Romans 1 – Expository Preaching and Study Guide

Overview

Romans 1 is the opening chapter of Paul’s epistle to the believers in Rome. It serves as a foundational statement of the Gospel’s power, God’s righteousness, and humanity’s universal need for salvation. Paul begins with a declaration of his apostolic calling and expresses deep longing to visit the Roman believers. He then lays out the central thesis of the epistle: “The righteous will live by faith” (v.17). The rest of the chapter highlights the wrath of God revealed against sinful humanity, particularly in response to mankind’s suppression of divine truth and their descent into idolatry, immorality, and moral rebellion.

This chapter emphasizes the authority of Scripture and the necessity of the Gospel for all people. From a conservative evangelical standpoint, Romans 1 affirms the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, original sin, natural revelation, and God’s just judgment.

Historical and Literary Context

Authorship and Date

Romans was written by the Apostle Paul around A.D. 56–57, during his third missionary journey, likely while he was in Corinth (cf. Romans 16:1, 23; Acts 20:2-3). Paul wrote to a mixed audience of Jewish and Gentile Christians living in Rome, a major center of commerce, culture, and imperial power.

Purpose and Audience

Paul had not yet visited the Roman church but desired to encourage them in their faith, clarify the Gospel, and establish a doctrinal foundation for unity and mission. Romans 1 sets the theological tone for the rest of the letter, building a case for the universal need for salvation by exposing the depravity of the Gentile world.

Literary Structure

Romans 1 follows a logical and rhetorical style consistent with Greco-Roman letter writing, yet infused with deep theological reflection. It moves from greeting (vv.1–7), thanksgiving and longing (vv.8–15), to the thematic thesis (vv.16–17), and then to a vivid exposition of God’s wrath and human guilt (vv.18–32).

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points

1. The Authority and Power of the Gospel (vv.16–17)

Paul boldly declares the Gospel as “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes”. This statement underscores the sufficiency and centrality of the Gospel in Christian life and ministry. The phrase “righteousness of God is revealed” highlights both God’s saving action and His moral character.

Doctrinal Implication: The Gospel is not merely a message but a divine power for transformation. Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone, for both Jew and Gentile alike.

2. God’s Wrath and Human Rebellion (vv.18–32)

This section details how humanity suppresses the truth about God, visible through creation (general revelation), and chooses idolatry and immorality. The downward spiral of sin—rejecting God, embracing idols, and engaging in degrading passions—is vividly described.

Doctrinal Implication: God’s wrath is not arbitrary but justly revealed against sin. The moral decline of society is a judgment in itself. This affirms the conservative evangelical view of divine justice, total depravity, and the necessity of redemption.

3. Natural Revelation (vv.19–20)

Paul argues that God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—are clearly seen in creation, so that people are without excuse.

Doctrinal Implication: God’s existence and moral law are evident in nature. The image of God in man allows for awareness of God, even without Scripture. However, general revelation is insufficient for salvation; it renders all accountable, necessitating the special revelation of Christ through the Gospel.

4. The Exchange of Worship (vv.21–25)

Humanity, though aware of God, refuses to glorify Him. Instead, people exchange the truth for lies, worshiping creation rather than the Creator. This is the essence of idolatry.

Doctrinal Implication: Worship is always central—either rightly directed to God or wrongly displaced onto idols. Evangelical theology insists on worshiping the Creator in truth, not conforming to cultural distortions.

5. Sexual Immorality and Cultural Depravity (vv.26–27)

Paul explicitly mentions same-sex relations as unnatural and dishonorable, presenting them as a consequence of rejecting God’s design.

Doctrinal Implication: God’s moral order is rooted in creation, not culture. Human sexuality is designed by God for marriage between a man and a woman. Deviations from this are symptomatic of deeper spiritual rebellion.

6. The Degenerating Effects of Sin (vv.28–32)

A list of societal evils concludes the chapter—envy, murder, deceit, arrogance, disobedience, and more. Paul points to the full collapse of moral order when God “gives them over” to their depraved minds.

