Title: Getting the Gospel Right II “What is the Gospel?” Script: Rom. 1:3-7
Type: Series Where: GNBC 1-17-21
Intro: Begin this am by quoting from a sermon by Anglican pastor Peter Fischer from a sermon he wrote in 2018: “I was listening to the radio on the way home from work on Wednesday evening and Archbishop John Sentamu was saying a few words about Billy Graham who had just died. He didn’t have long and I don’t remember all he said, but the few words that struck me were that he said of Billy Graham “He just said ‘the bible says’, ‘the bible says’, ‘the bible says’, he never put his own views in the message. He was the first person since St. Paul to do that.” That is the job of an evangelist, and a preacher. When I stand here and speak to you my job is to tell about Jesus and speak the good news that his life, death and resurrection are to us, allowing us to be with God forever. It is not to tell you about my good ideas about how to run the world, or to explain from my limited experience about how the world could be better for everyone. I am here to speak the gospel, the whole gospel and nothing but the gospel.” Reading Romans 1 today, I am sure Paul would give a hearty “Amen”!
Prop: Examining Rom. 1:3-7 we’ll realize 4 significant elements of the Gospel.
BG: 1. Have you ever seen one of those long limousines, the “stretch” kind? They are unusual, and they catch our attention. Paul’s greeting, in verses 1-7, is what I call a “stretch version”. It is the longest greeting of any of his epistles.
2. Written 56AD+/- when Paul was on 3rd Miss. Journey in Corinth.
Prop: Exam w/me Rom. 1:3-7 so as to realize 4 significant elements of the Gospel.
I. 1st Element: The Subject of the Gospel vv. 3-5a
• Paul lists 5 Important Ideas About Jesus in vv. 3-5
A. 1st: Jesus is God’s Son. V. 3a
1. Jesus’ relationship to God the Father as His Son recognizes Christ’s Deity. the important thing to keep in mind is that the idea of Jesus Christ being God’s eternal son precedes any thought of his role in salvation history and the incarnation. He is first of all, the very son of God, before he assumed human nature.
2. vv. 3-4, was probably a creed in the early church, relating to His incarnation, work of salvation according to promise, and His subsequent exaltation. First and foremost, Paul lists the subject of the Gospel is Jesus Christ, the Son of God!
B. 2nd: Jesus is David’s Son 3b
1. Jesus’ relationship to King David as his Son secures Christ’s humanity and His Royal Lineage as “The Son of David”.
2. Christ’s connection with David is important on two levels. 1st: It makes plain that the eternal Son of God took on full humanity (John 1:1, 14; Phil 2:6-11) w/o which there can be no good news for the sons of Adam. 2nd, the special link with David is not just to suggest his humanity, but also makes clear Jesus’ special relationship to the line of promise. Jesus alone met the qualifications of the promise of 2 Sam.7:12-16 (Davidic Covt.) could be made.
C. 3rd: Jesus is Risen v.4a
1. The Res. of Jesus validates the message of the Gospel. Illust: Having spent a bit of time in the British Isles, it is common to the stamp “By Appointment to HM the Queen” on everything from Twinings Tea to Cadbury’s Chocolate. The stamp is called the “Royal Warrant, and it communicates the message that the product is the best of the best and approved by Elizabeth II. The Res. was God’s “Stamp of Approval” upon Xst. We know from the Bible that all 3 Members of the Trinity were involved in securing the Res. of Christ.
D. 4th: Jesus is the Savior 4b
1. The name, “Jesus Christ” isn’t like our “John Smith”. He wasn’t Jesus from the “Christ family” like in our Western tradition. Rather, His names meant something. The Name Jesus meant: “Jehovah Saves”. “Christ” comes from Gk: “Christos” meaning “anointed one”, which was used to translate the Hebrew, “Messiah”. Friend, the Name Jesus Christ is not a swear word. Rather, it is the most beautiful, saving name that we know. It explains His Saviorship. What the Apostles fearlessly proclaimed in Acts 4:12 needs to be proclaimed w/equal vigor today: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”
2. Illust: In this era of political correctness, gender stereotypes for names and occupations remain, says James Bruning, professor of psychology at Ohio University. In Bruning's latest study, young adults were asked to predict the success of 16 people entering new careers, based on information provided about those job applicants. Study participants forecasted that women with more feminine names -- Emma, Marta, Irma and Winifred -- would be more likely to have successful careers if they pursued traditional female occupations -- such as nurse, hair stylist and interior decorator. Men with more masculine names – Frank, Sam, Hank -- were expected to be successful with traditional male careers: plumber, truck driver and electrician, according to the research.( Published: Journal of Social Psychology). Bruning, has spent 20 years studying the psychology of names, found that these types of name stereotypes begin as early as kindergarten. This study suggests those assumptions follow kids into adulthood. The stereotype success of Christ didn’t start at Calvary friend, it started in eternity past as Christ co-existed w/ Father and the Holy Spirit.
