Roman Problems Outline


Author: Michael, Whitney

Orig Date: Oct 18,2008

Filename: RomanProblems.pdf

Version: 1.0



  1. Fix Some Root Problems at Rome

    1. Address Romans' Resistance to See Their Problem

      1. Get attention of audience (1:1-32)

        1. Positive greetings (1:1-18)

        2. Entice through a sermon accusing others (1:18-32)

      2. Show audience they are guilty (2:1-16)

        1. State they are guilty of same things (2:1-2)

        2. Show hypocrisy (2:3-16)

      3. Lead audience deeper into judgmental attitude (2:17-29)

        1. Accusing a hypocritical Jew, if any existed there (2:17-27)

        2. Balance the accusation with a definition of true Jew (2:28-29)

        3. Show a benefit of being Jewish (3:1-2)

          • entrusted with oracles of God

          • God still faithful in promise to them

      4. Paul shows he understood the Romans' complaint (3:3-9)

        1. Accusations of Jews about Believers' being liars (3:7-8)

        2. Complaint about Jewish boasting (3:9)

    2. Problem of boasting

      1. First Equalize Jew and Gentile as worthy of judgment (3:10-20)

      2. And show justification by God (3:21-26)

      3. Introduce boasting issue (3:27)

      4. Discuss faith as reason against boasting (3:27-31, 4:1-8)

    3. Problem of feelings of inadequacy

      1. Are Gentiles inferior to circumcision? (Rom 4:9)

      2. All blessed through Abraham since he was blessed before circumcision (4:10-15)

      3. Assurance of promise to all (4:16-17)

    4. Persecutions causing fear and uncertainty

      1. Abraham's faith as an example of perseverance (4:18-25)

      2. Access to God and His peace (5:1-2)

      3. Mention of their current tribulation (5:3)

      4. Benefits and assurances in tribulation (5:3-11)

    5. Problem of Romans' doctrine to indulge their flesh

      1. Show contrast between sin and grace (5:12-20)

      2. Conclusion that grace is much greater than sin (5:20-21)

      3. Mention of errant doctrine about sinning to increase grace (6:1)

      4. Contrast the doctrine of sinning with the resurrection (6:2-8)

        1. Baptism in like of His death and raised in Christ (6:2-5)

        2. Let self no longer be in bondage to sin (6:6-11)

        3. Let sin no longer have dominion (6:12-19)

        4. Showing there is no benefit of sin (6:20-23)

    6. Problem of Certain Roman's reliance upon Law (6:15, 7:1-12)

      1. Addressed to those who hold the Law (7:1)

      2. Dominion of Law over its followers (7:1)

      3. Death to Law (7:2-4)

      4. Trap of the Law, teaching fleshly behavior (7:5-9)

    7. Problem of Rejection of Jews with Rejection of Law (7:10-25)

      1. Law made bad cause of sin (7:9-11)

      2. Show Law as intrinsically good

        1. Contrast Law and Sin (7:12-14)

        2. Conflict in us to do good (7:15-16)

        3. Failure is from sin influence (7:17-21)

        4. Desire is toward Law (7:22)

        5. Conflict still exists (7:23-24)

        6. Dual existence: mind on Christ, flesh toward sin (7:25)

    8. Romans living under condemnation

      1. Highlighting problem of condemnation showing in 7:12-24 –condemnation (8:1)

      2. Solution is being in Christ (8:1)

      3. law of spirit-of-life in Christ sets free from law of sin and death (8:2)

      4. Christ did what Law couldn't. So we must abide in Christ (8:3-4)

      5. Contrast of mind on flesh with mind on spirit (8:4-8)

      6. Solution is being in the spirit by Christ being in you (8:5-11)

      7. Action upon this knowledge (8:12-15)

    9. Problem of persecution in contrast to working of Spirit

      1. Spirit of adoption and comfort (8:15-17)

      2. Problem of sufferings (8:18)

      3. Basis for hope (8:19-22)

      4. Firstfruits of spirit toward hope (8:23-25)

      5. Spirit helps us in our weakness (8:26-27)

      6. Strength in hope (8:28-32)

      7. Guiltlessness in Christ (8:33-37)

      8. No true harm to believers (8:37-39)

  2. Address Problem of Ill Will Toward Jews. Proving God's faithfulness ( ch 9 to 11)

    1. Foundational information

      1. Need and right for Israelites to enjoy promises (9:1-5)

      2. Narrowing of Israel to only bloodline who are also of promise (9:6-21)

        1. Only a certain path was under promise under Abraham (9:6-13)

        2. Argument for God's right to narrow the seed (9:14-19)

        3. Problem of us questioning God's selection among Jews (9:20-21)

      3. God's patience prevented earlier time of wrath (9:22-24)

      4. Prophecies of people upon whom God would show mercy (9:25-29)

      5. Failure of Israelites to come to Christ was not God's failure

        1. Failure in their effort to follow law to get to righteousness (9:30-33)

        2. Israel (bloodline) effort was to try to make their own righteousness (10:1-12)

          • Their effort was not without zeal (10:2)

