Youth STS Lesson 229 – Christ’s Gospel: The Power of God (Romans 1:1-32)

Scripture Text: Romans 1:1-32

The epistle to the Romans was written by Paul the apostle and delivered by Phoebe, a sister and servant of Christ (Romans 16:1). History records that Paul had not visited Rome before he wrote this letter (Romans 1:11). Paul heard about this church and, while he had no privilege of going to see them at Rome, he wrote this important epistle.

Question 1: What Is the Main Theme of This Epistle?

The epistle seeks to expose and explain the desperate need of the gospel by everyone. It stresses the importance of faith for receiving grace that brings righteousness. The epistle of Paul to the Romans deserves to be known by every Christian. It can be divided into three main parts:

1. How the gospel saves the sinner (chapters 1–8).
2. How the gospel relates to Israel as a nation (chapters 9–11).
3. How the gospel affects Christian conduct (chapters 12–16).

The Purpose of the Transforming Gospel by the Redeemer

Romans 1:1-7; Philippians 3:4-6; Acts 22:3-10; 1 Timothy 1:16; Galatians 3:8; Titus 1:2

The epistle to the Romans has been used by God to create great revival and transformation in Church history. This epistle was written to set forth the meaning of the gospel in its relation to moral law, prophecy, and the universal need of man. It reveals to us:

• Morally – the bondage of sin and the way to freedom.
• Socially – how to relate with one another.
• Nationally – the destiny of Israel as a nation.
• Spiritually – grace, faith, righteousness, and relationship with God.

Question 2: Describe the Inspired Writer and How the Gospel Changed Him

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). Paul was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, a Roman citizen from the city of Tarsus – a city of great learning and culture. He studied law under Gamaliel. He was a Pharisee, yet he did not know Christ. He was a persecutor of the saints – in short, a religious fanatic without righteousness.

But Christ met him on his way to Damascus and changed his life for good (Acts 9:1-15). In the kingdom of God, Paul became a son and servant of Christ, a soul winner, a saint in Christ, Spirit-filled, separated for God, and a writer of Scripture. He was a servant of God who voluntarily yielded his life to the service of his Master. From the time of his conversion, he had a resolute conviction to finish his course; he remains a model to us today (2 Timothy 4:7).

The transforming gospel of Christ brings salvation and righteousness to its recipients. To refuse, reject, or resist it is to set aside God and His redemptive plan. Jesus Christ was declared the Son of God by Himself (Matthew 3:17); by the purity of His life (Hebrews 7:26,27); and by the demonstration of the power of God at His resurrection (Ephesians 1:19,20). He is the foundation, centrality, and source of the gospel.

Through the gospel of Christ, we receive grace and come into a saving relationship with God. Whatever we are is not by merit but by grace: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Question 3: What Is the Primary Purpose of the Gospel?

The primary purpose of the gospel is to make sinners obedient to the faith. Genuine faith produces obedience in our lives. Another important purpose is to call us to be saints of God – that is the central emphasis of the gospel (Romans 1:5,7).

Paul thanked God for the faith of the Roman believers that had been “spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8). The evidence of a changed life in Christ cannot be hidden. Our gratitude to God is the light of our spirituality and devotion to humanity.

Question 4: What Is the Qualification to Be an Effective Intercessor?

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). God expects every believer to intercede. Great joy and eternal rewards await interceding Christian youths. The great tragedy of our age is the lack of intercessors to halt the tide of sin: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30).

To be an effective intercessor, one must be saved, possess sincere love, and be ready to sacrifice time to pray for others. Though Paul was greatly used of God and possessed spiritual gifts, he also looked forward to being comforted together with his fellow believers (verse 12). He was free from pride and sought their prayers at the end of this epistle (Romans 15:30-32).

The Power of the Gospel Produces Righteousness

Romans 1:14-17; 2 Timothy 1:8; 4:18; 1 Corinthians 9:16,17; 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Paul saw himself as a debtor to sinners and made himself ready to preach without shame the gospel of Christ. His burden for fruit-bearing made him indebted to all: Greeks, Barbarians, intellectuals, the wise, and the unwise. He also saw himself under a compelling obligation to reach them with the gospel. It should be the same with us today.

Question 5: How Can We Pay Our Debt of Preaching the Gospel to Sinners?

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). All Christian youths must know that the responsibility of preaching the gospel rests on them for this generation. We must be ready to preach the gospel with genuine concern for sinners around us. Prayer before and after preaching must be given priority. We must know that we are in a spiritual battle to rescue souls from Satan.

The gospel is the power of God to salvation. Paul was not ashamed to declare it in all places and before all people. He was imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, laughed at in Athens, stoned in Lystra, and humiliated elsewhere because of the gospel. Yet, he was not ashamed to preach what produces righteousness and qualifies every believer to live with God throughout eternity.

Jesus said: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

The Punishment for All Unrighteousness

Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 2:16; Titus 2:12; Leviticus 19:15,35; Jeremiah 22:13

The gospel is both a pointer to salvation and to the wrath of God: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

Question 6: State Some Ungodly Acts That Attract God’s Wrath

God revealed Himself to man at the beginning of creation. In the Garden of Eden, He normally came down at the cool of the day to fellowship with man when man was still faultless (Genesis 3:8). Man fell as a result of disobedience. This made all to “come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This is why sinning youths commit evils such as stealing, fighting, cheating during exams, engaging in fraudulent activities, cultism, and so on.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28). So long as man keeps striving with his Maker, God will leave him to his own destruction. Those who refuse to retain the fear of God in their knowledge will be filled with ungodly things.

Also in this series: Adult STS Lesson 229 | Children’s Sunday School Lessons 21 & 22