Unashamed of the Gospel: Righteousness Through Faith
Summary
In this exploration of the Apostle Paul's epistle to the Romans, we delve into the profound themes presented in verses 16 and 17, which encapsulate the essence of the Gospel. Paul articulates why he is unashamed of the Gospel, emphasizing that it reveals a righteousness from God, accessible through faith. This righteousness is not a novel concept but has been God's method throughout history, as exemplified by the prophet Habakkuk's declaration that "the just shall live by faith." This proclamation underscores the Gospel's core message: God, in His infinite wisdom and love, has provided a way to save the unrighteous by imputing the righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ, to them.
Faith, as discussed, is not merely an intellectual assent but involves the mind, heart, and will. It is a dynamic force that compels action and transformation, as illustrated by the lives of the faithful in Hebrews 11. Faith is not the antithesis of works or law; rather, it fulfills the law through the righteousness of Christ. This understanding is crucial to avoid misconceptions that faith negates the law or works.
The subsequent section of Romans, starting from verse 18, is pivotal for understanding the necessity of the Gospel. It reveals the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, establishing the universal need for salvation. This section provides a comprehensive account of human history, explaining the futility of relying on civilization or human wisdom for salvation. It challenges prevailing theories like evolution, offering a divine perspective on the state of the world and the human condition.
This passage is essential for evangelism, as it presents the Gospel as the only hope for humanity. It emphasizes that both Jews and Gentiles are under God's wrath, highlighting the insufficiency of the law and circumcision for salvation. The Gospel, therefore, stands as the sole means of attaining righteousness and life, a message that Paul proudly proclaims to all.
Key Takeaways:
1. The righteousness from God, revealed in the Gospel, is accessible through faith, not by works or the law. This righteousness is the heart of the Gospel, offering salvation to the unrighteous by imputing the righteousness of Christ to them. [04:17]
2. Faith is a comprehensive term involving belief, persuasion, and action. It is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative force that engages the mind, heart, and will, leading to a life of obedience and change. [11:57]
3. The Gospel is necessary because it addresses the universal problem of sin and God's wrath against unrighteousness. Understanding this necessity clarifies why the Gospel is the only hope for humanity. [17:24]
4. The section from Romans 1:18 to 3:20 provides a divine perspective on human history, explaining the futility of relying on civilization or human wisdom for salvation. It challenges prevailing theories and offers a comprehensive understanding of the human condition. [21:56]
5. Evangelism must be rooted in the understanding that both Jews and Gentiles are under God's wrath, and the Gospel is the only means of salvation. This message emphasizes the insufficiency of the law and circumcision, highlighting the necessity of faith in Christ. [38:32]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:23] - Introduction to Romans
- [02:14] - The Theme of the Gospel
- [03:08] - Righteousness by Faith
- [04:17] - God's Method of Salvation
- [05:22] - Understanding Faith
- [07:16] - Faith and the Law
- [09:31] - Elements of Faith
- [11:57] - Faith in Action
- [14:36] - The Message of Habakkuk
- [16:00] - The Wrath of God Revealed
- [18:24] - The Necessity of the Gospel
- [21:56] - Human History and the Gospel
- [26:49] - Evangelism and the Gospel
- [29:27] - The Uniqueness of the Gospel
- [38:32] - Jews, Gentiles, and Salvation
- [43:19] - Conclusion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 1:16-17
- Habakkuk 2:4
- Hebrews 11:1-6
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Observation Questions:
1. What reasons does Paul give for not being ashamed of the Gospel in Romans 1:16-17? How does this relate to the righteousness from God? [02:14]
2. How does the sermon describe the nature of faith, and what are the three essential elements of faith according to Hebrews 11? [11:57]
3. What is the significance of Habakkuk's declaration, "the just shall live by faith," in the context of the Gospel message? [03:44]
4. According to the sermon, what is revealed about God's wrath in Romans 1:18, and why is this important for understanding the necessity of the Gospel? [16:17]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of righteousness by faith challenge the idea that faith is the opposite of works or law? What implications does this have for understanding salvation? [06:28]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Gospel provides a divine perspective on human history and the state of the world? How does this perspective differ from secular theories like evolution? [21:16]
3. How does the sermon explain the universal need for salvation among both Jews and Gentiles? What role does the law and circumcision play in this explanation? [38:32]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between faith and action? How does this relate to the examples of the faithful in Hebrews 11? [13:47]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of faith. How can you ensure that your faith involves not just belief, but also persuasion and action in your daily life? [11:57]
2. Consider the ways in which you might rely on your own wisdom or civilization for solutions. How can you shift your perspective to see the Gospel as the only hope for humanity? [23:51]
3. How can you actively share the message of the Gospel, knowing that it is the only means of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles? What steps can you take to engage in evangelism this week? [27:05]
4. Think about a time when you might have viewed faith as merely an intellectual assent. How can you cultivate a faith that engages your mind, heart, and will? [12:47]
5. In what ways can you demonstrate the righteousness of Christ in your life, fulfilling the law through faith? Identify one specific action you can take this week to live out this righteousness. [08:23]
6. How does understanding the wrath of God against unrighteousness impact your view of the Gospel? How can this understanding motivate you to live a life that reflects the Gospel's transformative power? [18:24]
7. Identify a person in your life who may not understand the necessity of the Gospel. How can you initiate a conversation with them about the universal need for salvation? [23:32]
Devotional
Day 1: Righteousness Through Faith, Not Works
The Gospel reveals a righteousness from God that is accessible through faith, not by works or adherence to the law. This righteousness is the heart of the Gospel, offering salvation to the unrighteous by imputing the righteousness of Christ to them. This concept is not new but has been God's method throughout history, as seen in the prophet Habakkuk's declaration that "the just shall live by faith." Understanding this allows believers to embrace the Gospel's core message: God, in His infinite wisdom and love, has provided a way to save the unrighteous. [04:17]
"For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own efforts rather than trusting in the righteousness of Christ? How can you shift your focus to faith today?
