Rom 1-Righteousness by Faith

| The Righteousness Which is By Faith! Romans 1:11-17

January 1, 2006 11I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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.14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” PRAY Memory Verse: Romans 1:1717For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Intro:New Year’s Resolutions – Why do we make them?F     Because we regret certain decisions that we have made over the previous year. (We are well aware that we are not living as we ought.)F     Because we want to improve. (We want to do better.)F     Because we want to be right with GodF     Because it is the thing to doF     In the hope that I MIGHT do them THIS timeF     Because it is a new year (and I have a fresh start) 1. The righteousness from God2. The righteousness that is by faith3. The righteous life1. The righteousness from Godc.f. 3:21-22 – But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. F    Defining righteousness: Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:1: “The condition acceptable to God.” 2: integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary:1: acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin2: morally right or justifiable F    Our need for righteousnessBefore GodIn our own hearts F    Our need for the gospelBefore GodIn our own hearts F    Defining the gospelBefore GodIn our own hearts F    The righteousness which is from GodThe righteousness from God is the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.He both shows us what it is and gives it to us. He sets the standard for us and offers it to us free of charge.Jesus is righteous in and of Himself, because of who He isJesus was righteous in His perfect obedience while in His incarnation.2. The righteousness that is by faithF    Our desire for righteousnessBefore GodIn our own hearts F    Our inability to be righteousBefore GodIn our own hearts F    The righteousness God requiresGod requires perfect holiness, perfect righteousness.Luther discovered that the more he tried to be righteous, to live up to God’s standards, the more sinful he felt. – WHY?Pleasing God involves more than merely DOING the right things. God is concerned with our heart attitudes. F    The righteousness God desiresGod offers this righteousness of Jesus Christ freely, apart from any need to work for it on our part.“Unless God were willing to give this  righteousness to us and actually does give it, the mere existence of a perfect righteousness would not be good news at all.” (Boice)God did not set His standard of righteousness for us “so that we might strive toward it and inevitably fail miserably, as Luther did.” (Boice) rather He did it so that we would rest on Him alone for it. F    Defining saving faithFaith is the channel by which sinners receive Christ’s righteousness.”Faith is believing God, taking Him at His Word.Faith is a response. We do not initiate a relationship with God, we respond, in faith, to His offer of a right relationship with Him.Saving faith is different from mere intellectual consent. |   | Faith consists of:Knowledge, a heart response, and a commitment.In Phil. 3 Paul shows how before He understood the gospel, he saw his standing with God in terms of something like a lifelong ledger sheet or balance in which assets needed to surpass liabilities.He came to see that what he had been counting on as assets or righteousness was really nothing more than rubbish (Philippians 3:7-8 – But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.)It was actually harmful because it had been keeping him from Jesus, where alone true righteousness could be found. (Mark 2:17 – Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”) 3. The righteous lifeF    Our ability to be righteous (ctr: Our inability to be righteous)No longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6)(Romans 6:6-7 – 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.) F    Understanding the life of faithObedience, for the Christian is based on trust and love rather than fear and striving“The righteousness that the gospel offers to us is like a spiritual suit of armor. It covers us (c.f. Eph. 6:10-18). In fact, when we are surrounded by God’s righteousness, our first discovery is that the armor is far too big for us. We do not come anywhere near measuring up to the grace that God has given to us. The Christian life begins when we receive the gift and goes on as we grow into the armor that God designed for us. God calls us righteous when we clearly don’t deserve the title. He also calls us saints, holy and clean, long before we exhibit those characteristics. In grateful response, let us allow God to develop those qualities in us. Each day we should ask, ‘How am I fitting into what God has designed for me?’” (Life Application Bible Commentary) The gospel and New Year’s Resolutions:Why do we make them?F     Because we want to be right with GodF     Because we regret certain decisions over the previous year. We are well aware that we are not living as we ought.F     Because we want to improve. We want to do better.F     Because it is the thing to doF     In the hope that I MIGHT do them THIS timeF     Because it is a new year (and I have a fresh start) “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace;Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.” –                                                                         Augustus Toplady A promise to remember: God counts as righteous all who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ as their only hope of heaven. A challenge to consider: “How am I fitting into what God has designed for me?”One thing I heard this morning was…   |