Doctrinal Implication: Sin is not just wrong actions but a condition of the heart that corrupts all of life. Without divine intervention, mankind spirals further from righteousness.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis (Romans 1 – Key Sections)

Romans 1:1-4 – The Gospel Concerning God’s Son

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God…” (v.1)

Literal Explanation: Paul opens by identifying himself as a servant (Greek: doulos, slave) of Christ Jesus. His identity and authority are rooted in divine calling, not human ambition. The phrase “gospel of God” emphasizes that the message originates from God the Father, not man.
Cross-Reference: Galatians 1:1; 2 Peter 1:21 – the message is God-breathed.
Application: Ministry begins with surrender. Christians are called to serve, not to be served.

“…regarding his Son… descended from David… through the Spirit of holiness… appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection…” (vv.3–4)

Explanation: These verses affirm both the humanity and deity of Christ. Jesus is fully man (descended from David) and fully God (declared with power through the resurrection).
Cross-Reference: 2 Samuel 7:1-16; Acts 13:32-33.
Doctrinal Insight: Christ is the prophesied Messiah and divine Son of God, exalted in resurrection.

Romans 1:16-17 – The Righteousness of God Revealed

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel…” (v.16)

Explanation: Paul declares confidence in the Gospel’s divine power to save anyone who believes. “First to the Jew, then to the Gentile” underscores the universal scope of salvation and God’s covenantal order.
Cross-Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:18; Matthew 28:19-20.
Application: Believers must boldly proclaim Christ in a culture hostile to truth.

“The righteous will live by faith.” (v.17)

Explanation: Quoted from Habakkuk 2:4, this truth introduces the doctrine of justification by faith—central to the Reformation and biblical Christianity.
Doctrinal Insight: Salvation is not earned but received by faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Romans 1:18-20 – God’s Wrath Against Sin

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven…” (v.18)

Explanation: This wrath is not a loss of divine temper but God’s righteous response to sin. It is a present reality—seen in God “giving people over” to the consequences of sin.
Cross-Reference: John 3:36; Colossians 3:5-6.
Application: Christians must understand that divine wrath is real and just. Grace only makes sense against the backdrop of judgment.

“…since what may be known about God is plain… through what has been made…” (vv.19–20)

Explanation: Creation itself reveals God’s attributes, such that all people are without excuse. This affirms general revelation.
Cross-Reference: Psalm 19:1-4; Acts 14:17.
Doctrinal Insight: Natural revelation condemns but cannot save—it points to a Creator but not the Redeemer.

Romans 1:21-25 – The Exchange of Worship

“Although they knew God, they neither glorified him…” (v.21)

Explanation: Mankind’s moral failure begins with ingratitude and idolatry. They willfully reject the Creator in favor of created things.
Cross-Reference: Isaiah 44:9-20; Exodus 32:1-8.
Application: The heart of sin is misplaced worship. True discipleship involves glorifying God in all things.

“God gave them over…” (v.24)

Explanation: This phrase appears three times (vv.24, 26, 28). It shows God’s judgment by abandonment—letting sinners experience the consequences of their choices.
Doctrinal Insight: God’s holiness does not tolerate sin indefinitely; there is a point at which divine patience gives way to divine judgment.

Romans 1:26-32 – The Results of Moral Rebellion

“Women exchanged natural relations… men also abandoned natural relations…” (vv.26–27)

Explanation: Paul explicitly describes homosexuality as a result of rejecting God’s design. This is not merely a cultural reference but a theological statement rooted in creation order.
Cross-Reference: Genesis 1:27-28; Leviticus 18:22.
Doctrinal Insight: Sexual ethics are God-ordained. Evangelical teaching upholds the authority of Scripture in defining sin.

