3 Lessons about the gospel

Romans 1:1–7 “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

According to v.1 what is the main point of this passage?

The gospel

The key is the word ‘for’

Why is the gospel so crucial to Paul?

Paul was transformed by the gospel

Paul was called to serve Jesus by serving the gospel

Paul’s meaning in life is the gospel

Some people say their meaning in life is to be a doctor

Some say it’s to be a mother

Some say it’s to create dances on TikTok

I don’t know why but that’s what they say

But for Paul it’s the gospel

Many Christians see the gospel as a separate part of their Christian life

Church over here

Youth ministry over there

And gospel maybe on the weekends

Maybe I’ll invite someone or share the gospel with someone or not

But as we learn from Paul the gospel is not another compartment of the Christian life

It is the Christian life

How can we make the gospel more crucial to our lives?

It’s something more foundational

We first need to know what the gospel is

Think about it

If you don’t know what the gospel is

Why would you make it your life

According to v.5 what is Paul’s goal for people?

‘To bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name’

What do you think obedience of faith means?

Obedience of faith refers not to initial faith but ongoing faith in the gospel

Many people think that they just have to believe in the gospel one time and there set for life

They can now live a life of sin

‘I punched my ticket to heaven’

And now I can do whatever I want

If I sin that’s fine

Because God will just forgive me?

What would you say to someone like that?

The gospel is not a one time thing

It never ends

Not only must you believe it in continually

It must also be taught continously

The gospel is not something you graduate from

It’s something that you must also be reminded of

And encouraged to keep following of

Why must we be reminded of the gospel?

Because in a broken world we’re tempted to go astray

When my wife and I went on vacation on a cruise

It was one of the funnest times I’ve ever had (cruise pics)

I mean look how much fine I had (cruise me pic)

I promise I wasn’t drunk I was stuffed with food

I gained like 10lbs on 1 week on a cruise.

But as we got closer to the end

Day 4, day 5, day 6

More and more every day

I was thinking, ‘I don’t want this to end’

But unfortunately it came to an end

Did you know there are vacations and cruises that go on for an entire year?

Why?

Because people don’t want it to end!

Something that never ends is the gospel

It will never cease to bring you joy and fulfillment

So never let the gospel end in your life

1. The gospel never ends (v.1-7)

Romans 1:8–14 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.”

Romans 1:15–17 “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””

According to v.8 what is Paul thankful to God for the Roman church?

Their faith being proclaimed in all the world

Why is Paul so grateful this?

Because it is also his goal for the faith to be spread in all nations

Paul and the Roman church have the same mind and united in the same goal

According to v.14 what is Paul under obligation to do?

To share the gospel to both Greeks and barbarians

In Paul’s times the world is split essentially between the Roman/Greek world and everyone else they called barbarians

Paul is to share the gospel to the whole world

According to v.16 why is Paul so eager to share the gospel?

Because it is the power of God

Paul has something so powerful that he isn’t ashamed

He’s not soft

He doesn’t care what people think

He will share it

2 Corinthians 10:4 (ESV)

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

How powerful is divine power?

It is ultimate power

No power can stand against it

What do you think is the most powerful weapon in the world?

Nukes

And the most powerful nuke is the tsar bomba (tsar bomba pic)

Here’s the comparison between fat man dropped on nagasaki and tsar bomba (nagasaki vs. tsar bomba pic)

It is so powerful that the explosion would be seen over 630 miles away

that’s all the way from MD to almost Georgia

and MD all the way to Maine

It would completely eliminate an entire city like NY

And people 50 miles away would get third degree burns

And houses destroyed

If this bomb detonated in Baltimore you’d get third degree burns here in Eldersburg

The gospel is so powerful

That nothing can stop it

When it drops it affects not just 50 miles

630 miles

But the entire world

If you know how powerful the gospel is you will not be ashamed

Remember that you have something more powerful than the most powerful nuke ever created

In your heart and mind

The gospel

So never be ashamed

2. The gospel is powerful (v.8-17)

Romans 1:18–20 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”

Romans 1:21–25 “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Why does Paul suddenly talk about the wrath of God in v.18?

Because in v.17 Paul explains that the gospel is God revealing his righteousness

Don’t think of God’s wrath as uncontrolled destruction and rage

But making wrong things right

Murderers, thieves, and rapists

God makes things right by punishing them

According to v.20 if people never hear the gospel will they avoid judgement?

No because they know God exists already

The bible calls everyone a sinner

God does not have to save everyone

When he does he does out of grace

It would be right for God to punish everyone

But since God is also graceful and merciful

He also saves some

I want to show you a little video here

(absolute morals vid)

What do you guys think about this video?

This is an example of everyone knowing God exists

v.20 says God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen and perceived

One of them is absolute truth

Because God is a God of truth

We live in a world of absolute truth

But the world wants to deny this

Because a world of absolute truth stops people from engaging in sin

So they create lies to make excuses for themselves to sin

Students wherever you go

When you leave these four walls

You will constantly come against opposition against the gospel

And it will feel uncomfortable

And you may even begun to question your beliefs

But I want you to remember that the gospel is always right

Never falter

Never give up

Because the gospel is always right

3. The gospel is always right (v.18-25)