The Proper Approach to the Gospel

Salutation

A work of God had begun in Rome prior to the writing of the letter to these believers. And Paul’s introductory remarks gives the reason for writing this letter.

Paul Praises the church that their faith was being talked about in all the world (“the world, would be the “Romans Empire”), Romans 1:8.

Paul Prays for these believers, but Paul prayed that somehow by God’s will he would be with them, Romans 1:9-10.

Paul Purposed to visit these believers, Romans 1:11-13. (Note Pauls’ pastor’s heart.

There were some in Rome that were very dear to Paul; Priscilla and Aquila, Romans 16:3-4. Persis, Romans 16:12. Paul was prevent from coming as soon as he desired due to ministry demands, Romans 1:13, Romans 15:22-23. And he then had a very long and problematic journey to Rome, Romans 15:30-33.

Paul prayed God’s will be done, by any means. Paul was willing to go to Rome however God deemed necessary. God answered and Paul went to Rome in chains. Paul had three goals in mind in his purpose of going to Rome.

He wanted to Strengthen them, Romans 1:11.

He wanted to Encourage them, Romans 1:12.

He wanted a Harvest among them, Romans 1:13.

Philippians 1:12–14 ESV

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Short simple meaning of the Gospel.

To the question: what must I do to be saved? The old gospel replies: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. To the further question: what does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Its reply is: it means knowing oneself to be a sinner, and Christ to have died for sinners; abandoning all self-righteousness and self-confidence, and casting oneself wholly upon Him for pardon and peace; and exchanging one’s natural enmity and rebellion against God for a spirit of grateful submission to the will of Christ through the renewing of one’s heart by the Holy Ghost.

—J I Packer.

Synopsis of the Study

Orientation to the Gospel, Romans 1:1

There is only One Gospel, Romans 1:1

Origination of the Gospel, Romans 1:1

The Gospel Orbits around, Romans 1:3

The Gospel’s Objective, Romans 1:5.

But now Paul emphasizes what our Outlook concerning the gospel must be, what is the proper approach to the gospel, or our relationship to the gospel.

Study Outline

I. The Burden of Paul, Romans 1:14; “I am obligated”

The gospel must be presented with equaled passion to every person, without prejudice or bios. All people’s have equal opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

Those who proclaim the gospel, feel the sense of obligation to every person; cf. 2 Kings 7:1-9.

“Obligation,” implies, “one who must; to be morally and legally bound; a debtor; the condition of being so bound.”

1 Corinthians 9:16 “16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.”

“Compulsion,” means, “an irritable urge to behave a certain way; troubled, distressed, hardship; a forced compulsion; inevitable.

Paul refuses to rest until every gospel cent is paid to every person in the Greco-Roman world.

Paul was indebted to Christ, Paul was under divine commission, but also a personal obligation, cf. Acts 9:1-9; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15.

Paul was indebted to those whom Christ had sent him to minister.

We must note that his debt is to God, but the payment is to men.

A debtor is one who owes something: Paul is obligated to preach to everyone. Paul’s consciousness of Christ’s love for all men makes him sensitive to his own obligation to carry the word of that love to them for whom Christ died.

2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV

15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Romans 1:14 Greeks and Barbarians, Wise and the Unwise; meaning everyone.

II. The Boldness of Paul, Romans 1:15; “I am ready.”

Paul was ready to preach the gospel! Paul preached the gospel at Jerusalem, the religious center of the world, and he was mobbed for preaching it. Paul preached the gospel at Athens, the intellectual center of the world, and he was mocked for preaching the gospel there. Paul preached the gospel in Rome, the legislative center of the world, and Paul was martyred for the gospel in Rome. Paul was ready for whatever was infant of him, he was ready to preach the good news of Jesus to a dying world.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 “2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. 5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.”

When it comes to preaching the gospel, you have to be ready for anything thrown your way.

2 different Greek words, “ready,” (KJV) means, “prepared” Acts 21:13 “13 Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” “Ready,” Romans 1:15, means, “eager, with a ready mind.” Not eager to die, but ready, Paul was eager and ready to preach the gospel in Rome, Romans 1:13 “13 And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.”