“They are full of… envy, murder… God-haters…” (v.29)

Explanation: Paul lists sins that characterize a society estranged from God. These sins reflect internal corruption.
Cross-Reference: Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Application: The Christian must pursue holiness, not conform to the world.

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ

Romans 1 points forward to the need for Jesus Christ as Savior. The law reveals sin, and the Gospel reveals God’s answer to sin—Jesus, the Righteous One. Jesus fulfills all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), bears God’s wrath on the cross (Romans 3:25), and restores broken humanity to the Father.

Christ as the Fulfillment of Righteousness: The “righteousness of God” revealed in v.17 finds its ultimate expression in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). Only in Christ is true righteousness imputed to sinners.
Christ and the Wrath of God: While Romans 1 describes wrath, the Gospel reveals that Christ bore that wrath (Isaiah 53:5-6; Romans 5:9).
Christ and the New Creation: As idolatry degrades creation (vv.23–25), Christ renews and redeems it (Colossians 1:15-20).

Connection to God the Father

Romans 1 is profoundly theocentric—it begins and ends with God the Father:

The Gospel of God (v.1): The Father is the source of the Gospel.
God’s Righteousness (v.17): He is the standard of righteousness.
God’s Wrath (v.18): The Father judges sin in holiness.
God as Creator (v.20): All of creation reflects the Father’s glory.
God as Judge and Sustainer: Even as He gives people over to their sin, the Father remains sovereign, patient, and just.

Ultimately, Romans 1 shows that humanity has rebelled against the Father’s rightful rule, but through Christ, the Father’s justice and mercy will meet in the cross.

Connection to the Holy Spirit in Romans 1

While Romans 1 primarily focuses on the Father and the Son, the presence and role of the Holy Spirit is still implicitly foundational:

Verse 4 – “…through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power…”
Paul affirms that Christ’s divine sonship was powerfully declared through the resurrection by the Spirit of holiness, referring to the Holy Spirit. This underlines the Spirit’s active role in affirming the truth of the Gospel and Christ’s divine identity.
Role in Revelation: Although not explicitly named in the rest of the chapter, the Holy Spirit is the one who enables understanding of both natural and special revelation (1 Corinthians 2:10-14). The rejection of God described in Romans 1 is not just a denial of external truth but a resistance to the Spirit’s convicting work (John 16:8).
Connection to Romans 8: Romans 1 contrasts with Romans 8, where the Holy Spirit becomes central in the believer’s transformation and renewal. The trajectory of the Gospel moves from wrath revealed (Rom 1) to life in the Spirit (Romans 8).

Sermon Outline and Flow

Sermon Title: “Truth Suppressed or Truth Received?”

Text: Romans 1:16-32

Introduction

Open with a cultural observation: “We live in a world flooded with information but starving for truth.”
Highlight the urgency of understanding truth, righteousness, and judgment.
Introduce Romans 1 as a mirror to our world, revealing God’s response to truth suppression.

Main Point 1: The Gospel Is God’s Power to Save (vv.16–17)

Explanation: Salvation is not man-made—it is God’s powerful, righteous intervention for those who believe.
Doctrinal Insight: Justification by faith alone.
Illustration: Share a brief testimony of someone radically transformed by the Gospel—e.g., a drug addict turned missionary.
Application: Be unashamed of the Gospel. Boldly speak truth at work, in family, and online.

Transition: But why is the Gospel necessary? Because of the human condition.

Main Point 2: The Wrath of God Is Revealed (vv.18–23)

Explanation: God’s wrath is not impulsive but a righteous reaction to sin and rejection of truth.
Doctrinal Insight: General revelation renders humanity without excuse.
Illustration: Like ignoring a warning light in a car, people ignore creation’s witness until spiritual breakdown comes.
Application: Examine whether you suppress uncomfortable truths. Are you listening to God’s witness in your life?

Transition: Suppression leads to substitution—worship of the creature instead of the Creator.

