RROMANSOMANSSALVATION IS FOR ALLSALVATION IS FOR ALL

THEAPPIAN

WAY LEADING TO ROME

WIDER WIDER THEOLOGYTHEOLOGY

SPECIFIC SPECIFIC SITUATIONSITUATION

The PurposeThe Purpose

Paul is a “task theologian”

Evidence Evidence that Romans that Romans

is a is a theology of salvationtheology of salvation

If Romans If Romans

is a theology of salvation, is a theology of salvation,

then what is it about? then what is it about?

LUTHERLUTHERTheme verse - ROMANS 1:17

For in the gospel a righteousness For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a from God is revealed, a

righteousness that is by faith from righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: first to last, just as it is written: ‘the righteous will live by faith.’‘the righteous will live by faith.’

RREVISEDEVISED

Theme verse - ROMANS 1:16 and 17‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for

the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile . For in the gospel a

righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is

by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘the righteous will live

by faith.’

ROMANS 1:16SOCIOLOGICAL DIMENSION

- salvation is for all -

ROMANS 1:17THEOLOGICAL DIMENSION

- salvation is by faith -

Jewish / Gentile Race HateJewish / Gentile Race Hate

JJEWS EWS G GENTILESENTILES

SSEPARATIONEPARATION

PPURITYURITY

FFEAREAR

GGENTILES ENTILES JJEWSEWS

PPREJUDICEREJUDICE

IINTEGRATIONNTEGRATION

DDISTRUSTISTRUST

RROMANSOMANSA TA THEOLOGY OF HEOLOGY OF SSALVATIONALVATION

‘‘SSALVATION IS ALVATION IS

FOR FOR AALL LL PeoplesPeoples’’

PurposePurpose::Romans is Paul’s Romans is Paul’s

theology of salvation theology of salvation

for all people. for all people.

But But

it it alsoalso addresses specific addresses specific needs in Rome.needs in Rome.

What Specific Needs What Specific Needs does Romans address?does Romans address?

1.1.The ‘Strong / Weak’ TheoryThe ‘Strong / Weak’ Theory

2.2. The ‘Mission Situation’ The ‘Mission Situation’ TheoryTheory

PPURPOSE OF URPOSE OF RROMANSOMANS

Paul gives Paul gives a theological foundation a theological foundation

to his mission to the Gentiles to his mission to the Gentiles to legitimize it to legitimize it

and to encourage support and to encourage support for its extension for its extension

in the western Mediterranean.in the western Mediterranean.

THREE MAIN QUESTIONS

How can both Jew and Gentile be saved? CHAPTERS 1-8

Does God still havea special relationship with the Jews?

CHAPTERS 9-11

How should culturally different Christians get along?

CHAPTERS 12-15

How can both the Jew and the How can both the Jew and the Gentile be saved? Gentile be saved?

CHAPTERS 1-8CHAPTERS 1-8

TTHE HE SSHORT HORT AANSWER:NSWER:

ROMANS 1:17ROMANS 1:17They are saved by the They are saved by the

revealed righteousness revealed righteousness from God.from God.

‘‘righteousness from God’ 1:17righteousness from God’ 1:17 - Covenantal Language -- Covenantal Language -

Ethnic connections?Ethnic connections?

Covenant obligations?Covenant obligations?

Trust in the Living GodTrust in the Living God

‘‘How does one live in a How does one live in a right relationship with God?’right relationship with God?’

PAUL’S MAIN ARGUMENTROMANS 1:18 ff.

If you were writing If you were writing a paper on a paper on

your theology of salvation, your theology of salvation, where would you begin? where would you begin?

Paul will argue for:Paul will argue for:

A God-CenteredA God-CenteredSalvation for the Salvation for the

GentilesGentiles

Romans 1:18 – 3:20Romans 1:18 – 3:20PAUL’S APPROACHPAUL’S APPROACH

WRATHWRATHGGOD’S OD’S RRIGHTEOUS IGHTEOUS JJUDGMENT UDGMENT (2:5)(2:5)

All humanityAll humanity is under wrath is under wrath and therefore needs and therefore needs

a God-centered salvation.a God-centered salvation.

TALKING TALKING ABOUT SIN ABOUT SIN

IN A IN A POSTMODERN WORLDPOSTMODERN WORLD

Romans 1:18 – 32Romans 1:18 – 32

THE GENTILESTHE GENTILES

Jewish Literary Attacks Jewish Literary Attacks on Gentile Ways were Commonon Gentile Ways were Common

CREATOR-CENTEREDCREATOR-CENTERED

CREATURE-CENTEREDCREATURE-CENTERED

How can both Jew and Gentile How can both Jew and Gentile be saved? be saved?

CHAPTERS 1-8CHAPTERS 1-8

Road Sign Time

Romans 2Romans 2

THE JEWSTHE JEWS

Paul talks about the Jews, Paul talks about the Jews, but only to further his argument but only to further his argument

about the Gentiles. about the Gentiles.

His logic is: ‘If the Jew can’t be His logic is: ‘If the Jew can’t be saved by the law, then neither saved by the law, then neither

can the Gentile.’can the Gentile.’

Romans 3:1-8Romans 3:1-8

Paul begins exploring Paul begins exploring his second major question:his second major question:

““Does God still have a special Does God still have a special relationship with the Jews?”relationship with the Jews?”

But he’s wandering !

Romans 3:9-20Romans 3:9-20

PAUL RETURNSPAUL RETURNS

He finalizes his wrath argument.He finalizes his wrath argument.

Romans 3:20 - ‘No one (Jew or Romans 3:20 - ‘No one (Jew or Gentile) is righteous in his sight Gentile) is righteous in his sight

by observing the law.’by observing the law.’

