An Unashamed Faith

Pray for the Catholic Church

That they find a new leader who will lead them in the spirit and teachings of Jesus

That they would love your word

Romans Introduction

Good morning, today we will begin a journey through the book of Romans. It is just one of the most powerful books of the Bible…

Now all of the word of God is powerful but I want to tell you why this book is different from the rest.

The author is Paul, and all of his other letters are to churches that he planted or to young leaders that he has invested in.

This is a letter to a Jewish/Gentile Christian community that sprung up probably because of Pentecost.

Every other letter that Paul writes he is either fixing a theological problem or something like that…In this letter what Paul is doing is theology.

He is explaining to the church the implications of the Bible.

Before we get into the text this morning I want to tell a little story of how this book has just changed the world….

There is a famous event that kicked off the founding of the Methodist Church

John Wesley was an Oxford Educated anglican priest. All thorough his early ministry he was plagued by a lack of faith.

It all steamed from a failed missions trip that he took to the new world. He went to the American Colonies, specifically Georgia where he was a failed pastor.

He did end up getting engaged but when his finance broke it off with him so she could marry another man, John refused to serve her communion. She notified the authorities and they put out a warrant for the arrest of John Wesley.

So John ran away got on a boat and came back to London…

He had visions of being a successful missionary but was chased out of town…

Well on that boat ride there was a massive storm and John wrote in his diary about how scared he was and that he was afraid the ship would sink, but the entire time there were a group of christians called the Moravians who praised God and sang songs in the middle of this storm

And John Wesley never forgot that, he would go back to his mentor Peter Bohler about his crisis of faith…That he had none! and tell him about this account to which peter told him, Well John, “ preach about faith until you have it”

And then here is how this all applies to the book of Romans…John Wesley sought out these Moravian people and went to a worship meeting with them one day

And at this meeting there was a reading of Martin Luther’s Preface to the book of Romans…

So this is Martin Luther’s introduction to Romans…It wasn’t even the book itself…

For those of you who don’t know Luther was the one who nailed his 95 thesis’s on to the church door in Wittenberg

This moment in 1508 started the Protestant reformation….

And what Luther was doing there is telling the church is that it is by faith that you are saved! Not works…By the way, this is one of the big messages of Paul in Romans!…Because at this moment of history the Catholic church was selling indulgences… So what they were doing is saying if you pay us we will pray for one of your relatives who has died to go to heaven

Luther is famous because he stood up to the catholic church and literally changed the makeup of the world by having these christians who were protesting the church.

He believed in things like, Christians should be aloud to read the Bible!

He actually translated the entIre Bible to German so that the common man could read it! This was HUGE!

So Luther was huge in not just church history but world history

So now we find ourselves on, May 24, 1738, 230years after the protestant reformation….John Wesley still feels like he has no faith! And he is a pastor!

So he attends a church service with some of his Moravian friends which took place on Aldersgate Street, London, while listening to a reading of Martin Luther's preface to Epistle to the Romans, Wesley experienced what he described as a "strangely warmed" heart and felt assured of his salvation through faith in Christ alone. This experience marked a shift from his previous legalistic approach to a belief in grace and assurance of forgiveness. 

This is what Wesley Wrote in his journal:

Christianity Today, 1962–1963, Volume 7, Numbers 1–25 Aldersgate: An Epoch in British History

In the evening I went very unwillingly to the society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; … assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death” (Journal, I, 475, 476).

After this moment: Wesley was a new man…His world changed, and God through him changed the world!

So you have to ask the question, what on earth did Luther write? I am going to read just 3 short paragraphs of Luther’s introduction to Romans…But its free online…and well worth anyone’s time!

Luther’s Preface

This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes. Therefore I want to carry out my service and, with this preface, provide an introduction to the letter, insofar as God gives me the ability, so that every one can gain the fullest possible understanding of it. Up to now it has been darkened by glosses and by many a useless comment, but it is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the entire Scripture.

Faith is a work of God in us, which changes us and brings us to birth anew from God. It kills the old Adam, makes us completely different people in heart, mind, senses, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it. What a living, creative, active powerful thing is faith! It is impossible that faith ever stop doing good. Faith doesn't ask whether good works are to be done, but, before it is asked, it has done them. It is always active. Whoever doesn't do such works is without faith; he gropes and searches about him for faith and good works but doesn't know what faith or good works are. Even so, he chatters on with a great many words about faith and good works.

Faith is a living, unshakeable confidence in God's grace; it is so certain, that someone would die a thousand times for it. This kind of trust in and knowledge of God's grace makes a person joyful, confident, and happy with regard to God and all creatures. This is what the Holy Spirit does by faith. Through faith, a person will do good to everyone without coercion, willingly and happily; he will serve everyone, suffer everything for the love and praise of God, who has shown him such grace. It is as impossible to separate works from faith as burning and shining from fire. Therefore be on guard against your own false ideas and against the chatterers who think they are clever enough to make judgements about faith and good works but who are in reality the biggest fools. Ask God to work faith in you; otherwise you will remain eternally without faith, no matter what you try to do or fabricate.

