ROMANS

General Outline

by Arles Vandiver

INTRODUCTION

(1:1--17)

  I.  His SALUTATION. . . (1:1-7)

      A.  From "PAUL. . ."  (1:1-5)

      B.  To all "in ROME. . ."  (1:6-7)

 II.  His "PRAYER. . ."  (1:8-12)

      A.  "Thanksgiving for you all. . ."  (1:8-9)

      B.  "making REQUEST. . ."  (1:10-12)

III.  His "PURPOSE. . ."  (1:13-15)

      A.  ". . .to COME to you. . ."  (1:13)

      B.  "a DEBTOR. . .ready to Preach"  (1:14-15)

IV.  His "UN-ASHAMEDNESS. . ." (1:16-17)

      A.  "of the GOSPEL. . .The Power of God. . ."  (1:16)

      B.  ". . .therein is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God"  (1:17)

THESIS:  Paul teaches Two Contrasting Thoughts:

      1.  Man's "SINFULNESS" and "CONDEMNATION". . .

      2.  GOD's "RIGHTEOUSNESS" and "REDEMPTION". . .

BODY

(1:18--15:13)

  I. MAN Has "Come Short of. . . the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD"  (1:18--3:20)

      A.  The UN-"Righteous" Man--a Condemned-"GENTILE"  (1:18--32)

             1.  "Knowledge" of GOD is Possible, IF. . . (1:18-20)

             2.  GOD was "Not Acknowledged". . .with CONSEQUENCES (1:21-32)

      B.  The SELF-"Righteous"  Man--a Condemned-"JEW"  (2:1--3:20)

             1.  SELF-"Righteous"  Critic/"Judge"  (2:1-29)

             2.  The LAW's "Condemnation" against such (3:1-20)

 !!.  GOD'S "RIGHTEOUSNESS"  is Now "GIVEN" to "SINNERS"  (3:21--5:11)

       A.  IT is to ALL "BELIEVERS"   "IN CHRIST"  (3:21--26)

             1.  "What Advantage then hath the JEW. . .?"  (3:1-8)

             2.  "What then, are WE better than THEY. . .?"  (3:9-20)

             3.  "But now The RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD; without the Law is

              Manifest. . ."  (3:21-26)

         4.  "Where is the BOASTING. . .?" (3:27-31)

                                                                                        (1)                                 --Arles Vandiver, Minister, Church of Christ

       B.  IT is "FULFILLMENT"  of the "COVENANT of PROMISE"  " to Abraham  

              . . ."  (4:1--25)

             1.  "WHAT SHALL WE SAY. . .that ABRAHAM. . .hath FOUND. . ."  

                   (4:1-8)

             2.  "This 'BLESSEDNESS'"  comes to whom?. . .and Abraham  was

                  "JUSTIFIED"  before his "Circumcision". (4:9-12)

             3.  "The PROMISE"  was "not. . .through the Law". . ."but through the

             RIGHTEOUSNESS of Faith".  (4:13-25)

             4.  "Therefore (We) being 'JUSTIFIED' (made Righteous). . .by FAITH

                  . . .in HOPE. . ."  (5:1-5)

             5.  "Christ DIED for the Ungodly. . .through WHOM we have Received

                  'ATONEMENT'. . ."  (5:6-11)

             6.  "By one man (Adam) SIN Entered. . .and the Gift of 'GRACE' by One

                  Man--JESUS CHRIST, hath Abounded to many. . ."  (5:12-21)

       C.  IT is "GIVEN" Through "BAPTISM" ! (6:1--7:25)

            1.  "WHAT SHALL WE SAY then. . .?"  (6:1-2)

             2.  "KNOW YE NOT that as many of Us as were BAPTIZED. . .?" (6:3-5)

                  a.  "KNOWING This, that our OLD MAN. . . " (6:6-8)

                  b.  "KNOWING that CHRIST being RAISED. . ." (6:9-14)

