Sermon Outline:
I. Salvation by Faith (Ch. 1-11)
A. Need for Salvation: Sin (Ch. 1-3:20) (vv. 3:9-12) 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one….”
B. Provision of Salvation: Alien Righteousness (Ch. 3:21-5) (vv. 3:21-24, 28) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…v. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
C. Result of Salvation: Freedom & Security (Ch. 6-8) (vv. 6:1-2, 11-12) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?...11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
D. Scope of Salvation: Sovereign Operation (Ch. 9-11) (vv. 9:11-13, 14-16, 19-24) 11 Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated”… 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy…19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
E. Through Means (vv. 10:13-15) 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
F. For a Purpose (vv. 11:11, 25-26) “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous”… (25) “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved.”
II. Transformed Life
(Ch. 12-15) (vv. 12:1-2) “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Reflection Question:
For reflection this week, consider Romans 12:9-21. What are the ways in which you have been bearing fruit in some of these regards? What are the areas of your struggle or sin which you can confess to the Lord, or to one another?
