MEMORY VERSE
Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Paul’s epistle (letter) to the Romans was the first among his epistles (Romans through Hebrews). The book of Romans is the first in both doctrinal and canonical order, and rightly so, because it contains the ABCs of Christian education. In the first and second chapters, Paul is speaking primarily to the Gentiles about all the sins they committed. (Romans 1–2) In the latter part of the second and third chapters, Paul is speaking primarily to the Jews about all the sins they committed. (Romans 3) Paul includes in Romans 3:23 that they — Jews and Gentiles — have all sinned and come short of the glory of God and are in need of redemption through Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:24–26)
Sin Entered the World in the Garden of Eden
- The Garden of Eden was a large territory.
- The Garden of Eden was not just some regular garden in your home.
- The Garden of Eden stretched from East Africa (Ethiopia) to Syria.
- There were 4 large rivers in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:11–14)
- God gave Adam the supernatural ability to cover this large territory of the garden. (Genesis 2:15–25)
- Adam had the Holy Spirit and was a brilliant person before he sinned.
- We must be careful because the devil will try to tell you that you are missing out.
- By one man (Adam), sin entered the world, and death by sin. (Romans 5:12)
God Drove Man Out of the Garden Because of Sin
- After the fall of man, man could not go back to the garden. (Genesis 3:23–24)
- Man became angry with God because they could not go back to the garden.
- Man knew where the garden was.
- Man did not like God because they did not want to follow his laws.
- Paul describes the attitude man had towards God. (Romans 1:21–24)
- This is why man created idol gods to make up their own laws to live by.
- At this time, the Earth was Pangea (one large landmass).
- After Noah’s flood, man no longer knew where the Garden of Eden was.
- The division of the continents occurred during the Tower of Babel. (Genesis 11:1–9)
- In Peleg’s day, the earth was divided. (Genesis 10:25)
Why Does Paul Address the Jews in This Epistle?
- The Jews thought they were holy.
- The Jews had a lot going for them — circumcision and oracles of God. (Romans 3:1–2)
- The Jews had the advantage — the law, adoption, and covenant. (Romans 9:4–5)
- The Jews had Moses, who was the greatest prophet unto them.
- Moses gave them the law, the Ten Commandments, and brought them out of Egypt.
- Moses talked to God, but the Jews also sinned. (Exodus 32)
- Paul said, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
- What is the glory of God? Jesus Christ, who brings in redemption. (Romans 3:24)
- Paul said they were sinners, and the Jews didn’t like being called sinners.
- Paul said you sinned like everybody else; they said, “No, we are Jews.” (Romans 2–3)
- Jesus died for the ungodly when we were without strength. (Romans 5:6)
The Jews Divided Men Into Four Classes
- The Just who said: What is mine is mine; what is thine is thine.
- The accommodating one said: What is mine is thine; what is thine is thine.
- The pious who said: What is mine is thine; what is thine let it be thine.
- The ungodly who said: What is mine is mine; what is thine shall be mine.
The Jews Did Not Think They Were As Bad As the Idol Worshippers in Rome
- The Roman Empire ruled the world during the time of this epistle.
- The Romans had their idols (gods) and national idols (gods).
- The Jews said we are not sinners because we don’t worship idols.
- The Jews thought they were not as bad as the Romans, Greeks, and all those who worshipped idols.
- Paul told the Jews that they had sinned because they had come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
What If Some Do Not Believe?
- Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (Romans 3:3)
- God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? (Romans 3:4–6)
- Some were saying that Paul was going around teaching that the more we sin, the more grace God gives us. (Romans 3:8)
- Paul said, Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound to keep one from sin. (Romans 5:20)
We Are Saved Through Faith
- Abraham was the first person recorded in the Bible to be justified by faith. (Genesis 15:6)
- Abraham was an uncircumcised Gentile when he first met God. (Genesis 12:1–3)
- Abraham received the sign of circumcision by faith. (Romans 4:11)
- Abraham believed in God.
- To be saved, we must believe the gospel.
- We must believe the truth about Jesus. (John 1:12–13; Ephesians 4:20–21)
- You are saved by what you understand and believe about Jesus.
- You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)
- You are saved because you have been chosen. (Ephesians 1:3–5)
- One must understand, believe, and be sure they are saved. (II Peter 1:10)
- If not, the evil spirit will tell you that you can’t be saved.
How Do You Get Saved?
- The first thing one needs to do is hear the word. (Romans 10:13–17; Ephesians 1:13)
- The next thing to do is think about the word.
- One scripture supports another scripture.
- The Holy Spirit will help us to believe the word.
- Make a decision that what you have been told is true. (Acts 3:19)
- Because you believe the truth about Jesus, you will get filled with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:12–13; Acts 10:44–48)
- You will become set free from what held you in unbelief, because whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Colossians 1:12–13; Romans 14:23)
- You become free of that power of sin, and salvation comes to you.
- Salvation is deliverance from the power of sin.
The Holy Spirit Agrees With the Word (I John 5:7)
- The Holy Spirit helps us to believe in the impossible.
- You can’t just believe that God raised Jesus from the dead after 3 full days and nights; you need the Holy Ghost to help you.
- As the truth of Jesus is taught more, the doctrine becomes stronger. (Romans 10:17)
- 500 Brethren saw Jesus after the resurrection once because they believed the same thing about Jesus. (I Corinthians 15:6)
- We believe we are saved not just because we speak in tongues, but because we believe the truth about Jesus. (John 1)
