Take One Year to Study Romans

Why study Romans. Should we take up to one year to study Romans slowly and prayerfully and with some depth and detail?

• Martin Luther called Romans "really the chief part of the NT, and ...truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul."
• John Stott says, "(Romans) is the fullest and grandest statement of the gospel in the NT...a timeless manifesto of freedom through Jesus Christ."
• John Piper regards Romans as "the greatest letter ever written."
• Ray Stedman calls Romans "the master key to Scripture." "If you had no other book of the Bible than this, you would find every Christian teaching at least mentioned here. If you really grasp the book of Romans in its total argument you will find yourself at home in any other part of the Scriptures."
• Douglas Moo, NT scholar, says, "Romans is Paul's summary of the gospel that he preaches. The theme of the letter is the gospel."
• Countless people have been changed (and changed the world) through Romans: Augustine (386), Martin Luther (1515), John Wesley (1703-91).
• Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached on Romans for 13 years and John Piper preached through Romans in 8 years.
  

Romans sermons preached so far at West Loop Church all begin with the word "gospel," because "gospel" is a major significant theme of Romans.

Click the link to each sermon listed below (The written sermon is for reading and study; the preached sermon is for listening by video or audio):

1. Gospel of God's Grace (1:1-6): Can you explain compellingly what the gospel is?

• The gospel or good news is the gospel of the grace of God (Ac 20:24).
• Paul's purpose of life is that he was set apart for the gospel of God (Ac 1:1).
• The goal of the gospel is for Jesus' name sake (Rom 1:5; 1 Cor 10:31).

2. Gospel Enthusiasm (1:7-15): How enthusiastic and excited are you about Jesus?

• Paul could not contain his eagerness to preach the gospel in Rome (Rom 1:15; Jer 20:9).

3. Gospel Power (memorize 1:16-17): Why can't you save (change) yourself by your own power?

• There are three tenses of salvation (Eph 2:8; Tit 3:5; 2 Tim 1:9; 1 Cor 1:18; Phil 2:12; Rom 5:9-10).
• The gospel reveals the righteousness of God.

4. Gospel Faith (1:16-17): Is faith a work you must do, or a gift you receive?

• Why is gospel faith God's work and not a human work (Phil 1:6; 2:12-13)?
• Does living by faith make you righteous?
• Explain the difference between "the righteous by faith will live" and "the righteous will live by faith."

5. Gospel Suppression - Idolatry (1:18-2:5). What do you truly want more than anything else in the world?

• "An idol can be ... anything that can substitute for God." (Rom 1:23, 25)
  
• Do you understand why morality can be just as sinful as immorality?

6. Gospel Impartiality (2:6-29): How will God judge you (Rom 2:6)? Why (Rom 2:11)?

• Does God judge religious Jews differently from irreligious Gentiles? Christians from non-Christians?
• Contrast the reward of the righteous (Rom 2:7,10) with the destiny of the wicked (Rom 2:8-9).

7. Gospel Accusation (3:1-20): What is everyone accused of (Rom 3:9)?

• How can it be true that no one seeks God (Rom 3:11) and no one does good (Rom 3:12)?

8. Gospel Righteousness (3:21-26).

• Martin Luther regards Rom 3:21-26 as "the chief point, and the very central place of the Epistle, and of the whole Bible." Others regard it as "the center and heart" of Romans, and "possibly the most important single paragraph ever written."

9. Gospel Boasting (3:27-31): Why should a Christian not boast and feel superior to others (Rom 3:27)?

10. Gospel Credit (4:1-25).

11. Gospel Blessedness (5:1-11).

References:

• Romans: The Master Key to Scripture. Ray Stedman.
• Exploring the Riches of the Book of Romans. Robert Deffinbaugh.