WRITER, The Apostle Paul
ADDRESSED TO Roman Christians # Ro 1:7
KEY VERSES
Romans 1:16 5:1
The epistle may be divided into two main sections:
PART I. DOCTRINAL chs. 1-11 # Ro 1:1 – 11:1
PART II. PRACTICAL, chs. 12-16 # Ro 12:1 – 16:1
MAIN THEME of Part I, The Plan of Salvation. Justification by Faith and Sanctification through the Holy Spirit. Part II. Mainly Exhortations concerning Christian Duties.
A MASTERLY ARGUMENT. In Part I, the apostle proceeds to prove that the entire human race is surrounded by three insurmountable walls.
(1) The wall of universal guilt, chs. 1-3 # Ro 1:1 – 3:1
(2) The wall of sinful tendencies and fleshly lusts # Ro 7:15-24
(3) The wall of the supposed sovereign election of God of a certain portion of the race to salvation, and the divine reprobation of all others # Ro 9:7-18
In the midst of his argument showing the awful situation of the natural man, he points out the DOORS OF DIVINE MERCY provided for in the plan of salvation, by which all men can escape the impending judgments of God if they will.
The “DOORS of ESCAPE” or “DIVINE MERCY” in the “WALLS” are..
(a) Justification by Faith # Ro 5:1
(b) Regeneration # Ro 8:1-4
(c) Universal Opportunity # Ro 10:13
KEY CHAIN showing the current of thought # Ro 1:16 3:22,23,28 4:3 5:1,18 9:31,32 10:3,4,6-9
SYNOPSIS
PART I. THE PLAN OF SALVATION.
(1) The need of, grounded in the universal guilt of mankind:
(a) Of the Gentile world # Ro 1:18 – 2.7
(b) Likewise the Jews, under the condemnation of the law # Ro 2:8 – 3:20
(c) All alike sinners # Ro 3:23
(2) The method of, Justification, or righteousness, by faith # Ro 3:21-28
(a) Universal # Ro 3:29-30
(b) Honours the law # Ro 3:31
(3) Illustrated in the life of Abraham ch. 4 # Ro 4:1
(a) Apart from works # Ro 4:1-6
(b) Apart from ordinances # Ro 4:9-12
(c) Apart from the law # Ro 4:13-25
(4) The blessings of, made effective through the love of God as manifested in the sacrificial death of Christ.
# Ro 5:1-11
(5) The scope of the free gift of salvation expounded # Ro 5:12-21
(6) The free gift does not encourage the continuance in sin, but demands rather the crucifixion of man’s corrupt nature, and a life of holy service to God # Ro 6:1-23
(7) In chapter seven, Paul is evidently speaking of the struggle with sinful tendencies and fleshly lusts. Whether he refers to his own experience before, or after conversion, is a question concerning which Bible students differ in opinion. All agree that he vividly portrays the strife going on in the human heart. # Ro 7:7-24
(8) The culmination of the divine plan of salvation is pictured in chapter eight. It is a new spiritual life of liberty and righteousness, through faith in Christ. This is one of the great spiritual chapters of the Bible, in it the Holy Spirit is referred to nineteen times.
(9) Parenthesis, Paul’s solicitude for his own people # Ro 9:1-5
(10) The Mystery of Divine Election and God’s dealings with Israel.
(a) Special privileges of Israel # Ro 9:4-5 See also # Ro 3:1,2
(b) The distinction between the natural and spiritual seed of Abraham # Ro 9:6-13
(c) The mystery of the divine sovereignty # Ro 9:14-24
(d) The prophets predicted the failure of the Jews to live up to their privileges; the calling of the Gentiles and their acceptance of the divine plan of righteousness by faith. # Ro 9:25-33
(11) The Misapprehension by the Jews of the divine plan, resulting in their self-righteousness
# Ro 10:1-3
(12) The Plan of “Salvation by Faith” expounded and its universal application set forth
# Ro 10:4-18
(13) God’s dealings with Israel # Ro 10:19 – 11:12
(14) The Gentiles warned not to boast because of their privileges, but to take heed lest they fall under condemnation # Ro 11:13-22
(15) The Restoration of Israel predicted and the mysteries of God’s ways declared to be unsearchable # 11:23-36
PART II. PRACTICAL. Chiefly exhortations and Instructions concerning Christian Duties, chs. 12-16 # Ro 12:1 – 16:1
Ch. 12. This chapter presents one of the finest summaries of Christian Duties found in the Scriptures. # Ro 12:1
Ch. 13.
(1) Civic and social duties # Ro 13:1-10
(2) The duty of living as “children of the day,” # Ro 13:11-14
Chs. 14.1 to 15:7 Duties to the Weak.
(1) Charitableness in judging # Ro 14:1-13
(2) Carefulness not to give offence to # Ro 14:15-23
(3) Bearing the infirmities of, and not pleasing self # Ro 15:1-7
CLOSING THOUGHTS, Mainly personal experiences and greetings.
Ch. 15. (Cont.)
(1) Reasons for thanksgiving on the part of the Gentiles and the apostle’s wide-spread ministry among them # Ro 15:8-21
(2) Paul’s desire to visit Rome and his greetings to the various Christian friends # Ro 15:22 – 16:16
(3) Final words and benediction # Ro 16:17-27