Called
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Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul knew his calling. Do we know ours?
Timothy Stackpole was a New York Firefighter, who was severely burned in a 1998 fire. After he recovered, he returned to the force despite the advice of some friends and family and the fact that he could retire comfortably.
He was a great fire fighter and passionate about his work and was soon promoted to captain. Timothy was one of the fire fighters that ran into the second tower to try to save some people. When he did, it collapsed and took his life. He knew his calling—to save people. The Holy Spirit has called us to a life of service. We should live for Him.
Paul Identification
Paul Identification
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Paul identifies himself as a servant.
The primary identification of any believer is Servant.
The primary identification of any believer is Servant.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Every calling is lateral to this first and most primary identification. Rabbi is not higher… nor is Pastor. Paul was sought out of God for the calling of apostle.
Called to be an apostle
Called to be an apostle
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul states that his authority is based upon his call and not his call based upon his authority. In fact, as far as Paul was concerned he was the least of those who were called to this purpose of “Apostle”.
Separated to the Gospel
Separated to the Gospel
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Unlike the Pharisees who made their name because they separated themselves to study the law. Of course Paul was formerly a part of their group.
Now God has separated Paul for a Gospel purpose.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Paul was now entirely committed to the Gospel of God and more specifically to the Gospel of grace.
Paul’s Message Described
Paul’s Message Described
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
It is a part of an ancient Gospel
It is a part of an ancient Gospel
This was a gospel that was promised by the prophets. This was not a new gospel.. it was just a new revelation of the gospel. By the prophets Paul obviously meant via the Scripture.
It is a Christ Centric Gospel
It is a Christ Centric Gospel
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The prophets and the apostles all bear witness to Christ the cause and only reason there is a gospel, at all. Christ is then real treasure his in the field. Paul calls Him His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
He goes on to express his love for Christ by describing His nature.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
As far as His human nature is concerned, He is of the seed of David by way of Mary
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
And born to Joseph who is, also, from David’s lineage.
Why David?
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Because God always keeps His promises.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Everytime.
When G. Campbell Morgan was a young man he visited two elderly ladies each week to read the Bible to them. When he read Matthew 28:20, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” He said, “Isn’t that a wonderful promise?” One of the ladies quickly replied, “Young man, that is not a promise. It is a fact!”
All of God’s promises are fact.
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Then we come to His divine nature, He is Declared to be the Son of God… How or according to what?
The spirit of holiness declares His divine nature.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
The Spirit is the power that quickens or makes alive. This is the proof according to Paul that Jesus is the Son of God.
The greatest and most undeniable proof of such power is that the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
By Paul’s account if that doesn’t convince you… nothing will. The same is true today. If the proof/proofs of Christ’s resurrection are not enough nothing is.
It is a productive Gospel
It is a productive Gospel
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
When Adoniram Judson was lying in a jail in Burma with thirty-two pounds of chains on his ankles which were tied to a bamboo pole, another prisoner asked, “Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?”
Judson replied, “The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God.”
What does this gospel produce? It produces grace and apostleship or in other words the privilege to become a servant of God.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
The life of an apostle was a life of trouble, tribulation, and peril, they were “killed all the day long” but Paul’s says it is a privilege.
What ever place or your position within the work of God… whatever difficulty or danger you must face… it is a privilege.
What purpose does this apostleship serve?
Obedience to the faith among all nations… literally means that the apostles recieved grace so tat they could bring others to obedience to the faith. For Paul specifically it extends to every nation.
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Obedience to the faith is not simply conscious knowledge or basic acknowledgment, much less the ability to convincingly argue your opinion, but actualobedience.
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Obedience to the faith finds it subject in the law of faith.
This means first the obedience of our understanding to what God has revealed, but, also, the obedience of our will to God’s command. Many attempt to somehow apply this to the Old Testamant obedience to the Levitical law, but it literally tells you the only act of obedience necessary is to faith. End of story.
Paul’s Audience
Paul’s Audience
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is written to all who be in Rome first, then to the beloved of God, and more specifically those who are called to be saints. He counts them here as privileged obviously.
They are beloved of God does it get any better… They are a part of a body in which God delights and loves.
God’s love is abundant and He expresses it toward all mankind in Christ Jesus, but He has a particular love for the saints.
He goes on to instruct them as to their duty in light of that love. They are called to live up to their calling as saints. Quit living down to this world’s definition of a saint and start living up to God’s biblical definition of a saint.
Paul’s Blessing
Paul’s Blessing
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and Peace are Paul’s blessings here and in most Epistles. This is not a simple “good luck”… this is a blessing bestowed by a minister of the Gospel of Grace and should be take, as such.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
There is only one way to have agreement between these two passages and that is to accept a change of dispensation. Without it … Where does Paul get off calling for Grace and Peace?
