"Glad Tidings of Great Joy"

Sermon Series by Samuel E. Ward Sermon 3: The Gospel According to Romans Introduction After considering what the Gospels and Acts present as the key elements of the gospel message, we turn our attention to the best representative passage in the epistles. That would be Romans 1:1 through 2:16. Using Paul as an example, let us make some generalizations about . . . I. The Preachers of the Gospel A. True Preachers of the Gospel Have a Sense of Appointment by God, Rom 1:1. Romans 1:1 (NIV) 1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— B. True Preachers of the Gospel See Their Ministry as a Service to God, Rom 1:9-10. Romans 1:9-10 (NIV) 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. C. True Preachers of the Gospel Understand They Are Obligated to Proclaim It All Unbelievers. 1. There is an obligation to preach to Greeks and non-Greeks (Barbarians) alike, Rom 1:14a. Romans 1:14a (NIV) 14aI am obligated both to Greeks and non–Greeks. 2. There is an obligation to preach to the learned and unlearned, Rom 1:14b. Romans 1:14b (NIV) 14bI am obligated . . . both to the wise and the foolish. D. True Preachers of the Gospel Are Eager to Share It at Every Opportunity, Rom 1:15. Romans 1:15 (NIV) 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 1. Such sharing brings strength and encouragement to all as they communicate each other's faith to one another, Rom 1:8-12. Romans 1:8-12 (NIV) 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 2. Such sharing often results in a harvest of new believers, Rom 1:13. Romans 1:13 (NIV) 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. Having generalized about preachers of the Gospel, let us now consider some specifics about . . . II. The Person Who Is the Gospel, Rom 1:2-5 A. Christ Was Promised Beforehand by the Prophets in the Old Testament, Rom 1:1-2. Romans 1:1-2 (NIV) 1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. B. Christ Is the Son of God by His Divine Nature and Son of David by His Human Nature, Rom 1:3. Romans 1:3 (NIV) 3regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, C. Christ Was Declared to Be the Son of God by His Resurrection, Rom 1:4. Romans 1:4 (NIV) 4and who through the Spirit£ of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God£ by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. D. Christ Gave Grace and Apostleship to Paul and Others for the Purpose of Calling Gentiles to Obedience to the Gospel by Their Faith in Him, Rom 1:5-6. Romans 1:5-6 (NIV) 5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. In this chapter, Paul explains the reason for His eagerness to share the Gospel in every venue he can. Though some may find some elements in the gospel that make them embarrassed to share it, Paul cannot contain himself because of the . . . III. The Power of the Gospel to Bring Salvation Rom 1:16-17 Romans 1:16-17 (NIV) 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Here is the summary of these two verses: A. The Gospel Requires Belief in Order to Bring Salvation. B. The Gospel Redeems Jews and Gentiles—essentially anyone from anywhere who desires to be redeemed. C. The Gospel Reveals a Complete Righteousness from God that He Accepts. 1. This righteousness is not our own. It is from God, which we accept and live faithfully in it. 2. This righteousness is in contrast to godlessness and wickedness that characterizes those who suppress the truth of the gospel IV. The Gospel Exists Because Man Is Wicked and God Is Merciful A. The Gospel Reveals the Wrath of God Against All Godlessness and Wickedness from Which the Gospel Offers Deliverance. Rom 1:18. Romans 1:18 (NIV) 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 1. The wrath is deserved because the knowledge of God has been and is willfully repressed, Rom 1:19. Romans 1:19 (NIV) 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 2. The divine nature and power of God have been clearly displayed to everyone since creation AND has been intuitively known by everyone, as well. Mankind has shown the need to worship someone they know must be greater than themselves by making idols to represent the god or gods they felt must be, Rom 1:20-23. Romans 1:20-23 (NIV) 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 3. These invented gods led them into a perverse view of sexuality to which God gave them over. It is easier to please a god who doesn't talk back and lets you do whatever you please, Rom 1:24. Romans 1:24 (NIV) 24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 4. Because of this disdain for God's truth, they exchanged the truth for a lie (that a created thing could be a god). If there is a Creator, and there is, then He is the God of all things created. There is none greater than He, Rom 1:25. Romans 1:25 (NIV) 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Application Are you worshiping the truth, or a lie. What is it about the God of the Bible that causes you to reject Him, if you do? Therein lies the truth about whether you are ruled by your desires or God is allowed to rule over your desires.