Glory to God for the Gospel Revealed
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Title: “Glory to God for the Gospel Revealed ”
Scripture: Romans 16:25-27
Occasion: The Lord’s Day
Date: August 18, 2024
PRAY
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son
and give him the glory, great things he has done!
Ephesians 1:2 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Introduction
Today marks a very significant mile stone for our Church.
We are closing out the book of Romans.
We have dedicated 31 months, 135 Sundays, with an average of 125 hours of plumbing the depths of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the letter to the Romans.
I can sincerely say that this book has transformed my life.
After speaking with many of you, I know that the Lord has used this book to make you more like Jesus, and to bring about a greater desire for obedience to the faith.
But the most wonderful of all graces over the period of the last 2 1/2 years in this letter, has been that God has illuminated to us by His Spirit, a clearer and deeper understanding of the Gospel of God. (Rom. 1:1, Rom. 15:16)
If you haven’t been able to tell by now, the letter to the Romans is all about the gospel!
The Gospel Explained: Justification by Faith Alone (1:218-4:25)
The Gospel Experienced: The Effects of Justification (5-8)
The Gospel Defended: Election, Israel and God’s Promises (9-11)
The Gospel Applied: The Transforming Power of the Gospel of God (12:1-15:13)
And now, naturally, the apostle Paul closes out this letter with a doxology (declaration of praise) by giving glory to God for the gospel revealed.
Sermon Title: “Glory to God for the Gospel Revealed”
There are 4 important aspects of the gospel that the apostle wants us to see in our text this morning:
The Power of the Gospel (v.25)
The Revelation of the Gospel (vv. 25-26)
The Purpose of the Gospel (v. 26)
The Response to the Gospel (vv.26-27)
Let’s begin by taking a look at the power of the gospel this morning.
I. The Power of the Gospel
Romans 16:25 (ESV)
Now to him WHO IS ABLE to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
Paul states here that God “IS ABLE” to provide strength for His people according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.
Paul knew this first hand.
Paul’s life was completely turned upside because of this gospel.
There is no doubt in my mind that the reason Paul uses “My gospel” rather than “the gospel” Is because the gospel of Jesus Christ was Pauls life.
He was saved by the gospel.
He was strengthen by the gospel.
He was called to give up his whole life for the gospel.
His entire life was surrounded on every side with the richness and power of the gospel.
The gospel was everything to Paul. That is why he uses the phrase “my gospel”.
What this phrase doesn’t mean is that Paul was preaching a different gospel than the other Apostles.
There was not Paul’s gospel, and Peter’s gospel, so on.
There is only one gospel.
It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ, which Paul confirmed by following up my gospel with “ and the preaching of Jesus Christ”
In other words: There is only one gospel, and it’s the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul warns the Church at Galatia and says to them in the opening of his letter:
Galatians 1:6–8 (ESV)
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
There is no other good news than the good news of the risen Christ.
And this gospel alone has the power to save.
This is exactly what Paul points out in this letter, doesn’t he?
Sub-Point: The Gospel Has the Power to Save US
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.
Friends the gospel is the very power of the living God.
The Gospel alone “IS ABLE” (it alone has the power from God) to bring about salvation from sin and death to all who repent and believe upon the revealed Jesus Christ.
As the hymn “The Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation” goes,
1. What shall the dying sinner do,
That seeks relief for all his woe?
Where shall the guilty conscience find
Ease for the torment of the mind?
2 How shall we get our crimes forgiven,
Or form our natures fit for heaven?
Can souls, all o’er defiled with sin,
Make their own powers and passions clean?
3 In vain we search, in vain we try,
Till Jesus brings his gospel nigh;
’Tis there that power and glory dwell,
That save rebellious souls from hell.
4. This (THE GOSPEL) is the pillar of our hope,
That bears our fainting spirits up;
We read the grace, we trust the word,
And find salvation in the Lord.
It’s doesn’t matter what you are going through or what mess you find yourself in, God’s power in the gospel of Jesus Christ can save you and cleanse you from all of your sins.
But not only does the gospel have the power of God to save us, but the gospel has the power to KEEP US!
Sub-Point Two: The Gospel Has the Power to Keep Us
Romans 16:25 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to STRENGTHEN YOU according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
Paul is reminding the weary Christians in Rome facing false teaching, interval division, and Roman persecution ; that the gospel of Jesus, will establish them, will strengthen them, will cause them to persevere to the finish line of glory.
This is the great doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith says it this way:
This perseverance of the saints does not depend on their own free will but on the unchangeableness of the decree of election,4 which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father. It is based on the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,5 the oath of God,6 the abiding of his Spirit, the seed of God within them,7 and the nature of the covenant of grace.8 The certainty and infallibility of their perseverance is based on all these things.