Grace and peace in the Old Testament it was always only peace…but her Paul precedes it with Grace. As it should be how else could we ever have peace with God other than by the grade of Jesus Christ.
Peace implies all peace, Peace with God, peace with others, and peace with self are all based on grace.
From whence come this grace and peace? From God our Father. Paul makes it clear that unless God is your father you will have no peace. From our Lord Jesus Christ He further clarifies that with our Christ as your mediator simply having God as your father would not be enough for peace.
A young girl, unaccustomed to traveling, was taking a train ride through the country, and it happened that in the course of the day her train was obliged to cross two branches of a river and several wide streams. The water seen in advance always awakened doubts and fears in the child. She did not understand how it could safely be crossed. As they drew near the river, however, a bridge appeared, and furnished a way over. Two or three times the experience was repeated, and finally the child leaned back with a long breath of relief and confidence.
“Somebody has put bridges for us all the way!” she said in trusting content.
That is life. We fear so many evils, so many troubles look dark ahead, so many difficulties seen insurmountable as they loom before us; but as we advance we find that there is a way through them. God has built bridges for us all the way.
I cannot tell you whether you have placed your faith in Christ, but I can tell that if you have then you have complete and total peace… nothing to fear… if you are in Christ Jesus.
Paul’s Gratitude For Them
Paul’s Gratitude For Them
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
We should thank God in everything. Gratitude to God should be the bookends of every event in our lives.
Also, note that Paul states God is his God. Is God your God? Or is He just God?
He goes on to define the means as Jesus Christ. It only through Christ that any of our duties are pleasing to God, which includes prayer and praise.
True love for friends is not only expressed by what we do and say for or to them, but is evidenced in thanking God for them. We should thank God for our friends. Every creature is to us and for us only what God has intended it to be. As believers we express gratitude even for those who we have only just met.
And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
We don’t have to have close relationships with others to thank God for them and to take courage from their companionship in this life.
His use of the word all means this thanksgiving was not limited to those with whom he agreed or got along.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
He was certainly appreciative of those who co-labored with him, and those who bestowed much labor on him, but his gratitude reached further than just these.
Their faith was spoken of … Can the same thing be said of our faith? Paul travelled the known globe at the time and everywhere he went he heard others speaking about the great faith of the Roman Christians. He doesn’t say this to swell their ego, but rather to encourage them to live up to the name they had in the Christian community.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
The better our testimony the more careful we should be to maintain it.
This was true throughout the entire world, which is the Roman empire at that time, into which the Roman Christians had been scattered, when Claudius’s issued his edict to banish all the Jews from Rome, but many had now returned, and, it seems, left a very good report behind them, wherever they had been, in all the churches.
There were still positive after effects of their sufferings for the name of Christ. Had they not been persecuted they would not have had been famous for lack of a better term. They had a good testimony both with God and with man.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Like the elders of the Old Testament these Roman Christians had obtained a good report. It is good to become famous because of your faith… it should go without saying that it is evil to use your faith as a means of becoming famous. Their faith was not only good because it was excellent in and of it self, but, also because it was easily observable in life’s circumstances.
Rome was a city built on a hill and everyone took note of what happened in Rome. So we should remember that the world is watching us... what we do whether good or bad will be spoken of by this world.
At that time Rome was a healthy Church, but how times has dimmed this once shining light.
The church of Rome was then a flourishing church; but since that time how is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! Rome is not what it was. She was then espoused a chaste virgin to Christ, and excelled in beauty; but she has since degenerated, dealt treacherously, and embraced the bosom of a stranger; so that (as that good old book, the Practice of Piety, makes appear in no less than twenty-six instances) even the epistle to the Romans is now an epistle against the Romans; little reason has she therefore to boast of her former credit.-Matthew Henry
This should remind us that even though we may presently be maintaining a good testimony it easy to let it slip.
Paul’s Prayer For Them
Paul’s Prayer For Them
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Rome may have been a healthy Church but that does not mean it didn’t need to be prayed for… they had not yet attained. The greatest kindness we can do our friends and often the only kindness we can do our friends is to commend them to the loving-kindness of God. We see from Paul’s example that we should be:
1. Consistency in prayer.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Pray without ceasing.
Always and without ceasing we ought to pray. It is not that Paul did nothing, but pray. But he maintained stated times of prayer which he kept without fail.
2. Charity in prayer
Paul didn’t even have particular acquaintances in Rome nor was he personally invested in Rome , but he prayed for them. He didn’t pray for them like praying for all the saints everywhere in the whole world, but rather he made mention of the Church at Rome specifically.
