Truth, As Powerful As Dynamite
Rom 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
These verses are the Theme of Romans.
He states it in the negative to emphasis the positive. Have we ever been ashamed? What makes him so bold?
Paul gospel is the opposite of how the world would think that you are saved.
The offense of the cross is - “I am so condemned and so lost. So helpless and hopeless that if Jesus Christ had not died for me, I would never know God and could never be forgiven.” The world hates this news which says we are losers at the very core.
Concerning the gospel:
1. Its respectability - nothing to be ashamed of...
2. Its nature - the power of God... (Dunamis - Dynamite)
3. Its aim - Salvation...
4. Its scope - for everyone who believes...
5. Its content - the revelation of God’s righteousness through faith.
Some versions don’t have “of Christ”
Why was Paul not ashamed...
Paul was imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Damascus and Berea, laughed at in Athens, considered a fool in Corinth, and declared a blasphemer and lawbreaker in Jerusalem. He was stoned and left for dead in Lystra. Some pagans of Paul’s day branded Christianity as atheism because he only believed in one God and as being cannibalistic because they misunderstood the Lord’s supper and thought they ate Christ.
1. The origin of the gospel
-Christ was the origin. He alone is trustworthy. He knew where his message came from.
2. The operation of the gospel
-Power is the one thing that Rome boasted of the most. Greece might have its philosophy but Rome had its power. The gospel is unstoppable.
3. The Outcome of the gospel
-Salvation - to be delivered from sin. The great need of all men.
To be delivered from sin:
1. must be delivered from the guilt of sin.
2. must be delivered from the power of sin.
3. must be delivered from the pollution of sin.
SIN - this violation of the law.
LAW: On two tables: represents: 1. Our relationship to God
2. Our relationship to others
Salvation means: 1. To be delivered or rescued
2. To be made whole again
4. The outreach of the gospel
For everyone who believes...
Believes - trusting in, relying on, having faith in. When used in the NT of salvation, it is usually in the present, continuous form, which can be translated, “is believing”. Daily living is filled with acts of faith.
It is important here to notice that God does not ask people to behave here but believe.
This one act alone is universal. It can be done by anyone, any culture, rich or poor, young or old, it is the one act God holds mankind responsible for because mankind can trust God if it wants to.
The Jews aren’t better, they were just chosen by the Lord first.
Matt 10:5-7
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 "And as you go, preach, saying, ’The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Acts 3:25-26
25 "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ’And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
26 "To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
Notice in verse 17 the gospel is not something we seek, it is something revealed.
The question: “How can a holy God ever forgive sinners and still be holy? is answered only in the gospel message.
The word righteousness is used one way or another over 60 times in this letter (righteous, just, justified)
Romans explains the “The just”
Galatians explains the “Shall live”
Hebrews explains the “By faith”
Righteousness - totally righteous. As righteous as God because it is His righteousness. How could you behave well enough? Never. It is a gift to those who believe or apply faith.
From faith to faith or from faith to faith to faith to faith to faith... as if Paul was singling out individual believers. It is a way of life to those who believe.
