“Revolutionary Grace”- The Gospel & Paul

— Over the next 6 months or so, we will be walking through the The Book of Romans.

— The three main points of the Book of Romans as a whole can be summarized as follows:

The Book of Romans

#1 Justification by Faith - Romans 3.21-31.

#2. Sanctification and Christian Living - Romans 6-8.

# 3. The Role of The Church, , Israel and God's - Romans 9-11.

1. Justification by Faith

— Paul emphasizes that humans are justified, or made righteous, by Faith alone

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2. Sanctification and Christian Living

— The lifelong process of Growing up in Christ.

— This is “becoming Holy as he is Holy.

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3. The Church & Israel in God's Plan.

— What is the role of the Church?

— How does Israel fit into God’s plan of Salvation.

— Is the Church the “replacement” for Israel?

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— Here is also warning for it’s easy sometimes to call out LOUDLY, GET VERY UGLY and to VERY UNGRACEFUL to those who “WE” think are sinning.

— I think Paul is telling us to “Look in the mirror… Get your own house in order.”

— In my 40 years of being a Christian, a committed, devoted Follower of Christ.

— I have NEVER SEEN one person who was won to Christ through hate, division, or “calling-out.’

— Hate is NOT a spiritual gift!

— But I have seen many, including myself, who where won to Christ by God’s love, His Grace, Mercy and His gentle yoke.

— That’s Paul’s “revolutionary Gospel” as he rails against the status quo.

— He wants us… he demands that we do life differently.

Romans, Chapter 1, Verses 1-6

— It is found on page 939 of the bibles in front of you in the rack; of course its in your own bible or phone app.

— Let’s get started with a comment from Martin Lloyd Jones

Romans is the greatest masterpiece ever written. It is a colossal and incomparable statement of Christian truth.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

—When I was in seminary, my Romans class was in three parts. We spent 9 months studying this book

— Here’s what I learned in that whole process

Grace, Grace and more Grace

— These opening verses of Paul’s letter to the Romans set the stage for a profound exploration of GRACE

—This book.. Weaves together our identity in Christ, the call to transformation and REVOLUTIONARY GRACE.

— Romans can be difficult to understand, especially in what Paul originally intended when he wrote.

— I’ll be using some other versions of scripture, such as the New Living and The Message as we read together.

— Hopefully that will provide a bit of context for you.

— I will continue to use the ESV as I teach.

— Lets get started; stand if you can as I read Romans 1:1-6 From The Message.

Romans 1:1–6 MSG

1 I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God’s words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God’s friends. 2 The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets 3 on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; 4 his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. 5 Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. 6 You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ!

— This is the reading of the words of God, through Paul

— Please be seated

— Let’s dive in

Paul’s Identity in Christ

Romans 1:1 ESV

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

— Paul begins by identifying himself as "a servant of Christ Jesus.

— The Greek word here for “servant” is “doulos.” or slave.

— He also identifies himself as an Apostle of Christ.

Paul was set apart for the Gospel

— HE underscores his submission to Christ and his divine commission.

— This sets the stage for an exploration of Christ's identity, which is central to the gospel message.

— We are going to move on to vs. 3-4

Jesus Christ, the Son of God

— Paul emphasizes that the gospel…

Romans 1:3–4 (ESV)

3 concerning his Son [Jesus], who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

— There are two critical aspects of Jesus identity

— First is his humanity

Jesus Humanity

— A familiar Old Testament verse that point us to Christ’s humanity.

Isaiah 11:1 ESV

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

— Isiah wrote this some 800 years before Christ

— Some understand the shoot to come forth is Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Son of God!

— Jesus is declared to be the Son of God with power through His resurrection.

Acts 2:24 ESV

24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Jesus, The Promised Messiah

— Listen to Romans 1.2

Romans 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

2 which he [God] promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

— Paul connects the Gospel to the Old Testament Scriptures, asserting that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises.

— We are going to move all the way to the bottom of this section to V.16.

The Power of the Gospel

— Romans1.16

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

— Are you ashamed of the Gospel?

— Is the Gospel hard for you to hear for the 10,000th time?

— The Gospel of Jesus Christ, offers spiritual and practical benefits to both Christians and non-Christians, in different ways, of course.