It is good to make mention of particular churches and believers in particular places not because God needs the reminder, but rather because we need the reminder.
We will find comfort in the friends we pray for the most.
Paul invokes God as his witness. This in simple terms means this is weighty and genuine… not just a cliche. We should be able to call God to witness the our genuineness in the exercise of our duties whether it be prayer or in other matters.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
God is especially a witness to the exercise of our duties more particularly the genuineness of the exercise of our duties done which are done in private.
The difference between the hypocrite and real deal is the the hypocrite’s confidence is in bodily exercise while the real deal serves God with their spirit.
I particular here Paul’s prayer is that he would have the opportunity to visit them.
Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Any comfort we may find in the events here below we find only by and because of prayer to God our Father… if you have found comfort another way then something is amiss in your relationship with Christ.
Paul obviously desperately wanted to go to Rome. He tells you he wanted “if by any means”, he had tried and been denied before he tells you “now at length”, but as in all things Paul submitted his will to God’s “by the will of God.”
We are reminded we are to do all things according to His will and not ours.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
All our plans are subject to change. Prosperous or not we submit to His will in all things
Paul’s Desire
Paul’s Desire
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Paul had heard so much about the Roman believers that his desire was to go and see them. Fruitful Christians are the joy of the church just like empty professors are the scourge of the Church.
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Paul wanted to go, but it was not God’s plan. Best laid plans are subject to divine intervention.
Paul was hindered by other business, especially the care of the churches. Paul always performed his duty first not that which most appealed to him, but rather that which was most needful according to the will of God.
It is important that we remember we have been called to duty not comfort. Paul desired to visit them not for pleasure, but rather to impart a spiritual gift to them.
That they might be edified
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established;
Paul had recieved and Paul wanted to give. A good sermon is a gift, but a sermon which imparts a spiritual gift is far better. The purpose of the spiritual gift spoken of here is that they would be established. He knew that they had certainly flourished upward as a healthy church, he wanted their roots to grow deeply and establish them. In a word which is as turbulent as this one we need to be more and more established… our roots need to be growing deeper and deeper.
2. That they might be comforted
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Paul was not coming to them as a superior he was their equal… he need their comfort as much they needed his… and that comfort both ways was because they shared belief in the same faith.
We are comforted and refreshed by mutual expression of our spiritual concerns and our love for one another. “Iron sharpens iron.”
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Paul went about his duty as though the more good he did in his world the more fruit would abound for Christ’s sake.
3. That he might do his duty as the apostle to the Gentiles.
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Paul was a debtor.
What Paul had recieved made him a debtor.
He was entrusted with a trade to do work for the Master. We should remember this we desire great gifts… as Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “With great gifts come great responsibility.” We are nothing more than stewards of God’s good grace.
His office as an Apostle made him a debtor, as well.
Paul had improved his talent as much as humanly possible, he worked hard as an Apostle… Paul had done as much good as any man ever has and yet her calls himself a debtor.
He was debtor to everyone. The Greeks (learned) and the Barbarians (unlearned).
As far as Paul was concerned he was responsible to do all the good he could for anyone that he could.
He paid his debt by his preaching and his writings. You can see it throughout his ministry.
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Whether to the unlearned.
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Or the overly learned Greeks.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
The wisdom Paul preached was beyond the understanding of the wisest Greek and yet attainable to the most unlearned Barbarian.
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Paul was ready to preach anywhere and to anyone.
Public forum, perilous situations, opposition or welcome. Paul was here to do his duty.
Paul wasn’t preaching for money, Paul was preaching for one reason and one reason alone… He was given the gift of grace and he couldn’t contain it. We should be ready to do good at every opportunity.
Unashamed
Unashamed
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. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
It seems foolish to us that a man such as Paul would feel the need to state he was not ashamed of the gospel.
What you ask does he have to be ashamed of?
Christ was hung on a tree (cursed is everyone that is hanged on a tree)
The teaching of this gospel was very simple and plain… it didn’t have anything unique to attract the scholars
Those who adhered to this gospel were simple and looked down on and criticized everywhere they went.
True believers are not ashamed of the Gospel… nor are they a shame to the Gospel.
Paul is about to tell you with great detail what it is that he is not ashamed of.
Paul’s Premise
Paul’s Premise
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.
The Purpose of the Gospel
The Purpose of the Gospel
The purpose of this Gospel is Salvation. _
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
The Gospel which appears to the natural man to be average at best and contemptible is the means by which a man is led or shown the way to Salvation.
The Power Of God
The Power Of God
Absent the power of God the Gospel is an inanimate letter.
Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
It is the arm of the LORD which thus applies Salvation.
