Sermon Series - The Book of Romans

Sermon Series - 2013

The Book of Romans

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation

to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).

The book of Romans explains what the gospel is, why we need it, how it works, and the difference it should make in our lives. In this 16-sermon series, Pastor Wentz looks at each of these points, with a special emphasis on practical application in our daily living.

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The Power of God for Salvation

Scripture lesson: Romans 1:1-17

Key verse: Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation

to everyone who has faith.

Paul introduces himself (1-6)

A servant of Jesus Christ
Called to be an apostle of Jesus
Set apart for the gospel of Jesus
Commissioned by Jesus
To bring the Gentiles to faith in Jesus

Paul thanks God for the Romans (7-15)

Called to be saints
Famous for faith
In need of Paul's ministry

Paul sums up his message (16-17)

There's no shame in the gospel
The gospel is God's power for salvation
Gospel power is available to everyone
The gospel reveals God's righteousness
Faith is the key to gospel power
Faith receives the gospel
Faith grows by the gospel
Faith lives by the gospel

Why We Need Salvation

Scripture lesson: Romans 1:18 – 2:16

Key verse: Romans 2:4 Do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience?

Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

1:18 Ungodly behavior makes God angry

Ungodliness
Wickedness
Suppression of truth

1:19 - 20 There's no excuse for doing wrong

General revelation - creation
Special revelation - the Bible
Proclamation - evangelism and teaching

1:21-23 Futile thinking: the slippery slope, part 1

Refuse to honor and thank God
Mind becomes darkened
Focus on creatures rather than the Creator

1:24 - 32 If you insist, God won't stop you: the slippery slope, part 2

Lust
Impurity
Degraded passions
Unnatural acts
Shamelessness
Debasement
Every kind of wickedness
Death

2:1 - 5 You can be self-righteous or God-righteous, but not both

No one is righteous in themselves (are you guilty of anything in 1:29-31?)
God judges the judgmental
No one is exempt from the need for God's grace

2:6 - 16 Actions speak louder than words

We will all face God's judgment
Actions won't save you (Ephesians 2:8-9), but they demonstrate where your heart is (James 2:14-18)
God's judgment is based on our thoughts or intentions, as revealed by our actions

A Rule Book Won’t Get You to Heaven

Scripture lesson: Romans 2:17–3:20

Key verse: Romans 3:20 No one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands.

For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.

Where we left off

1:18 - 2:5 All of us have done things that make us unfit for eternal life with God
2:6-16 God will judge us all by our actions and our secret thoughts

2:17-20 “But not us! We’re God’s favorites!”

21-27 Doctrine and ritual (knowing and doing religious stuff) aren’t enough
21-24 By themselves they can’t keep you from sinning
25-27 No amount of them can excuse your sins
28-29 Being a person of God is not a matter of circumcision or baptism, it’s a matter of the heart

3:1- 2 What the chosen people are chosen for: to invite the world to know and follow God

3-4 Human misrepresentations don’t change who God is
5-8 You can’t rationalize your way out of this one
9-18 Religious people have been messing up throughout Bible history

19-20 The law can’t fit you for heaven, it just explains why you don’t qualify

Next week: God’s incredible answer

God’s Incredible Answer

Scripture lesson: Romans 3:21 – 4:25

Key verse: Romans 3:22 We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.

And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. Romans 3:22

Where we left off

All of us have done things that make us unfit for eternal life with God
God will judge us all by our actions and our secret thoughts
Religious rules can’t fit us for heaven, they just explain why we don’t qualify

God’s incredible answer: Romans 3:21 - 4:25

3:21-22 God’s incredible answer: trust in Jesus
23-25a God’s incredible answer works because Jesus paid our penalty
25b-26 God’s incredible answer maintains God’s integrity
27-30 God’s incredible answer leaves no room for human pride
3:31- 4:3 God’s incredible answer fulfills the law
4-8 God’s incredible answer is a gift
9- 12 God’s incredible answer doesn’t depend on religious ceremonies
13- 17 God’s incredible answer works by faith
18-22 Abraham’s incredible faith is our example
23-25 God’s incredible answer is for everyone who believes

The Difference Starts Now

Scripture lesson: Romans 5:1-11

Key verse: Romans 5:2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where

we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

Ten this-world blessings of trusting in Jesus, from Romans 5:1-11

1. Peace
2. Privilege
3. Confidence
4. Joy
5. Power over problems
6. Endurance
7. Character
8. Hope
9. Sense of God’s love
10. Wonderful new relationship with God

a) Made possible when Jesus died for us
b) Result of God’s love for us
c) God sees us as righteous
d) God counts us as friends

Death Undone

Scripture lesson: Romans 5:12 – 21

Key verse: Romans 5:21 Just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace

rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adam brought sin

Sin brought death

Jesus brought grace

Grace brought forgiveness

Sin brings condemnation

Grace brings justification

Grace is greater than sin and death

The act of one affects many

Death is undone by eternal life

Seven Things to Remember about Being a Christian

Scripture lesson: Romans 6:1-7:13

Key verse: Romans 6:14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.

Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.

Seven things to remember about being a Christian:

1. You’re already dead (6:1-4)
2. Being dead is a good way to live (5-11)
3. Your new life is better than your old one (12-14)
4. You have a new boss (15-23)
5. You died to the rule book (7:1-6)
6. You live in God’s Spirit (4-6)
7. You are the target of a cosmic con (7-13)

Help! There’s a Monster in Me!

Scripture lesson: Romans 7:14-25

Key verse: Romans 7:24-25 Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God!

The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We often don’t experience the freedom that is ours in Christ (14)
We want to do good, but we don’t seem able (15-19)
Something inside us is stronger than we are (20-23)
We need someone even stronger to help us (24)
Jesus is the answer (25)
But as long as you have sin within, it will dominate you (25)

Living Spiritually

Scripture lesson: Romans 8:1-17

Key verse: Romans 8:15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him,

"Abba, Father."

1-4 God did for you what you could not do for yourself
5-8 You can now choose how to live
9-11 God lives in you through the Holy Spirit
12-13 You are free from your old sinful nature
14-16 You have been adopted as a child of God
17 You have full inheritance rights in the kingdom of God

Hope, Help, Hallelujah!

Scripture lesson: Romans 8:18- 39

Key verse: Romans 8:38 Nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.

I. Hope (verses 18-25)

Freedom from death and decay
Release from sin and suffering
Full rights as adopted children of God

II. Help (verses 26-28)

The Holy Spirit prays for us
God works things out for us

III. Hallelujah! (verses 29-39)

God knew us, chose us, called us, justified us, and glorified us
God is for us, who can be against us?
Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ

Children of Abraham

Scripture lesson: Romans 9:1- 11:36

Key verse: Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Chosen but rejected 9:1-29
Faith works where law doesn’t 9:30 - 10:4
By faith, anyone can become a child of God 10:5-17
Knowing is not believing 10:18-21
Our job: make Christianity so obviously wonderful that everyone will want in 11:1-24
United by God’s mercy 11:25-36

Living Like a Christian

Scripture lesson: Romans 12:1-21

Key verse: Romans 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

1-2 What to do with the rest of you

Your spirit was made new; your soul and body weren’t
Present your body to God
Change the way you think

3-8 Different strokes from different folks

Don’t puff yourself up - you’re no more important than anyone else
Don’t put yourself down - you’re no less important than anyone else
We all belong to each other
Everybody’s good at something

9-21 Sayings to live by

Christian Citizenship

Scripture lesson: Romans 13:1-7

Key verse: Romans 13:7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees

to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Human government is ordained by God (verses 1, 4)

Christians should be model citizens

Submit to governing authorities (verses 1-2, 5)
Do what is right (verses 3-4)
Pay taxes and fees (verse 6)
Become involved in the process as God leads you (verses 4, 6)
Show respect and honor (verse 7)

If you believe the government is wrong

Work for change within the process
If necessary, engage in non-violent resistance

Always pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Think and Let Think

Scripture lesson: Romans 14:1-15:13

Key verse: Romans 15:7 Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

14:1-2 Different strokes for different folks
3-4 Who died and made you judge?
5-9 Honor is a verb
10-12 Love them all, and let God sort them out
13-19 Attitude adjustment
20-23 Situation ethics
15:1-4 With great power comes great responsibility
5-7 Glorious harmony
8-13 God will put it all together

The Church Is Not a Building, It’s a Movement

Scripture lesson: Romans 15:14-16:27

Key verse: Romans 16:19-20 I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

15:14 - 19 The gospel is more than just talk
20 - 29 If God doesn’t go with your plan, go with his
30 - 33 When you pray for somebody you join their struggle
16:1 - 7 There’s no glass ceiling in God’s kingdom
8 - 16 The church is not a building, it’s a movement
17 - 18 Don’t let anybody divide you or deceive you
19 - 20 Stay above evil, and God will crush Satan under your feet
21 - 27 God’s good news is for everybody