Applications

Benefits for the believer in Christ

1. Salvation and Eternal Life

2. Relationship with God

3. Transformation and New Life

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1. Salvation and Eternal Life

— by accepting Jesus as your Savior, you are reconciled with God and assured of a place in heaven.

2. Relationship with God

— The Gospel offers a personal relationship with God.

— The highlight of your relationship with God is that we are ADOPTED as children of God, which provides a sense of belonging and love

3. Transformation and New Life

—Belief in the Gospel brings about a transformation in a person’s life, often described as being "born again.”

— This transformation involves a new way of living that aligns with the teachings and example of Jesus.

— There are also…

Benefits for the “Non-Christian”

1. Invitation to the Salvation only found in Christ

2. Moral and Ethical Teachings

3. Hope and Meaning

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1. Invitation to the Salvation only found in Christ

— The Gospel extends an invitation to salvation and eternal life to everyone, regardless of their background, choices or circumstances

2. Moral and Ethical Teachings

— Principles such as love your neighbor, forgiveness, and humility are universally applicable and can lead to a harmonious life and just society.

3. Hope and Meaning

— The message of the Gospel offers hope and a sense of meaning, particularly to those who may feel lost or hopeless.

— The promise of a higher purpose and the possibility of redemption can be deeply inspiring.

— Paul took upon himself; as confirmed by God to practice…

The “Revolutionary” Gospel

This union of Jew and Gentile into one body is really revolutionary at a sociological level in terms of what it is that God is doing. And it shows how the Gospel is ultimately, in part, about reconciliation.

Darrell L. Bock

— Paul started his journey to Christ in an unusual fashion.

— I certainly hope not.

— But if God would choose someone like Paul

— He just might allow me to become a follower of Jesus

— He persecuted Christians; putting as many as he could find to death.

— Then… after being struck blind, then having his sight restored

—HE WAS a new man and proceeded to find multiple ways to reach all of the people in the world with Grace

— We are still feeling the effects of Paul’s Revolutionary Grace

— He took the status quo and turned it upside down and backwards

— And in great regard… Rewrote what it means to be in a relationship with God, through Christ

Next week: Romans 1.18-32. “The Wrath of God Revealed”

Closing and Prayer

— Over the the next nearly 6 months we are going to be talking a lot about “Revolutionary Grace”

— Hopefully, for some you may experience REAL HONEST, real Grace for the first time.

— Grace is looks at our circumstances by choice, chance or ORDAINED and then draws us to by God, through Christ.

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Reconciliation and Redemption

— Two words that you will also likely hear a lot during this series on “Revolutionary Grace”

— Paul was a “REVOLUTIONARY” He looked as his world in the same that we should look at ours.

— His was a world that needed to hear the message of Jesus Christ, to experience Redemption and Reconciliation.

— It’s no different today

— The world is dying a slow painful death without the “Revolutionary Gospel”

— If you have grasped it… ALL RIGHT!!

— If you have yet to understand it… just stick with us over the next several months.

Let’s Pray

— God thank you for today.

— Thank you for clearing the path for us to Jesus

— That we can embrace true reconciliation and redemption only found it him.

— God teach us, through your Spirit to be sensitive to people around us.

— Understanding that everyone DESERVES to hear the Gospel in a way they can understand

— God be us as we journey through this book.

— Amen!

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Discussion/Devotion/Discipleship Questions

1. How does Paul's emphasis on the “Revolutionary Grace” challenge our traditional views on salvation and righteousness?

2. In what ways can we avoid being judgmental and cultivating a spirit of hate, and instead share God's love and grace with others?

3. How can we apply the concept of being 'revolutionary' in our own lives and relationships, following Paul's example in spreading the Gospel?

4. As we explore the themes of reconciliation and redemption, how can we seek to embody these qualities in our interactions with others, reflecting the love of Christ?

5. In what practical ways can we share the Gospel in our communities following the example of Paul's revolutionary grace?

6. How can we navigate the challenges of judgmental attitudes, choosing instead to show God's love and grace to those around us?

7. Reflecting on the promise of hope and meaning found in the Gospel, how can we encourage others are struggling with feelings of hopelessness or despair?

8. As we learn about Jesus' identity and the power of the Gospel, how can we strengthen our own faith and commitment to following Christ.