I read that last line: “Ask God to work faith in you” and thought that this is probably the best way to start Romans so I am going to give you 10seconds I Just want to invite you wherever you are at this morning whether at home or here in person to pray, “Lord work faith in me this morning”

I mean…Guys, that is just the introduction to the book..,.,.The actual book is so much better so lets just dig in!

Romans 1:1–2 NIV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures

I love how Paul starts this letter…

Paul says his name but in Greek his name means little or Small…It’s interesting because the way he likes to describe himself in other places is “Least among the apostles”

He is just saying that he Paul is the author but this is one of those cases where we have to point out the Greek because we are reading a translation and no translation is perfect.

But in our english translation it doesn’t even capture the way that Paul is portraying himself!

Paul identifies himself as a “servant” the greek word here is doulos This is the same word as “Slave”

So there is a wordplay happening here in the first two words…

Paul is saying he is just a little slave of Jesus! His whole life is dedicated to Jesus

Now obviously the word “Slave” has a very negative connotation as it rightfully should…

But what Paul is saying is, I am not a volunteer for Jesus…I don’t just contribute my time once a week….I am not just a Christian on Sundays…I am the bondservant or the slave of Jesus. Jesus is my all in all, he is my Lord and savior and I do nothing without the command of Jesus

Just these two words makes me ask the question…

If you and I were to write a letter…How would we introduce ourselves? Are you all in?

Then Paul goes on to say that he is set apart for the gospel of God…

Now 6x in 17 verses Paul will say the gospel He will use the word faith 5x and he will use the phrase called or set apart 5x in the first seven verses

But by far what commentators have noticed is that the word “God” is the most used word in this letter…Across all of Romans it is used 173 times…So this book is about Jesus saving us and setting us apart though faith but the big picture of this book is that it is all about God!

And Paul says where this good news comes from

Did you see that…Paul is saying look to the prophets in the scriptures

So this Good news that Paul has isn’t from his imagination…This good news is from God himself! It comes from the Bible and the good news finds its fulfillment in a person!

The gospel is part of God’s unchanging purpose…It was promised before hand…not invented by man!

The good news is the person of Jesus

Let’s keep reading because Paul lets there now

Romans 1:3–7 NIV

regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

So right up front in these verses

Paul says Jesus had an earthly life as a decedent of David, that he was fully man but also

Through the spirit of holiness was appointed the son of God in power by his resurrection

This strikes confusion in some people, they think did Paul mean that he was human up to the point of his resurrection? No Very clearly Paul doesn’t believe this…

Colossians 1:15–17 NIV

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Paul knows that Jesus is fully man and fully God 100% both

When Paul uses the word Appointed…This might not be the greatest english translation because the word that Paul uses for appointed also means “defined as” or “Explained as”

So what Paul is saying is that the death of Jesus proves that he is human and that the resurrection of Jesus proves his divinity…Or it explains his divinity

And then Paul shares his mission in life…What has Jesus tasked Paul with?

Calling the Gentiles to obedience though faith!

This is very different than a Jewish vocation

See at the time of Jesus the jewish mindset really as it is now is you are saved because you are a child of Abraham…You are saved because you are in the covenant.

And look the Jewish Messiah has come and the good news is that he is not just for the jews but for all the people! For all the nations…The word “gentiles” is an untranslated greek word that just means nations…

So where the Jewish mind is fixated on the Lord being for Israel, Here Paul is now saying look the Lord has sent his son and now access to the Lord is open though the messiah, Jesus!

Those who used to be outside the covenant are now welcome to come inside the covenant.

And we see that through this phrase….To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people!

One of the simplest truths and the deepest truth of all is in this:

I am deeply loved by God

And if you have said yes to, Jesus and you have your trust in him, Paul would call you one of his holy people! Probably a better word for holy people is “Saints”

Look you are deeply loved by Jesus and when he sees you he sees you as a saint! Why? Because as Paul will explain later, you have the righteousness of Jesus!

Some of you might need to reorient the way that you view yourself…You see yourself as a failure or a sinner or as broken…Ok…But if your faith and hope is in Jesus then he sees you and loves you, you are a saint!

Ok we will never finish with the first 17 verses…Let’s power though

Romans 1:8–10 NIV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

Ok this is a tiny little thing to notice but it is so key and I hope that this

Christian prayer happens through Jesus

Did you notice I thank my God…Through Jesus!

The point as Paul will continue to point out that it is through Jesus that we get access to the father!

The author of Hebrews calls Jesus our great high priest! who intercedes for us!

The book of revelation pictures Jesus as advocating for us

and Paul views Jesus as mediating for us!

So what you need to know is that prayer happens though Jesus…It’s not even your own efforts it is Jesus who takes your prayer to the father!

