church that has moved on without them.  Their reintroduction into the community of faith was not without challenges.  

- Message - Understanding God’s righteousness in Christ Jesus shapes all of life for the believer.  True Christian community is based on our knowledge of and trust in God.  The Apostle paints a masterpiece of this truth in order to help the believers in Rome deepen their faith, their worship of God and their love for one another.

- Mission - SPAIN!  The Apostle intends to makes his way to Spain and share the gospel with the western reaches of the Roman Empire (Rom 15:24).  To do so, he looks to the church in Rome for support and assistance.  

Basic Outline:
- Chapters 1-4 - Both Gentile and Jew (the entire world) are unrighteous.  God provides righteousness thru Christ Jesus.

- Chapters 5-8 - Led out of their slavery to sin thru the second Adam (Jesus) by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Believers journey through the wilderness of this world under the protection of God’s grace and uncompromising love.

- Chapters 9-11 - God and the Jews/Jesus and the Jews: God’s sovereign plan.

- Chapters 12-16 - The community of righteousness.  Faith, a practical application.