             3.  "WHAT THEN, SHALL WE SIN. . .?" (6:15-)

             4.  "KNOW YE NOT. . .that to Whom Ye Yield. . .Yourselves SERVANTS

               . . .unto RIGHTEOUSNESS". (6:16-23)      

             5.  "KNOW YE NOT. . .How that THE LAW Hath Dominion Over Man as

              Long as he lives. . ."  (7:1-6)

             6.  "WHAT SHALL WE SAY then. . .?  Is The LAW SIN?"  (7:7-13)

             7.  "FOR WE KNOW. . .that The LAW is SPIRITUAL, but I am Carnal--

              sold under SIN". (7:14-25)

      D.  In IT, "is therefore Now NO CONDEMNATION. . ."  (8:1--39)

             1.  ". . .to them who are IN CHRIST . . ."  (8:1)

             2.  ". . .the LAW of the SPIRIT of Life IN CHRIST. . ."  (8:2-3)

             3.  "That the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the LAW might be Fulfilled in US. . ."            

                  (8:4)

             4.  "They that are after the FLESH. . ."  (8:5-7)

             5.  ". . .so then they that are in the FLESH cannot Please God."  (8:8)

             6.  "But ye are not in the FLESH. . . and if Christ be in You. . . .

             "But, if the Spirit of Him that RAISED UP Jesus. . . Dwell in you

              . . .He shall also QUICKEN (Resurrect) your mortal bodies. . ."   

                   (8:9-11)

             7.  "Therefore. . .we are Debtors. . .that we may be GLORIFIED together."

                   (8:12-17)

                                                               (2)                --Arles Vandiver, Minister, Church of Christ                                  

          8.  "I reckon that the Sufferings. . .the Creature (Body) waits for the

             Manifestation. . .Creature shall be Delivered. . .the whole Creation   

              groans . . .but ourselves also. . .waiting for the Adoption--The 

             Redemption of our Body".  (8:18-25)

           9.  "Likewise the SPIRIT also helps. . .and them He also GLORIFIED".

                  (8:26-30)

          10. "WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY to these things. . .?"  " Who maketh

              Intercession for us?"  (8:31-34)

          11.  "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ. . .which is in Christ

             Jesus our Lord".  (8:35-39)

III.  GOD'S "RIGHTEOUSNESS"  is Seen in "ISRAEL'S"  HISTORY  (9:1--11:36)

       A.  "I SAY the Truth in Christ. . ."  (9:1--13)

             1.  "I have great Heaviness. . ." (9:1-5)

             2.  "Not as though the Word of God hath taken Non Effect. . ." (9:6-13)

       B.  "WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN. . .?"  (9:14--29)

             1.  " Is there UNRIGHTEOUSNESS with God . .?"  (9:14-18)

             2.  "Thou will SAY to me. . ."  (9:19-21)

             3.  "What if God, willing. . .?"  (9:22-29)

       C.  "WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN. . .?"  (9:30--33)

             1.  "The Gentiles who did not pursue RIGHTEOUSNESS. . ."  (9:30)

             2.  "But Israel, pursuing the Law of RIGHTEOUSNESS. . ."  (9:31)

             3.  "WHEREFORE. . .?"  (Why?) (9:32-33)

       D.  "My Heart's Desire. . .for Israel is. . ." (10:1--13)

             1.  ". . .for they, being Ignorant of God's RIGHTEOUSNESS"  (10:1-3)

             2.  ". . .for CHRIST is the End of RIGHTEOUSNESS. . ."  (10:4)

             3.  ". . .Moses describeth the RIGHTEOUSNESS. . . which is of The

                   Law"  (10:5)

             4.  "but the RIGHTEOUSNESS which is of Faith. . ."  (10:6-13)

       E.  "How then shall they CALL on Him. . .?"  (10:14--21)

             1.  "How shall they. . .?" (10:14-15)

             2.  "But they have not all Believed. . ."  (10:16-17)

             3.  "BUT, I SAY. . ."  (10:18-21)

