Romans 1:16-17: Our Eschatological Hope in the Gospel

Introduction

Succinct Summation

Diagnosing the Problem

Outline

Romans 1:1-17 - Introduction

Romans 1:1-7 - Introduction

Romans 1:8-15 - Paul's Thankfulness and Desire to come to Rome

Romans 1:16-17 - Our Eschatological Hope in the Gospel

Romans 1:16 - The Power of God in the Gospel

Romans 1:17 - The Righteousness of God in the Gospel

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Romans is the righteousness of God

Main Point

The power of God and the righteousness of God in the Gospel saves us from God’s future wrath

Romans 1:16 - The Power of God in the Gospel

Exegesis

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel,

The reason why Paul is so eager to preach the Gospel in Rome is because he is not afraid of the message he bears

Furthermore, Paul is not afraid of the outcome of what will happen

Mark 8:34–38 ESV

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 ESV

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

What is the Gospel?

In Romans 1:2-4, the focus was Christological - centered on Jesus being the Christ, Son of God, and Lord

Here the focus is soteriological - God saving His people from His wrath and sin which will be clarified further in Romans 3:21-26

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

For it is the power of God for salvation

The power of the Gospel is effective and transformative

1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 ESV

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

The power of the Gospel transforms the hearts and souls of people - they are spiritually saved

David Peterson

Romans Outline

The message of the gospel is powerful to save because it conveys the benefits of the saving acts of God in Christ to all those who believe (1:4; 3:22; 4:11; 10:4, 11). It does this in the form of declarations and promises that, when believed, actually bring people into a relationship of dependence on God and his grace.

Salvation here predominately refers to a future event of being delivered from the wrath of God during the judgment at the end

Also a now reality, however - God will save His people from the wrath He is currently pouring out

Romans 1:18 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

To everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The power of the Gospel for salvation is effective only in those who believe!

This belief is more than a mental exercise - Believe here means to entrust yourself in complete confidence - this goes way beyond a mental I believe

Faith is required for salvation - Paul constantly gave the Gospel calling them to accept it by faith and held them responsible if they failed to believe in the Gospel

Everyone who believes - the Gospel is given to everyone regardless of ethnicity

Jews first, as the covenant promises were first given to them in Abraham

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Acts 13:46–48 ESV

46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Yet the story of the Jews in salvific history is not finished according to Scripture

Romans 11:25–28 ESV

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

Gentiles - the saving promises given to the Jews in the Old Testament are now applied to the Gentiles in the New Covenant - All of God’s covenant people received His promises

Galatians 3:25–29 ESV

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

The Conscience

Application

Romans 1:17 - The Righteousness of God in the Gospel

Exegesis

17 For in it the righteousness of God

In it - the Gospel - God’s saving work

This clause answers why the gospel is the power of God for salvation - the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel

Righteousness of God

This phrasing is a distinctive in the book of Romans

Mentioned 7x and plays a significant role in the book

Yet, intense debate about this phrase abounds

Forensic, transformative

Forensic - speaks to our standing before God whereby He declares us to be right in His eyes by faith in Christ Jesus - we are not guilty - justified by faith

Declaration at the end times that we are not-guilty due to the work of Christ Jesus

Is revealed from faith for faith,

God’s righteousness is revealed because we are blinded to God’s work by ourselves and the enemy

Romans 1:21 ESV

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

We needed God to unveil His righteousness to us

The word for revealed is an eschatological term!

From faith for faith

Idiom meaning - faith, from beginning to end

An emphasis on faith to stand right before God

The righteousness of God is revealed whenever a person puts faith in the Gospel

As it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Paul quoting Habakkuk 2:4 to support “from faith for faith”

This is once again speaking of eschatological life!

God’s wrath will be poured out on those who do not believe, but those who depend on God will be delivered

The Babylonian invasion is a type of the last days

The Conscience

Application