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This morning we observed the Lord’s Supper.
We remember the what Jesus did for us in securing our salvation.
This ordinance was instituted by Jesus Himself, and it is something that we do on a regular basis.
Why?
Why did Jesus command us to remember the Lord’s Supper?
Why do we do it so often?
Why does it never get old or boring or tiresome?
Because the Lord’s Supper highlights for us the good news of the gospel!
If you haven’t noticed we make a big deal about the good news of the gospel here at Faith.
We talk about it all the time.
We have Good News about the Good News testimonies, we have Good News videos, we spend much time in prayer concerning the gospel, it is integral to our teaching and preaching ministries.
We have an eagerness about the gospel.
Paul did as well!
Why?
The book of Romans is Paul’s magnum opus concerning the gospel.
It is wonderfully theological and practical.
It is deep and encompassing.
It highlights just how significant the good news of the gospel is.
It is the theme from the beginning to the end of the book of Romans.
Vv. 16-17 make up the thesis statement of Paul’s letter:
Paul is eager to preach the gospel!
Why?
From faith for faith or from faith to faith
ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν-
ἐκ- best explained as means that is perhaps intensified by the addition of the second phrase: by faith and faith alone.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed by means of faith and faith alone!
Then Paul, who is a master of OT exegesis, quotes a very significant OT text from Hab. 2 4
This theological truth has been true in all dispensations, the same for the OT saints as it is for the NT saints- the righteous shall live by faith and faith alone!
This was the heartbeat of the Reformation- sola fide- by Faith Alone!
And it is the thesis statement for the book of Romans!
Paul is eager to preach the gospel.
why?
The gospel is the power of God for our salvation and in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed
By Faith and Faith ALONE!
Our question this morning is why?
If we are to experience God’s power and be saved, and if God’s righteousness is to be made known, why must it be by means of faith and faith alone?
Let me just pause here and ask- if you had to now explain the gospel and the essential nature of faith to the gospel where would you start?
How would you begin your gospel presentation?
How does Paul begin?
The first reason the gospel must be by faith and faith alone:
Because of the righteous wrath of God
Paul begins his theology of faith and the gospel by explaining the wrath of God.
Romans 1:18 (ESV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
In other words you can only experience the power of God’s salvation and God can only reveal his righteousness by faith alone because He is a God of wrath.
Every time you or I sin we accumulate to ourselves the wrath of God.
Notice what the text says:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men
All ungodliness and unrighteous of all people results in wrath.
The righteous response of a holy God to any sin is wrath.
And God’s wrath is not merely future tense.
He is pouring out his wrath on humanity right now because of their ungodliness and unrighteousness.
Paul makes three powerful statements about the present outpouring of God’s wrath on the wilfully rebellious.
Statement #1
V. 21- “They did not honor him as God or give thanks,” therefore… V. 24 “God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.”
Statement #2
V. 25 - “Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,” therefore … V. 26- “God gave them up to dishonorable passions.”
Statement #3
V. 28- “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,” therefore … “God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”
Then in vv.
29-31 Paul goes on and presents a laundry list of all of the sins of humanity that incur the wrath of God.
The point is this: all sin incurs the righteous wrath of God.
And you can never experience the power of God unto salvation while the wrath of God remains against you!
This is why the gospel must be by faith and faith alone!
The second reason the gospel must be by faith and faith alone:
Because of the perfect justice of God
In other words you can only experience the power of God’s salvation and God can only reveal his righteousness by faith alone because He is a God of justice.
If you read through chapter 1 of Romans and came away saying, “there are a lot of wicked people in this world that deserve God’s wrath.
I’m glad I’m not one of them.”
Then chapter 2 is for you!
Wait, are you telling me that God’s wrath is against me, and that one day he will judge me?
That’s not fair!
I’m not as bad as the wicked people of this world.
But pastor, I have yet to experience the wrath of God for any of my sins!
Then why does God delay his wrath and judgement?
If I am so deserving of wrath why hasn’t God zapped me off the face of the planet yet?
Great, then if God is kind and merciful and patient then I have nothing to worry about right?
God is a god of perfect justice!
This is clearly spelled out in vv.
6-11!
These verses are actually used by Catholic theologians to attempt to prove that salvation is by works.
They will say, “See salvation is when God renders to everyone according to their works.”
But, they miss the point of this section.
This section is not here to prove that salvation is a result of good works, it is just the opposite.
This section shows the exacting standard of God’s justice thus proofing Paul’s thesis statement that the gospel is by faith and faith alone.
In vv 2-7 Paul presents for us two potential outcomes on judgment day:
Option #1- If you always do this- if you 100% of the time by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality- then God will give you eternal life.
Option #2- If you, at any point in your life, are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness- then God will give you wrath and fury.
Remember sin always incurs the wrath of God- so if you sin at any point, then God will justly give you the wrath and fury you deserve for your sin.
He states these same two options again in vv.
9-10.
Option #2- If at any time in your life you do evil, there will be tribulation and distress.
And it doesn’t matter who you are, Jew or Greek, everyone who does evil God will measure out perfect justice.
Option #1- If you always do good and you never fail- then God will justly give you glory and honor and peace.
Here is the key principle!
Illustration: Showing more leniency towards Grace than Rascal.
God does not play favorites.
God is a god of perfect justice!
Why must the gospel be by means of faith and faith alone?
Because of God’s justice!
The third reason the gospel must be by faith and faith alone:
Because of the total depravity of humanity
This is the final nail in the coffin for why salvation cannot be merited, it cannot be earned or worked for, it must be by faith and faith alone!
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