Main Point 3: When Worship Is Replaced, Everything Breaks Down (vv.24–27)

Explanation: God “gives people over” to their sinful desires, including distorted sexuality and passions.
Doctrinal Insight: Sin has personal, social, and spiritual consequences.
Illustration: Share about a society that legalizes vice and ends up suffering cultural decay (e.g., historical Rome).
Application: Reaffirm biblical sexual ethics with grace and truth. Be prepared to stand firm in a culture that celebrates what God calls dishonorable.

Transition: And it doesn’t end there—the effects of sin continue to corrupt the whole of life.

Main Point 4: A Life Without God Becomes Unrecognizable (vv.28–32)

Explanation: God’s judgment leads to a depraved mind and a long list of destructive behaviors.
Doctrinal Insight: Total depravity affects every part of the human person—mind, heart, will.
Illustration: Compare to a garden untended—left to itself, it becomes overrun with weeds.
Application: Christians must not only avoid these sins but also grieve over them and call others to repentance.

Conclusion: A Call to Truth and Transformation

Recap: Romans 1 shows the descent into sin when truth is rejected, but Romans 1:16-17 offers the way out—faith in Jesus Christ.
Gospel Call: Are you unashamed of the Gospel? Have you traded truth for a lie? Today is the day to return to truth—found only in Jesus Christ.
Call to Action:
- For believers: Speak the truth in love, live in holiness, and be salt and light.
- For seekers: Turn from idols to the living God through faith in Jesus.

Illustrations and Examples for Application

1. Suppression of Truth (vv.18–20)

Modern Example: The way society promotes materialism or naturalism while denying a Creator. Think of how the complexity of DNA points to design, yet many deny God’s existence.
Analogy: Like a beach ball pushed underwater—it will always push back up. People try to suppress truth, but it always resurfaces.

2. Idolatry Today (vv.21–23)

Modern Example: Celebrity culture, obsession with tech, or even political ideologies replacing God’s supremacy.
Analogy: Worship is like spiritual oxygen—you will always breathe something in. If it’s not God, it will be an idol.

3. Sexual Confusion (vv.26–27)

Modern Example: The normalization of lifestyles contrary to God’s design in media and education.
Pastoral Approach: Emphasize grace and truth. Share stories of those who found freedom in Christ from these struggles.

4. Cultural Decay (vv.28–32)

Modern Example: Increased violence, breakdown of family, and moral relativism in many nations.
Analogy: Like a computer infected by malware—when the system’s code (God’s design) is ignored, everything malfunctions.

Application for Today’s Christian

Romans 1 is both a sobering diagnosis of humanity’s rebellion and a clarion call to live by faith in the power of the Gospel. For Christians today, this chapter offers several key areas for practical application:

1. Live Unashamed of the Gospel (v.16)

Practical Discipleship: Share your faith with clarity and courage—at work, in school, or online.
Application: Boldly speak the name of Jesus in everyday conversations. Don’t hide your faith to fit in.
Challenge: Identify one person this week to whom you can share your testimony or invite to church.

2. Worship God Alone (vv.21–23)

Practical Stewardship: Reevaluate where your time, money, and energy go. Are you glorifying the Creator or created things?
Application: Remove modern idols (status, entertainment, comfort) that compete with wholehearted devotion to God.

3. Honor God’s Design for Humanity (vv.24–27)

Living Out Your Faith: Uphold biblical morality with both truth and compassion.
Application: Teach your family God’s design for marriage and gender. Speak with grace but do not compromise on truth.

4. Examine Your Heart (vv.28–32)

Practical Discipleship: Don’t only look outward at cultural decline—look inward at sin in your own life.
Application: Repent of secret sins like envy, pride, slander, or disobedience. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your thinking daily.

5. Discern Cultural Narratives

Faithful Witness: Romans 1 warns against exchanging God’s truth for society’s lies. Christians must be grounded in God’s Word to stand against cultural confusion.
Application: Develop a habit of Scripture intake—daily reading, memorization, and study—so you won’t be conformed to the world (cf. Romans 12:2).

