Romans: The Gospel for Everyone — Week 1 - Romans 1:1-7

Opening a long verse-by-verse study of Romans, this introduction sets out why the letter matters: it functions like an x-ray, exposing how broken we are and how desperately we need rescue. Romans 1:1-7 introduces both the gospel and its author. Paul, once Saul, hunted and killed Christians before his Damascus Road encounter—proof that grace is for everyone, including those certain it cannot be for them. His favorite title for himself was not Pharisee, scholar, or miracle worker but servant of Jesus . The gospel is defined plainly: the good news that Jesus came from heaven, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose on the third day, ascended as king, and will return to reign—Jesus in our place. Because Paul knew the Old Testament, he recognized Jesus on every page; the whole of Scripture, cover to cover, is about him.