Romans 1

Romans 1:1¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1)-Romans 1:17¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17). This is the introduction of the epistle. Paul begins it by introducing his apostleship, showing how Christ had called him, and separated him to the gospel of God (Acts 9:15-16; 26:15-18¹⁵But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: ¹⁶For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:15‑16)
¹⁵And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. ¹⁶But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; ¹⁷Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, ¹⁸To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:15‑18)). He was an apostle by Christ’s call, the apostle of the Gentiles as Peter was to the Jews (see Rom. 5; Rom. 11:13¹³For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: (Romans 11:13); Gal. 2:8⁸(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) (Galatians 2:8)).

The gospel was the glad tidings of God, showing forth His character and nature, and His actings towards man for his salvation. It was the subject of promise in old testament writings, but now a revealed thing in Christ; prophets searched into it and inquired what or what manner of time the Spirit that was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow, unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they ministered these things (that is, this grace and salvation) which are now reported unto you through them that preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven (1 Pet. 1:10-12¹⁰Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: ¹¹Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. ¹²Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10‑12)). But what was a subject of promise in old testament writings, was a salvation now preached, and to be now received.

The subject of the gospel was concerning God’s Son, come of David’s seed according to flesh, but marked out Son of God, in power, according to spirit of holiness, by resurrection of dead ones. (This is the literal translation.)

This was what He was according to flesh, and what faith discerned, according to spirit, even during His life down here, but fully marked out by His own resurrection from the dead! Son of David was Christ’s Jewish title after the flesh (Matt. 1:1¹The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)). It was His royal title to the throne of Jerusalem. The Jews had all the privileges as to this title (see Rom. 9:4-5⁴Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; ⁵Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:4‑5)), and Jesus Christ became a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers (Rom. 15:8⁸Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: (Romans 15:8)). The Gentiles could claim no blessing under this title (Matt. 15:22-24²²And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. ²³But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. ²⁴But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:22‑24)). They had no promises after the flesh.

But He was also marked out as Son of God in power according to spirit of holiness by resurrection of dead ones! As Son of God, He revealed God and overleaped all barriers; He was the God not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles (Rom. 3:29²⁹Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: (Romans 3:29)). He could sit down on a well face to face with a poor Samaritan, could unveil her heart to herself, and then reveal Himself to her as the Christ. He could say of a Roman centurion, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” As Son of God, He raised Jairus’s daughter, the widow of Nain’s son, and Lazarus; death yielded to His power! Satan, sin, death, and hades could not stop His victorious progress; and He raised Himself triumphant from the grave, declared by this act as well as His previous ones to be Son of God according to spirit of holiness.

As such, also, He reveals God in His nature to us, and as Father, and introduces all believers into His own place before God and the Father, and puts them in a like relationship with God, Jew as well as Gentile, that is, that of “sons of God.” It was under this title that Paul preached Him in the synagogue at Damascus (Acts 9:20²⁰And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)), for it had pleased God to reveal His Son in him at that time (Gal. 1:16¹⁶To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Galatians 1:16)). The Son of God had given him his apostleship for obedience to the faith amongst all nations! As “Son of David” Christ was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As “Son of God,” the gospel went out to all, Gentiles as well as Jews.

But if Paul was an apostle by call, the Roman saints were also the called of Jesus Christ. When a person is made to hear the Son of God’s voice in the gospel, he is quickened; it is the call of Jesus Christ to his soul, which converts him and turns him to God; none of the blessings of Christianity such as forgiveness, salvation, justification, and sealing, are possessed by him, except as first called of God. It is the first link of the soul with God, not full Christianity in itself, but all important and all necessary as the beginning. It is to these called ones, saints, that the apostle gives the usual salutation of “grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Viewed as the body of Christ, they were perfect, and had no need of mercy (see 1 Cor. 1:3³Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3); 2 Cor. 1:2²Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:2); Gal. 1:3³Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, (Galatians 1:3); Eph. 1:2²Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:2); Col. 1:2²To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:2); Phil. 1:2²Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2); 1 Thess. 1:1¹Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:1); 2 Thess. 1:2²Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:2); also Philemon), seeing that the Assembly at his house is addressed. Individuals had need of mercy, and when Paul addresses an individual, the word mercy is added, owing to the sin and infirmities still in them (see 1 Tim. 1:2²Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:2); 2 Tim. 1:2²To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (2 Timothy 1:2); Titus 1:4⁴To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:4)).

