Romans 1:1-17 The Gospel
I. INTRODUCTION
- Read Romans 1:1-17
Now, before we begin our study of Romans, I want you to understand that I am not John MacArther. There is no way I will be able to unpack all of this on a Sunday morning, but if you would like to join us on Wednesday evenings, we will be looking a bit more in depth on Wednesday evenings, into what we are studying on Sunday mornings.
That being said, there is something a bit unique about the book of Romans.
“It is almost universally agreed that Paul wrote Romans from the city of Corinth as he wintered there on his third missionary journey as described in Acts 20:2-3. This is based on Romans 16:1 and 16:23 along with 1 Corinthians 1:14. A variety of commentators pick the date of writing anywhere from 53 to 58 A.D.
When Paul wrote the Book of Romans, he had been a Christian preacher for some 20 years. On his way to Jerusalem, he had three months in Corinth without any pressing duties. He perhaps thought this was a good time to write ahead to the Christians in Rome, a church he planned to visit after the trip to Jerusalem.
As Paul endeavored to go to Rome, the Holy Spirit warned him about the peril awaiting him in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-14). What if he were unable to make it to Rome? Then he must write them a letter so comprehensive that the Christians in Rome had the gospel Paul preached, even if Paul himself were not able to visit them.
Because of all this, Romans is different than many of the other letters Paul wrote churches. Other New Testament letters focus more on the church and its challenges and problems. The Letter to the Romans focuses more on God and His great plan of redemption.” (Enduring Word commentary. “Romans 1 - The Human Race Guilty Before God).
So Paul, if you were going to write a letter to a church, after 20 years of ministry. After being beaten, stoned, imprisoned multiple times, and chased from town to town, if you were going to write to a church and summarize 20 years of ministry, because you are not sure you will ever get there and be able to share with them personally. Paul what would you tell that group of Christians?
I believe he summarizes his answer in verse 16.
- Read Romans 1:16
But Paul, the religious leaders do not agree with your religious convictions.
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel.”
But Paul, . . . isn’t there another way? “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation, for everyone who believes.”
But Paul, does this work for everyone? “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.”
But Paul, . . . can’t I do something to be saved? Paul, if my good works outweigh the bad I do, won’t that be enough?
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, For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written, The righteous will live by faith.”
Ok Paul, you keep talking about the Gospel. What is the Gospel?
OK, Gospel means good news. Let me share with you some good news.
Ya’ll follow along, as we have a few verses to look at.
II. THE GOSPEL, THE GOOD NEWS
1. The fact of sin
- Romans 3:23
Every man, every woman, every child who has ever lived has sinned.
What is sin? The word translated here as sin means to miss the mark. Ya’ll remember when we had Mission Possible Camp out here, and we had the archery targets set up. In the middle of those targets was the bullseye. Any of you who happened to be here on Friday nights during that training know that very few of those bullseyes were ever hit. The children missed the mark.
Well, God’s bulls eye, God’s standard is perfection. Jesus told the folks during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
That is God’s standard.
Well, my sweet aunt Gertrude . . .
No. Look up there at verse 10.
- Romans 3:10
There is no one who is righteous. Everyone has sinned.
There is no one who meets God’s standard, so that pretty well shoots down the idea of my good outweighing my bad. God’s standard is not a scale with the good being weighed against the bad. God’s standard is perfection. That’s why we are told there is no one righteous, not even one.
30 Years ago I spent 10 weeks in a suburb of Chicago, trying to help some folks start a new church. Now, I grew up in the south, and most of my exposure to northerners until then had been encounters with all of you carpetbaggers who came down here and invaded my homeland.
I said that to a friend of mine from Boston one time, who built that log cabin over there, and he informed me that if it hadn’t been for you folks coming down here and civilizing us, we’d still be living in the swamp, running barefoot and eating possum. And He said it like that was a bad thing.
Anyway, one thing I learned that summer is that folks up there didn’t mind telling you they weren’t Christian, and they had some colorful ways of sharing that with you.
A problem we have down here, is that most of our kids have been to Vacation Bible School at some time or other, and for that reason they believe they are Christians. Down here you have get folks lost before your can get them saved. After all, I’m pretty good. I haven’t killed anyone. I haven’t hurt anyone. I do more good than I do bad, and I’m sure God will take that into consideration.
No. God’s standard is perfection. So, we have not just the fact of sin, but we also have the consequences of sin.
2. The consequences of sin.
- Romans 6:23
The wages of sin is death. Eternal separation from God.
Well Gene, God would never send an innocent person to a place of punishment. He would never turn His back on them forever.