 !V.  "HIS People's"  HISTORY SHOWS "To Whom Be GLORY"  (11:1--36)

       A.  "I SAY THEN. . .Hath God Cast Away His People. . .?"  (11:1)

             1.  "God hath not Cast Away. . ."  (11:2-4)

             2.  "Even-so. . .there is a Remnant. . .the Election. . .and the Rest were

              Blinded. . ."  (11:5-10)      

       B.  "I SAY THEN. . .have they Stumbled. . .?"  (11:11--15)

             1.  "God forbid. . ."  (11:11-12)

             2.  "I SPEAK to you Gentiles. . ."  (11:13-15)

                                                                                             (3)                         --Arles Vandiver, Minister, Church of Christ

       C.  "If the Firstfruit be Holy. . ."  (11:16-25)

             1.  "Then the Lump also. . ."  (11:16)

             2.  "The Tree. . .and Branches. . ."  (11:17)

             3.  "Boast Not. . ."  (11:18-25)

       D.  "So All Israel shall be Saved. . ."  (11:26-32)

             1.  "As it is written. . ."  (11:26-28)

             2.  "The Gifts and Calling of God. . ."  (11:29-32)

       E.  "Oh, the Depth of the Riches. . ."  (11:33-36)

             1.  "for who hath KNOWN. . ."  (11:34-35)

             2.  "for of HIM. . .Amen"  (11:36)

  V.  PAUL TEACHES The CHRISTIAN, "RIGHTEOUS"-LIVING (12:1--15:13)

       A.  GOD Should be Served in our "Bodily"-"Sacrifice".  (12:1--8)

             1.  "I Beseech you. . .that ye Present your Bodies. . ."  (12:1)

             2.  "And be not conformed. . ."  (12:2)

             3.  "I say. . .not to think more highly. . ."  (12:3)

            4.  "For as we have many Members. . . "  (12:4)

             5.  "Having then, Gifts. . ."   (12:6-8)

       B. Admonitions to Personal "Christian"  Relations (12:9--16)

             1.  "Let Love be. . ." (12:9-10)

             2.  "Not Slothful in Business. . ."  (12:11)

             3.  "Rejoicing. . .Patient. . .Continuing. . .Distributing. . .Given to. . .Bless

              them. . .Rejoice with them. . .Weep with them. . ." (12:12-15)

             4.  "Be of the same Mind. . ." (12:16)

       C.  Instructions in Dealing with Difficult "Men"/"Enemy" (12:17--21)

             1.  "Recompense to no man. . ." (12:17)

             2.  "If it be possible. . ." (12:18)

             3.  ". . .Avenge not. . ." (12:19)

             4.  "Therefore if thine Enemy. . ."  (12:20)

             5.  "Be not Overcome. . ."  (12:21)

       D.  Personal DUTIES to "the Higher Powers"  (13:1--7)

             1.  "Let every Soul be Subject to. . ." (13:1)

             2.  "Whoever Resisteth. . ." (13:2)

             3.  "Rulers are not a Terror. . .for he "is the minister of God. . ."  

                  (13:3-5)

            4.  "For this cause, Pay ye Tribute. . ."  (13:6-7)

       E.  MORTALITY and "THE LAW" FULFILLED by "LOVE" (13:8--10)

             1.  "Owe no Man anything, but to Love. . ."  (13:8)

             2.  "For this--Thou shalt not. . ."  (13:9)

             3.  "Love worketh no . . ."  (13:10)

                                                                                           (4)                          --Arles Vandiver, Minister, Church of Christ

       F.  Call to "Holiness"  Because the "End"  is "Near" !  (13:11--14)

             1.  ". . .knowing the time. . ." (13:11)

             2.  "The Night is far spent. . ."  (13:12)

             3.  "Let us walk honestly. . ."  (13:13-14)

      G.  "him that EATETH. . .him that EATETH NOT. . ."  (14:1--13)     

            1.  "Him who is weak in the Faith!. . ." (14:1)

