Righteousness in the Gospel 2

Lesson 5 - 16-17 pt. 2

Sunday, February 3, 2019

8:32 AM

Last session we discussed the word "Ashamed" to experience a painful feeling or sense of loss of status because of some particular event or activity, be ashamed.

Paul is making it clear that "he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ"

Just to refresh our memories - "Gospel of Christ"

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (KJV)

summarizes the good news, or gospel, that the apostle Paul preached. The term emphasizes the truth that salvation is entirely of grace. From its use for the central Christian message, the word came to be used as the title of each of the four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) that tell the story of Jesus’ life and atoning death.

The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, (Harold Shaw Publishers, Wheaton , IL; 1984), p. 350.

— Topic Explorer - gospel

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

two specific reasons why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel: (1) it is the power of God, and (2) it reveals a righteousness from God.

Robert H. Mounce, New American Commentary – Volume 27: Romans, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1995), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 70.

The Power of God unto Salvation -

To say that the gospel is “power” is to acknowledge the dynamic quality of the message. In the proclamation of the gospel God is actively at work in reaching out to the hearts of people. The gospel is God telling of his love to wayward people. It is not a lifeless message but a vibrant encounter for everyone who responds in faith.

Robert H. Mounce, New American Commentary – Volume 27: Romans, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1995), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 69.

The salvation Paul spoke of is more than forgiveness of sin. It includes the full scope of deliverance from the results of Adam's sin. It involves justification (being set right with God), sanctification (growth in holiness), and glorification (the ultimate transformation into the likeness of Christ; cf. 1 John 3:2). The gospel serves the eternal purposes of God, who before the creation of the world chose to create for himself a people who would respond to his love. Becoming a child of God requires deliverance from what we are as children of Adam. It is not something we can do for ourselves. It requires the power of God himself working through the gospel.

Robert H. Mounce, New American Commentary – Volume 27: Romans, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1995), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 70.

John 1:12

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:

From <https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Power+to+become+the+sons+of+God&qs_version=KJV>

The Righteousness of God - A significant phrase. Paul uses the phrase 9 times all together and 8 of those occurrences are in Romans.

Has three possible meanings -

The Righteousness that belongs to God (His attribute of absolute justice)The Righteousness that comes from God (The righteous status that God gives us)The Righteousness being established by God (His act of putting his people "in the right"

Romans 1:17 (AMP)

17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

in the OT. There, in the Hebrew Scriptures, two great theological words tower above all others: qodesh (“holiness”) and tsedaqah (“righteousness”). Holiness is the inner nature of God; righteousness is God’s saving activity. God’s holiness and God’s righteousness are both key concepts to a right interpretation of v 17

Greathouse, William M. ; Lyons, George: Romans 1-8: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. Kansas City, MO : Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2008, S. 58