- This is a sermon series that summarizes Romans 1-8 in seven sermons. So we are just hitting the big ideas.
- By the very nature of that, there will be much interesting material that we will have to skip over. It’s not unusual for pastors to do a sermon series on Romans 1-8 and take 50+ sermons to get through it. It seems like every few verses is enough to spend a whole sermon unpacking its theological significance. We are going to overlook a lot of those interesting opportunities and stay focused on the big picture.
- The sermon series is titled “The Greatest Gospel Explanation Ever.” That’s because Romans 1-8 is the greatest explanation of the gospel that’s ever been written. Certainly the resurrection accounts are crucial and there is no doubt that there are other eloquent passages that are important, but none surpass the magnitude of the first half of Romans. I should also note that I am not at all saying that my sermon series is the greatest gospel explanation ever, but that Paul’s writing is.
THE END RESULT OF SALVATION: This passage tells us what salvation is going to produce, then the following chapters tell us how it happens.
- Romans 1:1-17.
- Not surprisingly, we have something of a mission statement here as we start.
- This is not insignificant. It’s important to know where we’re going and what God intends to accomplish in our lives.
WHAT SALVATION PRODUCES: Faith that results in obedience and righteousness.
- Romans 1:5b, 17.
- There are two statements in this passage that really stand out to me as giving us the big picture of what this salvation is going to produce.
- The end of v. 5 is the first. (We will unpack the earlier part of this verse later in the sermon.) It speaks of “obedience that comes from faith.” This is a finishing statement in this verse – that is, lots of other things are mentioned that lead up to this result.
- So the first thing we see is there is a faith that results in obedience.
- Verse 17 is the second. It tells us that the gospel reveals a righteousness, specifically a righteousness that comes from faith. So here again we have the word “faith.”
- So the second thing we see is there is a faith that results in righteousness.
- So, taken together, we have a faith that results in obedience and righteousness.
- Now, this is probably not what you were expecting for a summary statement of what salvation is going to produce. This might not initially sound exciting or enticing because it’s not warm and fuzzy ideas.
- I want to unpack what we’re talking about because when we understand it we see something that is impressive. So let’s focus on those three key words: faith, obedience, and righteousness.
a. Faith.
- It starts with faith.
- [Don’t step on point 2 below.]
- Faith has the connotation to many people of wishing or hoping. It’s vague and doesn’t really require anything from us except having a notion deep in our heart.
- That’s not the kind of faith that we’re talking about here.
- Here we are both talking about faith as strong belief and faith as confident trust.
- The strong belief is that I believe in what the Bible tells me about Jesus and what He did.
- The confident trust is that I believe in what the Bible tells me that Jesus can do to my life.
- We had ways of trying to be right with God that weren’t working. Jesus came to inaugurate a new, better way. It’s a more effective way.
- So I don’t come to Jesus with a belief that is like saying, “Yes, I believe that shirt is blue.” That is, I’ve said I think it’s a fact but it doesn’t change my life at all.
- No, I believe that Jesus came to open up a new way to God and a new way to live. I have faith in that way of approaching God and so I’m going to give my life to it.
b. Obedience.
- Verse 5 tells us that there is an obedience that comes from faith.
- What does that mean?
- We are not talking about a blind, dumb obedience. No, we’re talking about seeing someone who is the wisest, most loving person you’ve ever seen and wanting to be like Him. Obedience in this context isn’t a burden – it’s an aspiration.
- Other ways of approaching God were ineffective. But what Jesus came to open up to us is effective in giving us a path toward actually walking with God. We are given a new spiritual heart, the Holy Spirit to guide us and encourage us, the Bible to instruct us, prayer to help us, and so on.
- This is not a situation where we have to sit back and say, “If only!” If only I had a chance to actually be different. If only I had a chance to actually follow God. If only I had a chance to actually be transformed.
- No, this is a plan that allows us to be obedient and enjoy a transformed life.
- This is an effective plan.
- It’s worth pausing here to ask yourself in the privacy of your heart: does what I just said excite you? If not, why do you want Jesus? Fire insurance? Make you feel forgiven?
- It’s a manifestly unhealthy sign if being able to become more like Jesus doesn’t interest you.
c. Righteousness.
- Verse 17 points us to a righteousness that comes from faith.
- Again, the starting point is faith, as we discussed a moment ago.
- It also leads us to a righteousness. There are lots of ways to discuss this, but let me talk about the big picture in three parts: justification, sanctification, and glorification.
FURTHER DETAILS:
1. IT'S A LONG-DEVELOPING STORY.
- Romans 1:2.
- This is not a slap-dash throw-together plan. It was conceived before the creation of the world. It was promised in the Old Testament through the prophets. It was set up by the events of the Israelites. And it all led to what Paul describes in these eight chapters.
- When you get a gift and then hear that the person spent hours working on it, it means more than something they spent three minutes ordering off Amazon.
- This is God’s best plan. This is an incredible thing: a way to satisfy God’s desire for mercy and His need for justice.
- It revolves around the unexpected willingness of God to take our place through His Son.
- Another thing is to recognize the incredible privilege we have of living at a time in history where we know the fulfillment of this plan.
- It is such an advantageous position to be in. We can see how much God loves us. We can see how all the pieces come together.
- It is, however, both a privilege and a responsibility. The responsibility part is that we do have full knowledge and therefore can’t plead ignorance – “if I’d only know it all I would have believed!” No, we have the grand vision in front of us.
2. IT'S CENTERED ON THE SON.
- Romans 1:3-5a.
- This plan centers on Jesus.
- The plan is not a theory – it’s a person.
- Let’s focus on a few of the key words in these verses:
a. “human nature”
b. “resurrection from the dead”
c. “Lord”
3. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF AND AMAZED AT.
- Romans 1:16a.
- This is a famous verse – “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”
- Sometimes we make it a verse to spur us to do more evangelism. “Don’t be ashamed – go tell everyone about Jesus.” There is some truth there.
- But I think we should see as something far broader than that.
- I think it means that we should see this plan as something to be proud of and amazed at.
a. Proud of.
- I am proud to be associated with the gospel. It’s an incredible plan. It’s effective and transformative.
b. Amazed at.
- When you step back and consider what God has accomplished in Jesus, it’s stunning.
- When you think of how far God went to make it happen, it’s unbelievable.
- I guess there’s a reason they call it “amazing grace.”
4. IT'S THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL POWER.
- Romans 1:16b.
- Verse 16 continues by saying that it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. This plan is how we see the power of God manifested in our lives.
- What’s that look like?
a. The transformed addict’s story.
b. Lee Strobel’s story.
c. The hope beyond death story.
- How powerful is this plan? It can transform a heart. It can conquer death.
