1. ROMANS
HOW GOD SAVES SINNERS

2. ROMANS: IMPORTANT FEATURES
Longest of all of Paul’s letters
One of only 2 letters to a church Paul didn’t establish & had never visited
Most influential letter in history
Most complete statement of what Paul believed
Written abut AD 56-57, toward end of 3rd Missionary Journey (from Corinth)
Written down by Tertius (16:22) & probably delivered by Phoebe (16:1)
Roman church consisted of both Jews & Gentiles, both specifically addressed
Letter itself is the earliest evidence of the existence of a church in Rome

3. ROMANS: MAJOR THEMES
Without Christ, everyone is under God’s wrath b/c of sin.
Salvation depends more on what God has done than on anything we can do.
God’s plan is for everyone, both Jews & Gentiles.
The key to being part of God’s plan is faith (not physical descent).
God has the power to see His plan through, regardless of the difficulties of life.
With the gift of salvation goes the expectation that believers will be “living sacrifices.”

4. ROMANS: OUTLINE Theme: the Gospel, God’s power for salvation (1:16-17)
Why the Gospel is necessary (1:18-3:20)
B/c Gentiles are lost
B/c Jews are equally lost
The Solution: Justification by Faith (3:21-8:39)
God saves sinners through faith in Jesus (3:21-31)
The faith of Abraham (4:1-25)
The results of Justification (5:1-21)
New life in Christ (6:1-23)
The on-going struggle (7:1-25)
No condemnation/Victory assured (8:1-39)
Israel’s Place in God’s Plan (9-11)
How to be a “Living Sacrifice” (12:1-15:13)

5. ROMANS: LESSONS FOR TODAY
1. We are all ______________, & w/out Christ’s sacrifice, we would be __________________.
2. Everyone is equally in need of ______________, & everyone is equally able to be _________.
3. Justification comes not b/c of what we have done, but b/c of what _____________ has done.
4. In spite of hardships, nothing can separate us from the ___________ of God.
5. B/c God has saved us, we owe him our very _____________ in service.

6. ROMANS: KEY VERSE
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘the righteous shall live by faith’.”
Romans 1:16-17