Sermon Tone Analysis

The power of the gospel

Several weeks ago we looked at, did not finish looking at being unashamed of the gospel, and we should finish that before getting to the next section, which, by the way, may be a little hard to swallow.

(Insert The gospel is for all picture here)

Previously we have seen:

Paul was unashamed of the gospel (Rom1:16)

Paul knew the power of the gospel (Rom1:16)

And believer or not, that is as far as we got last week, so we will pick up from there today and see how far we get.

Paul knew the outreach of the gospel (Rom1:16-17; Mk16:15; Rom2:6-11; Mt10:5-7; Act3:26; Hab2:4)

It was to reach all of creation

To the Jew first, then the Greek (Barbarian; Gentile) for there is no difference

Jesus delivered first to the Apostles so then could be taken to the Jews then onto the whole world.

Mt10:5-7 “5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

God does not call man to get right to get God, but get God and the righteousness of God that makes men right with God by faith.

It is by faith that the righteousness of God is revealed.

Paul brings in from the O.T. Hab2:4 “4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.”

On a side note, this phrase “the just shall live by faith” is used three times in N.T.

Rom1:17 - to the Romans

Gal3:11 - to the Gentiles

Heb10:38 - to the Jews

All are guilty, all are in need of God’s scheme of redemption.

His freedom from the bondage and penalty of sin is available to all who believe.

(Transition) we have some time left, let me give a little more tonight

Developing and deploying our thesis

Some things we can learn, take away when we are not ashamed of the gospel.

What is the thesis statement of Paul?

(Transition) OK the application of Paul’s thesis statement can be ours, so here comes the scripture rapid fire session, are you ready?

The gospel has not changed, it is the power of God to save (Rom1:16-17)

It has power to produce faith in those who hear it (Rom10:17)

It has power to produce fruit for those who know (believe it) (Col1:5-6)

It reveals the righteousness of God (Rom1:17; 1Cor15:1-4)

Turn to 1Cor15 with me.

1Cor15:1-4 “1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

It reveals the means of receiving God’s righteousness (Act2:36-38, 22:16)

Then you could see also how you call on the name of the Lord as noted in Act22:16 “16 ‘Now why do you delay?

Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’”

It shows we all need it (Rom3:23, 6:23)

For all fall short

And if you fall short death is what is due to you.

Death is what was coming, but what did God give us (Rom6:23)?

It shows us the way (Jn14:6)

The how is by the way, the way is only by Jesus (ref.

Jn14:6)

It shows us what we are to do (Mt28:20; Mk16:15-16)

Go into all the world making disciples, baptizing them!

Then teaching them to follow the commands

Those who are not ashamed of the gospel, who have their hope in the gospel feel a sense to share the gospel with others.

It will impact what you say, what you do, in other words how you live.

Consider

You are able to manifest God, manifest the righteousness of God to others because of your good, clear conscience because of what the gospel has done in you.

So, stay the course, don’t be ashamed, let Paul’s thesis statement be worked into your life and through your life.

The unrighteousness of man.

The next few weeks will not be a pretty picture but a needed picture if we are to understand the righteousness of God revealed through the gospel.

(Insert Paul paints ugly picture PowerPoint here)

This was a very hard, and I have a feeling that the next few studies are going to be hard to look at to face, like an ugly picture.

Paul paints an ugly picture.

This morning of the Gentile world that is guilty and without excuse.

God’s description of sinners is not a pretty one, but we cannot avoid it.

If you went to an art gallery you may see some ugly pictures in your view on the way to see the masterpieces.

This passage does not teach evolution where man started low and climbed high.

But teaches devolution, where man started high, made in image of God, and sank lower because of sin.

(Wiersbe)

This morning we will look part I of III declarations that Paul makes to prove that all men are sinners in need of salvation, the righteousness of God.

“Paul unfolds the great theme of righteousness needed by first showing the length that all men are utterly lost and cannot possibly be saved except by the wonderful gospel righteousness of God.” (Lenski)

God has made known two revelations

The righteousness of God in the gospel

The other the wrath of God revealed from heaven.

On one had salvation and life, the other damnation and death.

On one hand from faith to faith, and on the other the unrighteousness of man

On one hand revealed past tense, and the other being revealed present tense and future.

Lenski puts it like this: God’s wrath is practically a compound like “God’s gospel (v.1), and God’s righteousness (v.17), and the genitives indicate origin, if not more.

This ‘wrath’ is not fiction nor a figure of speech but a terrible reality, the constant, unchanging reaction of God’s holiness and righteousness to sin.”

God’s righteousness is being revealed, has been revealed in the gospel through the mediator Jesus Christ.

God’s wrath needs no medium, no mediator, for it is revealed from heaven.

Again let me quote Lenski “We must not be confused by the follies of the atheists and moral perverts or by heathen blindness concerning God.

Man’s moral nature remains and instinctively responds to revelations of this wrath wherever they occurs.”

(Transition) so today, though it may be uncomfortable here is the intentions.

Here is the plan for this morning:

Look, glean from the text

Look at reason for the wrath- Intelligence (vv.18-20)

Look at the reason for the wrath - Ignorance (vv.21-23)

Look at the reason for the wrath - Indulgence (vv.24-27)

Look at the reason for the wrath - Impenitence (vv.28-32)

Our text, let me read it today for it is long, but if you want me to stop along the way, let me know.

Some general questions we should ask of the text before getting to our points.

Who are the a characters noted in this passage?

What is the purpose of this section (in general)?

How does Paul describe the ungodly, the unrighteous?

They suppress the truth (v.18)

They do not honor God and became futile (v.21)

They claim wisdom, but are fools (v.22)

They exchange the glory of the incorruptible God (v.23); they exchanged truth for lie, creator for creator (vv.25)

Then further descriptions given (vv.29-32)

(Transition) now time to go back and look at our points.

Intelligence

You have heard the term “dumb down” right?

Let me prove it through the scripture through Paul’s ugly picture.

Man knew God, walked with God, heard from God, was taught by God, yet

How did man suppress the truth (v.18)?