             2.  "One. . .another." (14:2)

             3.  "Let not him who eateth. . .let not him who eateth not. . . " (14:3)

             4.  "Who art thou who Judgest. . ."  (14:4)          

             5.  "one man esteemeth. . .another. . ."  (14:5)

             6.  "He who Regardeth the day. . . " (14:6)

             7.  "For none of us Liveth. . .dieth to himself"  (14:7-8)

             8.  "to this end Christ both. . ."  (14:9)

             9.  "Why dost thou Judge thy Brother. . .?"  (14:10-13)

          10.  "I know. . ." (14:14)

          11.  "If thy Brother be. . ."  (14:15-16)

          12.  "The Kingdom of God is not. . .but. . ."  (14:17-19)

          13.  "for Meat destroy not. . ."  (14:20-21)

          14.  "Hast thou Faith. . .?"  (14:22-23)

      H.  "CHRIST" is our "EXAMPLE" and "HOPE"  (15:1--13)

             1.  "We then who are Strong. . . "  (15:1-2)

             2.  "For even Christ. . ."  (15:3-4)

             3.  "Now the God of Patience and. . .grant you to be. . . that ye may. . .

              Glorify God. . ." (15:5-6)                                                                                           

             4.  ". . . Receive ye one another. . .as Christ. . . "  (15:7)

             5.  "Now I say that Jesus was Minister of the Circumcision. . .that the

              Gentiles might Glorify God. . .and again He said--. . .and again--

                . . .  and again--. . ."  (15:8-12)

             6.  "Now the God of Hope fill you. . ."  (15:13)

                                                             (5)                            --Arles Vandiver, Minister, Church of Christ

CONCLUSION

(Rom. 15:14--16:27)

   I.  PAUL'S PERSONAL "DESIRE" and "PLANS" in His"MINISTRY" (15:14--33)

       A.  "I am Confident concerning you. . ."  (15:14)

             1.  ". . .you are full of Goodness. . ."

             2.  ". . .filled with all Knowledge. . ."

             3.  ". . .able to Admonish. . ."

       B.  "Nevertheless. . .I have written more Boldly. . ."  (15:15)

             1.  ". . .that I might be a Minister unto the Gentiles. . ."  (15:16)

             2.  "Therefore, I have reason to Glory. . ."  (15:17)

             3.  "I will not dare to Speak of any of these things. . ."  (15:18)

             4.  ". . .so that from Jerusalem round about Illyricum I have Preached

               . . ."  (15:20-21)

             5.  "and so, I have made it my Aim to Preach. . ."  (15:20-21)

       C.  Paul's "Desire" to Visit "the Church"  in "Rome"  (15:22-33)

             1.  ". . .I have been much Hindered. . ."  (15:22)

             2.  "But now having no more place. . ."  (15:23-24)

             3.  "But now I go to Jerusalem. . ."  (15:25-27)

             4.  "When therefore I have performed this. . ."  (15:28-29)

             5.   "I beseech you. . .that ye strive together with me. . ."  (15:30)

                   a.  ". . .that I may be delivered. . ."  (15:31)

                   b.  "that I may come to you. . ."  (15:32-33)

  II.  PAUL'S "SALUTATIONS"  and "DOXOLOGIES"  (16:1--27)

       A.  He "commends. . .Phebe. . ."  (16:1-2)

              1.  "I commend to you Phebe. . . "  (16:1)

              2.  "That ye receive her. . ."  (16:2)

       B.  "Greet. . .and Salute. . ."  (16:3-16)

       C.  "Now I beseech you. . .mark them. . ."  (16:17-20)

       D.  These "Salute you. . ."  (16:21-23)

       E.  "The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen."  (16:24)

       F.  "Now, to Him. . .but now is made manifest. . .to God only wise. . ." 

             (16:25-27) 

                                                                 (6)                     --Arles Vandiver, Minister, Church of Christ