1. Paul's Own -- his priestly ministry of preparing the
   Gentiles to be an acceptable offering to God (15:16)
2. To present an exposition of justification by faith
3. To ask the Roman church for missionary support (15:24)
4. To promote unity among the Christians at Rome.
   a. Chapters 1-11 lay a logical foundation 
   b. Emphasis of hortatory superstructure 
      1) different members have different gifts (12:3-8) 
      2) the debt of love (13:8-10) 
      3) subject of the longest section (14:1-15:13) 
   c. written very boldly (15:15) 
   d. final appeal -- take note of those who create
                      dissensions and snares (16:17)

  I. Epistolary Beginning
   A. From                      (1:1-6)
   B. To                        (1:7a)
   C. Greeting                  (1:7b)
   D. Prayer                    (1:8-15)
 II. Body of Letter
   A. Thesis                    (1:16-17)
   B. Expository Foundation     (1:18-11:36)
   C. Hortatory Superstructure  (12:1-15:13)
III. Conclusion
   A. Reason for writing        (15:14-21)
   B. Paul's plans              (15:22-33)
   C. Commendation of Phoebe    (16:1-2)
   D. Greetings
      1. To those at Rome       (16:3-16)
      2. Final appeal           (16:17-20)
      3. From those with Paul   (16:21-23)
   E. Doxology                  (16:25-27)

POINT 1: People cannot be justified by their own righteousness.
  A. God gave up to sin those wicked men who do not honor Him (1:18-32)
  B. God will judge all men on the same basis (2:1-16)
  C. The Jews break the law too (2:17-3:8)
  D. Summary -- None is righteous (3:9-20, esp. 3:10)

POINT 2: We are made right with God through faith in Jesus
  A. Statement of point (3:21-26)
  B. Ramifications -- exclusion of boasting and justification 
     by works of law (3:27-31)
  C. Proof -- faith reckoned as righteousness
     1. example of Abraham (4:1-5)
     2. example of David (4:6-8)
     3. not dependent on circumcision (4:9-12)
     4. not dependent on law (4:13-15)
     5. the faith of Abraham (4:16-25)
     note: justified by faith is literally declared
           righteous out of faith; faith reckoned as
           righteousness is literally faith reckoned
           into righteousness
  D. Results
     1. peace, joy, etc. (5:1-5)
     2. reconciliation by Christ (5:6-11)
  E. Summary -- death through sin; life through Christ (5:12-21)

POINT 3: This does not mean that we continue in sin.
  A. Statement of Problem (6:1)
  B. Answer
     1. we have died to sin (6:2-14) note: "under law" means
        "trying to be saved by keeping the law"; cf. I Cor.
        9:21 "'within' the law of Christ"
     2. we are slaves of God, not of sin (6:15-23)
     3. we are married to Christ, not to law (7:1-5)
     4. the self leads to sin and death (7:7-25) note: I, me,
        myself, my -- 25 times 1st person verb -- 26 times
        (20 not modified by "I") thus 45 references to self
     5. the Spirit sets me free from the law of sin and death (8:1-30)
     6. nothing can separate us from God's love (8:31-39)
        note: we are super-conquering (8:37)

POINT 4: The fact that Israel has rejected Christ does not mean
         that justification is not by faith.
  A. Introduction -- Paul's concern for Israel (9:1-5)
  B. Not all descended from Israel are chosen (9:6-29)
  C. Israel was stubborn, pursuing righteousness through works
     (9:30-10:21)
  D. Some Israelites (the chosen remnant) have obtained
     salvation (11:1-10)
  E. Israel can and will still be saved (11:11-32)
  F. Doxology (11:33-36)

A. Living Sacrifice                       (12:1-2)
B. Different Gifts                        (12:3-8)
C. Various Exhortation                    (12:9-21)
D. The Governing Authorities              (13:1-7)
E. The Debt of Love                       (13:8-10)
F. Living for the Coming Daytime          (13:11-14)
G. Christian Unity                        (14:1-15:13)
   1. Don't despise or judge your brother (14:1-12)
   2. Don't cause your brother to stumble (14:13-23)
   3. Follow Christ's example             (15:1-13)