E. Applic: Christ is the subject of the Gospel. He is the theme and focus of the Gospel.
II. 2nd Element: The Solicitation of the Gospel v.5b
A. We receive the Gospel by Grace thru Faith.
1. We have received and not earned the merit given us in Christ. Faith is not “mere assent.” Even the demons believe that God exists, said James, but rather than delighting in this knowledge, they respond with shuddering (James 2:19). The Reformers said that faith involves knowledge, assent, and trust or commitment. True faith goes beyond mere assent and involves a personal relationship of trust and commitment to Christ. Illust: Let’s assume I had a rich uncle who wrote me a check for $1 million. I have a few options: 1. Could believe it was phony/prank and throw away. 2. Could look at check and agree is real. Consider facts about my uncle and believe really was a valid check. 3. Or knowing what I know about my uncle’s love for me, his financial situation, and legitimacy of the check, burn rubber to put in Hills Banks ASAP! I didn’t earn that money. Received by faith.
2. Paul explains that this Grace
a. So, if we receive Christ by faith is there any reason for works? Illust: RC Sproul aptly taught that both Protestants and Catholics believe in Justification by Faith. But what they believed are miles apart. In the Roman view: Faith+Works = Justification. In the Protestant view: Faith=Justification +Works. Neither eliminated works. However, Prot view eliminates human merit. It recognizes that though works are the evidence of true faith they contribute nothing to the meritorious basis of our redemption.
b. The “we” is probably editorial, that is, it refers to Paul alone. ( You and I sometimes do this in English: “We’re going to the store.” Yet, speaking of only self. )He mentions only himself in 1:1, and the following phrase “for the obedience of the faith among all the Gentiles” seems to corroborate this idea since it was Paul who was called to the Gentiles. Timothy was a stalwart companion, but not an apostle.
B. Saving Faith Produces Obedience.
1. All True Faith is Obedient Faith.
a. Faith and obedience are inseparably bound together. “to bring about the obedience of faith”. The Christian faith is not simply intellectual assent to a set of facts. James was written for this very purpose. All too often today Christians want Christ to be their Savior but not their Lord. Want the assurance w/o the required obedience to the behavior salvation requires. People can delude themselves into thinking saved when not. The single factor that distinguishes bogus faith from real thing is the righteous behavior that is inevitably produced by authentic faith. (MacArthur, Faith Works, p. 141)
b. True faith always produces an obedient life. James 1:22 “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hears who delude themselves.” James is describing characteristic behavior, not occasional activity. (Illust: I used to run regularly. I ran a few minutes on a treadmill last week. My next door neighbors has the 3rd most recorded miles run by a human being in history. He runs every day. Rain or shine. My running is an occasion. Dallas’ is a lifestyle. James and here Paul is saying our faith, if true, produces a lifestyle of obedience.
2. The Gospel is more than an invitation. It is an imperative!
a. Jn. 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
b. The most important thing I can tell you today is: “Turn to Christ!” The whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, points to Jesus Christ stepping in to receive the full penalty of our sins in our place so that through Him we can be restored to God in righteousness and purity. The Gospel is both and offer and a command.
C. Applic: Hearing is important, however, saving faith must be something more than merely hearing. Hearing is a means, not an end. The end is faith, which results in obedience. Unsaved friend, what keeps you from believing in Christ?
III. 3rd Element: The Scope of the Gospel v.5c
A. It is not just for the Jews.
1. The Jews were originally the People of God.
a. Beginning with Abraham God had called a people for His own possession. The OT, with a few notable exceptions, focuses on the calling and working of God through His people, Israel. Everything God did in calling, providing and preserving a people for His own pleasure was to point them to His Son and Savior, Christ. God graciously called Abram from all other people.
b. Grace is not God’s response to our deserving or meriting. Grace is God’s free gift before we do anything good, and his enabling of us to do anything good. For example, in Romans 4:4 Paul says, “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited according to grace, but according to debt”. In other words, grace is not what you get when you work for somebody: that’s what he owes you. Grace is never owed. It is always a free bonus from the overflow of goodness.
2. Gospel believing Gentiles have been grafted into God’s tree of faith.
a. Romans 11:11-28 teaches us that a partial hardening has come upon Israel so that the full number of Gentiles may come in. Our salvation was designed by God to make them jealous. Do not become arrogant, Paul continues, knowing that branches were broken off so the wild branches of the Gentiles might be grafted in. Even they, Paul says, if they cease in their unbelief, they too will be rooted back in. Yet, even to this day they stumble over: THE GOSPEL! Grace not works! Christ not Law!
b. Illust: That system of belief is not unlike a man who went to a train station to catch a train. Unfortunately, when train arrived, the man had gone back into the station to use the bathroom. When got out the train was gone. Asked station master, when was his train getting in. Master said it has already arrived. Man defiantly said: “I know better.” Stood and waited…years.
