Introduction to the Book of Romans, Part 3

A new Gallup poll (2017) shows that only 24% of Americans believe the Bible is the "literal word" of God, which is a decline from the 1970s (38%), but the survey also shows that the number of Americans who think the Bible is the "inspired word" of God, 47%, has stayed pretty steady over the last 40 years.

Amid the stories of love and redemption in the Bible, there are a number of passages that seem to be condoning rape, murder, and the procuring of slaves. There are intricate rules about dress and diet, prohibitions to certain professions.

Why this discrepancy? It is a phenomenon that I see occuring regularly among both the young and old alike; I call it understanding assumption. And from what I can tell, it occurs often when there is a lack of understanding. The Bible does not condone rape, murder and the procuring of slaves, but when we read a passage that seems to suggest that we simply conclude that our limited understanding is sufficient.

Example: ordering Whoppers at Burger King.

This happens when we come to the Gospel, we assume we understand it and move forward in our assumed understanding to make belief statements. This is why Romans is so crucial for our understanding. Paul explains in detail what the Gospel really is. Here is these two verses we find the major points of the Gospel that Paul will expound upon in detail.

Romans 1:16–17 NASB95

16 For 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

From the beginning of Paul’s introduction he has spoken of the Gospel:

Romans 1:1 NASB95

1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Romans 1:9 NASB95

9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,

Romans 1:15 NASB95

15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Now Paul explains why this “Gospel” so dominates his ministry.

Romans 1:16 (NASB95)

16 For 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.

I remember working with Campus Crusade in college and sharing the 4 spiritual laws with complete strangers. I felt like I was trying to convince them of the truth of alien abduction. There was a bit of embarrassment and shame. Not that I didn’t believe the Gospel was true, but I could see me trying to convince someone else of it’s truthfulness through their eyes.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB95

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21 NASB95

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:23 NASB95

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

Why isn’t he ashamed?

Romans 1:16 (NASB95)

16 For 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.

Notice it is God’s power not our power

There is a rich history in the O.T. of God using is great power to rescue and deliver His people from their enemies. We have two great enemies: sin & death. The Gospel is how God uses His power to deliver us.

Romans 1:16 (NASB95)

16 For 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.

This is God’s program for everyone.

The Jew first is not to say God favored them, but it was through them that the nations of the world would be blessed.

The Greek represented the most sophisticated and those who didn’t think they needed God.

Romans 1:17 (NASB95)

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Is this the fact that God is righteous? Or is it righteousness from God to us? Both are true and both happen through the Gospel. The verb is used in the sense of “uncovering” something not seen before. God shows that He remains righteous by dealing with our sin through His Son. Sin does not go unpunished.

The verb is also used in the sense of making something “manifest”, i.e. making it happen. The verb is in the present tense meaning it is on going. So Paul is saying that God’s righteousness is happening in us.

Romans 3:21–22 NASB95

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

Philippians 1:9–11 NASB95

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Romans 1:17 (NASB95)

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4 NASB95

4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.

“faith to faith” is best understood as “by faith first to last”

Paul is saying that this power of God for salvation is unleashed in a life through faith; and it is sustained by faith; and it is completed through faith. At no time does it demand that I “do” anything.

But what about being obedient? That is the natural outworking of the Gospel.

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Philippians 2:12–13 NASB95

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Paul will go into great detail in the 6th chapter on this, but he is not saying we need to be obedient to be saved. He is saying that the Christian’s whole life from start to finish is achieved by faith in what God has done in the Gospel. The obedience that follows is the sign that we have truly believed and placed out faith in Christ.

Conclusion:

Since October 2016, American pastor, Andrew Brunson, has been held in Turkey as a political hostage. Pastor Brunson is accused of having links with an organization involved in a failed 2016 coup attempt, as well the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party. But most observers contend that Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is keeping him imprisoned for diplomatic leverage.

This past week (July 2018), after optimistic reports that Brunson would be released at the end of his third hearing in Turkey, the court continued the trial, this time to October 12. The judge sent the North Carolina pastor back to prison for another three months. At the time of his fourth hearing, Pastor Brunson will have spent more than two years of his life in a Turkish prison.

Although the trial has not gone well for Brunson, at this hearing he still had an opportunity to proclaim the gospel. In the courtroom he forgave those who had testified falsely against him. Brunson said, "My faith teaches me to forgive, so I forgive those who testified against me."

Another American pastor who was present at the trial said, "As usual, there was much spurious testimony against Andrew. His testimony was absolutely powerful. He presented the gospel with confidence and defended himself with boldness."

In a Facebook post, Andrew's wife, Norine, posted that "The Lord was absolutely glorified!!! He explained why he was here, he gave the gospel. He publicly forgave all those who have come against him, forgiving as he has been forgiven."

She continued: "He said, 'It is a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ. Blessed am I, as I suffer for him. Blessed am I, as I am slandered. Blessed am I, as I am being lied about. Blessed am I, as I am imprisoned. Blessed am I, as I share his suffering.' I am incredibly proud of him as I am quite sure he doesn't feel that blessing at this point."

That is a life that has and is being transformed by the Gospel. Paul’s life was a life transformed by the Gospel. I would ask those questions again:Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God? Do you believe in the Gospel? Can you clearly articulate what the Gospel is? And I would add one more: Does your life demonstrate the Gospel?