Paul is reminding the Christian’s in Rome (and us today) that although we may be facing many trials, toils, and snares, the Gospel promises us, beloved, that He who began a good work in us, will see it through to completion. (Phil. 1:6)
The gospel alone promises this victory in Christ.
God uses the gospel to strengthen our faith for the race.
As we recite the gospel to one another we are reminded of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
Through this gospel proclamation, we are given the strength, hope, and the very power of God to keep on.
In this sense, God, through the gospel, keeps us.
This is also a great reminder that the gospel is not just an entry point into the christian life, but it is also the way in which we grow, and enjoy life with Christ.
Paul, in chapters 5-8 shows us that the gospel not only saves us, but it changes us.
We say this around here a lot: We never graduate from the gospel.
We need it every day.
We need it not just for reminder, but for change in our lives.
The very power of God through the gospel changes us from the inside out.
Questions:
As you have grown in the gospel over these last 2 1/2 years in this letter, what are some ways you have seen the gospel change you?
If you haven't seen any change in your life, ask yourself “why not”?
Maybe you know the gospel today, but have never trusted in it by faith, and maybe that is why you are not seeing change in your life.
The Gospel has the power to save you, keep you, and change you this morning.
But you must believe.
The question is, what must one believe to be saved?
Well that question leads me to my next point:
II. The Revelation of the Gospel
Romans 16:25–26 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY that was kept secret for long ages but has now been DISCLOSED and through the prophetic writings has been MADE KNOWN …
If you are looking at your bibles or at the screen it should be very noticeable what the Apostle is emphasizing here in vv25-26.
The emphasis is that the gospel of Jesus Christ has finally been revealed, disclosed, made known.
So this means that prior to Christ’s incarnation, the way of salvation through the gospel was not yet fully revealed.
Paul inform us here that this mystery was kept secret.
Sub-Point I.: The Mystery Kept Secret
Mystery by definition is:
Mystery: Something revealed that was previously hidden.
So Paul tells us in verse 25, that the gospel of Jesus Christ was “kept secret for long ages”.
This kind of language is common in apocalyptic literature.
This “Kept Secret” language refers to the hiddenness of God’s plan and purposes.
But Paul makes this clear in v26, that what this doesn’t mean: It doesn't mean that one could have no knowledge of the content of this mystery in the OT.
What Paul does mean by “Kept Secret” here is that one could not fully understand the mystery in the OT, NOR could one experience it.
But the Spirit of God pens in verse 26 “BUT HAS NOW”!
Romans 16:26 (ESV)
BUT HAS NOW been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
The mystery was hidden for long ages, but now, dear loved one, that mystery has been revealed!
Hallelujah!
Sub-Point II. : The Mystery Revealed
All of biblical history has been moving forward toward this climax:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the promised Prophet, Priest, and King of the Old Testament.
The God-Man who would become flesh, born in a manger in Bethlehem, who had no form or majesty that we should look at Him.
The Man of Sorrows who would actively obey the law for us.
The Suffering Servant who would willingly take on the wrath of God for our sins.
The Seed of the Woman who would crush the head of the serpent, triumphantly conquering sin, Satan, and death.
This Conquering King, this root of Jesse, who would be raised from the grave.
The High Priest who would ascend the holy mountain of the Lord, as Psalm 24 declares.
Who would ascend to the right hand of the Father and intercede for His people.
Who would rule over His kingdom.
Who would one day return, militant and triumphant, for His people, to establish His earthly kingdom and usher in the new heavens and the new earth, consummating His Kingdom that will have no end.
The mystery has been revealed! It’s Jesus! It’s the messiah that the Jews and the nations have been waiting for! Thank you, Jesus!
All of human history has been pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of every Old Testament office, and of every OT promise mentioned in the prophetic writings (OT).
That’s why Paul pens the glorious words of 2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Romans 16:27 (ESV)
… glory forevermore THROUGH JESUS CHRIST! Amen.
The mystery has been manifested (disclosed) through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and made known through the prophetic writings.
Let me say it how I want to say it:
The OT testifies and confirms that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true!
The OT confirms that Jesus is in fact the promised one of God.
The OT confirms that the way anyone was saved and is saved and will be saved is through faith alone in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus alone.
This is why Paul begins this letter by stating in Romans 1:16-17
Romans 1:16–17 (ESV)
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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
The mystery of the gospel has been revealed and disclosed, and made known.
Or as Tim Keller says: The gospel has been predicted, revealed, and is now being proclaimed.
Here is what this means for us today:
We are without excuse.
