26-0215sc - Detailed Summary

Steve begins the class by announcing they will study the first chapter of Romans that morning. He introduces hermeneutics, explaining it as the Greek word for the science of studying the Bible, a process scholars follow. He shares that he learned about it during his preaching school days, otherwise he would not have known it. Steve emphasizes the need to remember who Paul was writing to, noting that reading the letter is like overhearing a one-sided cell phone conversation. Just as you infer the listener’s identity from the speaker’s words—whether spouse, kids, or friends—so too must they listen to Paul’s side to understand his audience and message. This approach helps figure out why Paul says what he does.

Paul addresses the church in Rome, which was likely not founded by a specific apostle but by individuals present at Pentecost who heard Peter’s sermon. These people simply did what they knew best, resulting in a diverse congregation of varying backgrounds. The primary audience appears to be Jewish, with the remainder Gentiles. Unlike the unified Jewish faith in one God, Gentiles come from all nationalities—Greeks, Chinese, Asians, and others—each with their own concepts of faith and deities. Steve struggles momentarily with the term but clarifies that Gentiles represent a broad mix, setting the stage for understanding the church’s composition and potential tensions.

Steve urges the class to consider what the Roman church needs to know amid apparent conflicts between Jews, who believe they know proper worship, and Gentiles converted from diverse faiths like Islam or others, now embracing Christianity. Paul aims to guide them toward a specific belief in the God who led the Israelites, the same one who took Abraham—a former non-believer—by the hand to faith in the Creator. To illustrate what pleases God, Steve turns to Hebrews 11:5 from the New International Version, recounting how Enoch was taken without dying because he pleased God through faith. The writer explains that without faith it is impossible to please God, as one must believe He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him. This underscores the core issue: genuine belief in the God of creation, proven by daily life.

Steve stresses that true belief in God—His existence and role as rewarder of diligent seekers—is demonstrated solely through how one lives and interacts with Him. Paul highlights this to the Romans: the only proof of faith is one’s lifestyle. He recounts Abraham’s story to show incomplete belief. God promised to protect Abraham, lead him to an inheritance, and bless the world through him if he followed. Abraham set out but took his family to Haran, staying until his father and brother died, delaying full obedience. Even then, he brought nephew Lot for security, despite God’s command to leave family. When herdsmen clashed, Abraham offered Lot first choice of land. Lot selected the fertile area near Sodom and Gomorrah for easier living, revealing Abraham’s lingering doubts.

Continuing Abraham’s journey, Steve points out his faltering faith upon entering unfamiliar lands. Fearing hostile people who might kill him for his beautiful wife, Abraham had her pose as his sister, ignoring God’s promise to bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him. This act shows Abraham did not fully believe God existed or would protect him. Steve challenges the class: where do we stand in believing God? Paul writes to the Romans to ensure they all believe in the same God—the one of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—not idols. Jews claim this faith, but history shows otherwise, as Paul seeks to unify them in true belief, like the patriarchs.

The Jews supposedly believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, yet failed to fully cast out the prior inhabitants' gods, assimilating their worship. Steve references King Asa (noting possible name mix-up but proceeding), a God-fearing ruler who ordered the temple cleansed of various idolatrous practices: necromancers, star-readers, and other false worship forms found inside, alongside the discovered Deuteronomy scroll. This revealed God’s wrath for neglecting the Passover feast. Asa consulted priests, and upon resuming the feast, God forgave their sins. Steve ties this to the Roman church: regardless of Jewish or Gentile conversions from varied faiths, the key is worshiping the true living God, shown by lives that reflect genuine belief.

Paul wants the Roman believers—Jews and Gentiles alike—to realize and live out faith in the true God, just as He desired for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Steve loves studying Jacob, who initially doubted. Fleeing his brother, Jacob dreamed of a ladder with angels ascending and descending; God reaffirmed the Abrahamic promises. In response, Jacob proposed a conditional bargain: if God safely returned him home, then he would accept the Lord as his God. This illustrates early reservations mirroring the church’s need for unwavering belief. Steve concludes the segment by emphasizing that worship and daily actions must prove devotion to the God who rewards seekers, unifying the diverse Roman congregation. Steve continues with Jacob’s story, describing how Jacob’s conditional proposition to God—if God safely returns him home, then he will believe—only becomes genuine faith later. After leaving Laban with his family and herds, Jacob fears confronting his brother Esau, whom he wronged by stealing the birthright. In his distress, Jacob wrestles with an angel, and God disables him by striking his thigh, making him lame. This forces Jacob to rely on God rather than his own strength. When he finally meets Esau, Esau harbors no grudge and agrees to peaceful coexistence. Jacob then recognizes God’s divine intervention and fulfills his promise, fully embracing faith in God who protects and guides him.

Paul urges the Roman church to develop the same faith that Jacob, Abraham, and Isaac eventually showed—complete trust that God will care for them. He wants Gentiles to abandon their former gods, recognizing them as no gods at all, and accept the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Simultaneously, he calls Jews to embrace this same unwavering faith. The goal is peaceful coexistence between Jews and Gentiles in the church, unified under one God. Steve pauses to ask for questions or comments before diving into Romans itself. He corrects his earlier mention of King Asa, clarifying it was Josiah (and mentioning his admiration for Hezekiah) who led temple reforms.

