Romans,
Chapter 1
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus
Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Paul was a servant of Jesus Christ.
He was called to be an apostle.
As such, he was “separated” to do the work of
carrying gospel of God to the Gentile world.
The Holy Spirit calls each Christian to a
“work” within what we know as Christianity.
However, some are called out of the Church
body to become servants of Christ and the Church.
We call some of the Pastors, and some
Teachers, and others Evangelists.
Some Churches recognize modern Prophets and
Apostles, but the mainstream of modern Christianity recognizes only Pastors,
Teachers, and Evangelists.
Paul was called to be an Apostle.
Christ Jesus selected Paul out of all
humanity to carry the message of salvation by grace.
None of the original twelve were appointed to
that ministry.
Romans 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by
his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
The good news of grace to all people was
announced in the books of the Old Testament.
The Hebrew word translated “nations” or
“heathen” in these verses is actually "Goyim" or Gentiles.
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen
for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalm 86:9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before
thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
Haggai 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the
desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with
glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
2,000 years ago Judaism was an evangelistic
movement, but when
Matt
23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is
made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (KJV)
Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ
our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
This speaks of Jesus’ physical ancestry.
Gal
4:4 But when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of
God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from
the dead:
Jesus was declared to be the Son of God due
to His resurrection, and not by His virgin birth.
Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace
and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
It was through grace that Paul was
saved.
The same is true of each one of us.
It was through grace that Paul was
commissioned to preach the gospel.
That is also true of all who are commissioned
to take the message of Christ to others.
Romans 1:6 Among whom are ye also the
called of Jesus Christ:
Each and every believer is called out
individually.
We are called, appointed, and gifted
individually in and through the name and power of Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:7 To all that be in
While some early Churches were Jewish
dominated as they were called out of the Synagogues in each city, the Romans
constituted a Gentile dominated Church with a few Jews in their midst.
Romans is an uncontested Gentile letter with
Jewish overtones.
We have been “called to be saints.”
That means that in our calling we have been
declared to be
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through
Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole
world.
In referring to God, Paul used the Greek
definite article too-tw.
The Greek says “the God!”
In Greek in indicates the Father.
Paul thanks God the Father "through" Jesus Christ (the Son).
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and
no man comes to the Father, except by Him (John 14:6).
The reputation of the faith of the Romans had
spread to many other parts of the world.
Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I
serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make
mention of you always in my prayers;
The Greek word translated
"witness" comes into English as martyr.
The English word now means one who dies for a
cause.
As Christians, we die to self-interest, so we
may live for Christ.
Paul is reminding the Romans that he was
persistent in prayer.
If we follow Christ, we too will be
persistent in prayer.
Christ Jesus is now at the right hand of the
Father.
Due to His love, He is making intercession,
praying for us (Romans 8:34).
Romans 1:10 Making request, if by any
means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to
come unto you.
How would you define a prosperous journey?
Was Paul telling the Romans that he wanted a
large offering?
Was he saying that his latest book was just
coming off the presses and he would be peddling it when he got to
I don't think so!
Prosperity in Christ has nothing to do with
monetary gain.
Prosperity in Christ is spiritual.
It may result in temporal gains, but the base
is spiritual.
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I
may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
Paul desired to see the Romans so he might
impart, or share some spiritual gift with them.
It is through such sharing of godly
principles that we become established, or strengthened in our faith.
The exercise of spiritual gifts should be
part of every Christian ministry.
Does the exercise of spiritual gifts mean
that all are going to speak in unknown tongues or speak great prophecies?
It certainly does not!
But, some do!
In 1 Corinthians, Paul asks some very
searching questions that are ignored by many.
1 Corinthians 12:27-30
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, varieties of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of
miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
(NKJV)
Let's look at the logic behind these
questions.
We are the corporate body of Christ and
individually we are members of His body.
God has appointed certain offices within the Church.
The offices are: first Apostles, second
Prophets, third Teachers, after that miracles, (Pastors are not mentioned in
this list) then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of
tongues. Miracles, healings, helps, administrations, and tongues are listed as
offices within the Church.
In 1 Cor. 12:29, Paul asks, "Are all
apostles?"
The implication is that all are not, but some
are!
"Are all prophets?"
The implication is that all are not, but some
are!
"Are all teachers?"
The implication is that all are not, but some
are!
"Are all workers of miracles?"
The implication is that all are not, but some
are!
In 1 Cor. 12:30,
Paul asks, "Do all have gifts of healings?"
The implication is that all do not, but some
do!
"Do all speak with tongues?"
The implication is that all do not, but some
do!
