Kress Biblical Resources :: The Proclamation of the Gospel (Rom 1:18-4:25)

Detailed Outline of Romans

The Gospel of Salvation by Faith Unites All Believers—Jew and Greek

The Proclamation of the Gospel (Rom 1:18-4:25)

1. The gospel proclaims the guilt of all men—condemnation before the righteous Judge (Rom 1:18-3:20)
   1. God’s wrath against unrighteousness [sin characteristic of Gentiles] (Rom 1:18-32)
      1. The reality of the wrath of God (Rom 1:18)
         1. God’s wrath is recognized as essential to His holy nature
         2. God’s wrath is revealed from heaven even now
      2. The reasons for the wrath of God (Rom 1:18-23)
         1. Men have repressed the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18)
         2. Men have rejected the witness of creation concerning God’s glory and authority (Rom 1:19-20)
            1. All men know that God exists and they are accountable to Him (Rom 1:19)
            2. All men are without excuse concerning God’s transcendent glory and authority (Rom 1:20)
         3. Men have refused to honor God as He deserves and give thanks (Rom 1:21)
         4. Men have replaced true worship with idolatry (Rom 1:22-23)
            1. They professed to be wise apart from God’s revelation, and thus became fools (Rom 1:22)
            2. They perverted genuine worship, and turned to idolatry (Rom 1:23)
      3. The results of the wrath of God (Rom 1:24-32)
         1. God gave men over to their defiled desires (Rom 1:24-25)
            1. The lusts that result in impurity [God gave them over] (Rom 1:24)
            2. The lie that results in idolatry [because they exchanged the truth for the lie] (Rom 1:25)
         2. God gave men over to their degrading passions (Rom 1:26-27)
            1. The passions that result in degradation [God gave them over] (Rom 1:26)
            2. The perversion that results in devastation [because they exchanged the natural for the unnatural] (Rom 1:27)
         3. God gave men over to their depraved minds (Rom 1:28-32)
            1. The decision that results in a depraved mind [God gave them over] (Rom 1:28ab)
            2. The description that illustrates the results of a depraved mind (Rom 1:28c-31)
               1. The summary—things which are not proper (Rom 1:28c)
               2. Having been filled with four sins that reveal a lack of love for God (Rom 1:29a)
               3. Full of five sins that reveal a lack of love for one’s neighbor (Rom 1:29b)
               4. Twelve sins listed in a separate grammatical unit—the last for all beginning with the alpha prefix (Rom 1:29c-31)
            3. The delight that results in the destruction of others (Rom 1:32)
   2. God’s judgment against self-righteousness [sin characteristic of Jews] (Rom 2:1-3:8)
      1. The impartiality of God’s judgment—falls upon the self-righteous as well as the unrighteous (Rom 2:1-16)
         1. God’s judgment will come upon the impenitent [unrepentant] (Rom 2:1-5)
            1. Self-righteousness is inexcusable in light of God’s righteous judgment (Rom 2:1-3)
               1. Self-righteous judgment leads to self-condemnation (Rom 2:1-2)
                  • The judgment of the self-righteous is ridiculous (Rom 2:1)
                  • The judgment of God against sinners is right (Rom 2:2)
               2. Self-righteous judgment leads to self-deception (Rom 2:3)
            2. Self-righteousness is indicative of spiritual ignorance and an unrepentant heart (Rom 2:4-5)
               1. The self-righteous spurn the riches of God’s kindness and patience (Rom 2:4)
               2. The self-righteous store up for themselves the wrath of God (Rom 2:5)
         2. God’s judgment will be consistent with His impartiality (Rom 2:6-11)
            1. God’s righteous judgment will reward each man according to his deeds—whether Jew or Greek (Rom 2:6-10)
               1. The reality of God’s impartial judgment revealed in the Scriptures—each man will be judged according to his deeds (Rom 2:6)
               2. The rewards of those who remain steadfast in good work, and the rewards of those who are selfishly ambitious (Rom 2:7-10)