The apostle now thanks God that the faith of the Roman saints was spoken of throughout the world. “God is my witness,” says he, “whom I serve in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing, I mention you always in my prayers, making request if by any means, now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you.” Ardently did he desire to see them that he might impart to them some spiritual gift to the end they might be established, and that they might have mutual comfort from each other’s faith. He had been hindered hitherto getting to see them, but he felt a debtor to the Greek, and to the barbarian, to the wise, and the unwise, so that he was ready at any moment to preach the gospel to them that were in Rome also.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel,” says he, “for it is God’s power unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; for in it God’s righteousness by faith is revealed to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” Mark, dear reader, it is God’s righteousness, that kind of righteousness, not man’s righteousness for God, but God’s for man; man receives it on the principle of faith, and it is revealed to faith, where ever that was to be found. It was no longer a. question of a nation outwardly separated to God, as the Jewish nation was, with the law, who were under it, as the measure of their responsibility; that would be man’s righteousness for God; but this, God’s righteousness for man, was unto all, Jew and Gentile alike, though only upon all that believed (Rom. 1:16-17¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16‑17)).

In these two verses, we have a summary of the chief part of the epistle. What wonderful words! The gospel of God is about to be declared; it is the gospel of God as to its source (Rom. 1:1¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1)). It is the gospel of God’s Son, as to its subject and character (Rom. 1:9⁹For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; (Romans 1:9)). In Romans 1:16¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16) it is the gospel, as the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, in it God’s righteousness is revealed. It is for man to stand still, hear, and believe in the salvation of God.

Romans 1:17¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17). The apostle here quotes from the prophet Habakkuk (see Hab. 2:4⁴Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)). He contrasts the governmental dealings of God with the Jewish nation with His present dealings under the gospel. The just Jew of that day was to live by faith in God’s promises, in view of the coming judgment of the Chaldæans. The just man now lived by faith in the righteousness revealed in the gospel, in view of God’s wrath revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness. It is God’s wrath from heaven, not merely a governmental dealing like that of the king of Babylon! The latter judgment had to do with time; God’s wrath from heaven with eternity.

The apostle now turns away from his subject of God’s salvation to show the necessity of it from man’s state as a sinner. From Romans 1:18¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18) to the end of the chapter the state of the Gentile world is described. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because the Gentiles or heathen are responsible to God for two reasons — first, that which is known of God is manifest in them; they themselves were the proof of the existence of the Creator; besides, God had shown it unto them. The works of creation, the sun, moon and stars, heavens, earth, sea, etc., all bore witness to the existence of the Creator. His eternal power and Godhead were thus manifested, so that they were without excuse; but secondly, knowing God they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful, they ceased to worship Him, then foolish reasonings ensued (Rom. 1:21²¹Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)), and their foolish heart became darkened; thinking themselves to be wise they became fools, and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible, man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Thus false worship ensued (Rom. 1:25²⁵Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)), and as a judicial consequence God gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their heart to dishonor their bodies between themselves. Sad picture of the declension of man from the days of Noah.

The state of his heart is described from Romans 1:21-27²¹Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²²Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. ²⁴Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. ²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:21‑27), and the state of his mind, from Romans 1:28-33; his body being given up to all kind of wickedness as the judicial consequence. Love was turned into lust. The heart which ought to have centered itself upon God was centered on the creature, the truth of God was changed into a lie, and the creature was honored more than the Creator; thus the truth was held in unrighteousness, idolatry took the place of the worship of the true God, though the form of religion remained.

Romans 1:26²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans 1:26). Wherefore God gave them up to vile affections, and so forth. How sad, yet how true. It is an ever true principle, that according to our estimate and knowledge of God, that our worship will be, and a higher or lower morality will ensue.

But not only did their heart go wrong, and as a judicial consequence the body was given up to lust, but their mind too; they did not like to retain God in their knowledge (Rom. 1:28²⁸And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)), and the judicial consequence was that God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to practice unseemly things, and to invent all kinds of evil and wickedness (Rom. 1:29-31²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Romans 1:29‑31)), and although they knew that the judgment of God was against those that committed such things, they not only did the same, but had pleasure in those that did them. Solemn facts as to the heathen world! God is said to have given them up three times, (Rom. 1:24²⁴Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: (Romans 1:24); Rom. 1:26²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans 1:26); Rom. 1:28²⁸And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)), bodies, affections, mind, all given up; you might say the whole man. You say, perhaps, my reader, “Ah! this is the heathen world.” Yes, but tell me about the state of the profession of Christianity today; we see, alas! almost the same things committed in Christendom in the present day as those described here; and this state is described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1‑5), with one thing added, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”