AN INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS
By Jim Murriner
The main theme of the book of Romans is that man comes into a right legal standing through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The book of Romans in most cases is not talking about the new birth, or regeneration, but our legally having life in Christ, as opposed to the sentence of death that we all would be under had Christ not paid for our sins.
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 reminds us that because we are sinners we are under a sentence of death.
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 3:18 reminds us that the condition of each person who does not trust Christ as savior, is that they are condemned to death.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 2:1 echoes this thought of all of those who do not know Christ as savior, as being condemned and without any excuse.
Ro 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
We can better understand this condemnation unto death in hell as opposed to Life in Christ when we look at Romans 8:1 where it is said that certain ones are no longer under the condemnation which we saw in John 3:18.
Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
As we attempt to study this book and try to understand its meaning for us we must keep in mind the fact of mans condemned condition, along with the fact that the only escape from this condemnation from God’s law, is found in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Now let us look at the Book of Romans
Ro 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
I Notice, that Paul Identifies himself, but he does it in a humble way.
He identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ.
Not as a great Apostle, Not as the head of the church, or the head of anything.
But as a servant.
This shows the inspiration of God, because without God leading and inspiring the very words, human nature would dictate that the writer would boast about who he was.
James 1:1 shows us another of God’s men writing and doing so by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
The Holy Spirit will never call attention to Himself, nor will He lead men to call attention to them selves.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Being consistent with these scriptures the Holy Spirit led Paul to simply identify himself as a servant. Yet not the servant of just anyone, but the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those in religion today would do well to analyze just whose servant they are.
Do you serve men ? Do you serve Self, or do you indeed serve God?
Notice what Paul said about this in Gal. 1:10
Ga 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
It is much better for us to be Christ’s servant than to please all of mankind.
II The second thing which Paul proceeds to tell us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Romans 1:1, is that he is an apostle.
Now the office of an apostle was not a light thing. The original twelve apostles were the first members of the Lord’s church.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
The office of an apostle was ordained of the Lord for a special purpose during the beginning of the Lord’s church. Though the Church has continued during every century since Christ started it during His earthly ministry, the office of Apostle has not continued.
A. Paul was not an apostle simply because he had decided that it would be a good thing to do. He states here that he was “called to be an apostle”
Though God is not calling apostles anymore, He is till calling men to preach, and into special service for Him.
Those who are pastors, evangelist, or missionary, and are doing it because it is just a profession, and have never known the call of God, should get out of the ministry.
Many Preachers today cannot tell the difference between the call of God, and a good financial opportunity.
The Apostle Paul did not usually go to those places where he went because they offered him more money.
1Co 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1Co 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
B. Paul was not only called to be an apostle, he had a special calling to preach the gospel of God.
Ac 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Ac 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
This gospel is what we at the Grace Baptist Church are to preach.
The Gospel is found in I Cor. 15: 1-4
If you do not know Jesus as your own personal savior today, you still stand before God in a condemned condition.
Trust Jesus Christ today to have paid for your sins.
