Riches in Romans

Sermon Outline

“The clearest gospel of all” (Martin Luther)
A letter of Paul to a strange congregation; the nearest thing to a theological treatise in all of Paul’s writings.
Two fold purpose: (1) to prepare the congregation at Rome for Paul’s coming and (2) to provide a comprehensive and logical exposition of the gospel.

Written by Paul from Corinth approximately A.D. 59.

Introduction and Theme: Ch. Romans 1:1-17

1. Paul and his gospel, vs. Romans 1:1-7
2. Paul and his readers, vs. Romans 1:8-15
3. Theme of the epistle, vs. Romans 1:16-17
    (The Righteousness of God)

I. What We Are By Nature: Ch. Romans 1:18 – 3:30

A. The Divine Indictment: Romans 1:18 – 32
                        1. The nature of sin and the wrath of God, vs. Romans 1:18
                        2. Revelation of God in nature,vs. Romans 1:19-20
                        3. The glory of God changed into idolatry, vs. Romans 1:21-24
                        4. The truth of God changed into a lie, vs. Romans 1:25–27
                        5. The knowledge of God rejected, vs. Romans 1:28–32
                            (God gave them up to uncleanness, vs. Romans 1:24)
                            (God gave them up unto vile affections, vs. Romans 1:26)
                            (God gave them over to a reprobate mind, vs. Romans 1:28)
B. The Divine Principles of Judgment: Ch. Romans 2
               Divine judgment is:
                        1. According to truth, vs. Romans 2:1-4
                        2. According to accumulated guilt, vs. Romans 2:5
                        3. According to deeds or works, vs. Romans 2:6–10
                        4. Without respect of persons, vs. Romans 2:11-12
                        5. According to obedience, vs. Romans 2:13-15
                        6. According to the heart secrets of men, vs. Romans 2:16
                        7. According to reality rather than profession, vs. Romans 2:17-29
C. The Divine Verdict: Ch. Romans 3:1–20
                        1. Advantage of being a Jew, vs. Romans 3:1-8
                        2. Fourteen counts before the divine tribunal, vs. Romans 3:9-18
                        3. The whole world under the judgment of God, vs. Romans 3:19–20

II. How to Become Right with God: Ch. Romans 3:21–5:21

A. The Statement of Justification, Romans 3:21-31
                        1. The righteousness of God revealed, vs. Romans 3:21
                        2. Received by faith in Jesus Christ, vs. Romans 3:22, 27–28
                        3. Made possible by God’s grace, vs. Romans 3:23–24
                        4. Through Christ’s blood God’s righteousness declared, vs. Romans 3: 25-26, 29-31
B. An Illustration of Justification, Ch. Romans 4
                        1. Abraham justified by faith, Romans 4:1-8
                        2. Apart from religious ritual, Romans 4:9–12
                        3. Apart from the law, Romans 4:13-25
C. The Benefits (results) of Justification, Romans 5
                        1. Peace, grace, glory, love, reconciliation, vs. Romans 5:1-11
                        2. Mediator of justification, Romans 5:12-21

III. How to Live the Christian Life, Ch. Romans 6-8

A. Free from Wrath: (Ch. Romans 5)
                        cf. Romans 5:9, 20–21
B. Free from Sin: Ch. Romans 6
                        cf. Romans 6:7, 23
                        1. Knowing, vs. Romans 6:1-10, 16-18
                        2. Reckoning, vs. Romans 6:11-12, 20-23
                        3. Yielding, vs. Romans 6:13-15, 19
C. Free from the Law: Ch. Romans 7
                        cf. Romans 7:12 – 14, 24 – 25
                        1. Hardness of the law, vs. Romans 7:1-6
                        2. Weakness of the law, vs. Romans 7:7-13
                        3. Righteousness of the law, vs. Romans 7:14–8:4
D. Free from Death: Ch. Romans 8
                        cf. vs. Romans 8:38-39
                        Safety and assurance in Christ
                        1. No condemnation, vs Romans 8:1-13
                        2. No alienation, vs. Romans 8:14-17
                        3. No disintegration, vs. Romans 8:18-25
                        4. No isolation, vs. Romans 8:26-27
                        5. No miscalculation, vs. Romans 8:28-30
                        6. No accusation, vs. Romans 8:31-34
                        7. No separation, vs. Romans 8:35-39

IV. God’s Sovereignty and the Nation of Israel: Romans 9-11

A. Israel’s Golden Past: The Sovereignty of God, Romans  9
                        1. Paul’s concern and Israel’s privileges, vs. Romans  9:1-5
                        2. True Israel, vs. Romans  9:6-13
                        3. God’s absolute freedom and sovereignty, vs. Romans  9:14-24
                        4. Prophets foretold a remnant, vs. Romans  9:25-32
B. Israel’s Gloomy Present: the Righteousness of God, Romans 10
                        1. The need for the gospel, vs. Romans 10:1-5
                        2. The word of gospel, vs. Romans 10:6-13
1. The obligation to disseminate the gospel, vs. Romans 10:14-21
C. Israel’s Glorious Future: the Faithfulness of God, Ch. Romans 11
                        1. The doctrine of the remnant, vs. Romans 11:1- 6
                        2. The blindness of Israel, vs. Romans 11:7-12
                        3. Defection of Jews temporary and purposeful, vs. Romans 11:13-25
                        4. Israel as a whole to be saved, vs. Romans 11:26-32
                        5. Doxology of praise, vs. Romans 11:33-36

V. How to Serve God, Romans 12:1-15; 13

A. The Call to Full Consecration, Romans 12:1-2
B. The Christian and the Church, Romans 12:3-21
                        1. Humility and unity, Romans 12:3-5
                        2. Diversity of gifts, Romans 12:6-8
                        3. Guiding principles, Romans 12:9-12
C. The Christian and the State, Romans 13:1-10
D. The Christian and Time, Romans 13:11-14
E. The Christian and Conscience, Romans 14:1-15; 13
                        1. The weaker brothers, Romans 14:1-23
                        2. The stronger brothers, Romans 15:1-4
                        3. The unity in Christ, Romans 15:5-13

Paul’s Personal and Concluding Words Romans 15:14 – 16; 27

1.  The secrets of success, Romans 15:14-33
2.  The fruitage of faith, Romans 16:1-16
3. A word of warning, Romans 16:17-20a
4.  The benedictions of blessings, Romans 16:20b-27
Harper Shannon
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