                  • The steadfast workers of good seeking glory, honor, and incorruptibility—eternal life (Rom 2:7)
                  • The selfishly ambitious—wrath and indignation (Rom 2:8)
                  • The soul who does evil—tribulation and distress (Rom 2:9)
                  • The satisfaction of the one who is constantly working the good—glory, honor, and peace (Rom 2:10)
            2. God’s righteous judgment will reveal that He doesn’t play favorites (Rom 2:11)
         3. God’s judgment will be consistent with His impeccability (Rom 2:12-16)
            1. Judgment will fall upon all sinners in a manner appropriate to the revelation of God afforded to them (Rom 2:12)
               1. Those who sin without the written Law, will be destroyed apart from the written Law (Rom 2:12a)
               2. Those who sin in reference to the written Law, will be condemned by the written Law (Rom 2:12b)
            2. Just being a hearer of the law is inadequate for righteousness, one must be a constant doer of the Law (Rom 2:13)
            3. Judgment will be rendered toward the Gentiles without the Law, based upon the witness of their conscience (Rom 2:14-15)
               1. The code by which Gentiles live is a kind of law to themselves (Rom 2:14)
               2. The conscience of the Gentiles bears witness to the work of the Law written in their hearts (Rom 2:15)
            4. Judgment will include the secrets of men, on the day when God judges through Jesus Christ (Rom 2:16)
      2. The inconsistency of an orthodox religion without the reality of faith—reveals an uncircumcised heart (Rom 2:17-29)
         1. The boast of orthodox religion—the issue of spiritual privilege and Jewish perspective (Rom 2:17-20)
            1. The privilege of the Jew (Rom 2:17-18)
               1. Recognized as one of God’s covenant people and chosen nation (Rom 2:17a)
               2. Resting upon the Law (Rom 2:17b)
               3. Rejoicing in the true God (Rom 2:17c)
               4. Recognizing the will of God (Rom 2:18)
            2. The perspective of the Jew (Rom 2:19-20)
               1. Confident of being a guide and a light to those who cannot see (Rom 2:19)
               2. Correcting the foolish and teaching the immature (Rom 2:20)
         2. The blasphemy of religion without the reality of faith—the issue of spiritual blindness and Jewish hypocrisy (Rom 2:21-24)
            1. Their blindness questioned (Rom 2:21-22)
               1. Do you not teach yourself (Rom 2:21a)
               2. Do you steal (Rom 2:21b)
               3. Do you commit adultery (Rom 2:22a)
               4. Do you rob temples (Rom 2:22b)
            2. Their blasphemy confirmed (Rom 2:23-24)
               1. The breaking of the law and reproach of God (Rom 2:23)
               2. The blasphemy of the Jews and the affirmation of the Old Testament (Rom 2:24)
         3. The bottom-line concerning the privilege of the Jew—the issue of spiritual circumcision and Jewish externalism (Rom 2:25-29)
            1. Semitic circumcision (being a Jew physically) is of no value if you are a transgressor of the Law (Rom 2:25)
            2. Specifically consider the scenario of a Gentile keeping the Law (Rom 2:26-27)
               1. Will he not be regarded as one of God’s people (Rom 2:26)
               2. Will he not judge the Jew who has transgressed God’s Law (Rom 2:27)
            3. Spiritual circumcision is a matter of the heart, rather than an external rite (Rom 2:28-29)
               1. A Jew is not a true Jew just because he is circumcised (Rom 2:28)
               2. A Jew is a true Jew only if his heart is circumcised by the Spirit (Rom 2:29)
      3. The inferable objections to Paul’s teaching, and his answers [anticipated objections to Paul’s argument answered]—the Jews are privileged; God is faithful; God is just; and God calls for holy living (Rom 3:1-8)
         1. Objection #1 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects God’s covenant with Israel (Rom 3:1-2)
            1. The anticipated question (Rom 3:1)
            2. The answer (Rom 3:2)
         2. Objection #2 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects God’s faithfulness (Rom 3:3-4)
            1. The anticipated question (Rom 3:3)
            2. The answer (Rom 3:4)
         3. Objection #3 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects God’s justice (Rom 3:5-6)
            1. The anticipated question (Rom 3:5)
            2. The answer (Rom 3:6)
         4. Objection #4 answered—Paul’s gospel rejects holy living (Rom 3:7-8)
            1. The anticipated question (Rom 3:7-8ab)
            2. The answer (Rom 3:8c)
   3. God’s verdict against all humanity (Rom 3:9-20)
      1. The charge against both Jew and Greek restated (Rom 3:9)
         1. The final question concerning self-righteousness (Rom 3:9a)
         2. The final confirmation that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin (Rom 3:9b)
      2. The confirmation of the Jewish Scriptures recounted (Rom 3:10-18)
         1. Man’s depravity is universal (Rom 3:10-12; cf. Psa 14:1c, 2b, 3; Psa 53:1c, 2b, 3)
            1. There is none who is righteous (Rom 3:10)
            2. There is none who has faith (Rom 3:11)
            3. There is none who does good (Rom 3:12)
         2. Man’s depravity is undeniable (Rom 3:13-18; cf. Psa 10:7; Isa 59:7-8; Psa 36:1)
            1. Men’s words reveal their depravity (Rom 3:13-14)
               1. Death and deception (Rom 3:13)
               2. Damnation and displeasure (Rom 3:14)
            2. Men’s works reveal their depravity (Rom 3:15-17)
               1. Injury (Rom 3:15)
               2. Misery (Rom 3:16)
               3. Hostility (Rom 3:17)
            3. Men’s want [lack] of genuine faith reveals his depravity (Rom 3:18)
      3. The culpability of the Jew re-emphasized (Rom 3:19-20)
         1. The Law renders all men accountable to God—even Jews (Rom 3:19)
         2. The Law reveals the knowledge of sin—but by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified before God (Rom 3:20)
2. The gospel proclaims the gift of God—justification by grace through faith in the righteous Savior (Rom 3:21-4:24)
   1. Justification by faith proclaimed [The revelation of the righteousness of God, received by faith] (Rom 3:21-31)
      1. The righteousness of God [a right standing before God] is received apart from works of the Law—through the faith of Jesus Christ—for all who trust Him (Rom 3:21-22a)
         1. The righteousness of God is revealed as apart from the Law (Rom 3:21a)
         2. The righteousness of God is reported by the Law and the Prophets (Rom 3:21b)
         3. The righteousness of God is received through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe (Rom 3:22a)
      2. The reckoning of sinners as righteous [a right standing before God] is a gift of God’s grace, through faith in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom 3:22b-26)
         1. The reckoning of a sinner as righteous is a gift of God’s grace (Rom 3:22b-24a)
            1. The universal need for God’s righteousness (Rom 3:22b-23)
            2. The unmerited favor that imputes God’s righteousness to those who believe (Rom 3:24a)
         2. The reckoning of a sinner as righteous is obtained through faith in the redemption that Christ accomplished by His sacrifice (Rom 3:24b-25a)
            1. The redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24b)
            2. The Redeemer who was presented as the satisfactory sacrifice through faith (Rom 3:25a)
         3. The redemptive work of Christ is proof that God is both a righteous Judge and gracious Savior (Rom 3:25b-26)
            1. In Christ’s sacrifice, God’s justice is demonstrated in regard to not punishing sin long ago (Rom 3:25b)
            2. In Christ’s sacrifice, God’s justice is demonstrated in regard to His justification of sinners who trust in Jesus (Rom 3:26)
   2. Justification by faith pictured in the Old Testament [The reception of the righteousness of God by faith, illustrated] (Rom 4:1-25)
      1. The Scriptures testify that God justifies the ungodly by means of faith, apart from works (Rom 4:1-8)
         1. The case of Abraham’s justification (Rom 4:1-5)
            1. An inquiry into Abraham’s right standing before God (Rom 4:1-2)
               1. Abraham’s pre-eminence in Jewish-Gentile justification (Rom 4:1)
               2. Abraham’s proud confidence before God—in works or God’s promise? (Rom 4:2)
            2. An inspired testimony concerning Abraham’s right standing before God (Rom 4:3)
            3. An incompatibility between works and grace (Rom 4:4-5)
               1. Works depend on wages due (Rom 4:4)
               2. Faith depends on Him who justifies the ungodly (Rom 4:5)
         2. The confirmation of David’s psalm (Rom 4:6-8)
            1. The blessing of justification by faith, apart from works, introduced (Rom 4:6)
            2. The blessing of lawless deeds forgiven (Rom 4:7a)
            3. The blessing of sins covered (Rom 4:7b)
            4. The blessing of sin not taken into account (Rom 4:8)
      2. The setting of Abraham’s justification confirms that God justifies a man by means of faith, apart from an external rite like circumcision (Rom 4:9-12)
         1. Who receives the divine favor of justification—the circumcised only or the uncircumcised also? (Rom 4:9)
            1. The question (Rom 4:9a)
            2. The quotation (Rom 4:9b)
         2. When was Abraham justified—before or after his circumcision? (Rom 4:10)
            1. The question (Rom 4:10a)
            2. The chronology (Rom 4:10b)
         3. Why then was Abraham circumcised after he had already been declared righteous before God? (Rom 4:11-12)
            1. Abraham was circumcised as a visible mark of the faith that he had while uncircumcised (Rom 4:11a)
            2. Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, so that he might be the father of all who are justified by faith without being circumcised (Rom 4:11b)
            3. Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, so that he might be the father of all who are circumcised, yet are justified by faith as he was (Rom 4:12)
      3. The sure promise of righteousness is not obtained by means of the law, but by means of faith (Rom 4:13-25)
         1. The promise of God is obtained by faith rather than law (Rom 4:13-17a)
            1. The promise of God to Abraham and his seed is through the righteousness of faith rather than through Law keeping (Rom 4:13)
            2. The promise of God is nullified if it must be earned through Law keeping (Rom 4:14)
            3. The produce of Law keeping in order to obtain God’s promise, is wrath and transgression (Rom 4:15)
            4. The promise of God is guaranteed to those who are of faith, in accordance with grace (Rom 4:16-17a)
               1. The principle of faith in accordance with grace (Rom 4:16a)
               2. The people who are guaranteed the promise (Rom 4:16b-17a)
         2. The perspective of faith is one of trust in God and His Word (Rom 4:17b-22)
            1. Abraham trusted in God’s Person as the object of his faith (Rom 4:17b)
            2. Abraham trusted in God’s power to keep His promise (Rom 4:17c)
            3. Abraham trusted in God’s promise as revealed in His Word (Rom 4:18-21)
               1. Faith trusts specifically in God’s revealed Word (Rom 4:18)
               2. Faith trusts in God’s Word even when circumstances would deny the possibility of it coming to pass (Rom 4:19)
               3. Faith does not dispute with God’s Word, but rather gives glory to God (Rom 4:20)
               4. Faith leads to the conviction that what God has promised, He is able to do (Rom 4:21)
            4. Abraham’s trust was also credited to him as righteousness (Rom 4:22)
         3. The promise of imputed righteousness by faith, applies to New Testament believers as well (Rom 4:23-25)
            1. The principle of imputed righteousness through faith, applies not only to Abraham, but to New Testament believers as well (Rom 4:23-24)
            2. The passion and resurrection of Christ is the ultimate basis for the believer’s righteous standing before God (Rom 4:25)