Romans: The Need for Righteousness, Pt. 1

Study of Romans, Message Two

Wednesday Nights MFBC

Romans 1:18-32.

ETS: Paul established the need for righteousness.

ESS: We need the righteousness of God because we are corrupt and sinful.

OSS: [MO: Devotional] {SO: I want the hearers to realize their own sinfulness/unrighteousness and acknowledge their need for God.} Cognitive: I want the hearers to acknowledge that there is nothing within them that warrants God’s favor. Affective: I want the hearers to feel the great need for God’s righteousness amidst their own filthiness. Psycho-Motor: I want the hearers to acknowledge that there is nothing within them that warrants God’s favor. We need God’s grace and righteousness.

PQ:

Why does Paul establish the need for righteousness?

UW: Reasons

Intro.: [AGS]: Perhaps we read this and two thoughts come to mind: (1) This guy Paul is dramatic- surely it wasn’t quite as he made it out to be. (2) Are we sure Paul is not writing to modern America? It seems oddly familiar, right? Concerning the Rome he was writing to, the great Rome, unfortunately, was increasingly becoming not-so-great. Though we have Paul’s account of what was taking place, it is helpful to know that others’ account of it was similar. Historians from the day wrote that Rome was “seemingly out of control (war was everywhere), an age of unparalleled luxury, an age of unparalleled immorality.” (William Barclay, “The Letter to the Romans” in The New Daily Study Bible. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017, 36-37). [TS]: Paul wrote in this portion of the text to begin establishing the need for salvation and righteousness. Perhaps the question is, “Why does he feel the urge to establish the righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus?” He establishes that all people are sinners and unrighteous. Specifically, this passage highlights that the Gentiles were unrighteous. [RS]: Maybe today, you have the same question, “Is it really necessary that we share the Gospel? Is it necessary that we establish that people are unrighteous and unworthy of salvation on their own? Is it necessary that we proclaim salvation in Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, to the glory of God alone? Not by works or anything else? Maybe you know someone who thinks they are good enough. Maybe you know someone who claims Christianity, but there is no fruit to support that claim in their life. The need is relevant today for us to establish that all are sinners in need of salvation- we need the righteousness of God which only comes through the blood of Jesus Christ.

TS.: Let us examine together a few reasons righteousness is needed.

God’s wrath is against unrighteousness. [verse 18a]

What exactly does this mean? Is the wrath of God equated with the anger of God?

Paul does not use this term as being equated with the anger of God.

Understanding the use of the wrath of God throughout the Bible appears to support this: disobedience to God incurs the wrath of God.

William Barclay covered the OT understanding of the wrath of God in relation to God’s relationship with Israel: (1) When the law was broken by anyone in the nation, it incurred the wrath of God because the covenant had been severed. (2) Because of Israel’s special relationship with God, those treating Israel with cruelty or injustice also incurred the wrath of God.

Additionally, Barclay covered the prophets’ idea of the wrath of God, again pertaining to the disobedience of individuals or groups to the holiness of God- it was his reaction to their disobedience.

What about for Paul, though? Only three times does Paul use the phrase, “the wrath of God” (here, Eph. 5:6, and Col. 3:6). He does refer to the wrath, but he does not connect it or specify that it is of God (although it seems implied). Again, the same understanding seems to be present: disobedience to God leads to the wrath of God. Yet, Paul would proclaim Jesus saves people from the wrath of God. (Barclay, 28-33)

“God revealed His wrath, not by sending fire from heaven, but by abandoning sinful men to their lustful ways.” (Wiersbe, 34)

The actions of the unrighteous. [verses 18b-23]

They suppress the truth. [18b]

It almost is as though what Paul states about those in the church of Ephesus later, could also be said about the Gentiles here. 2 Tim. 3:5.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Men knew the truth about God, but they did not allow this truth to work in their lives. They suppressed it in order that they might live their own lives and not be convicted by God’s truth.” (Warren Wiersbe, “Romans” in Be Right: How to Be Right with God, Yourself, and Others. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishing, 2008, 32.)

They did not glorify God as God or give Him gratitude. (v. 21)

Instead, they turned to themselves- the heart of idolatry.

William Barclay wrote, “In the world, we can see God. It is Paul’s argument- and it is completely valid- that if we look at the world we see that suffering follows sin. Break the laws of agriculture- your harvest fails. Break the laws of architecture- your building collapses. Break the laws of health- your body suffers. Paul was saying, ‘Look at the world! See how it is constructed! From a world like that, you know what God is like.’ Those who sin are left without excuse.” (Barclay, 32)

The result of the actions of the unrighteous. [verses 24-28]

God delivered them over to unrighteousness. (24, 26, 28)

This is detailed in three ways:

Desires of their heart (v. 24) “Epithumia is the passionate desire for forbidden pleasure. It is the desire which makes people do nameless and shameless things. It is the way of life of those who have become so completely immersed in the world that they have ceased to be aware of God at all.” (Barclay, 34)

Disgraceful passions (v. 26)

Corrupt Mind (v. 28)

“Because of their sin “God gave them up” (Rom. 1:24, 26), which means that He permitted them to go on in their sins and reap the sad consequences.” (Wiersbe, 33)

The character of the unrighteous. [verses 26 and 29-32]

Over twenty characteristics are provided for the people who are unrighteous in this way.

“There is hardly any passage which so clearly shows what happens to people when they leave God out of the reckoning. It is not so much that God sends a judgement on them as they bring judgement on themselves when they give no place to God in their scheme of things.” (Barclay, 39)

The characteristics outlined are as follows: evil, greed, wickedness, envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.

Also, notice these people not only practice these things, they encourage and applaud others who practice them, as well. (v. 32)

Takeaways:

Do you believe people are in need of salvation because of their unrighteousness?

Who is someone that you can share the Gospel with in the next week? Salvation is through Jesus alone, through faith alone.