Romans Series

November 06, 2021

Since coming to the priesthood in 1505, Martin Luther had lived in turmoil. Despite his solemn promises and very best efforts, he could not live a pious and sin free life and the thought of divine justice terrified him.

After considering the advice of a superior, “Look at the wounds of Jesus Christ, to the blood that he has shed for you; it is there that the grace of God will appear to you. Instead of torturing yourself on account of your sins, throw yourself into the Redeemer’s arms. Trust in him—in the righteousness of his life—in the atonement of his death……”, Luther began to study Scripture.

As Martin pondered the book of Romans, the truth began to dawn on him. "The righteousness that we need in order to stand before the holy God is not a righteousness we can attain by our own effort. In fact, it is not human righteousness at all. It is divine righteousness, and it becomes ours as a result of God’s free grace. Our part is merely to receive it by faith, and to live by faith in God’s promise."

At the heart of the Reformation is the book of Romans, but when it was written, it was just a letter to believers, whom Paul had never met.

Paul wrote Romans:

• Around 57-58 AD

• While he was in Corinth

My Favorite Thing About ROMANS is ---- “Because and Therefore” as it applies to Righteousness by Faith.

There is a pattern throughout the book called "The Imperative" and "The Indicative" or Because of this…. Therefore this.

After Paul’s lengthy introduction, he made a bold statement:

• Romans 1:16-17 - I 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. 17 For 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." {Habakkuk 2:4}

These two verses set the tone for the rest of the letter. They are the foundation on which everything else stands.

The target audience of Paul’s letter was a church divided. The Jews thought they were better because they were of “Abraham’s Seed” and the Gentiles thought they were better because they had not rejected and crucified Jesus nor had they been kicked out of Rome. So, Paul spent quite a bit of time insisting that the ground is level at the foot of the cross.

The Pagans/Gentiles are guilty before God

The Jews are guilty before God

The Whole World is guilty before God

• Romans 3:9-19 - What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." 14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

BECAUSE all have sinned by breaking the Law of God, either unknowingly or knowingly…. THEREFORE, all are guilty.

• James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Up to this point, Paul has been talking about law keeping and guilt and if he had stopped there this would be a very short sermon. Luckily, he continued:

• Romans 3:20-24 - Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

BECAUSE the law only makes me aware of sin…. THEREFORE, law keeping cannot produce righteousness.