Believe
Believe
This Power this… this Salvation is only of benefit to the Believer. Medicine prepared is ineffective unless taken. This Gospel is to the Jew first.
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Christ and the apostles extended this offer to lost sheep of Israel first.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Once the Nation of Israel had rejected the Gospel the apostles turned to the Gentiles. Now Jew and Gentile alike stand level at the foot of the Cross.
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
This was a shocking doctrine to the Jews. Up to this point they had been a peculiar people… they had always looked down on the Gentiles, but now Christ has come a light to the Gentiles and the glory of His people, Israel.
Justification is the Way
Justification is the Way
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
For therein (this Gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed.
Since misery and death is the consequence of our sin this Gospel must reveal the way of Salvation and in such, show us the way of Justification. This gospel uncovers true Righteousness. Since God is just and holy… and we are anything but just or holy… it is necessary that we have a righteousness, obviously not our own, in which to appear before God.
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Thank God He has prepared such a righteousness and delivered such a righteousness to us via the Messiah. He graciously offers us this reconciliation and acceptance despite our sin by way of this Gospel.
Righteousness of God
Righteousness of God
This righteousness is the righteousness of God. It is of God’s appointing, approving, and acceptance. It is called the righteousness of God to remove any and all pretense of it somehow stemming from our own merit or work. This righteousness is of infinite value because it stems from and infinite God.
Faith to Faith
Faith to Faith
It is said to be from faith to faith, from the faithfulness of God revealing to the faith of man receiving (so some); from the faith of dependence upon God, and dealing with him immediately, as Adam before the fall, to the faith of dependence upon a Mediator, and so dealing with God (so others); from the first faith, by which we are put into a justified state, to after faith, by which we live, and are continued in that state: and the faith that justifies us is no less than our taking Christ for our Saviour, and becoming true Christians, according to the tenour of the baptismal covenant; from faith engrafting us into Christ, to faith deriving virtue from him as our root: both implied in the next words, The just shall live by faith. Just by faith, there is faith justifying us; live by faith, there is faith maintaining us; and so there is a righteousness from faith to faith.-Matthew Henry
Faith is all in all to the believer. From the faith to trust Christ for salvation to the faith to grow in the Christian life. The Christian life is not one of progress from faith to works, as though somehow faith justifies us and works preserve and maintain what faith began… rather it is faith to faith.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Just like it is glory to increasing glory. So it is faith to ever increasing, continuing, persevering faith. Faith which presses forward and gains ground from unbelief.
To prove this is not an upstart doctrine he quotes Habbakuk.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith.
Having been justified by faith we should live this life of grace and glory by faith.
Paul views himself as the advocate of the this Gospel.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Paul was certain of the coming of this Messiah despite the delays. This elsewhere called the vision, or the promise.
So from an Old Testament faith in the coming Messiah to the New Testament faith in the Messiah who has come.
The Proof of the Purpose
The Proof of the Purpose
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
The proof the both Jew and Gentile have need of a righteousness which is not their own in which to stand before God is found in the fact that justification can come only by faith or works exclusively. Paul goes into great detail to reveal to us that works whether Jew or Gentile are completely useless and therefore justification must be by faith.
Just like a physician must know the extent of the wound before it can be stitched or plastered… so the apostle makes us aware of the extent of our situation due to guilt and wrath, before he can offer us salvation. This makes the gospel all the more welcome. If we first see the righteousness of God as condemning and then as justifying… the justification of God will be worthy of all acceptation
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
It is the wrath of God which s first revealed. The revelation form nature and the revelation from the law both reveal the wrath of God from sis to sin of man. Thus it is a good thing that the righteous ness of God justifies from faith to faith.
Our sinfulness is two-fold
Our sinfulness is two-fold
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Ungodliness revealed by the first four comandments.
Unrighteousness revealed by the other six.
Our sinfulness is not ignorance rather it is that we hold the truth is unrighteousness
Our sinfulness is not ignorance rather it is that we hold the truth is unrighteousness
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Every man knows and understands that there is a God some call it nature others Allah, they know there is good and evil however they hold these thing in unrighteousness… that is they hold these truths captive to their own opinions or lack of ability to define. The natural heart of the unregenerate man is a dungeon in which many truths are detained and buried.
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
However to hold these things fast in unrighteousness in the very height or root of all sin.
God wrath is not a mystery rather it has been revealed from heaven
God wrath is not a mystery rather it has been revealed from heaven
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
The wrath of God has not only been revealed by Scripture, but also by God’s providence to all men, his judgement against sinners which are more than just bad luck due to negative vibes. This wrath is from heaven not earth. and being from heaven it is unavoidable and terrible.
Witness
Witness