The Gospel

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.