Lesson 2 | The Gospel of God | Paul's Apostleship

Lesson 2 – To examine the gospel of God, Paul’s apostleship, the gospel of Christ, and man’s historical and continuing departure from God. (Romans 1-2)

Lesson 2 of the Romans Course builds on the introductory background of Paul’s letter and turns to the opening doctrinal themes of Romans 1–2. The lesson explains Paul’s separation unto “the gospel of God,” his apostleship given by the risen Lord Jesus Christ, and the unity between the gospel of God and the gospel of Christ. Paul is shown as uniquely called to make known the full manifestation of what had been witnessed by the prophets—the good news concerning God’s Son, Jesus Christ, made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection. The apostle’s ministry to the Gentiles emphasizes “the obedience of faith” among all nations, testifying to Christ’s authority, power, and righteousness. The lesson then transitions to the heart of Paul’s message: the gospel of Christ as “the power of God unto salvation,” revealing God’s righteousness in contrast to human unrighteousness and the wrath of God revealed from heaven. By tracing humanity’s historical and continual departure from God—from creation through the distinction of Jew and Gentile—Paul establishes the universal guilt of mankind and the necessity of the righteousness of God revealed in Christ, preparing students for the next lesson on the wrath of God and man’s need for redemption.