Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 28 May 2023

Text: Romans 1

Subject: The Crux of the Gospel

GENERAL INTRODUCTION
(Reading the Epistles of Paul)

1. The Epistles

a) They were “Letters”

i) Written to Individuals

ii) Encouraging words of instruction

b) But some were lengthy

i) Written to Churches

ii) Expository approach

iii) Corrective

iv) Instructive

v) Inspirational

2. The Letter to the Romans

a) Written to the Church in Rome

b) Expository approach taken

c) Focus: The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

d) Many major features of the Gospel were discussed

3. Reading the Epistles of Paul

a) He is a “master theologian”

b) He packs in a lot of thought

i) In a paragraph

ii) In a sentence

iii) In a word

c) Great carefulness must be exercised when reading Paul’s epistles

ROMANS IS AN EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL

1Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Romans 1:1-4

1. Introduction of Paul

a) Self-introduction

b) Normal practice

2. How Paul saw himself

a) A bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ

b) Called to be an apostle

c) Separated (set aside) to preach/ teach the Gospel of God

3. Features of the Gospel of God

a) The Gospel was promised

i) Prophesied

ii) Written in the Scriptures (The Old Testament)

b) The center of the Gospel

i) The Lord Jesus Christ

ii) The Son of God

iii) The Son of Man

iv) The Son of David

c) This is affirmed by the Holy Spirit

i) Evidenced in His power to heal the sick and to cast out demons

ii) Further evidenced in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ

CONCLUSION

1. Practical tips on reading Romans

a) Read carefully

b) Raise questions

2. The Four Gospels

a) The semi-biography of the Lord Jesus in the 4 Gospel accounts

b) Tracing the life and the teachings of the Lord Jesus

3. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus

a) Exposition of the Gospels

b) Teachings carefully stated in theological language