Overview of First 4 Chapters of Lloyd-Jones' Exposition of Romans 1

Romans: An Exposition of Chapter 1- The Gospel of God

By D. M. Lloyd-Jones

One

• “I am one of those who do not recognize any consideration of the Word of God which is not accompanied by worship”
• Those greatly affected by Romans: Augustine who used Romans to counter Pelagius, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, John Wesley
• There is nothing wrong with natural gifts; they are bestowed by God
• Natural gifts should not be relied upon or gloried in
• Paul was uniquely naturally gifted to fulfill all that God had ordained for him to do

Two: Romans 1:1, 7

• The church is a gathering of believers in a place though they are not of the place; thus, the believers in Rome
• The reason for Paul’s letter: that they be established
• “...but today, the tendency is to say that doctrine does not matter at all – that as long as a man has had some sort of an experience, it does not matter.” (p21)
• Roman Christians would be persecuted but they knew in whom they believed and what they believed
• Romans 1-11 are doctrinal, 12-16 are practical
• The theme is The Gospel of God
• Paul explains what this great Gospel is through the end of Romans 4
• Romans 5-8 are Paul demonstrating the certainty, fullness, and finality of this great salvation

Three: Romans 1:1

• Many blessings are found in the study of the preliminary and introductory section of the epistles
• “I have no hesitation in asserting that as we grow in grace, we talk much less about ourselves and our experiences, and much more about Him.” (p33)
• “This idea that you can believe in Christ first as your Saviour only, and the perhaps, years later, go on to take Him as your Lord, is a denial of Scripture. From the moment He sets you free He is your Lord.”
• Definition of an apostle – one chosen and sent with a special mission as the fully authorized representative of the sender

Four: Romans 1:1

• “You see, I cannot expound the Epistle to the Romans without expounding all of the other Epistles at the same time…All Paul’s writings have to be taken together.” (p51)
• “Many things are permitted which seem to be the exact opposite of what might be expected, but the end is always certain.” (p53)
• The fact that our salvation is determined before the foundation of the world is most glorious and most humbling