13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:13-17
INTRODUCTION
1. Paul desired to minister in Rome
2. However, things did not always go according to his plans
3. There were “hindrances”
a) Obstacles
b) Difficulties
4. Paul wanted the Roman Christians to know how he had felt about visiting Rome
a) Paul had gone to many famous cities
i) Ephesus
ii) Corinth
b) His name was well known to many
c) But he had not gone to Rome
d) Paul shared with them why he had not been able to visit Rome
THREE OUTSTANDING COMMMITMENTS DECLARED
1. “I am debtor”
a) To the Greeks and to the barbarians
b) To the wise and to the unwise
2. “I am ready”
a) To preach the Gospel in Rome
b) Paul was always in the state of readiness when it comes to preaching the gospel
3. “I am not ashamed”
a) Not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ
b) Re-read Paul’s statement about the gospel (Romans 1:1-4)
c) The Gospel is the power of God to salvation
i) To all who believe
ii) To the Jew and also to the Greek (the Gentiles)
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
1. This is the beginning phrase of Paul’s major teaching-focus in Romans
2. The righteousness of God is revealed
a) “The just shall live by faith” Romans 1:17
b) The word “Just” means:
i) The justified one
ii) The righteous one
iii) The person who stands as righteous before God
3. The original statement
a) This is found in Habakkuk 2:4
“The just shall live by faith”
b) The focus of Habakkuk
i) To find faith in God
ii) To live by faith in God
iii) To exercise that faith in God amidst even war times