          • They were ignorant of God's righteousness (10:3)

          • If they followed God, they would have come to Christ (10:4)

          • Trapping of righteousness by Law (10:5-7)

          • Word of righteousness by faith is near (10:8)

        3. Nearness of faith was there for Israel (10:8-13)

          • It was now close by confessing Jesus (10:9)

          • It was a matter of the heart (10:10)

        4. God's faithfulness to bring the message (10:14-17)

          • Since gospel has to go out (10:14-15)

          • But it was prophesied all would not accept the gospel (10:16)

          • But Israel heard (10:18)

          • Israelites should have known through prophecy of jealousy (10:19-20)

        5. Apparent bleakness of situation (10:21)

    2. Argument to Accept Jews

      1. Situation isn't so bleak. God didn't cast off His people (11:1-7)

        1. His people were in that present remnant (11:2-5)

        2. It was a remnant by election of grace (11:6)

      2. Non-elect were hardened so Gospel would go to Gentiles (10:19,20 and 11:8-16)

        1. Hardening prophesied (11:7-10)

        2. Hardening to produce jealousy (11:11)

        3. Expectation of Roman believers to have mercy (11:12-16)

    3. Argument regarding Gentiles' boasting against Jews

      1. Introduce Olive tree analogy, loosely about people of God (11:17-19)

      2. Be fearful instead of boastful (11:20-22)

      3. Still was opportunity for some to be found in remnant (11:23-24)

      4. Conclusion of Olive Branch analogy (11:25)

    4. Conclusion of Paul's full argument

      1. Re-emphasis that Israel (as the remnant) would be saved (11:26)

      2. God's faithfulness in accomplishing the prophecies (11:26-29)

      3. God's equal benefit to Gentiles and Jews (11:30-32)

    5. Praise to God for His Plan and Wisdom (11:33-36)

  3. Additional Problems in Rome

    1. Problem of selfish behavior cause of pride and boasting (12:1-16)

      1. Couch service to one another with in noble terms of service to God (12:-3)

      2. Address problem of pride (12:3)

      3. Show that each is a member of a body that needs to work together (12:4-5)

      4. Exercising talents as gifts to the body (12:6-15)

    2. Problem of interaction with enemies (12:14-21, 13:1-7)

      1. Treat enemy with kindness (12:14-21)

      2. Cooperate with rulers (13:1-7)

    3. Problem of getting caught in the times (13:8-14)

      1. Don't take it out on neighbors (13:8-10)

      2. This was the time prophesied (13:11-13)

      3. Don't get caught up in the flesh (13:14)

    4. Problem of judging each other (14:1-23)

      1. Accept differences rather than judge (14:1-5)

      2. All believers serve and act for the Lord (14:6-9)

      3. All are obligated and accountable before God (14:10-12)

      4. Don't judge (14:13)

      5. There is nothing truly unclean to judge about (14:14-19)

      6. Footnote about best action regarding food and drink (14:20-23)

  4. Conclusions on Problems Discussed

    1. Replace judging with acts of altruism and cooperation (15:1-7)

    2. Reconciliation and inclusion of Jews in addition to Gentiles (15:8-12)

    3. Encouragement in hope (15:13-17)

    4. Glorifying God's work to the Gentiles (15:18-21) as premise to go to Rome

    5. Explaining reason he didnt reach Rome (15:22-25)

    6. Some debt to Jerusalem (15:25-28)

    7. Intent to get to Rome with encouragement (15:29-33)

  5. Assignments to reconcile with groups who were rejected (16:1-16)

  6. Cautions and actions against those who still act wrong (16:17-19)

  7. Hope to get through the wrath (16:20)

  8. Greetings and encouragements of those around Paul (16:21-24)

  9. Final encouragements of hope in Christ (16:25-27)

Version 1.0 – Oct 18,2008


Common Law Copyright 2008 by Michael, Whitney.


http://www.BibleReexamined.com/RomansTopics.htm