Remedy

Romans 3:22–26 CSB

22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Intro

There is only one solution to this fallen world. There is only one thing that can save us from the mess we see all around us. In this world filled with violence, immorality, crisis after crisis and pain, The only solution is the one named Jesus. The only one who can save us from our fallen nature, our sinful rebellion which is the root of all our mess.

Reality Check

Paul is preaching to the Romans letting them know that “yall are messed up and lost in your sin, But there is one named Jesus who can save you.” Paul completely calls out their sin, in detail.

Romans 1:26–31 CSB

26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. 28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.

Paul was not calling them out to be mean or hateful. Paul was simply telling them the truth. Paul was taking a stand upon the word of God not for any other reason but to see people saved by coming to faith in Jesus. You cannot embrace the Gospel until you have realized the weight of your own sin. If we are going to see the gospel message move in power we cannot take away from any part of it. Jesus didn’t come to give you a religious bandaid and to make Good people better and to give you a good life. He came to save your life from the pits of hell to deliver you from you sin and to transform you into his image. Paul was not going to try and sugar coat the truth. Today this message would be considered hate speech. This message would get you canceled or worse. The gospel is not some wimpy little encouraging pat on the back. It is nothing to hide or hide from Paul said:

Romans 1:16 CSB

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

How does it work?

The only way this message works is it this message is preached. The only way medicine can work is if medicine is taken.

Romans 10:14–17 CSB

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

We can’t just pray for the salvation of our loved ones, neighbors and community. We have to take the message to the people. Our faith without works is dead according to James. We can’t just expect God to move in a life that he has called us to be the ones to care for. This is a major problem today, We want the results without having to do the work. We want someone else to preach for us, we want someone else to go knock on the neighbors door for us. We want someone else to tell our family about Jesus.

Has it ever occured to you than maybe God placed you where you are so that you could be the one to tell them about the God who desires to save them?

Who is it for?

You are not exempt from telling anyone. We have a responsibility to share this gospel message with everyone we can.

Romans 1:14–15 CSB

14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

If it is for everybody, what reason do we have to not preach it to anybody?