Paul seeks for believers to exhibit the same faith in God, proven by how they live. Steve quotes the psalm that the fool says in his heart there is no God, noting that many people do not truly believe, as shown by their lives. Their refusal to conform to God’s will reveals disbelief. Because they reject God, they pursue their own ways and desires. Paul will highlight this in Romans, showing how unbelief manifests in actions. Steve emphasizes that genuine belief in God is only evident through one’s lifestyle, morals, ethics, and values—determining whether someone truly fears God.

Paul identifies himself and his credentials as God’s messenger, aiming to reconcile people to Him. He points out that, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, everyone’s faith falls short at times, requiring God to take them by the hand to develop true faith. Paul wants the Roman church to unite, dropping the baggage each convert brings—whether Gentile or Jewish—from prior beliefs and lifestyles. This involves repentance: turning from disbelief, old attitudes, and sinful ways to accept God’s thinking and conform life to Him. Repentance means declaring belief in God, giving up former disbelief, and embracing His will fully.

Steve reads from the New International Version of Romans 1:1-3. Paul describes himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. This is God’s gospel, focused on reconciling people to Him through forgiveness of unbelief if they repent and accept Him. Paul acts as Christ’s ambassador, delivering God’s message of reconciliation through Jesus, crediting righteousness to believers. The gospel was promised beforehand through prophets in Holy Scripture, concerning God’s Son—Jesus, a descendant of David in his earthly life. This fulfills requirements for the Messiah (Christ, the anointed one), who must descend from Abraham and David.

Jesus was declared the Son of God in power by the resurrection from the dead, through the Spirit of holiness. The resurrection serves as God’s powerful proof and the Holy Spirit’s vindication that Jesus qualifies as the true Son of God. Steve connects this to believers' baptism for remission of sins, where they receive the Holy Spirit as a gift that verifies and justifies them, declaring them qualified. The Holy Spirit acts as an earnest or down payment, guaranteeing presentation before God without spot or blemish. Through resurrection, God reversed the Sanhedrin’s false verdict of heresy, affirming Jesus' identity, granting forgiveness of sins, and imputing righteousness—making believers spotless before God.

Paul explains that through Jesus, they received grace and apostleship to call Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith, for God’s namesake. This defends God’s ultimate power and holiness, demonstrated through believers' lives. Steve references Moses pleading with God not to destroy Israel, arguing it would make God a laughingstock among nations—appealing to God’s namesake. Likewise, Christians' lives must reflect God’s holiness and existence for His namesake. Paul addresses the Romans as among the Gentiles called to belong to Jesus Christ, loved by God and called to be His holy people—the church. He greets them with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation rests on God’s grace—He loved the world and gave His Son so believers have eternal life, offering righteousness freely without works. Jesus also extends grace by voluntarily humbling Himself. Steve directs to Philippians 2:5-?, reading from the New International Version: In relationships, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God…​ The transcript cuts off mid-verse as Steve begins reading about Christ’s humility and mindset. This ties into grace shown through Jesus' self-emptying and obedience, modeling the attitude believers should adopt. Steve continues reading from Philippians 2 in the New International Version, emphasizing Jesus' grace. Being in very nature God, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped or used for His own advantage. Instead, He made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and appearing as a man. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This demonstrates Jesus' voluntary grace in cooperation with God’s will, humbling Himself to offer salvation.

Paul’s greeting of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ shows harmony between them, as both exercise grace toward humanity and desire peace with God. Through Jesus, God offers righteousness—being considered right in relation to the law, meaning no sin—and the opportunity to stand before God without spot or blemish. This is the core of the gospel Paul writes about: God offers righteousness, reconciliation, and forgiveness through Jesus. The terms require belief that righteousness comes through Jesus alone as the way to God. Paul will later defend God’s own righteousness, but here the focus is on imputed righteousness for believers through forgiveness of sins.

In Romans 1:8, Paul says, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world." Steve highlights the importance of praying through Jesus, recognizing Him as the high priest who presents prayers and petitions to God. Believers approach God through Jesus because He offered His sacrifice, granting access. Paul thanks God through Jesus for the Romans' faith, which is renowned worldwide. This ties back to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the same God Paul serves and proclaims through the gospel of His Son.

Paul declares that God, whom he serves with his spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is witness to how constantly he remembers the Romans in prayer. He prays that now, at last, by God’s will, the way may be opened for him to visit them. Steve pauses here to discuss "God’s will," noting we do not always know it precisely, but Paul expresses belief in divine intervention, providence, and preservation. Paul trusts that if it is God’s will, he will come. Later in the letter, Paul explains delays due to other divine priorities, like delivering famine relief funds to Jerusalem before visiting Rome. He apologizes for not arriving sooner, attributing timing to God’s will.

Paul’s faith in God’s divine intervention is evident from his life experiences. During missionary journeys, the Holy Spirit prevented him from entering certain areas, but a vision of Macedonia directed him elsewhere. Most crucially, Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, transforming him from persecutor to believer—if not for that intervention, he would not be a Christian. Steve affirms his own belief in God’s providence and preservation, stating this will be the theme of his morning sermon. With time up, he thanks the class for listening and concludes the session.