Romans Part 5 – Romans 1:16-18
Verse 16
• “For I am not ashamed of the the gospel of Christ” - Paul’s three “I am’s”
i. I am debtor (vs 14) – 2Cor 5:18-20
ii. I am ready (vs 15) – 2Tim 4:2
iii. I am not ashamed (vs 16) – 2Tim 1:12, 2:15
• “it is the power of God unto salvation” – The gospel contains the power of God to save you and deliver you – 1Cor 1:17-25.
• “to everyone that believeth” - Paul’s message is to all men – 1Cor 9:22, 2Tim 2:5-7 compare to
Matt 10:1, 15:24, Acts 11:19.
• “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” – Paul’s point in this verse is that the gospel is to all men.
• “First” - I believe is talking about historically – John 4:22, Isa 2:3. Rom 9:4-5, Rom 3:2.
i. Salvation with Christ was sent to Israel first – Acts 3:25-26, 4:10-12,
ii. Salvation was preached to Israel in Jerusalem by Peter but they rejected it as is evident in Acts 7.
iii. The Jew was first because of Gods promises – Gen 12:3, 22:17-18, 28:13-14.
iiii. The gospel of circumcision is Israel a blessing to Gentiles – Gen 17:11, Gal 2:9.
• Paul goes to Jews first in Acts but for different reasons – Acts 13:14-52, Rom 9:3, 10:1.
Verse 17
• “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed” – What is revealed in the gospel is how God could be righteous to justify sinners by faith – Rom 3:21-26, Psalms 32:1-6. Without the work of Christ on the cross and his resurrection every mans faith in time past and today would be vain.
• “from faith to faith” – Its always been by Faith – Heb 11:6 – Not blind faith.
• “The just shall live by faith” – quoted from Habakkuk 2:4 - also quoted in - Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38.
Verse 18
• “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven” – The gospel shows God righteousness to justify sinners through faith, but it also shows Gods righteousness to judge sinners who reject
• “against all” - All are guilty before God, all have sinned – Rom 3:10-11, 5:12, 11:32, Eph 2:3.
• “ungodliness and unrighteousness” If looking at Greek these words mean – “absence of the fear of God with no reverence of sacred things and wrong doing”
• “who hold the truth in unrighteousness” – False teaching, suppression of truth.
If you have any questions: My email - csb33@centurylink.net
