Class Expectations
Read Romans by Gordon Ferguson (DPI)
Short Quiz each week
3 One Page Essays
Watch the film "AD"
Final Exam April 2

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In - Depth Study Expectations
Extra reading   (2 books about text)
Extra research  (Background info, etc.)
Writing 3 papers  (3 to 5 pages)

Key Words
Grace
Faith
Righteousness

Grace is God's Part
Gods
Riches
At    = Unmerited Favor
Christ's
Expense

Faith is Man's Part
Hebrews 11:6:  three components of a saving faith.
Belief (of the facts of the Bible)
Trust (of the promises of the Bible)
Obedience (to the command of the Bible).
Simply stated -- Trust --just taking God at his Word.
Righteousness
Being Right With God
Not just:
Being right
Doing right

Overview of Romans

1:1-17  Introduction

1:18--3:19 The Bad News
Chapter 1 Gentiles are Lost
Chapter 2 Jews are Lost
Chapter 3 All are Lost

THE BAD NEWS!

LESSON TWO   ROMANS 1:18 -- 3:20

No good news until we face the bad!
Spirit's first job: John 16:7-8; Acts 2:36-40; Acts 24:25.
Message is not "How can a loving God send people to hell?" but "How can a just God do anything else!"
Who do we feel for:  man or God!
 

Gentiles Are in Sin (1:18-32)
A.  Theme verses:   1:18 - 20
      1.  Wrath of God is being revealed 
      2.  No Excuse -- everyone can know God by:
      3.  Creation (Psalm 19:1-4)
      4.  Conscience  (3:14-15)
      5.  Approval of others' sins (1:32)

B.  Denying God  1:21 -- 32
      1.  Did not glorify him 
      2.  Did not thank him
      3.  Seven Results of Denying God:  
           a.  Thinking futile  v 21
           b.  Hearts darkened  v 21  (Eph. 4:17 -- 19)
           c.  Claimed to be wise became fools  v 22
           d.  Became fools v 22  Humanism  (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
           e.  Humanism (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)                                                               

            f.  Idolatry:  Exchanged glory of God for images of man, birds, animals, reptiles

Illustrations of idolatry
Cairo Museum  --
Luxor, Egypt
Hieroglyphics Luxor Temple

The Jews Are In Sin (2:1-29)
A.  Subtle sins & self righteousness (vv1-4)
     1.  Contempt for God (v 4) 
     2.  His kindness, tolerance and patience should lead us to repentance
     3.  Our judgment is the result of our choices
     4.  Galatians 6:7-8  Reap what we sow 
B.  Stubborn, unrepentant -- store up wrath (v 5)
C.  Persistence in doing good -- eternal life (v 6)
D.  God does not show favoritism (v 11)

Romans 2:12 - 16
A.  Not hearing, but obeying that counts v13
B.  Judged according to what we know--
          Luke 12:47-48
C.  Gentiles only knew moral law, while Jews knew revealed law   vs14-16
D.  By contrast, some Gentiles were more faithful with what they knew than were the Jews
E.  Moral and Revealed Law
     1.  Moral laws are self-evident, based on the nature of God Himself (1:18-20)
     2.  Other laws are not self-evident, based only on the revelation of God
     3.  Which are easiest to accept and obey?
     4.  Why are people lost? All disobey both laws

Hypocrisy and its Dangers  2:17-29
A.  Knowledge without practice is self-deceptive  (v17-23)
B.  It turns others away from God (v24).
C. Creates trust in man not God (vv25-29).
D. They trusted circumcision (do we trust baptism in the same way?)
E. Circumcision of heart always demanded (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Col. 2:11-12.)

Whole Human Race Under Condemnation (3:1-20)
A.  "Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin"   "No one righteous, not even one." (v 10)
B.  Sin equals "missing the mark."
C.  Jesus is the mark (how are we doing?).

Gentiles and Jews Are Lost
   Who needs God?

Next lesson
3:21-8:39 The Good News

3:21-31  All Can Be Saved thru Cross
Chapter 4 Abraham's Example
Chapter 5 Death through Adam,
    Life through Christ