(All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible).

Introduction (1:1-17)
A. Greetings (1:1-7)
B. Paul and the Romans (1:8-15)
C. Theme (1:16-17)

Universal Sinfulness: The Condemnation of the Gentiles (1:18-32)

Paul’s Greetings to the Believers in Rome (1:1-7)

Paul begins his letter in a very personal way. He gives a very elaborate description of himself than usual, and establishes his apostolic credentials. At the very outset itself Paul gives a brilliant analysis of the Gospel to which he has been set apart.
1:1: Paul was his Roman name; Saul was his Hebrew name (Acts 9:1; 13:9).
Bond-servant (doulos) is literally a slave. The apostle willingly and voluntarily took this position to be a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. A slave has no right or will of his own. He was owned and bought with a price. He is totally dedicated to the will and pleasure of his master. We are called to take this humble position of obedience, humility and service under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The term slave is the expression of love and free choice (Vincent, Word Studies, III, p.2).
 

As an Apostle (the sent-one) he had been set apart for the Gospel of God. Apostle (the term appears seventy nine times in the NT). It is a specific and unique title for the Twelve and Paul whom the Lord personally chose and commissioned. Their teachings became the foundation of the church (Eph.2:20). Their message was verified and confirmed by signs, wonders, and miracles (2 Cor.12:12; Heb.2:3-4). Though the NT uses the term apostle in a few instances in a general sense (the sent-ones), that is not its primary usage. With the use of the term apostle, Paul moves from his allegiance to Christ (slave) to his authority bestowed on him by Christ. Slave is a title of great humility; it expressed Paul’s sense of personal insignificance Apostle on the other hand was a title of great Authority (John Stott, Romans, p.47).
The verb set apart has the same root meaning as Pharisee. It is very revealing in this context that Paul as a Pharisee had been separated to the law but was now separated to the Gospel. Was this play on words deliberate? 

Seven Characteristics of the Gospel
 

1. The Source/Origin of the Gospel â€“ Gospel of God (1:1). Gospel belongs to God. Man did not invent or introduce it. It is a revealed message. It was not man’s good news about a philosophy, way of life or a religion, but God’s good news of His love, forgiveness and grace for man.

2. The Promise of the Gospel â€“ The Gospel was promised in the Old Testament Scriptures (1:2). Paul regarded the Old Testament Scriptures as the divinely inspired holy writings, bearing witness to Christ.  OT contains at least 330 prophecies about Christ. Gospel has a dual attestation, by the OT prophets and the NT apostles.

3. The Person/Object/Substance of the Gospel - Jesus Christ is the substance of the Gospel. It is concerning Him (1:3-4). Jesus Christ is the person of the good news. It is all about Him. The whole Gospel is contained in Him. Christianity is Christ. To move even a step from Christ means to withdraw oneself from the Gospel (Luther).
Paul describes the Son in His two titles – Son of David and Son of God.  Humanly speaking, Jesus was a descendant of David; but at the same time, He was God’s Son. Jesus humanness and deity are clearly portrayed in these phrases. His Messianic stature also is implied in the title descendant of David.
Declared the "Son of God" -  Jesus was designated or proved to be the Son of God by His resurrection. Jesus did not become the Son of God by the resurrection. Instead the resurrection proved that Jesus was the Son of God. Resurrection was the mighty proof of His deity and eternal Sonship.Spirit of holiness refers to the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit working in Christ who  accomplished the resurrection of Jesus. 

4. The Purpose of the Gospel – It is obedience of faith (1:5). This expression may be taken as a synonym for salvation. It comes at the beginning and end of Romans (1:5; 16:26). Obedience to the Gospel involves faith and faith always involves obedience. Genuine faith is obedient faith. From the initial faith we move on to a life-time of obedience. The desired response to the Gospel message is obedience that comes from faith (NIV). Since there is no definite article before faith (the faith), it is doubtful whether it refers to the whole body of truth the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). 

5. The Universality/Scope of the Gospel â€“ The Gospel is for all the nations. Paul’s privilege of being an apostle was to take this Gospel to the Gentiles (ethnos occurs 29 times in Romans and can be rendered nations or peoples. See Matt.28:19). That was his unique calling (Acts 9:15; 22:21; Rom.11:13; Gal.1:16). We too, if we are to be committed to world mission, will have to be liberated from all pride of race, nation, tribe, caste and class, and acknowledge that God’s gospel is for everybody, without exception and without distinction. This is a major theme of Romans (John Stott, Romans, pp. 51-52).

6. The Goal of the Gospel  It is the honor and glory of Jesus Christ for His names sake. This forms a climax in verse 5. The highest of all motives in missions is not love for God or passion for souls (though these are necessary and legitimate motives), but the glory of Jesus Christ. The immediate goal is to bring people to the obedience of faith, but our ultimate goal is the greater glory of Jesus Christ. The main focus in salvation is to display the glory of God. We should not get involved in the service of our master for personal gain, name, or fame.

7. The Privileges of the Gospel  The Gospel transforms condemned sinners to the Called of Jesus Christ, beloved of God, and saints (1:6-7). Paul’s readers were not called as he was, to apostleship. But they were called to be saints, and to be the beloved ones of God. Believers are called by God to Himself in salvation. God has lavished His gracious love upon them and they are His beloved ones. They are also divinely set apart (‘holy ones’ or saints) by God for His own holy purposes. The NT designates all believers as ‘saints’ because they are by position and calling holy and set apart to God (Phil.4:21; Col.1:2). What a great blessing! What privilege! The divine grace (sustaining grace) and peace (peace of God) flows to the believers from the Father and the Son.

This is the heart of the gospel message, the good news of salvation, Paul so eloquently and systematically defends in this great doctrinal treatise addressed to the believers in Rome. May we also understand, appreciate, defend and proclaim the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.