Romans 1:16-17 The Gospel Reveals God's Righteousness and the Sinners Need For it.
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Recap of Romans 1:8-15
Paul wrote about wanting to disciple the believer’s in Rome - Both, Jew and Greek.
Paul shares what Discipleship looks like.
Being Thankful through God for the faith of the church in Rome.
Being in uninterrupted prayer for the church; praying for wisdom, understanding and strength.
Being an encouragement to the church, and the church being an encouragement to him.
Being a preacher or witnessing to everyone - including non believers.
In fact Paul ends expressing his joy and eagerness to preach to the Gospel to those in Rome.
So we will pick up in verses sixteen and seventeen of chapter one.
Read Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, - Why would Paul be ashamed of the Gospel? Right? The word or conjunction “For” is used to connect what Paul just said in the previous verse; verse fifteen. Paul isn’t ashamed because why? Verse fifteen says what? Paul was eager to preach the Gospel! Why do you think someone would be ashamed of the Gospel? Let’s read Mark chapter eight verses thirty four through thirty eight.
Mark 8:34-38
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Jesus explains - those that wish to follow Him must also suffer as He suffered. They must deny themselves and take up their cross, and follow Him. They must deny their will, their mind, and their comfort. If they wish to save their life and live according to the world they will lose it. People look at suffering as an embarrassment. Especially Jews who did not believe that the Messiah would suffer and die. So to them the Gospel and Jesus are shameful.
Our world is no different. People think Christians are crazy for believing in a God that they can’t see. People think Christians are crazy for living in obedience to the Bible; for sacrificing their will for the will of God. Some people think we are missing out on what the world has to offer. Paul didn’t think he was missing out! Paul was changed by the Gospel. He went from Killer to Apostle; From slave of sin to slave of Christ; From unrighteous to righteous. Jesus ended Mark saying “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” How horrible the feeling will be for those that Jesus will be ashamed of. Little do these people know how powerful and rewarding the Gospel is.
For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. - First Corinthians chapter one verse eighteen says “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Paul is saying to the church that the Gospel has saving power of God! Those that don’t believe the Gospel are considered to be fools, and they themselves are headed for destruction. But for us, believers it is the power of God that saves us through Christ. We have talked a little about Salvation when we started Romans.
Old Testament Salvation
God was heavily involved with saving Israel from enemies, disease and danger. Israel’s future Salvation was being saved from all enemies and ills, and living in a new world in peace and harmony - that was coming through the Messiah.
New Testament Salvation
Saving by the prophesied Messiah. The Messiah died to deliver believers from their sins.
Some people may not think about the depth of Salvation. Salvation by faith in Christ includes forgiveness of past sins, it includes power over our present sins, and a future in eternity with no sins - sinless. What the Gospel actually is is the declaration or the announcement of Salvation to the Jew first, to the Greek. Why the Jew first?
Acts 3:26
“For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
In Acts, Peter and John have just healed a lame man. The Jews that witnessed this were amazed at the power of Peter and John. Peter explains to them that their power is from God through Christ, whom they sentenced to death and killed. Peter goes on to explain that God raised Christ for their [Jews first]. Christ was sent to Jews, His own people, for the blessing of them turning away from their own sin. Since the Old Testament God has wanted a right relationship with Israel and mankind. God is righteous and we need to be in a right relationship with Him. Why do we need to be in a right relationship with God? Because we are sinful! The Gospel highlights that.
Paul says, For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith - Or in other words - In the Gospel the righteousness of God is made known for faith to faith. Righteousness refers to justice; and describes morally right behavior or legally right behavior. As I mentioned earlier God is righteous, He is morally and ethically pure, sinless. He always acts righteously, and deals and maintains a right relationship with man through Judgement and Deliverance. The Gospel points out that sinners are in a wrong relationship with God headed for His wrath; an unrighteous relationship. Israel in the Old Testament had the Law and sacrifices to up keep to place them in a right relationship with God, but it was never meant to be permanent. That is why Christ was always the answer. Faith in Christ, the once and for all sacrifice is the only way to be in a right relationship with God.
Romans 3:21
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
Paul says that God’s righteousness is from faith to faith meaning that when the Gospel is proclaimed the need for a right relationship is made known and the way to that right relationship, by faith in God’s promise of the deliverance of sin and death; Salvation. When a non-believer hears the Gospel and believes they are considered to be not guilty of their sins or justified in the sight of God, and they are considered to be righteous in the sight of God - they are credited Christ’s righteousness that was seen by His sacrificial death and His resurrection which was promised by God. The regenerated or the born again Christian is obligated to live a righteous life empowered by the Holy Spirit their entire life; maturing as they get older - become less sinful, and growing in their love for Christ.
As it is written, But the righteous man shall live by faith.” - Paul uses a verse from Habakkuk to prove what he is saying is true. Habakkuk wrote his letter of complaint to God as encouragement for the faithful remnant of Jews or a small group of faithful Jews to continue to live in faith of God’s promise to save them from immediate danger and from future judgment. The righteous believer who is in a right relationship with God, and trusts in God’s ability to make good on His promise of deliverance shall or will live by their faith. All of which showcases God’s righteousness and power seen in the Gospel which is the only way to a right relationship with God, and is the declaration of Salvation to all who believe.
Monday - March 7, 2022
Why is Paul not ashamed of the Gospel? ( Romans 1:15)
Tuesday - March 8, 2022
Why is Paul joyful about the Gospel? (Romans 1:16)
Wednesday - March 9, 2022
How does salvation help your day to day life? (example: are you saved from past, present and future sin?
Thursday - March 10, 2022
Who receives Salvation? (Romans 1:16)
Friday - March 11, 2022
What is revealed or shown through Salvation? (Romans 1:17)
What is righteousness? (Google - Theological definition of God’s Righteousness)