The word translated here as wage means exactly that. It is a wage, a salary, a payment, something you have earned.
God says, “This is My standard. Perfection. When you do not reach that standard, this is what you earn. This is your pay for what you have done.”
The wages, the pay for sin is death, eternal separation from God.”
Can you imagine being separated from God, being separated from Good and light, and hope and happiness for all of eternity?”
Growing up, my parents and my brothers were my best friends, and next to Gladys and Drew, my brothers still are. We are close.
As a result, the time I spent in seminary was a bit tough, especially in the winter when everything was dead, and the skies were overcast. There were times, living alone in Arkansas, when such waves of loneliness and homesickness would hit me, that they threatened to overwhelm me.
Through it all though, I had one hope, one hope that pulled m through, a hope that someday that aloneness would end, and I would be able to come home.
Well let me tell you my friend, if you die apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ, that aloneness never ends. That darkness never ends. That separation never ends.
People laugh and joke like hell will be the place where the party is going on. In Mark, Jesus calls Hell a place where the worm never dies and their torment never ends.
Do you remember the account of the rich man and Lazarus? Jesus tells us that Lazarus died and went to Abraham’s bosom, and the rich man died and went to a place of torment. And when he got there, what did he do? Did he party? Did he sing and celebrate? No. He lifted up his eyes, and cried out, “Abraham, please let Lazarus place his finger in some water and let him come a place a drop on my tongue to quench the fire to ease my torment.”
When Abraham told him that was impossible, the rich man then begged Abraham, “Then please send Lazarus back to warn my brothers so that they won’t end up in this place.”
Oh my friends, there is the fact of sin. Everyone has sinned, and there are consequences for that sin, eternal separation from God.
All right Gene, you said the Gospel is good news. I haven’t heard any good news yet.
Look there at the second part of Romans 6:23 at our escape from sin.
3. Escape from sin
- Romans 6:23
The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
> John 3:16 For God loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but hath everlasting life.
That is good news, isn’t it?
- Romans 5:8
God proved His love for us, by having His Son die to pay the price for our sins.
> 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Do you remember the verse we looked at earlier Romans 5:10? There is none righteous no not one? Now 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that through Jesus we put on His righteousness.
That is why we celebrate communion. That’s one of the reasons Jesus told us to share that meal as well do, to remind us that His blood has cleansed us from our sins. To remind us, that if we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, if we have confessed our sins and put all of our faith trust in Jesus and in Him alone, then we have put on the righteous of Jesus Christ?
Isn’t that good news?
All of us have sinned. There are consequences for our sin, eternal separation from God. But praise the Lord, it is possible to escape from our sin. Now notice if you will, the means of escape.
4. The means of escape.
- Romans 10:9-13
How do we escape? We do it by confessing our sins. We escape by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow. That makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
> Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Good news! Great news!
> Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him and sup with him and he with Me.
Good news! Great news! Salvation is available through Jesus Christ.
Yesterday was kind of a tough day. I worked on the roof of a restaurant down on Lee Road yesterday. Those of you familiar with the area may know that it’s kinda tough getting into some of those businesses. The medians are such that in order to get to some of them you have to make turns. Kinda difficult driving a truck with a long wheel base like mine, especially pulling a trailer, so I hit a curb and blew out a tire.
Then, I had the owner of the restaurant where I was working accuse me breaking his air conditioner. Then at Publix, the guy behind me and I backed up at about the same time, so I put my trailer hitch into the back door of his car. Then I come down here to check on the animals and saw our old volleyball tree had finally fallen down.
Growing up, we always kept a volleyball net strung up between that tree by the basketball court and the one now laying on the ground. When family came to visit, we played volleyball. When friends came over, we played volleyball. I can remember my dad telling my mom, when she wanted to work on chores, “Baby, come play with the boys, they won’t be here forever.”
Now the tree is gone, and as of 2 months ago, both parents are gone. I had a little weeping time yesterday.
But there is good news. There is great news! Those we’ve lost in Christ, we will see them again!
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there!
Let me ask you my friend, “Do you know that you know that you know, that if you were to die today that you would spend eternity with Jesus Christ? Have you placed all of your faith and trust in Him? Have you asked Him to forgive you of your sins, and asked Him to come into your heart to be your Lord and Savior?
If not, will you do so today?
That my friend is the Gospel. That my friend is the good news! That is what we have been called to share with the world, That Jesus came into the world, not to judge the world, but that through Him we might be saved!
Paul says in Romans 1:16,
- Read Romans 1:16.
I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation.
