GOD MADE A WAY

MOVE IN ME LORD

Romans (King James Version) B. Paul’s Interest in the Church: Enslavement to the Gospel, 1:8–15

3. I am not ashamed (v. 16).

C. Paul’s Boldness for Christ: Being Unashamed of the Gospel, 1:16–17

1. It is the “good news” from God Himself

2. It is the power of God to save1

a. All who believe

b. All nationalities, both Jew & Gentile

Romans (King James Version) (B. Paul’s Interest in the Church: Enslavement to the Gospel, 1:8–15)

It is a clear declaration of God’s power to save all who believe, no matter their nationality or condition.

It is a clear explanation of why Paul was never ashamed of the gospel. 1. It is the good news from God Himself (v. 16). 2. It is the power of God to save (v. 16). 3. It is the revelation of God’s righteousness (v. 17).

(1:16–18) Another Outline: The Power or Urgency of the Gospel. 1. It saves (v. 16). 2. It reveals the righteousness of God (v. 17). 3. It makes possible a life of faith (v. 17). 4. It delivers from the wrath of God (v. 18). (1:16–18) Another Outline: Paul’s Four “Fors.”

1. For I am not ashamed (v. 16). 2. For the Gospel is the power of God (v. 16). 3. For the righteousness of God is revealed (v. 17). 4. For the wrath of God is revealed (v. 18).

1 (1:16) Gospel—Ashamed:

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel,

because it was the good news from God Himself;

that is, the gospel is the news that God has given to the world and wants proclaimed to the world.

The fact that the gospel had been given by God Himself

made Paul unashamed of the gospel.

No man should ever be ashamed of anything concerning the Sovereign Majesty of the universe. (See note—Ro. 1:1–4 for discussion.)

However, Paul had every reason to be ashamed. a. Paul’s day was a day of moral degeneracy,

[a decline in ethical standards

a loss of right and wrong

leading to wickedness

corruption

and a departure from virtues

often seen as a societal or personal decay

where unacceptable behaviors become normalized

impacting individuals and communities through

increase vice

dishonor

and lack of compassion]

the hideous days of Nero. [murder his own mother

and wives]

Rome was a moral sewer,

a cesspool of detestable and inconceivable wickedness

. Such a day stood diametrically opposed to the moral righteousness of the gospel.

b. Paul was by nationality a Jew,

a race that was thought by many of that day to be a despicable sub-human race,

worthy only to be cursed,

ill-used, and enslaved.

Naturally, Paul would be apprehensive among non-Jews. In the flesh he would be tempted to shy away from them.

c. The gospel Paul preached was almost unbelievable.

A male member of the despicable Jewish race was said to be the Savior of the world, and not only was He said to be a Jew, He was said to be a mere man like all other men. But not only that, His death was said to be different from the death of other men. He was said to have died “for all other men,” that is, in their place, as a substitute for them. And then to top it all, He was said to have risen from the dead. His resurrection was said to be the proof that He was the very Son of God. Such unbelievable claims made the gospel a contemptible thing in the minds of many. A natural man would shrink from making such phenomenal claims.

d. Paul was often rejected, not by just a few persons, but by whole communities.

The authorities imprisoned him in Philippi (Ac. 16:19–23).

The religionists ran him out of Thessalonica and threatened his life in Berea (Ac. 17:5–15).

The intellectuals laughed him out of Athens (Ac. 17:32; see 16–32).

His message was considered foolishness to the intellectuals (the Greeks)

and a stumbling block to his own people (the Jews).

There were several times in Paul’s life when he could have given up in shame and fled to some part of the earth to begin life all over again.

Thought 1.

Many are ashamed of the gospel.

They are ashamed because they fear

ridicule, rejection, and loss of recognition,

position, and livelihood.

They fear two things in particular. (1) There is the fear of intellectual shame. This is the fear that the gospel does not measure up intellectually. It is judged not to be for the scholar or philosopher. Note: this feeling is common to those who do not understand the philosophy of the gospel. No greater philosophy exists; no greater reasoning has ever been worked through. (See all outlines and notes—Romans. As an example, see outlines and notes—Ro. 5:1–21; 8:1–39.) A man holds either to the philosophy and thought of the world, or to the philosophy and thought of God’s Son, the gospel of Jesus Christ and His redemption.

