Romans

Outline

II. Theme: The Gospel Contains God’s Power for Deliverance - 1:16-17III. Body: Spiritual Deliverance Arises from the Righteousness God Grants to Faith – 1:18-15:13 A. God’s Displeasure with Humanity is Manifest 1:18-3:20

Outline

A. God’s Displeasure with Humanity is Manifest 1:18-3:20 1. Humanity Stands under God’s Wrath – 1:18-2:5 a. The Declaration of This Manifestation – 1:18 b. The Cause of This Manifestation – 1:19-23 c. The Result of This Manifestation – 1:24-32

Enslavement – Romans 1:18-2:5

As Paul begins the body of his letter, he begins with the basic problem:

Humanity’s sinfulness and the enslavement that results from sin.

Enslavement – Romans 1:18

1. Humanity Stands under God’s Wrath – 1:18-2:5 a. The Declaration of This Manifestation – 1:18

God has every reason to be angry!

When wrath is revealed, God’s righteousness is also revealed.

Enslavement – Romans 1:18

Because of sin and the wrath that results, the world needs God’s righteousness.

Enslavement – Romans 1:18

Because humanity can’t stand God’s righteousness, they suppress it toward themselves and others.

This happens in many ways. One is idolatry.(vv. 21-23)

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

1. Humanity Stands under God’s Wrath – 1:18-2:5 a. The Declaration of This Manifestation – 1:18 b. The Cause of This Manifestation – 1:19-23

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

What is suppressed is self-evident truth!

There are certain realities about God that He has made clear.

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

What can be known is specifically God’s unparalleled power and therefore His deity.

This is seen in His creation.

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

“The greater the complexity of the system, the more emphatically that system testifies to a

Designer.”Romans p. 42

ZCH

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

As Hodges goes on to point out, the universe is “the most complex system of all”.

Humanity has no excuse.

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

While humanity can discern God’s eternal power and deity, other realities of God are not necessarily

revealed by creation.

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

The Gospel cannot be learned from Creation.

However, if people will respond to the realities of the creation, they would be in a position to receive

the truth in the gospel.Hebrews 11:6!!

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

While general revelation is not sufficient to save,it is sufficient to condemn.

Enslavement – Romans 1:19-20

However, men have no desire to acknowledge a Creator nor their implicit accountability to Him.

Unrighteous people don’t want to face their accountability and have no excuse.

Enslavement – Romans 1:21

God has left evidence for Himself in creation.

The world has not responded appropriately to it.

Enslavement – Romans 1:21

Early humanity knew God, but…• Did not glorify Him as God• Was not thankful• Turned to empty reasoning

Enslavement – Romans 1:21

The result of this path taken was a loss of understanding and discernment.

A vacuum was created out of which man created their own gods.

Enslavement – Romans 1:22-23

Mankind thought they were wise, but were fools and in their self-confidence worshipped what the

Creator had made as the Creator Himself!

Just like the rest?

Humanity____________________________________

AnimalsPlants

____________________________________

HumanityAnimals

Plants

Enslavement – Romans 1:24-25

1. Humanity Stands under God’s Wrath – 1:18-2:5 a. The Declaration of This Manifestation – 1:18 b. The Cause of This Manifestation – 1:19-23 c. The Result of This Manifestation – 1:24-32

Enslavement – Romans 1:24-25

God “turned them over”vv. 24, 26, 28

This is the basic result of wrath!

Enslavement – Romans 1:24-25

People are given over to what they want, fall into immorality, and dishonor their bodies.

Enslavement – Romans 1:24-25

The true value of our physical lives is only realized when we acknowledge a God above our physical

reality.

He is the One who gives us significance.

Enslavement – Romans 1:24-25

Reality is exchanged for a lie!

When the creature becomes the center of attention, the Creator is forgotten, as are His

purposes for and value of His creation.

The Creator is forgotten, but not diminished.

The Descent – Romans 1:26-27

• Idolatry demeans the physical experience (Immorality)

• Truth is exchanged for a lie.• The lie continues in perverted sexual practices.

The Descent – Romans 1:26-27

No other sexual experience can equal the sexual experience ordained by God.

The exchange is of the “natural use”.

One sexual orientation produces life; the other disease and death.

The Descent – Romans 1:28

God has to be excluded for them to comfortably practice their sin.

Their descent caused them to produce “unseemly things” (vv. 29-31)

The Descent – Romans 1:29-31

It is difficult to read this list and not see how God has truly “turned men over”.

The Descent – Romans 1:32

No matter how dulled, humanity still knows they are wrong.

Yet, they ignore their consciences and invite for themselves company.

The Descent – Romans 1:32

Not only are inappropriate lifestyles approved of, those who simply disagree and call them wrong

are now themselves called evil!

The Descent – Romans 1:32

The depths of our descent is deep!

The Descent – Romans 1:32

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”Isaiah 5:20