Romans 1:16-17

Review:

Two weeks ago we looked at the unity Paul felt with the Roman Church. and Jesus’ desire for us as the Church to show this unity.

If we were to ever to be able to realize that our strongest and deepest connections are those with others of faith because we were running with endurance and keeping our eyes focused it would lead to a unity beyond anything we have seen (something similar to what Paul here feels for the Roman church), and we would come close to being that witness Jesus imagines in John 17.

Such a witness would show to the world that Jesus has changed everything.

Text

English Standard Version Chapter 1

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

This is an incredibly powerful verse. When Paul is saying he is not ashamed he could have many things in-mind but I think the most compelling explanation for this sentiment is essentially this.

Paul is writing to the most powerful cosmopolitan city in the world at that time, a city that had conquered the known world and brought unprecedented peace. Roman citizenship brought a measure of protection wherever you went, and it was not ridiculous to suppose that the Roman Army could defend Rome and it;s people against any aggressor.

In this context Paul is saying I am bringing you “Good News” about a carpenter of dubious lineage from a backwater province who claimed to be God’s son, and three years into His ministry was murdered by the Roman authorities. And furthermore, this man who established no earthly kingdom, who lead no earthly army, who not only did not amass riches here on earth but was indeed homeless. This Man is your only hope for deliverance. His message, His life, and faith in Him are the only thing that have the power The Greek word used here, dynamis, often refers to miraculous works (e.g., Matt 7:22; 11:20; Mark 6:2). Here, it refers to God’s ability to deliver His people from sin and future judgment.

In the midst of all the power of the Roman Empire Paul is unashamed to proclaim the only true power - dynamis.

This power leads to salvation the meaning of the Greek work here refers to deliverance from the final judgement. It also might refer to deliverance from sin and the results of sin: death and alienation from God

So this message this Gospel has miraculous power to bring salvation. But who is that salvation available to? To everyone who believes in a world where favor with God is only achieved through personal righteousness and appeasement this is a powerful statement. All you have to do is believe then Paul elaborates...

Jew first and also to the Greek Paul uses references to both Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles) to encompass all of humanity. Although the gospel message applies to all people, Paul describes it as being directed first toward the Jew because God gave the Jews the covenants and promises to which the gospel refers (9:4). The priority of the Jews in God’s plan of salvation also anticipates the discussion of Israel’s future role in chs. 9–11

So what happens when we or our 1st century counterparts in Rome believe this Gospel, that tells us there is a power that leads to salvation for everyone?

We receive the righteousness of God This is one of the key phrases in Romans and Paul’s other letters. It could refer to righteousness that comes from God—that is, the righteous status or right standing that God grants to those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

Alternatively, it may refer to God’s own righteousness and His saving work. It’s also possible to combine these possibilities: Righteousness is an attribute of God that is manifested in His provision of salvation. As a result, those who believe are granted righteous status before God, who is himself righteous

I think we can safely say this passage has in mind not less than the first idea, while it may may encompass both. We can look to Paul’s writing in Philippians for some assurance:

English Standard Version Chapter 3

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

We are then told that this righteousness is revealed from faith for faith. The righteousness of justification is received exclusively through faith, not works, so it comes to all those with faith, whatever their race, social standing, criminal record, or any other human metric.

By nature we view righteousness as something we can achieve by our own meritorious action, the result of what we do. The righteousness of God is totally different. It is a right standing before God that has nothing to do with human merit

as it is written. Hab. 2:4 provides the biblical basis for and the summary of what follows, indicating that the way of justification by faith alone was already known in the OT. The operative scriptures at this moment in history.

this is how we shall live. The whole of the Christian life, from beginning to end, is lived in trust and dependence on the God who graciously justifies the sinner.

Application:

Dwight L Moody writing about the power of the Gospel said:

"The Gospel is like a caged lion. It does not need to be defended, it just needs to be let out of its cage."

So we have this amazing powerful, free gift available to us, available to our friends and family. Do we value it as we should?