Later in the book of Romans Paul talks about how even when we do not now what to pray…When we just have wordless groan, the Holy Spirit can translate that and take our wordless groans to the father

Here is the point

I think too often Deism is an invisible plague in Christianity…Functionally many people are deist… You view God as far off…Like he created the world then bailed

But Paul’s picture is that when you pray, Jesus is right there with you…Near you…You are praying though Jesus! If that doesn’t encourage you then I dont know what will!

By the way, you should all pray for each other!

And Paul gets excited for the Roman’s faith! The very thing that this book will all be about!

Romans 1:11–13 NIV

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

What I love about these verse here is that Paul says I wish I could come in person and impart some spiritual gift to you

But the reality is that his letter is a masterpiece! His letter will go on to change the world multiple times

The spiritual gift he is giving is this letter!

This letter is the beginning of theology…Because that is what Paul is doing in the letter, he is taking scripture and explaining it…That is the basis of theology!

And he says this which I think matters so much: He wants to go to Rome for Mutual encouragement of each other’s faith its the next fill in

One of the purposes of the church is mutual encouragement by each other’s faith

Part of the reason why your attendance at church matters is fellowship…

I know we still have many people who watch online because of work or sports or travel, but if your in town get off your couch and be here in person, you are missing a VITAL part of church! You are missing the connecting with people and mutual encouragement.

Fellowship isn’t just coffee and donuts…

It is mutual encouragement…I tell this story all the time…

Looking at washing machines one day and I noticed the front loaders have no agitator…The agitator is what sticks out in the middle of a top load washing machine so I say…How do the clothes get clean? There is no agitator? And the response…In these kinds of machines the clothes beat against each other and the clothes clean one another!

WOW that’s the church! That is fellowship

I just decided about 2-3 months ago I needed to be more encouraging because I am in my head I just don’t verbalize it all the time. So when I see something great I try and make an effort to tell the person how great it is…It makes a huge difference

Romans 1:14–17 NIV

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Paul says that he is Obligated to greeks and non greeks, wise and foolish

The Author Paul Minear wrote this:

“Obligation to him who died produces obligation to those for whom he died” (Paul Minear, “Gratitude”)

The point is that Paul calls himself a slave to Jesus…Right up front…And now Paul is passionately following Jesus

And if he is going to follow his messiah then Paul needs to love the messiah’s people the way Jesus love them

See the mission of God was for the one! He sent Jesus to find the lost sheep of Israel! He sent Jesus to go after the strays

So what Paul is saying is if this is my messiah’s whole life then it better be mine too!

Then Paul says one of the greatest line in the whole of Chapter 1

I am not ashamed of the Gospel! Why because the good news, which we already figured out is a WHO and not a WHAT is Personal…It is Jesus and Jesus has the power to save all who believe in him

All who put their trust in him

And what happens when you put your trust in Jesus

Now I know this first hand.

Paul says that the gospel is the power of God

I think that one of the most powerful times of the holy spirit working in the church is through the preaching of the word of God and worship

Guys! I have been preaching now on a weekly basis for about 20 years…I know hard to believe!

But I have seen people be moved, cry…Fully change their lives, I have seen marriages get back together, I have seen people go from day one walking in church to pastoring churches and here is what I can tell you

I thank God through Jesus that I have been a witness to this…But I am not that good at preaching!

It is the power of the gospel!

Don’t ever get confused by who has all the power…It’s not me! I am not strong enough, I am not smart enough, it is by letting the word of God speak for itself that God’s power is unveiled

Someone one time asked CS Lewis how he would defend the Bible as the word of God…and his answer was this.

“The same way that I would defend a lion, I’d let it out of its cage”

My point is it is the Holy spirit, it is the Gospel that does the transformation, not me!

There have been some great preachers though world history but they will all tell you the same exact thing! The Scripture is just so Good I hardly have to do any work!

This is why it matters so much to read your bibles!

Then lastly lets look at 17 one last time

Romans 1:17 NIV

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

I think what is impotrant to note is that God doesn’t save people indiscriminately

The offer is there for every single person…

That we need to respond to the gospel of Jesus and when we respond with belief and faith that God

Our righteousness comes from the one who our faith is in.

You are not righteous by your own efforts

when you respond to the gospel, Jesus covers you with his blood

He cleanses you of your sin!

He makes you new and gives you his righteousness

So when the father looks at you he sees the righteousness of Jesus

Now your own brokenness and deeds!

Response

Can you see why Martin Luther wrote:

This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well.

Maybe you’re here today and you have been hearing these 17 verses and your heart is pounding a bit…Because you know that you need to make a shift this morning

‘A shift from a fan of Jesus to a follower…Putting your whole faith and trust in the gospel of jesus

Maybe its is just in coming to church more often and being a mutual encourager or

A shift from living off your own deeds to the righteousness of Jesus!

You know in your life there is a commitment to be made, you are living with one foot in and one foot out…

You play church on Sunday…But Monday though Saturday is a different story

Jesus loves you and wants you but he won’t force you to follow him

It is about being unashamed of the gospel and putting your whole trust in him who died and rose again for you!

We have YES cards and if your here and you need to say yes to Jesus I want to encourage you to put this in the offering!