There is no question which philosophy and intellectual thought is greater. “The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Co. 1:25; see Ro. 1:18–31). “Of God are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Co. 1:30). “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (Ro. 11:33–34). (2) There is the fear of social shame. Many fear if they accept and proclaim the gospel, they will be … • ridiculed and mocked • rejected and ignored • passed over and cut off • left without job and livelihood • left without family and friends • abused and killed “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Ti. 1:7–9). “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (1 Pe. 4:14). “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Pr. 29:25). “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass” (Is. 51:12). 2 (1:16) Gospel—God, Power of—Salvation: Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God to save. Note four significant facts. a. The word power (dunamis) means the might, energy, force, and strength that is within God. The power is “of God,” of His very nature. As God, He is the embodiment of power; He possesses all power, that is, omnipotent power, within His Being. He can do and act as He chooses. The point is this: God has chosen to use His power in a loving way by sending men the “good news,” the gospel of salvation. Being all powerful, God could wipe men off the face of the earth, but instead He has chosen to give men the good news of salvation. This tells us a critical truth: God’s nature is love. He is full of compassion and grace. He is the God of salvation; therefore, He sent the “gospel of Christ” to the world that men might be saved. b. The word salvation must be understood and grasped by every person upon earth. The hope of the world is God’s salvation (see note—Ro. 1:16 for discussion). c. God saves all who believe. Belief is the one condition for salvation, but we must always remember that a person who really believes commits himself to what he believes. If a man does not commit himself he does not believe. True belief is commitment. Therefore, God saves the person who believes, that is, who really commits his life to the gospel of Christ (see notes, Believe—Ro. 10:16–17; DEEPER STUDY # 2—Jn. 2:24 for discussion). d. God saves all nationalities, both Jew and Greek. Note the word “first.” This does not mean favoritism, but first in time. God does not have favorites, favoring the Jew over the Gentile. It simply means the gospel was to be carried to the Jew first. They had been the channel through whom God had sent His Word and His prophets and eventually His Son into the world. Therefore, they were to be reached first; then the gospel was to be carried to the Greeks, that is, to all nationalities. The point is twofold. 1) The gospel is God’s power, and it can reach any nationality and any person, no matter who they are. 2) Therefore, no one is to be exempt from the gospel. ⇒ No messenger is to exempt anyone from the gospel. ⇒ No person is to exempt himself from the gospel. The gospel is for everyone, no matter his race, color, condition, circumstance, or depravity. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (Jn. 7:37). “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Ro. 10:12–13). “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Ti. 2:4). “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Re. 22:17). DEEPER STUDY # 1 (1:16) Salvation (soteria): means deliverance, made whole, preservation. From what does man need to be saved and delivered and preserved? Scripture paints five descriptive pictures of salvation, showing man’s great need. (See DEEPER STUDY # 6, Salvation—Mt. 1:21 for more discussion.) 1. Salvation means deliverance from being lost. Man is pictured as wandering about in the forest of life trying to go someplace, but unable to find his way. He is lost, and if he continues to stumble about through the forest of life, the underbrush and thorns of the forest will sap his strength and prick him to the point that he lies down and dies. His only hope is for someone to notice that he is lost and to begin seeking for him. This is where the glorious gospel of salvation comes in. God sees that man is lost and He sends His Son to seek and to save man. Salvation means that Christ … • seeks and saves man from his lost condition • sets man on the right road that leads him to eternal life “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” (Mt. 18:11–12; see Lu. 15:4). “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lu. 19:10). “Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (Jn. 5:14). “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9). 2. Salvation means deliverance from sin. It means deliverance from mistakes, from corrupt ideas and thoughts, from moral impurity, and from a crooked and perverse generation. Sin is like … • an infection, a disease for which man has no cure • a master that enslaves and will not let go • a crooked and perverse world that man cannot straighten out Man’s only hope is for someone to discover a cure, someone with the intelligence and power to do it. This is where God steps in with His glorious salvation. God knows all about man’s infection and enslavement by sin, all about his crooked and perverse world; so He sends His Son to save man, to cure him, to liberate him, and to straighten out his world. Salvation means that Christ saves man from the terrible tyranny of sin, from … • the infection of sin • the enslavement of sin • the crooked and perverse world of sin Salvation also does something else. It frees man from the pricking and burden of guilt and shame, and it plants within man’s soul a deep sense of health and peace with God. “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Lu. 7:50). “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17). “These things I say, that ye might be saved.… And ye will not come to me that ye might have life” (Jn. 5:34, 40). “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (Jn. 12:47). “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Ac. 2:40). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ep. 2:8–9). “They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Th. 2:10). “God hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Ti. 1:9–10). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:5). 3. Salvation means deliverance in the future from all evil and corruption: from aging and wasting away, deterioration and decay, death and hell. It is the complete redemption of man’s spirit and body at the end of the world. It is salvation from the wrath of God—salvation that saves a man from being separated from God eternally. It is the life and exaltation which believers will receive at the final triumph of Jesus Christ. It is the salvation that will keep a man safe and preserve him both in time and eternity. Man and his world are pictured as having a seed of corruption within their very nature, a seed of corruption that eats away causing them to … • age and waste away • deteriorate and decay • suffer destruction and die Again, man is hopeless. He cannot stop himself and his world from death and destruction, but God can. God can save both man and his world; God can deliver them from the terrible fate of death and destruction. This is the message of salvation. God loves man and his world and wants to save them, so He sent His Son into the world to save them. Salvation is … • the complete redemption of man’s body and soul in the future: a redemption that saves man from the process of aging and wasting away, deteriorating and decaying, dying and being condemned to hell. • the perfect deliverance from the wrath of God: a salvation that saves man from being separated from God eternally. • the gift of life and exaltation: a salvation that will be given to believers at the final triumph of Jesus Christ. • the presence of perfect assurance: a salvation of security and preservation both in time and eternity. “We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope” (Ro. 8:23–24). “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him” (1 Th. 5:9–10). “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me [save me, deliver me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Ti. 4:18). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pe. 1:3–5). “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Pe. 1:9). 4. Salvation means deliverance from enemies and dangers. Man is pictured as walking in a world lurking with enemy after enemy and danger after danger. Man has to confront all kinds of enemies and dangers that attack both his body and soul, his mind and spirit. He faces all kinds of problems and difficulties, trials and temptations. No matter how much he may long for peace and security, he is forced to combat … • a hostile environment • a savage world of nature • an unknown universe • an uncertain future • unregulated urges • inevitable aging and dying • a lust for more and more (possessions, fame, wealth, power) • an evil pride and ego • greed and covetousness • unpreventable accidents • dreadful diseases Man is seen as helpless in overcoming all the enemies and dangers that lurk in the shadows of this world. But God is not helpless—God can save man; He can gloriously deliver man as he journeys along the road of life. This is exactly what salvation means. God delivers man from the enemies and dangers that war against him. But note the next paragraph, a crucial point. Salvation does not mean that God delivers man from experiencing difficulty and danger, not in this present world. God does not give a life free from the nature and circumstances of this world. What salvation does is deliver one through the difficulties and dangers of life. Salvation means that … • God gives security and peace of soul, no matter what happens • God gives safety independent of circumstances and environment • God gives inward strength and courage to bear the onslaught and attacks of danger “And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Mt. 8:25–27). “When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Mt. 14:30–31). “[God] hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.… That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us” (Lu. 1:69, 71). “Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health [salvation]: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you” (Ac. 27:34). “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (He. 11:7). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Pe. 3:10–15). 5. Salvation means to make well, to heal, to restore to health, to make whole both physically and mentally. Man is pictured as a suffering creature, a creature who … • gets sick • becomes diseased • has accidents • wears out from aging • suffers infirmities • struggles against deformities Salvation declares that Christ is concerned with man’s suffering. Christ saves and delivers man, rescues and restores man in body as well as in spirit. He takes a man who suffers and makes him whole. “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: for she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour” (Mt. 9:20–22). “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way” (Mk. 10:51–52). “If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole” (Ac. 4:9–10). “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (Js. 5:15). 3 (1:17) Righteousness: Paul is not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the revelation of God’s righteousness. Note two points. a. Man has a serious problem—that of thinking he is righteous. The problem is easily seen by picturing the following: ⇒ Man thinks that he is good enough and that he does enough good to be acceptable to God. ⇒ Man thinks he is righteous and that he walks righteously enough to be acceptable to God. However, there is one problem with man’s thinking: man is not perfect. But God is perfect, and He is perfectly righteous. Therefore, He cannot allow an unrighteous and imperfect being to live in His presence, not even man. Man just cannot live with God, not in his imperfect and unrighteous condition. He would pollute the perfect world of God, the very ground, atmosphere, and nature of heaven, the entire spiritual world and dimension. The only way man can live with God is to be made righteous, perfectly righteous. How can man be made perfectly righteous? The gospel gives the answer. The gospel is the revelation of God’s righteousness and reveals how man can be made righteous and reconciled to God. (See notes, Righteousness—Ro. 3:21–22; 4:1–3; DEEPER STUDY # 2–4:22; note—5:1; note 5 and DEEPER STUDY # 5—Mt. 5:6 for discussion. These notes should be read for a clear understanding of what the Scripture means by “righteousness” and justification.) “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20). “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Co. 5:21). b. The answer to man’s problem is faith. When a person believes the gospel—really believes that Christ saves him—God takes that person’s faith and counts it for righteousness. The person is not righteous; he is still imperfect, still corruptible, and still short of God’s glory as a sinful human being. But he does believe that Jesus Christ saves him. Such belief honors God’s Son, and because of that, God accepts and counts that person’s faith as righteousness. Therefore, he becomes acceptable to God. This is justification; this is what is meant by being justified before God. But note a most critical point: a person must continue to believe. A person must continue to live by faith from the very first moment of belief to the last moment of life on this earth, for it is his faith that God takes and counts as righteousness. What is meant by the two statements … • “from faith to faith,” • and, “the just shall live by faith”? Very simply, the whole life of the believer is to be a life of faith, from beginning faith to ending faith, from faith to faith. Therefore, the righteousness of God is revealed continuously through all of life, from the beginning of a person’s faith to the ending of a person’s faith. As Scripture says: “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Ge. 15:6). “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Ac. 13:39). “The just shall live by faith” (Ro. 1:17). “A man is justified by faith” (Ro. 3:28). “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Ro. 4:3). “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that righteousness was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Ro. 4:23–24). “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro. 5:1). “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Co. 6:11). “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Ga. 3:24). “But he that shall endure [believe] unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mt. 24:13).