(There is some controversy over the exact
meaning of "tongues.")
"Do all interpret?"
The implication is that all do not, but some do!
Some very sincere Christians have condemned these
practices.
Paul did not!
We need to seek God's understanding in this
matter and His purpose.
We should be comforted by the fact that we
have a mutual faith.
You are not the author of "your"
faith.
Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of
our mutual faith.
Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be
comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Christians are called to minister to each
other for the sake of being "comforted."
Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you
ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let
hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other
Gentiles.
Paul did not want to Church to be ignorant,
because Ignorance is the enemy of Christianity.
Christ came to heal the blind.
He does not ask us to have blind faith.
Paul wanted to travel to
However, he had to wait for the proper
time.
Later, Paul would say, "All things work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according
to His purpose" (Romans 8:28/NKJV).
Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the
Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
When Paul says he is a debtor.
He is simply saying that he is obligated to
Greeks and barbarians.
Paul is telling us that he was obligated to
the Greeks and non-Greeks, and to the wise and foolish.
They were the focus of his ministry.
Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am
ready to preach the gospel to you that are at
Paul let the Romans know that he was ready,
willing and eager to preach the gospel in
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul writes, "I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ."
Your actions will do more to establish what
you believe than your words.
Isa
29:13 Wherefore the Lord said,
Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour
me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is
taught by the precept of men:
Romans 1:17 For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just
shall live by faith.
This verse relates to the maturity of
Christians.
We do not mature instantly.
We experience a gradual maturing
process---from one level of faith to another.
"The just shall live by
faith" is the verse that fired much of the reformation.
Those are the words that caused Martin Luther
to seek to "reform" the Roman Catholic Church (the Reformation).
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
hold the truth in unrighteousness;
God’s wrath is manifested upon all
ungodliness!
God’s wrath is against the ungodly.
God’s wrath and His testing are different.
God’s testing is meant for our
strengthening.
His wrath is punishment!
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be
known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
God’s grace and the faith OF Christ is manifested in and
toward His children.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of
him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are
without excuse:
Eternal (Gr. aidios-aidioV) is one of the few times in the Bible that the
word translated eternal actually means eternal.
"Without excuse" indicates that the
position taken by those who reject God’s power is indefensible.
Those who reject the Savior are “without
excuse.”
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew
God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in
their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
It is difficult to understand, but some who
have been given the power to know and understand God’s loving power have no
appreciation for God.
Because they have despised His love, their
hearts have been darkened.
Since they rejected the light, it was taken
from them!
Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I
will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he
might have mercy upon all.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools,
Self-proclaimed wisdom is lacking in true
wisdom!
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
1 Cor
1:18 For the preaching of the cross
is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power
of God.
If you can, read the last chapter of
There, you will find these words,
"Authors of the highest eminence seem to be fully satisfied with the view
that each species has been independently created. To my mind it
accords better with what we know of the laws impressed on matter by the
Creator, that the production and extinction of the past and present
inhabitants of the world should have been due to secondary causes, like those
determining the birth and death of the individual."
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them
up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own
bodies between themselves:
Those that reject the Creator and His Messiah
have been given up to uncleanness, or impure motives.
In that state of dishonor, they are guilty of
self-contempt through denial of God’s power in Christ.
God’s truth cannot be changed!
It is eternal!
Pretenders exchange the truth of God for the
lie of Lucifer.
Many social leaders have attempted to exalt
the creation above the Creator.
Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them
up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into
that which is against nature:
In their self-proclaimed wisdom, God gave
them up to "vile affections," or depraved passions!
Homosexuality is depraved!
Anybody that has studied the human body
understands that it was not
created for homosexual use. Such
practices are corruptions!
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men,
leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another;
men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that
recompence of their error which was meet.
Homosexuality is not a Christian life-style,
but it is a chosen life-style!
The Bible says those who practice such will
receive “recompense/reward of their
error.”
If Homosexuals were truly homosexual, society
would have nothing to fear from them.
If homosexuals were really just homosexual,
due to their inability to reproduce all such would have died out centuries ago.
Romans 1:28-32
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Unregenerate men and women do not acknowledge
God.
God gives the unregenerate over to a
reprobate mind.
Mankind was not created to be crammed full
with unrighteous acts, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit,
malice, gossip.
We were not created to act contrary to the
love of God.
All are sinners until chosen to come to
Christ Jesus.
You may be thinking that all this is so
negative.
How can we bring a loving God out of all
this?
We have just recognized that sin is sin.
That truth is neither good nor bad---it just
is!
Before we can deal with sin, we must
understand that we are sinners.