Day 2: Faith as a Transformative Force
Faith is a comprehensive term involving belief, persuasion, and action. It is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative force that engages the mind, heart, and will, leading to a life of obedience and change. This dynamic nature of faith compels action and transformation, as illustrated by the lives of the faithful in Hebrews 11. Faith fulfills the law through the righteousness of Christ, avoiding misconceptions that faith negates the law or works. [11:57]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where your faith needs to move from belief to action. What specific steps can you take today to live out your faith more fully?
Day 3: The Gospel's Necessity in Addressing Sin
The Gospel is necessary because it addresses the universal problem of sin and God's wrath against unrighteousness. Understanding this necessity clarifies why the Gospel is the only hope for humanity. The subsequent section of Romans reveals the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, establishing the universal need for salvation. This divine perspective challenges prevailing theories and offers a comprehensive understanding of the human condition. [17:24]
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." (Romans 1:18, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding the seriousness of sin and God's wrath change your perspective on the urgency of sharing the Gospel with others?
Day 4: Human History and the Futility of Human Wisdom
The section from Romans 1:18 to 3:20 provides a divine perspective on human history, explaining the futility of relying on civilization or human wisdom for salvation. It challenges prevailing theories like evolution, offering a divine perspective on the state of the world and the human condition. This understanding is crucial for recognizing the Gospel as the only means of attaining righteousness and life. [21:56]
"For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.'" (1 Corinthians 3:19, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you relied on human wisdom or achievements for your sense of security or identity? How can you realign your trust in God's wisdom today?
Day 5: Evangelism Rooted in the Gospel's Exclusivity
Evangelism must be rooted in the understanding that both Jews and Gentiles are under God's wrath, and the Gospel is the only means of salvation. This message emphasizes the insufficiency of the law and circumcision, highlighting the necessity of faith in Christ. The Gospel stands as the sole means of attaining righteousness and life, a message that Paul proudly proclaims to all. [38:32]
"For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:22-24, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of the Gospel? How can you share the hope of salvation with them this week?
Quotes
It says that God in his infinite wisdom and in his infinite love and mercy and compassion has found a way to save the unrighteous and to make them righteous and the way is that he gives to us and imputes to us the righteousness of his own son our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [00:04:05]
Faith is a very big term it's a a term that Embraces a number of ideas in it now Faith does not only mean a belief it doesn't only mean an intellectual Ascent it does mean that but it means more than that there is no better definition of course of Faith than that which you will find in the 11th chapter of the the epistle to the Hebrews. [00:09:19]
There are these three essential elements in faith believing being persuad Ed and acting in other words the mind is involved the heart is involved and the will is involved now we've already glanced at this when we were looking at the fifth verse where the Apostle says by whom we have received Grace and apostleship for Obedience of Faith among all nations. [00:11:57]
Merely to say that you believe the word of God doesn't prove automatically that you're saved are you persuaded have you embraced have you made this confession in action The Obedience of Faith these men that are described in the 11th chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews were not simply men who said yes I believe in God and his promises and who then went on living like everybody else in the world. [00:12:57]
You really cannot understand the gospel without understanding this section this is the section which shows us the absolute necessity of the Gospel the gospel remember is a statement to the effect that the only hope for men is that God has provided a way of righteousness and that in his own son well why did God have to do that this section gives the answer. [00:17:24]
There is in this section an account such as you really don't find anywhere else in the whole of the Bible of the history of the human race it is I suppose the most perfect summary of the whole history of men which can be found even in the Bible it reviews the whole story of men from the very creation right down until this time and indeed until the end of time. [00:19:18]
The Christian should not be surprised at the state of the world today he shouldn't be disappointed he should say the world today is proving the argument of Paul in this great section of the epistle to the Romans for that is precisely what it does and therefore I would say that in the third place it is of a special value today in that it shows us and gives us the only true explanation of the final futility of what is commonly called civilization. [00:24:57]
Evangelism remember can be true or false it can be done in the right way or the wrong way it is here I suggest and only here that we shall be given an insight into true evangelism what it is and how it is to be carried out very well having thus triy to give you some conception of the greatness and the importance of this section. [00:26:49]
The wrath of God from Heaven has also been revealed upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men and now he proceeds to develop that great statement here in other words we come to a new section of the epistle and it's a section that runs from Verse 18 in this first chapter to verse 20 in the third chapter the whole argument is found in those verses and it is in many ways one of the greatest and the most important sections in the whole of the Bible. [00:16:00]
The righteous by faith shall live says verse 17 yes says Verse 18 but nobody else shall live that is why the gospel is so vital and so important so unique and So Glorious it's the only way for and you notice the connecting link you see he takes it up for the wrath of God from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men is revealed has been revealed against these people who hold the truth in unrighteousness. [00:29:27]
The very law of which the Jew boasted was the very thing that condemned him and he leads it up to this tremendous statement there in this 19th verse now we know that what things soever the law SE it sayth to them that are under the law that every mouth shall be stopped and all the world become guilty before God so you see he's arrived back at the point at which he began he starts by saying the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven upon all unrighteousness ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. [00:38:32]
The greatest and the best good news that has ever come into the world of men is the news that the just by faith shall live because no one else shall live because all others are under the WTH of God and are guilty before him oh it's not difficult when you look at it like this to see why Paul said I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ Emperors and kings and consuls and proconsuls Parliament senators military men and captains the whole world is guilty before God and he has the only message that can save anybody it's the message about the righteousness that God himself provides in Jesus Christ and which is offered to Jew and to Gentile alike. [00:43:19]
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