Romans 3:21-31Romans 3:21-31

PAUL’S CONCLUSIONSPAUL’S CONCLUSIONS

Here, he draws out the logical Here, he draws out the logical implications of his wrath implications of his wrath

argument.argument.

Romans 3:21-31Romans 3:21-31

PAUL’S CONCLUSIONSPAUL’S CONCLUSIONS

1. Romans 3:21 - ‘a righteousness 1. Romans 3:21 - ‘a righteousness from God has been made known’from God has been made known’

2. Romans 3:25 2. Romans 3:25 ‘‘a sacrifice of atonement’a sacrifice of atonement’

3. Romans 3:27 3. Romans 3:27 ‘‘where, then is boasting?where, then is boasting?

Romans 4Romans 4

PAUL REINFORCES HIS ARGUMENTPAUL REINFORCES HIS ARGUMENT

RROYAL OYAL GGRANT RANT TTREATYREATYGENESIS 15GENESIS 15

SSUZERAIN UZERAIN TTREATYREATYGENESIS 17GENESIS 17

EE. . PP. . SSANDERSANDERS‘‘COVENANTAL NOMISM’COVENANTAL NOMISM’

Romans 5:1-11Romans 5:1-11

PAUL APPLIES HIS ARGUMENTPAUL APPLIES HIS ARGUMENT

EESCHATOLOGICAL SCHATOLOGICAL EETHICSTHICS

FOR PAULFOR PAUL,,

SALVATION HAS NOT YET SALVATION HAS NOT YET

FULLY HAPPENEDFULLY HAPPENED

Romans 5:12-21Romans 5:12-21

ANOTHER STRONG ARGUMENTANOTHER STRONG ARGUMENT

A META-NARRATIVE A META-NARRATIVE ARGUMENTARGUMENT

ADAM / CHRISTADAM / CHRIST

Romans 6Romans 6

OBJECTIONOBJECTIONANTI-NOMIANISM ?ANTI-NOMIANISM ?

Cf. ROMANS 1:5Cf. ROMANS 1:5

SSLAVES TO LAVES TO SSIN IN 6:166:16

SSLAVES TO LAVES TO RRIGHTEOUSNESS IGHTEOUSNESS 6:186:18

BALANCEDBALANCEDDISCIPLESHIP IS:DISCIPLESHIP IS:

GRACE-BASEDGRACE-BASED

GOD-INFORMEDGOD-INFORMED

SPIRIT-ENABLEDSPIRIT-ENABLED

CHRIST-CENTEREDCHRIST-CENTERED

Romans 7 and 8Romans 7 and 8

A FURTHER REPLY TO THE OBJ.A FURTHER REPLY TO THE OBJ.

ROM 6 EXTENDS INTO 7 & 8ROM 6 EXTENDS INTO 7 & 8

SSLAVES TO LAVES TO SSIN IN TTHEMEHEMECHAPTER 7CHAPTER 7

SSLAVES TO LAVES TO RRIGHTEOUSNESS IGHTEOUSNESS CHAPTER 8CHAPTER 8

THREE MAIN QUESTIONS

How are Jew and Gentile saved? CHAPTERS 1-8

Does God still havea special relationship to the Jews?

CHAPTERS 9-11

How should culturally different Christians get along?

CHAPTERS 12-15

Does God still have a special Does God still have a special relationship with the Jews? relationship with the Jews?

CHAPTERS 9-11CHAPTERS 9-11

‘‘What advantage What advantage is there in being Jewish?’is there in being Jewish?’

(3:1-2 continued in 9:4-5)(3:1-2 continued in 9:4-5)

‘‘Has God’s Word failed?’Has God’s Word failed?’

Romans 9:6 – 10:21Romans 9:6 – 10:21‘‘not all descended from Israel are not all descended from Israel are Israel … but rather the children of Israel … but rather the children of

promise arepromise are

Has God rejected His people?Has God rejected His people?

Romans 11 Romans 11 The RemnantThe Remnant

THREE MAIN QUESTIONS

How are the Gentiles saved? CHAPTERS 1-8

Does God still havea special relationship to the Jews?

CHAPTERS 9-11

How should culturally different Christians get along?

CHAPTERS 12-15

How should culturally How should culturally different Christians get along? different Christians get along?

CHAPTERS 12-15CHAPTERS 12-15

ApplicationApplication(Practical Theology)(Practical Theology)

Romans 12:1-2Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you … in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies

as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your

spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2Romans 12:1-2

If theology is grace,If theology is grace,

then ethics is gratitude.then ethics is gratitude.

- F.F. Bruce- F.F. Bruce

Romans 12:3-16Romans 12:3-16

Here, Paul applies Here, Paul applies

this theme to living this theme to living

in the Christian community.in the Christian community.

Romans 12:17 – 13:10Romans 12:17 – 13:10

Here, Paul applies Here, Paul applies

this theme to livingthis theme to living

in a world that is hostile in a world that is hostile

to Christians.to Christians.

Romans 13:11-14Romans 13:11-14

Here, Paul once again Here, Paul once again

takes a swipe takes a swipe

at antinomianism.at antinomianism.

Romans 14:1 – 15:13Romans 14:1 – 15:13

Here, Paul gives some Here, Paul gives some

very practical advice very practical advice

on how to promote on how to promote

unity between unity between

culturally different Christians. culturally different Christians.

Romans 14:1 – 15:13Romans 14:1 – 15:13

DIASPORA JUDAISMDIASPORA JUDAISM

CCIRCUMCISIONIRCUMCISION

SSABBATHABBATH

FFOOD LAWSOOD LAWS

TRIBAL MARKERS vs. Rom 14:17-18

Should mono-cultural churches

intentionally try to become multi-cultural?

• The End