REVIEW: PART 1
(A) THE PLAN OF THE GOSPEL (1:1-17)
THIS MESSAGE:
(B) The Need Of The Gospel - GOD’S CASE 1:18-3:20
I. GOD’S CASE AGAINST GODLESSNESS (v18-32)
(v18-23)
(a) SOME OF MANKIND CHOOSES BLATANT GODLESSNESS
1. God made it plain to mankind, who he was, and His desire to love us. Even through His creation, He made it plain that He cares for us.
2. Mankind is without excuse!
3. Although God revealed Himself to man, man chose to glorify man rather than God. We exchanged glory of an immortal God for mortal glory. Our hearts became dark. Mankind wants the pleasures of the this world, rather than pleasing God. The world is more consumed with money (mortal), than allowing the consuming fire
to exhaust all of our worldly matters. Mankind is more concerned about power, than surrendering to the one who is all powerful.
(v24-31)
(b) GOD ALLOWS EVERY PERSON TO HAVE FREE CHOICE
1. God does not make us choose his plan of the gospel. If you choose to follow darkness rather than light God will allow you to make that choice.
2. Even if you choose to become unnatural in sexual relations, and you choose to become a homosexual, God will give you that choice. If you choose to become verses 29-31, that is your choice. But the key to remember is this: you will be without excuse. The choice was yours during this lifetime.
(v32)
(c) THE VERDICT FOR THE GODLESS WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL
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II. GOD’S CASE AGAINST THE MORALIST (2:1-16)
(a) The moralist believes it is his/her goodness that saves them. The Bible teaches over and again that being good does not save you. Paul had trouble with this though out his ministry. He would go into a province and preach freedom in Christ, and many would accept Christ. The moralists would come in behind him and convince many of them that it was their goodness that pleased Christ. *PLEASE READ GALATIANS 1:6-7,3:1-3
(b) The Moralist likes to look down on others. That was the problem during the writing of the book of Romans, and it is still a problem in the Kingdom today. Those who feel they are gifted or mature believers, tend to thumb their noses at those who are not "where they are." The Bible teaches that the mature beliver is humble and edifies others, not tearing others down.
(c) The judging is up to Christ. It is up to us to consider the consider the log in our own eye, rather than worry about the speck in our brothers eye.
*MATTHEW 7:1-5*
(d) The moralist needs the gospel, not the law. In our society we believe is someone is good, that’s good enough. According to this text, the good need the gospel as much as the bad do.
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III. GOD’S CASE AGAINST THE RELIGIONIST (2:17-3:8)
(a) The religionist is more concerned about the outward that the inward. (MATT. 23:25-26) In our society it’s about APPEARANCE, APPEARANCE APPEARANCE!!!
It begins with the appearance of the building, to the appearance of the believers, and ends with the appearance of the church’s image. We have have lost sight of the inside of the believer. The church has gotten more concerned with earings, dresses and ties, and we have forgotten the circumsision of the heart.
(b) The religionist is more concerned about rules and traditions than the gospel of Christ.
(c) The "good ole religionist" needs the gospel as much as the drunkard and the harlot.
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IV. GOD’S CASE AGAINST ALL MANKIND (v9-20,23)
(a) Are we any better? There is none righteous!
(b) The purpose of the law is not to save, but rather to expose our sin and direct us to the saving grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(c) Accoriding to the law, all mankind is guilty and in need of the gospel of Jesus.
