God Reveled

Introduction:

On June 14, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower made a proclamation declaring the phrase “under God” be added to the Pledge of Allegiance as a reminder of our nation’s one unity under God. Eisenhower’s proclamation stated as follows:

“FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country's true meaning.

Especially is this meaningful as we regard today's world. Over the globe, mankind has been cruelly torn by violence and brutality and, by the millions, deadened in mind and soul by a materialistic philosophy of life. Man everywhere is appalled by the prospect of atomic war. In this somber setting, this law and its effects today have profound meaning. In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war.”

By 1960, more than 60% of Americans attended Sunday morning church services on a regular or weekly basis. This is due to the unshaken unabashed belief that the God of the Bible is creator of all things and His Son is Savior of all men who place their faith in the finished work of the cross. They believed in the good news of the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul made a bold proclamation to the Church of Rome in Vs. 16 that he was “not ashamed of the Gospel.” As we saw in verses 8-15 that Paul longed to be with Roman believers despite Rome being one of the centers of Pagan worship and the center of Christian persecution. To say he, a Roman citizen, was unashamed of the Gospel was a statement that could have, and would one day, cause Paul to be arrested and killed. But as vs. 16 also says, that the Gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” The Gospel saves. despite the persecution brought with being a Christian and the hardness in life that may come as well, Paul is reminding that this Gospel that was first presented to the Jews was now also for the Gentiles, and no matter the circumstance, the Gospel saves.

I. The Righteousness of God Revealed (Vs.16-17)

Righteousness- dikaiosynē - "the character or quality of being right or just;" (Vines)

Used to be spelled in English “Rightwiseness.” Denotes a characteristic of wisdom and justice. In this sense, its a characteristic only attributed in, through, and from God.

Revealed- apokalyptō - “to uncover, unveil;” (Vines)

Where we get our English word Apocalypse. We also translate the word revelation from this same root.

a. In the Gospel (vs. 16)

Romans 1:16 LSB

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.

Unashamed- epaischynomai- “[Not] Affected by shame; [not] abashed or confused by guilt or a conviction of some criminal action or indecorous conduct, or by the exposure of some gross errors or misconduct, which the person is conscious must be wrong, and which tends to impair his honor or reputation.” (Webster’s 1828)

Psalm 1:1 LSB

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

Matthew 10:33 LSB

“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Gospel- euangelion- “Good Tidings of the Kingdom of God; the Good News” (Vines)

This is the noun tense. The verb tense is often coupled with proclaiming or preaching.

1 Corinthians 15:1–5 LSB

Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed as good news to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I proclaimed to you as good news, unless you believed for nothing. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Luke 2:10 LSB

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.

b. Through Given Faith (Vs. 17)

Romans 1:17 LSB

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous will live by faith.”

Faith- pistis- conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it (Blue Letter Bible) Firm Persuasion, Belief, Assurance. (Vines)

Hebrews 11:1 LSB

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Two cases displayed in Vs. 17:

The first denotes a possession and is joined with the preposition “from” pointing to “Faith” revealing God’s righteousness through His gift of Faith

The second is the plain noun, or object, of Faith joined with the preposition “to.” Faith is something given from God to man.

THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (cf. Habbakuk 2:4)

Same case as the first Faith showing that those who have the given faith from God are considered righteous and that faith must be lived out.

James 2:17 LSB

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself.

Hebrews 11:6 LSB

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

II. The Wrath of God Revealed (Vs.18-20)

Wrath- orge- Anger, Wrath, Indignation; In reference to God’s judgement (Vines)

Supress- katechō- to firmly hold down; restrain of the spread of truth (Vines)

a. Because of Men Suppress the Truth

Romans 1:18–19 LSB

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

Romans 2:15 LSB

in that they demonstrate the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

John 3:20 LSB

“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light lest his deeds be exposed.

Romans 3:23 LSB

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

b. And Deny God’s Evident Existence

Romans 1:20 LSB

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Psalm 19:1 LSB

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Hebrews 11:3 LSB

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Colossians 1:16 LSB

For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

III. The Holy Sovereignty of God Revealed (Vs. 21-25)

a. Over False Idols

b. And Through His Justice

Conclusion