Romans 1 - Paul’s Confidence
Notes
Transcript
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Text
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Review
Review
Last week we highlighted the fact that Paul was concerned with the wellbeing of these Christians in Rome. He was concerned enough to write to them and to commend them for their testemony and to convince them of their need to become established and grounded in truth.
Application from last week: We are in need of the same thing - Many Christians are weak in the faith and have no established root system. Over and over we are exhorted to grow in the grace of Christ and to mature as believers.
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established;
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But the path of the just is as the shining light,
That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
So Paul’s concern for these christians is that they would grow to maturity in the faith. Our goal should be the same!!
Introduction
Introduction
This thought of Paul’s concern transitions to a declaration of his confidance in his message, the message of the gospel. It may be difficult for us to imagine why this strong sentiment would be so important, but when we consider how “against the grain” it was, the clarity reveals itself. The message of the gospel was anything but socially acceptable and especially in civilized Roman society. The Romans were a proud and powerful people. They had concoured the world and were not at all interested in the humbling message of the cross or as Christ as the redeemer and savior of the world.
The Romans were heavily influenced by Greek philosophy and thought they had a pretty strong grip on what made for sophisticated thinking. To think that a little Jewish tent maker would come to Rome preaching about a carpenter who was crucified and risen from the dead was almost laughable.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: Ready for Rome (Romans 1:1–17)
Rome was a proud city, and the Gospel came from Jerusalem, the capital city of one of the little nations that Rome had conquered. The Christians in that day were not among the elite of society; they were common people and even slaves. Rome had known many great philosophers and philosophies; why pay any attention to a fable about a Jew who arose from the dead? (1 Cor. 1:18–25) Christians looked on each other as brothers and sisters, all one in Christ, which went against the grain of Roman pride and dignity. To think of a little Jewish tentmaker, going to Rome to preach such a message, is almost humorous.
Transition
Transition
So Paul was ready to deliver his message and what would it be? The message that was always constant on his lips and the message that defined his life - the message of the gospel. Through the pages of his letter to the Romans he gives a detailed description of the theology of the gospel but he starts off with the simple matter of his confidence in the message.
Illustration: Have you ever heard someone give a message they did not believe in? Maybe you listened to someone recite a speech written for them and you could sense they didn't really believe what they were saying.
I. The Origin of the Gospel
I. The Origin of the Gospel
“…the gospel of Christ”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Think of how many messages you hear every day
Quote: Article - It’s Getting Worse - LinkedIn 2/19/2019 - Ryan Holmes
Back in the ‘70s, the average consumer in the U.S. saw around 500 ads per day. That number has since increased by a factor of 10 to upward of 5,000 ads per day. If there’s a breaking point, my best guess is we reached it long ago.
The backlash is already evident. Concerns over how Facebook shares user data and targets ads has landed it in the crosshairs of Congressional investigations and Parliamentary hearings. Ad blocking software is more popular than ever, with 86 million users blocking $20 billion worth of ads each year in the U.S. alone. Retargeting has grown so invasive it’s drawn comparisons to online stalking. Research shows that we’re sick of ads and we’ve also grown increasingly adept at tuning them out.
The gospel was no ordinary message its very origins are from God himself
How many people on earth are yearning for the truth from God? How many are confused by a multitude of sources and a multitude of messages?
The origin of the gospel but also the...
II. The Operation of the Gospel
II. The Operation of the Gospel
“…for it is the power of God”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rome was powerful! If there was anything they knew it was power!
There were Roman legions stationed all over the world and their armies were feared
When you think about the Gospel what comes to mind? Do you think about the power of God? Do you think about the power of the Gospel to change the heart of man and to transform him?
Are world is filled with men and women who are striving to better themselves through exercise, education, social status and myriad of other tactics. However, the hear of man remains desperate and wicked and the sin that corrupts the would continues to plague us and destroy lives.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The origin of the gospel, the operation of the gospel… and also...
III. The Outcome of the Gospel
III. The Outcome of the Gospel
“…unto salvation”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The outcome of the gospel is salvation for those who believe “every one that believeth”
This belief is not just a mental agreement with facts about Jesus but rather a personal repentance from sin and turning to faith in Christ
Salvation - the word occurs over 150 times in the Bible and its a word we have become familiar with but have we really considered the significance of the word?
The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns" says Martin Luther. It is one thing to say, "Christ is a Saviour"; it is quite another thing to say, "He is my Saviour and my Lord." The devil can say the first; the true Christian alone can say the second.
The origin of the gospel, the operation of the gospel, the outcome of the gospel and next....
IV. The Outreach of the Gospel
IV. The Outreach of the Gospel
“...to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
A. The Jew - Christ first came unto his own
A. The Jew - Christ first came unto his own
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
B. The Gentile - Second, the gospel came to the rest of the world through his messengers
B. The Gentile - Second, the gospel came to the rest of the world through his messengers
We are called to take the gospel to every man. Though every man will not be saved - Christ died for all men!
Lastly Paul had confidence in the message of the gospel because of ...
V. The Opportunity of the Gospel
V. The Opportunity of the Gospel
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The opportunity in the Gospel is shown here as a life of faith. Packaged tightly inside of the gospel is the righteousness of God and Paul says that when we are saved and we go on to live lives of faith “from faith to faith” we are allowing God’s righteousness to be revealed in and through us!
What an opportunity!
Quote: God is righteous; man is unrighteous. The gospel shows how the righteousness of God can be bestowed on sinful man. It is "from faith to faith." In other words, the righteousness of God is received by faith and reproduced by faith. W. E. Vine puts it this way: "’From faith’ points to the initial act; ’to faith’ to the life of faith which issues from it." - John Phillips Commentary on Romans
A. Received - From Faith - the initial act of salvation
A. Received - From Faith - the initial act of salvation
This is the beginning point - the initial faith in Christ
B. Reproduced - To Faith - the life of Christ being lived in us - the life of faith that flows from faith
B. Reproduced - To Faith - the life of Christ being lived in us - the life of faith that flows from faith
Here we have the process of growth summarized as being rooted in faith
C. Reenforced - By Faith - we who are justified shall live (have our very life in) by faith
C. Reenforced - By Faith - we who are justified shall live (have our very life in) by faith
“…the just shall live by faith”
This is a quotation from Habakkuk as Paul was helping us see that this is not a new idea
Quote: Bishop Lightfoot says of this text that the whole law was given to Moses in six hundred and thirteen precepts. David in Psalm 15 brings them all within the compass of eleven. Isaiah reduces them to six, Micah to three, and Isaiah, in a later passage, to two. But Habakkuk condenses them all into one: "The just shall live by faith." Phillips Commentary on Romans
Conclusion
Conclusion
Pauls confidance in this message is apparent in his words and in his actions. As we examine the truth we can clearly see why he was so convinced. The gospel is truly the power of God unto salvation!
It originated with God - “the gospel of Christ”
It operates in his power - “the power of God”
It’s outcome is salvation - “unto salvation to everyone that believes”
4. It’s outreach is the whole world - “to the Jew first and also to the Greek”
5. It's opportunity is before us - “the just shall live by faith”
How could we not live with the same confidence that Paul had?