Chapter 1: God’s Attitude Toward Sin

v.1 Servant means “bondslave.” The slave was completely at his master’s disposal. His one goal in life was to serve. Apostle means “one who is sent.” Paul was called to be an apostle and sent by the Holy Spirit to witness to the Gentiles. Gospel means “good news.”

v.2 The message of the Gospel was promised in the Old Testament.

v.3 The name Jesus is the Greek word for “Joshua,” which in Hebrew means “Jehovah is salvation.” Christ is Greek for the Hebrew word “Messiah” which means “Anointed One.” Jesus is His name, Christ is His distinction, and Lord is His title, signifying our relationship with Him.

Mary was a descendant of David, to whom God had made the promise that Messiah would come through him.

v.7 All those in the body of Christ are saints. After we experience the grace of God and make our peace with Him, we can know the peace of God in every situation.

v.11 Paul’s desire to go to Rome was to minister to the church there.

v.14 Barbarians refers to those who didn’t speak Greek. They weren’t necessarily wild, coarse people as the name implies today.

v.16 This verse speaks of the power of God.

v.17 This verse speaks of the righteousness of God and introduces the theme of this epistle: righteousness comes by faith, not by works.

v.18 This verse speaks of the wrath of God. Ungodly means “not in the right relationship with God.” Unrighteous means “not in the right relationship with man.” We cannot have the proper relationship with God and have the wrong relationship with man. Holding the truth in unrighteousness is believing that there is a God, yet living as though He didn’t exist.

v.20 We can see God in His creation.

v.21 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 37:23; Romans 8:28.

v.23 The idols which men create often look like grotesque forms of men and beasts.

v.24–28 When men create their own god, they become like the god they serve and are rapidly degraded. God gives them up to their own base desire. Homosexuality is the result of moral depravity; people are not “born” homosexuals but have been given up to their own lusts.

v.29–31 Our society has sought to rule God out of its conscience and now evidences the evils of reprobate minds.

v.32 Movies and television programs that glorify lying, cheating, stealing, murder, and adultery can cause us to take pleasure in these sins and make us guilty.