If the opportunity presents itself, “So, as much as is in me is,” If the door opens I’m going through it in spite of what awaits on the other side, 1 Corinthians 16:9 “9 for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”

The phrase “as much as in me is” means “as far as my part is concerned.” This indirectly refers back to Paul’s qualification in Romans 1:10, “by the will of God.” In other words, Paul is willing and eager, but he will go to Rome only as God arranges it. His commitment to preach the gospel is not self-governing, but must itself be directed by the God whom Paul serves in the gospel, Romans 1:9.

Paul was imprisoned in Philippi, Acts 16:23,24. Chased out of Thessalonica, Acts 17:10, smuggled out of Berea, Acts 17:14, laughed at in Athens, Acts 17:32, and regarded as foolish in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 1:18,23. Paul was stoned in Galatia Acts 14:19, but remained eager and ready to preach in Rome —the seat of political power and a strong pagan religion. Neither ridicule, criticism, physical persecution could cage Paul’s boldness to preach.

III. The Belief of Paul, Romans 1:16; “I am not ashamed.”

Will the gospel work? Does it have what it takes to make a life changing impact on everyone who hears the good news of Jesus Christ?

Paul had absolute confidence in the gospel. The gospel produces conviction, confidence, and courage in those who truly believe it.

“Ashamed,” “There’s no sense in declaring that you’re not ashamed of something unless you’ve been tempted to feel ashamed of it” —James Stewart.

Paul was human, Peter was human, we are human, there is a level of fear, uncertainty, a moments hesitation when it comes to sharing the gospel. Jesus anticipated this reactionary response from His followers to the gospel, Mark 8:38 “38 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 1 Corinthians 2:3 “3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”

There are three solid reason for there to be no shame in preaching the gospel, no apologies, no hesitations, no anxieties. The gospel was supreme to the dominate religions and philosophies of Paul’s day. Paul could preach with unwavering confidence, he knew it worked, if it could change him, it could and would change everyone who heard the good news of Jesus. Paul’s confidence runs along three lines.

The Origin of the Gospel, “the gospel of Christ,” Romans 1:1 the gospel of God.

The Operation of the Gospel, “the power of God.” “Power,” English world, “dynamite,” speaks of the gospel effectiveness. Only God’s power can overcome man’s sinfulness. It’s power to break through the most hardened heart.

The Outcome of the Gospel, “salvation,” basically means “deliverance or rescue”

The gospel delivers people from being lost, Matthew 18:11.

The gospel delivers from the wrath of God, Romans 5:9.

The gospel saves from spiritual ignorance, Hosea 4:6.

The gospel saves from self evil-indulgence, Luke 14:26.

The gospel saves from the darkness of false religion, Colossians 1:13.

The Outreach of the gospel, “to everyone who believes” To everyone who trusts, relies on, or have faith in. When used of salvation, “believe” is used in present tense which stresses that faith is not simply a one-time event, but on going condition.

True saving faith is supernatural. It’s not humanly generated, it is not a natural element of our humanness.

True saving faith is a gracious gift of God, cf. Ephesians 2:8-9.

True saving faith is the only means a person can appropriate true righteousness, Romans 3:22,25; 4:5,13,20; 5:1.

Saving faith consists of three elements.

Mental: the mind understands the gospel and the truth about Jesus, Romans 10:17.

Emotional: one embraces the truthfulness of those facts concerning Jesus, they sorrow over sin, and joy over God’s grace and love, Romans 6:17; 15:13.

Will or Volitional: the sinner submits their will to Jesus and trusts in Him alone, Romans 10:9.

Genuine faith always produces obedience, Romans 4:3; cf. John 8:31; 14:21-24.

Conclusion

Romans 1:17 ESV

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Major theme of Romans, “righteousness from God.” Righteousness is a state of condition of perfectly conforming to God’s perfect law and holy character; root word of the Greek, “justified, justification.”

Only God is righteous, man falls short of the divine standard, Romans 3:23.

The gospel reveals that on the basis of faith, God will impute His righteousness to sinners, Romans 3:21-24;4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8,9.

“From faith to faith,” two possible meanings, one, this could be parallel expression Romans 1:16, Paul is singling out one persons faith to another’s persons faith. Two, Paul point is righteousness from God is completely on the basis of faith from beginning of our salvation to the end, “The just shall live by faith,” Habakkuk 2:4

Habakkuk 2:4 ESV

4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

“From faith”, the initial act, “to faith,” to the life of faith lived out by the believer.