B. It is for all the Gentiles.
1. Paul makes it clear that the particular sphere of ministry assigned to him by the Lord was the Gentiles. His mission in life was to reach all the Gentiles with the gospel, a task he had been given for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, for Jesus’ glory and honor.
2. Illust: When Paul dramatically met the Lord on the Damascus Road, he received not only his introduction to the faith but also his vocation. God called a local disciple, Ananias to go and explain the way of salvation to Paul: Acts 9:15 “But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”
C. Applic: Paul ties together the gospel which he proclaims as the promises of God through the Old Testament prophets. He joins together both the Jews & Gentiles. Paul stresses that the gospel unites all believers. He emphasizes the continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testaments. As only J. Vernon McGee could say: “At the end of the day, there are only two types of people in the world: “Saints and aints”. Saints have received Christ. Aints haven’t!
IV. 4th Element: The Sake and Success of the Gospel vv.5d – 7
A. It is for Christ’s glory.
1.We preach the Gospel for the Glory of Christ!
a. It is “for Christ’s name sake” that we preach the Gospel.
b. Illust: 30 yrs. ago when I was in seminary, “Church Growth” was a major focus of the Evangelical Church/Seminary culture. Several key figures Win Arn. Don McGavaran, Elmer Towns, Carl George. Lyle Schaller, Bill Hybels. Whatever said was golden. Conferences. Good idea- “Church Growth”. Very evangelistically minded w/use of programs. Yet, the older I have gotten, I feel like one very important element was missing and Paul draws our attention to it in last portion of v. 5: “We preach Christ not so much that the Church will get bigger but rather that Christ will receive the glory due Him in all generation and by all peoples!
2. The Gospel is preached for the called. Illust: Because of the size of our family, when the kids were small, and we were on vacation, we’d often look to see if certain attractions were open to the public for free on certain days of the week. San Antonio, TX, has a wonderful art museum. Before Covid, had certain day of the week in certain season of the year where visitors were free. Why should it be free? What has the public done to deserve entry for free? Nothing. Probably a gift from a wealthy patron. Every day in the year the gates of heaven are opened to sinners free. Why? For Jesus Christ's sake. It’s the best reason of all! If God would glorify his Son, how could he do better than by saying, “For the sake of my dear Son, open wide the pearly gates of heaven, and admit his children..
B. The Success of the Gospel. vv. 6-7
1. It is guaranteed by the Call of Christ. v. 6
a. Illust: Paul tells the Roman Christians they are to rejoice because they are among those Gentiles whom the Lord has “called”. Have you ever been served a summons to appear in a court case? I am on the board of our neighborhood HOA. A couple of years ago there was a legal matter being pursued by our HOA against a resident. One evening, after dinner, there was a knock on the door. Sheriff Deputy. Little unnerving. “Hello. Are you Chris Arch?” This is a summons to appear in court.” No ifs, ands, or buts! The authority of the Law and Magistrates of the State of Iowa called and I had to answer.
b. Friend, the Gospel is a divine summons. It is the effectual cause of your salvation. In salvation there are two calls: 1. External. 2. Internal. The external call goes to the ear. That is what is going on right now as I preach…you hear the Gospel. I tell you that you need to be saved. However, there must be another call if anyone will be saved. This must be an internal call. Instead of merely the ear, it is heard by the heart! This call overcomes the listeners’ resistance. This is the call of the Sovereign God of Heaven and He guarantees it’s success. Just like when I received my summons, all I can do with the call of heaven is comply. Dear one, are you here today and your heart is being strangely stirred? You see the weight of your sins? Christ is calling you. Have you answered? Why not?
2. It is extended to the beloved of God.
a. If you are in Christ, you are the beloved of God. Further, the Roman Christians, as is the case with every Christian, are loved by God (??ap?t??? ?e??, agapetois theou)—a love which he expressed explicitly in the cross of Jesus Christ! The Gospel! As Paul says later “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). It is that same love that he has also poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (5:5).
b. Illust: Doctor Thorne is a 2016 BBC adaptation of an 1858 Anthony Trollope novel. Story revolves around the life of penniless orphan Mary Thorne who is adopted by and lives with her loving uncle, the respectable village Dr. Thorne. Because of class snobbery, her illegitimate birth and lack of dowry, she is forbidden to marry her true love, Frank Gresham, the heir of the Greshambury estate. Seems as though the old estate is financially ruined and Frank’s mother, wants her son to marry for money, even though Mary is beautiful, faithful, and kind...and adores her son. A final twist comes at the end of the novel when a benefactor with a previously unrealized relationship to Mary dies, lavishing a fortune and estate the unsuspecting young woman. In good mid 1800’s English lit tradition: Everyone lives happily ever after!
C. Applic: Friend, the Gospel is that Good News for you! Because of Christ’s death, you have received an inheritance that God has lavished upon you which gives you in spite of your condition, new and eternal life, mansion in heaven, family here and eternity.
