Overall: The purpose of the first three chapters of Romans is to prove to both Jews and Gentiles (all kinds of people) that they are both sinners, and that they both can only be saved by faith in Christ.

Verses 1-7

• All of Scripture has pointed to Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to give God’s grace to every person on the planet. 

  • Verse 5. God’s grace is meant to make us obedient to His Word. 

    • Remember that if you are obedient to the Word you are doing what Jesus died for.

Verses 8-12

• Desire and pray to be with other believers often. This brings encouragement. 

  • It is disobedient to the Word if you do not want to be in fellowship with believers (Hebrews 10:25).

Verses 13-15

• We should want to reach all kinds of people, to see them saved.

  • Do not favor certain types of people or only try to reach certain demographics. You should want to help all kinds of people, as you have opportunity.

Verses 16-17

• Hearing the message of the Gospel is the only way for people to learn the truth about God and be saved, so don’t be afraid to share it.

  • If you are afraid to share the Gospel you only show that you don’t care to see people saved.

    • The fear of God’s judgment will make you want to save others.

Verses 18-23

• All unbelievers deserve God’s wrath and have no excuse for their sins.

  • Why? They already know that God exists, and they know what they need to know in order to find God. They simply choose to ignore God. Remember this.

  • Even the heavens themselves reveal God and His judgment to them. And part of God’s wrath and punishment for their sins is their being given over to their sins, to be consumed by them.

Verses 24-32

• If unbelievers keep on sinning for long enough, without repenting, they will eventually come to a point where they cannot be saved anymore. This is a hardened state. 

  • Sexual perversion leads to this, if a person does not repent soon.

    • Homosexuality is sin because it is against nature, which God created.

  • You can know that a person is hopelessly hardened when they have the following attitude:

    • They know they will go to hell for their sins, but they keep on sinning anyway, and they like it. 

    • Watch out for these kinds of people and avoid them!