There is no one in hell who will be able say “I didn’t know about Jesus and what He came to do”!
Not only has God revealed Himself through general revelation in creation, but He has also revealed His Son incarnate and His plan of redemption through special revelation in His Word.
This is so that Christ might save all who call upon His name, OR silence every excuse from those who claim ignorance of who Christ is, of God’s redemptive plan, and of their refusal to trust in the Lord for salvation.
And this leads us to our third point.
III. The Purpose of the Gospel
Romans 16:26 (ESV)
but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known TO ALL THE NATIONS, according to the COMMAND OF THE ETERNAL GOD, to BRING ABOUT THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH—
Paul instructs his readers that the purpose of God’s revealing the gospel, when He did and how he did, is first and foremost, because the eternal God determined it.
The gospel was revealed on time.
God is never early or late.
This is evident in the earthly ministry of Christ.
At least 5 times, Jesus in the gospels makes the statement “my hour or time has not yet come”.
Our days are numbered.
Everything that happens in our lives has been ordained and ordered by our eternal God.
This is what command means here in the text: “The will of God”
That is why Jesus Prays “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
God does as he pleases When He pleases.
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
Paul instructs us that
Sub-Point I. : The Gospel is for God’s Glory. (First and foremost)
He does everything according to His own pleasure and glory.
We have a tendency to immediately jump to the conclusion that the purpose of the gospel is to save sinners.
But we must first understand that the chief aim of the gospel is to glorify God and magnify His Son!
What would most glorify him and would be most pleasing to him, would be to reveal the gospel in the way it was revealed and when it was revealed.
Every step Jesus took on this earth was commanded by the Father.
Yes, even the cross was commanded by the eternal God.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
The eternal God willed Jesus to be crushed.
It was the will of God to crush his Son for us.
But it was also the command of God that Christ would be victorious/Prosperous over Sin and death.
Here me on this:
Sometimes we don’t understand why God does thing the way he does, but we must understand that He is God, He is good, and there is nothing outside of His command.
Even through you might not understand why your life is the way it is, we must come to terms here this morning that God will command (order) your life in such a way where He will be most glorified, the gospel will be most amplified, and you will be most satisfied In Him.
The first purpose of the gospel is the glory of God.
Second purpose of the gospel according to the text is to be proclaimed to the nations.
Sub-Point II. The Gospel is for Everyone.
Romans 16:26 (ESV)
but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
Paul understood that God had called him to bring the gospel to the gentiles which is mentioned numerous times in this letter.
Paul does not do this at the expense of his fellow kinsmen in the flesh, the Jewish people. (9-11 show us that)
The beauty of the gospel is simply that it has been made available to all people.
The beauty of the gospel is in the very promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3
Genesis 12:2–3 (ESV)
… in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
This is at the heart of the great commission:
Matthew 28:18–19 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
This is the thrust behind our heart for missions efforts-to make Christ known to all the nations of the earth.
The Gospel is for God’s Glory.
The Gospel is for Everyone.
The Gospel is for Obedience.
Sub-Point III. The Gospel is for Obedience
Romans 16:26 (ESV)
but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
The gospel IS an invitation BUT its also a COMMAND to be obeyed.
We often make the gospel sound optional.
Like an invitation to a birthday party. Whether you come or not doesn’t matter.
Much of our evangelism comes across like this-Trivial.
But the goal of the gospel is to bring all people everywhere under the Kingship of Jesus.
Here is what I mean: One day every knee will bow before King Jesus. (Phil. 2)
One day everyone will obey him either freely in heaven or begrudgingly in hell.
The choice to refuse the gospel is a choice to disobey the living God.
The choice to obey the This command to repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation is the choice To live in obedience to your creators command.
Many of us here are trying to clean ourselves up and make ourselves right with God on our own terms.
We are trying to obey God without God.
We are trying to get right with him by our own works or good deeds.
Maybe this is you, and your wondering why you simply cant obey God freely And lovingly.
Friend the reason this might be so is because you might be trying to earn God favor through your Obedience.
You are trying to measure up to God’s perfection.
But it’s clear through the 10 commandments that you will never be able to obey the law.
But the gospel tells us is that Christ obeyed the law for us so that we might be set free from the weight of that striving, because we will never measure up on our own.
But what gospel obedience requires is that your repent of your rebellion (disobedience), you repent of your attempt to save your self through your works, you repent of trying to come to God on your own terms, and you acknowledge that obedience to the gospel is a matter of faith alone in Christ alone apart from any works of your own.
This morning if you want to obey the Lord Jesus and his word freely- you must believe upon Christ and his finished work.
If we don’t we are no different than pharisees. We will keep the letter of the law without the spirit of the law.