Ok Paul, you are not ashamed of the Gospel. It is for everyone. The Jew and the Greek. Everyone is saved the same way. There is not one way of salvation for the Gentiles and another way for the Jews. Everyone is saved the same way, by putting their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, there is another item I would like you to notice.
II. EVERYONE’S NEED FOR THE GOSPEL
I would like you to notice everyone’s need for the Gospel. Look there again please at Romans 1:7.
- Read Romans 1:6-7
Who is Paul writing to? He is writing to Christians in the church in Rome.
Now notice what he says about these Christians.
- Read Romans 1:8
These are Christians in the church in Rome. They are walking so closely and obediently with the Lord that news of their faith is being reported all over the world. But notice if you will what he says in verse 15.
- Read Romans 1:15
These folks are Christians. They are faithful obedient Christians, with good reputations. Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if everyone who are Christians had good reputations?
These are faithful, obedient Christians with good reputations, and yet Paul says in verse 15, I am eager to preach the Gospel to you. Why in the world would he want to keep preaching the Gospel to people who are already Christians?
I believe there are several reasons.
1. We need to remember what Jesus did for us.
After you have been in church for a while, after you have cleaned up the outside a little bit, it’s easy for us to forget where we came from. We sometimes begin to think that God really got something when He got us. So I believe Paul wants to remind us, that apart from Jesus Christ, we would still be lost in our trespasses and sin.
My friend, don’t compare yourself to other people. Don’t look at them and think about how much better you are than they. You think about where you would be if it were not for the grace and mercy of God.
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore. Very deeply stained within. Sinking to rise no more. But the Master of the Sea, heard my despairing cry. From the waters lifted me now safe am I.
Love lifted me. Loved lifted me. When nothing else could help. Love lifted me. Love lifted me. Love lifted me. When nothing else could help. Love, lifted me.
Oh my friend, never forget what Jesus has done for you.
2. We need to remember our calling
Oh my friend, we can never forget that all of the people around us who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior have one need above all others, they need to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Got to visit with Drew and Sarah some on our recent trip. Went to their wedding shower and stuff. The guys got to skip the one in California. We went out looking over the ranch while the ladies did their thing. But not in Memphis. Nooo, they made us attend as well.
I must confess, that’s the first time I’m played marriage bingo, and if you’ve never played i, you’ve not missed much.
But, with the time we spent together, the most meaningful words were saved for when we parted ways. I told Drew I loved Him and asked him to be careful.
When Gladys and I parted ways at 4:30 Wednesday morning, she said, “I love you. Please be careful driving.”
You save your most meaningful words for your goodbyes.
When Jesus went to say goodbye, His parting words, according to Matthew’s account were, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus said, “This is what I want you to remember. I leave you with a mission. Go and tell.”
Paul says to the Christians in Rome, I want to share the gospel with you because I want you to remember what Jesus did for you. I want to share the gospel with you so you’ll remember the importance of your assignment, and third, I think he wanted us to remember what it is that does the work.
3. He wanted us to keep the main thing the main thing.
- Read Romans 1:16
Paul had taught folks a lot of things. In his letter to the church in Ephesus he had taught about relationships within the family. He had taught about relationships between workers and employers. He taught about the importance of prayer and about how to engage in spiritual warfare.
To the church in Corinth in Phillippi he taught on joy and about how we can make it though difficult times. He addressed issues in the churches.
Paul taught on many things, but here in Romans, in his letter to the Christians in the church in Rome he says, “Don’t forget, “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.”
My friends, we can teach the children out here all about animals and build enough pens and plant enough gardens to cover the property, but if we don’t share the gospel we are wasting our time.
We can run Mission Possible Camp, and teach the kids archery and canoeing and all of that stuff. But if we don’t share the Gospel, what have we accomplished?
We can run Christmas in the Country, and set up the largest light display in the state, but if we don’t share the Gospel we are just deceiving ourselves.
Look, you can vote for all of the right people. We can set up rescue missions to feed and house the hungry, and crisis pregnancy centers to take care of babies and their moms, but if we don’t she the Gospel with them what have we accomplished? We can support and volunteer with disaster relief, and help folks when their homes are flooded or wind damaged, but what have we accomplished if we don’t share the Gospel?
We are no better than some of the rich businessmen who give their money to colleges, or build hospitals so they can have their names on some buildings and feel good about themselves.
Paul says, I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
I have just a couple of questions before we part. First, have you accepted that Gospel? Di you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, will you give your life to Him today?
- Share plan of salvation.
Second, let me ask you, who are you sharing the Gospel with?
