The Victorious Life

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Note to preachers: This is the second of a two-sermon presentation. It is an overview of Romans, so it is impossible to spend much time on the many rich details of this great book. I hope in preaching this to encourage people to spend time reading Romans on their own, while being able to address the major themes of Romans. The first sermon is here: https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-road-to-victory-john-dobbs-sermon-on-victory-273242. Video, Notes, Audio are available, see links at end of sermon. Thanks! -John

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Romans 9-16

The Victorious Life: More Than Conquerors

Introduction

The book of Romans is like a jigsaw puzzle. It’s not a mysterious puzzle, the overall picture is Jesus. But there are pieces that have to be put together. Romans 1-8 is the outside of the puzzle - it forms the boundaries of the puzzle. Romans 9-16 are the interior of the puzzle pieces that fill in the picture of the Jesus life.

Last week we noticed Paul’s foundation of faith in the first eight chapters of Romans.

(https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-road-to-victory-john-dobbs-sermon-on-victory-273242)

-The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation

-This is necessary because of the Plight in which all humanity finds itself: we are all sinners.

-The answer to our dilemma is Jesus - sacrificed to save the world.

-We embrace that sacrifice through Faith required to receive the impossible!

-Because of the Gospel we have Peace with God that brings us hope.

-Because of the Gospel we have new life when we are led to be baptized into Christ!

-War continues as we struggle with the flesh.

-But the Spirit within gives us the victory and makes us more than conquerors!

The second half of Romans fills in some details about the Victorious Life in which we are more than conquerors through Jesus.

Romans 8:37 in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Paul’s concern as he writes is the Jew-Gentile conflict in the church and how to overcome it. Remember that for five years the Jews had been expelled from Rome.

Acts 18:2 [Paul] met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.

The return of the Jewish Christians to the now Gentile Churches created a situation that needed a lot of grace.

In addressing that issue, Paul gives us several guidelines for overcoming conflicts, loving all God’s Children, getting along with the world around us, and giving all glory to Christ. This is the victorious Christian life in which we are more than conquerors. It begins with...

1. The Conquering Confession: Jesus Is Lord (Romans 9-11)

Not our religious heritage (Jews regarded as the source of righteousness).

Romans 9:4-5 Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!

Even so, this was not enough to save the Jews alone. Romans 10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

Not by our works, our own goodness. Romans 9:16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

The core of the Gospel message is that we cannot save ourselves and are dependent upon God.

Jesus Is Lord!

10:4-13 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Lordship of Jesus is the power to follow him in every way. If we declare him as Lord of our lives. If we believe the Good News of the resurrection of Jesus, then we are not ashamed. (Reminds us of 1:16). Jews may feel shame because of moving beyond their heritage into following the Messiah. Gentiles may feel ashamed because of following Jesus instead of the sophisticated philosophers and many gods of their culture. Ultimately though, when we claim Jesus as Lord we leave behind the expectations and practices of the world around us to embrace Him fully. This is what it means to be saved - calling on the name of the Lord and submitting to Him.