Gospel truth dominates the book of Romans. But that does not mean that this book only tells us how to be justified and forgiven of our sins. We are looking at a larger spectrum of what the Gospel means and how it is applied to us throughout our whole lives.

Romans 1:1-18 - The Effect of the Gospel

Let's look for perspectives concerning the gospel that Paul reveals in Romans 1:1-8.

• Romans 1:1 - "The gospel of God" separates us for God's purpose.


• Romans 1:5-7 - Jesus Christ, through the gospel, gives us grace and calls us all to be "saints."


• Romans 1:2-3 - The gospel has its roots in the Old Testament Scriptures.


• Romans 1:4 - The gospel is attended with the power of God - resurrection power.


• Romans 1:5-8 - The gospel call is of world-wide importance - to both the Jew and the Gentile.

Next, let's look at how the Gospel affected Paul and how he hoped it would affect others, as stated in Romans 1:8-18.

Romans 1:8-9 - The gospel of God's Son caused Paul to "serve God with his spirit / with all his heart."

Romans 1:10-13 - The gospel of God's Son caused Paul to desire to prosper in the will of God.
Paul yearned to be with fellow believers, to share the comfort of mutual faith, to build them up spiritually, to have fruitful fellowship (I Thessalonians 2:17).

Romans 1:14-16 - The Gospel of God's Son gave Paul three certainties about himself.

Note three times Paul said "I am." - "I am debtor"… "I am ready / eager"… "I am not ashamed." Paul did not say that he was eager to preach the gospel for the church at Rome - trying to make more converts. That was certainly another desire he had. But Paul stated that the believers needed the gospel preached to them!

Gospel-Centered Preaching - All Scripture must be explained in the context of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the only way to truly interpret the Bible. "The truth as it is in Jesus" protects us from false teaching (Ephesians 4:21). This method of interpretation keeps us from the errors of legalism, lawlessness, formalism, ritualism, mysticism, and basically from all other "isms."

Therefore, Paul preached the gospel to Christians - to people who already believed, who were justified and forgiven. The gospel message gives the believer understanding, discernment, and motivation. It empowers the believer, in this life, to continually trust the Lord, to spiritually grow, to become more like Christ, to faithfully follow and serve the Lord. Through the gospel, Christ ministers "grace and truth" (John 1:14-17; 6:63; 14:15-20 cp. Matthew 28:18-20).

Examples of how the gospel is relevant to all other Bible teaching:

• The Nature of God - Romans 2:4; 3:20-26; 11:1-36; 15:4-7


• Sanctification and Service - I Corinthians 6:1-20; II Corinthians 5:14-21; Titus 2:11-14.


• The Proper Use of the Old Testament - Luke 24:44-48; Romans 16:25-27; I Timothy 1:3-11.


• Love, Relationships, Stewardship - Ephesians 5:21-33; I John 3:16-18; II Corinthians 8:7-9.


• Personal Standards and Convictions - Romans 14:1-18 (whole chapter).


• Prayer and Social Concerns - I Timothy 2:1-8; Titus 3:1-8; Romans 8:28-39.


• Resurrection / Future Events - I Corinthians 15:1-28, I Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:9-11.

Please study and meditate on the centrality of Christ and the gospel:

• Matthew 11:27-30; 28:18-20


• John 4:10,14; 5:20-47; 6:27-35,63; 7:37-39; 8:30-36; John 10:27-30; 15:1-16; 16:33


• Luke 24:44-48


• I Corinthians 1:17 - 2:16; 3:10-11; II Corinthians 3:18


• Ephesians 1:1 - 3:21 (cp. Ephesians 4:20-21 - KJV, NKJV, NASB)


• Philippians 1:20-21; 2:5-16; 3:10 (cp. Galatians 2:20); Philippians 4:13,19


• Colossians 1:9 - 2:10; 3:16


• II Timothy 1:7-13; 3:15-17


• Hebrews 4:12-16; 12:2-3


• I Peter 1:18-25; II Peter 3:18


• I John 2:22-23; 5:4-5,9-13,20