Connection to God’s Love

Though Romans 1 primarily describes God’s wrath, it also indirectly reveals His deep love and care for humanity:

1. Love Shown in Revelation (vv.19–20)

Explanation: God reveals Himself in creation so that all may know Him. This self-disclosure reflects His desire for relationship.
Love Insight: A distant god would remain hidden. The God of the Bible lovingly makes Himself known, both in creation and ultimately in Christ.

2. Love Shown in Justice

Explanation: God’s wrath is not the opposite of love—it is love in action against all that destroys.
Love Insight: God hates sin because He loves His creation. He opposes what dehumanizes and enslaves people.

3. Love Shown in the Gospel (vv.16–17)

Explanation: Before describing human sin, Paul presents the Gospel as the remedy.
Love Insight: God provides righteousness through faith because we cannot attain it ourselves. This is love displayed in action (Romans 5:8).

Broader Biblical Themes in Romans 1

Romans 1 connects profoundly with major themes that run throughout the Bible:

1. Creation and Creator

Theme: God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1; Psalm 19:1-4).
Connection: Humanity’s accountability is rooted in the created order. Denying the Creator leads to disorder and moral confusion.
Application: Christians must affirm a biblical worldview rooted in Genesis—God made the world and has authority over it.

2. The Fall and Human Rebellion

Theme: Romans 1 echoes Genesis 3—the rejection of God’s word and worship of self.
Connection: Sin begins with rejecting God’s authority and leads to brokenness in every area.
Application: Discipleship includes a realistic view of sin and our need for divine grace.

3. Covenant and Judgment

Theme: God’s covenant with His people includes both blessings for obedience and consequences for rebellion (Deuteronomy 28).
Connection: The moral decline described in Romans 1 mirrors covenant curses—showing God’s faithfulness to His word even in judgment.

4. Redemption in Christ

Theme: Throughout Scripture, judgment is never the end of the story—redemption follows.
Connection: Romans 1 sets up the need for the Gospel that unfolds in chapters 3-8. Jesus is the only remedy for the wrath and ruin described here.
Application: Every believer must point others from the guilt of Romans 1 to the grace of Romans 3.

Reflection Questions – Romans 1

Use these questions for deeper engagement with the text, whether in personal devotion, discipleship conversations, or small group settings.

Understanding the Text

According to verses 16–17, what makes the Gospel powerful?
- How does this truth change the way you view evangelism?
What does Paul mean when he says that “the righteous will live by faith”?
- How is this different from trying to earn God’s approval?
Why does Paul say people are “without excuse” when it comes to knowing God (vv.19–20)?
- What are examples in nature or creation that point you to God?

Examining the Heart

Are there any areas in your life where you may be suppressing God’s truth (v.18)?
- What lies from culture or your own heart do you need to confront with Scripture?
Have you ever exchanged the worship of God for something created (vv.21–23)?
- What modern idols do you struggle with—success, comfort, approval?
Do you find yourself agreeing with or silently approving of sinful behaviors described in verses 26–32?
- How can you lovingly stand for truth without being self-righteous?

Living it Out

In what ways can you live unashamed of the Gospel this week (v.16)?
- Is there someone in your life you can share Jesus with?
What practical steps can you take to worship God more fully and consistently?
- Consider how you spend your time, what you talk about, or how you use your talents.
How should a right understanding of God’s wrath affect your urgency in sharing the Gospel?
- Does it lead you to compassion or avoidance?
How does Romans 1 prepare you to understand the rest of the letter to the Romans, especially the grace of God found in Jesus Christ?
- Why is it important to understand human sin before appreciating salvation?

Group Challenge

As a group, read Psalm 19:1-6 and Romans 1:18-23 together.
- Discuss how both passages show God’s revelation through creation.
- Pray for boldness to proclaim truth in a world that suppresses it.