STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS PART 1

WHY STUDY ROMANS?

Romans shows us how we can stop doing the wrong things we may have so much wanted to stop doing. Romans teaches us the key to being a strong Christian we all want to be, but do not understand how to be. PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING. Chapters 5-8 are the most glorious parts of the whole BIBLE!!! What Paul emphasizes are the things God wants us to know the most!!! We will learn that our salvation has some benefits that go along with it for all our shortcomings and weaknesses of being imperfect people. We have the benefit of going through the worst trials and remaining victorious! Many people who have lived for God for years, when they learned Romans' message, said, "So this is what I missed for thirty-five years!!!"
Paul begins by showing his people WHY they needed righteousness:
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 
Romans 1:1-4

I. JESUS A PATTERN FOR US

Romans teaches believers a very important truth by beginning with the fact that Jesus is a pattern for us. He mentions Jesus in a particular manner with a purpose of getting us to understand Christian life.
1. Jesus

• Is seed of David according to flesh.
• Is Son of God with power according to spirit of holiness, by resurrection.

2. Two different aspect of Jesus

• Flesh and Spirit of Holiness
• Same with our situation once we are saved

3. Jesus BEGAN, as a man, as Son of David

• Jesus LATER became Son of God with power.
• Jesus always was Son of God, but resurrection made Him "Son of God with power"

4. This is a pattern for us.
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2 Corinthians 13:4
5. This verse mentions Christ having been CRUCIFIED.

• Crucified is past tense. "-ed"
• Then it mentions he "liveth" - not "-ed" but "-eth"
• "Liveth" means He is still living.

6. Paul explained it is the same for us. - "we also"
7. Note "power" - Jesus is Son of God "with power".

• HOLINESS - the key to power
• Separation.
• Jesus had power according to "spirit of holiness"

8. "Separation" (holiness) from fleshliness is the KEY to powerful Christian living.
9. Compare Romans 1:4 with 1:16.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16

• Jesus is Son of God WITH POWER.
• Gospel is the "POWER" of God to those who believe.

10. The GOSPEL of Christ is the power of God.
What is the Gospel?

• Death, burial, resurrection of Jesus for us.
• For us means "in our place"

11. It becomes power of God "to everyone who believeth".
12. We are going to study Roman's message of the power of God for our lives.

• We need to understand how "holiness" caused Jesus to have power, and see that this holiness will also give us power.
• It will work for us, too!

II. RIGHTEOUSNESS

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17

Paul said that believing the Gospel is where you will find the righteousness of God revealed in the world.

• Notice it is not OUR righteousness he is talking about.
• Righteousness of God!
• Our righteousness is result of our good deeds.
• Our righteousness stinks in God's nostrils.
• The best we can be is not good enough for Him.
• That is why he gave the Gospel to us.
1. What is righteousness?

• It is what you need to go to heaven one day.
• The state of being "right with God".
2. The Old Testament demanded one to obey rules in order to be righteous.

• These rules involved doing physical good things.
• If all the rules were kept, one would be called "righteous".
• The problem was that no man could keep all the rules.
3. Referring to the Law of the Old Testament, and getting new converts to the Church to keep it, Peter said:
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Acts 15:10


• Jews craved righteousness, because they knew that was what they needed to see God.
4. In the New Testament, we find a different path to righteousness besides "works".
5. Where is righteousness revealed?

• How can I become righteous?
• What can I do to be ready for Heaven?
ANSWER: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:16-17
6. Where did Paul say righteousness is revealed?

• How can I get righteousness in my life to be revealed to all, including God, so He can take me to heaven?
7. It is found in the people who believe the Gospel!

• "Every one that believeth"
• Believe what?
• Believe "the gospel of Christ:"
• It's as though Paul said, "Aha! Here is how we find that illusive righteousness! Here is how it is revealed! By Faith!"
8. But it is not just "righteousness"

• What is revealed is the righteousness of God!
• Imagine God giving us HIS righteousness when we believe the Gospel of Christ!!
• It is what the Jews Craved!
9. Not only do we get righteousness, but it is REVEALED in us.

• Everybody can see it!
10. "As it is written, The just shall live by faith."

• Paul said this is exactly how the Old Testament foretold where righteousness would be found
• "As it is written" means, "this is just how the Old Testament said it all along!"
• The Old Testament already said: "The just shall live by faith" long ago!
• Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4
• Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Hab 2:4
• "Just" = "righteous"
• Shall live in what way?
• Shall live JUSTLY and RIGHTEOUSLY
• Like saying, "The perfect man lives like that because of ...."
• This means "the ones who are just and righteous are LIVING like that because of their FAITH."
• FAITH is the pathway to righteousness.
• Habakkuk did not reveal that it was God's Righteousness we would get by faith, but the New Testament reveals that it is His!
• Is one thing to have righteousness, but quite a great thing to have HIS righteousness!
• If it is GOD'S righteousness, then it is a GIFT, because OUR righteousness results from something WE did to earn it.
• All we do is believe - no work to it.
• To every one that believeth;
• Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: