Lesson

Part 2
Establishing Common Ground
The Universal Need for Salvation
Romans 1: 1-32

Romans 1:1-17 Paul letter to the Roman Christians begins with him giving the statement of purpose which is salvation and a prayer of thanksgiving. He also provides a thesis that the Gospel is the dynamic word of God and that the Word is effective salvation to ALL PEOPLE who receive it in and attitude of divine authority and truth.

Romans 1: 18-32
Paul establishes the common ground for understanding that there is only one God and he is the creator of everything. Paul defines God’s wrath and his understanding of sin as denying God’s authority and asserting your own authority. Paul also states that there is consequence to disobedience which is just and impartial.

Next week we will start our lesson at Romans 2: 1 – 3:20 – Divine Justice
Notes to consider for next week
1. Tension between doctrine of salvation by grace and faith versus Jewish concept of doing what is “law” – a system of reward and punishment
2. Conscience – right v. wrong
3. Use of diatribe – uses a verbal tool of taking to a hypothetical person
4. Judged on basis of our actions not ethnicity, religious practice, or wisdom
5. Chap 3 – humanity’s need for salvation, inability of the “law” to save


Jo Anne Robinson