But When we believe in the Gospel it transforms us from the inside out.
The gospel changes our desires.
And The deeper the gospel goes (deeper into our hearts) the more obedience grows.
Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can cause us to obey Romans 12 happily.
Only the gospel can cause us to bless our enemies, to feed our enemy and give them something to drink, and to not repay evil for evil.
The gospel causes us to be a loving and joyful obedient people.
And now Paul closes with the only proper response to his precious gospel.
The gospel he gave his whole life for, the gospel that saved him and changes him and sanctified him Is worthy of only one response: Praise, Thanks, and giving Glory to God through Christ For the gospel revealed.
IV. The Response to the Gospel
to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Matthew Henry points out in v25 That Paul praises God for his power and now he closes with giving glory to God for his wisdom. He says this in his commentary:
Power to effect without wisdom to contrive, and wisdom to contrive without power to effect, are alike vain and fruitless; but both together, and both infinite, make a perfect being.
The Apostle Paul with his words is placing the living God in his proper place of glory and honor and praise.
Paul finishes this letter giving glory to God for:
His Wisdom
For Jesus Christ.
Sub-Point I. Glory to God for His Wisdom
This doxology is very reminiscent of his doxology at the end of Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
What is extremely evident in the letter To the Romans is how rich and how unsearchable the wisdom of God really is.
From the gospel explained (1-4)
To the gospel experienced (5-8)
To the gospel defended (9-11)
And the gospel applied (12-16)
We see the magnitude of God’s wisdom in Romans. (And this is only what is revealed! Wow!)
What wisdom is Paul referring to Here in v27?
Paul is praising God for his “wise” plan for salvation history, now understood, lived out, and given thanks for by the saints!
Like the Apostle, we should be overwhelmed with praise and thanksgiving for the way in which God has, in His infinite wisdom. worked out this grand plan of salvation and the restoration of all creation.
I don’t know about you, but there have been countless times over the course of this letter in the last 2 1/2 years, where I have been mind-blown. Humbled by the wisdom of God. I could not help but stand up in my study with my hands and eyes towards God giving him glory, and honor, and praise for His Wisdom.
Man could not have planned for such a story of salvation and redemption like this.
But this plan, of course, is culminated in a person and His work: God’s Son, Jesus Christ!
Sub-Point II. : Glory to God for Jesus Christ
Romans 16:27 (ESV)
to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Glorying in the Son of God, without whom there would be no gospel, it is only fitting that we conclude by giving God glory THROUGH Christ.
It is in and through Christ that God is manifested to the world as the only wise God.
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
Matthew Henry says:
All the glory that passes from fallen man to God, so as to be accepted of him, must go through the hands of the Lord Jesus, in whom alone it is that our persons and performances are, or can be, pleasing to God. Of his righteousness therefore we must make mention, even of his only, who, as he is the Mediator of all our prayers, so he is, and I believe will be to eternity, the Mediator of all our praises.
As we come to the close of Paul's letter to the Romans, we are confronted with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This gospel does not allow us to settle for our own small kingdoms or seek after our own fleeting glories.
It calls us to something far greater—it calls us to live for His Kingdom, for His glory, and to make the renown of Christ the chief aim of our lives.
This doxology is not merely a conclusion but a summons—a call to Christians everywhere to transfer their trust and worship From self to God. From our glory to His.
So I ask you today:
How will you live for the glory of God?
How will you respond to the gospel that has been revealed?
How will your life be transformed by this gospel?
And how will you, today, answer the call to make the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ known to all the nations?
This divinely inspired letter demands a response. It demands your life—every part of it.
Stop wasting your life, my friend.
Surrender it all to the glory of God.
Answer God's call to missions.
Answer God's call to ministry.
Answer God's call to use your influence and career to declare God's wisdom and power in Jesus Christ.
Answer God's call to raise your children to live, love, serve, and treasure Christ and His glory.
The Letter to the Romans is a call to live for something greater and everlasting-The glory of God through Jesus Christ.
How will you respond to the wisdom of God today?
Let us pray than Join with me in closing out our study with singing the new doxology.
PRAY
Heavenly Father,
We bow before You, the only wise God, who alone has the power to strengthen us according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we close our study of Your Word in Romans, we give You all glory and honor for the mystery of salvation, once hidden but now revealed to all nations, leading to the obedience of faith.
Thank You for the depths of wisdom and knowledge You have unveiled to us through this letter, guiding our hearts and minds into Your truth. May the truths we've learned transform us, anchoring us in the hope of Your eternal Kingdom and filling us with a desire to live today and each and everyday for Your glory.
To You, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory forevermore. Amen.