Romans 1
"The Gospel Communication" • 1.13.09 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission
Intro
- At the end of our study last week, we noted that the church at the Jerusalem Council had a purpose in their communication, namely to clearly communicate the message of the gospel.
- Paul and Barnabas were responsible to disseminate the original letter from the council to the churches that they had begun or had contact with. That letter was the first real epistle.
- More letters would be needed, with greater detail, answering a wider scope of questions about the gospel itself.
- Romans is the most pure and clear presentation of the gospel in the New Testament.
- Paul starts out pretty quickly and makes it very clear what he is going to get at.
• Romans 1:1-4 : "Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."
- Paul was who he was as a result of who Jesus Christ was! Paul was a man on a mission: He was a man who was separated unto the Lord of the Gospel.
- His life was wrapped up in the person of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God's promise. After explaining his desire to come to Rome, Paul comes to a theme verse in the book of Romans.
• Romans 1:15,16 : "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 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."
- We can assume that the gospel message that he was ready to preach was the same message that he here writes out to the believers in Rome.
- I want us to be aware of few things that Paul presents to the Roman believers in these first chapters. it's an extreme temptation to go as deep and wide as possible when examaning the genius, beautiful work of Paul in the book of Romans.
- However, for Paul's readers, this was an impassioned letter describing the greatest truth of all time and how it applies to our view of the world.
- Because of the righteousness of God, revealed in the Gospel, embodied in Jesus Christ, God's wrath against mankind is expressed in three judgments against the world.
Text
- The first words of the gospel are that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The last words are so that the world would not perish!
- Love and justice. Righteousness demands a response to that which is evil in the world and make no mistake, God hates wickedness, His righteousness demanding that He respond.
- Turn with me to Psalm 7. King David is writing about Saul's campaign against him, an unfair, unjust campaign, born without regard to truth or righteousness.
• Psalm 7:10,11 : "My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day."
- Throughout the Old Testament, there are verses that lay out the hatred that God has toward various actions. A lying tongue, a perverse mouth or a haughty stare evoke the most passionate response from God.
- But there, as well as right here in verse 18, it's never the people that are hated. It's the actions! Here it's ungodliness, an attitude that kicks God out of the sphere of influence of our lives.
- Then it's unrighteousness. These are activities that are grievous to the heart of God.
- What makes the attitudes and the actions so especially grievous is that men do them in the sight of God. He has left plenty of evidence, but they would not acknowledge Him.
- They would see, but not see. They would be exposed to evidence, but not see the truth.
- Their thoughts became "futile." I like the way this is translated in the NLT: "And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like."
- Their hearts, at this point, failing to honor and recognize God for what He has revealed about Himself, have been darkened. Paul writes in verse 22.
• Romans 1:22 : "Professing to be wise, they became fools,"
- Do you understand the implication? It's not just your best argument! It's not knowing the latest fad in apologetics! That guy has the same evidence that you have. Because He refuses to acknowledge God as sovereign over His life, he must come to some other conclusion!
- A few weeks ago Sunday, I received a visit from Athiest Bob out at the visitor's table. He has come before on a Sunday, with "real concern" for our "misguided sheep."
- Bob makes no attempt to hide his agenda. He comes right out and says, "How can anybody believe in a God that does not exist?"
- Then after this incredible display of concern, Bob goes on to say that he has scientific evidence that he says can prove the non-existence of God.
- I stopped him there and said, "That same evidence points, in just as valid a way, to a benevolent, personal creator that you have rejected as a possibility."
- Same evidence, different conclusions, both requiring faith. The difference is God taking initial saving faith and grounding it in evidence that only makes sense with Him at the center!
- Paul says that preaching the gospel is not just going to be about the right words. You need to understand the depth of the problem.
• Romans 1:23-27 : "and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." : Paul moves us from the eye, or the perspective of the person in the world, to the activity. Belief will dictate behavior.
- Paul is communicating with the Romans just why it is that the wicked are the way they are!
- Paul explains that this is why there is idolatry. There are no restraints. There is no intrinsic value to their life beyond what pleasure they can derive from base activities.
- Turn with me to I Corinthians 15. Paul is talking about the the implications of living in the light of the gospel and considering what the alternatives are.
• I Corinthians 15:30-32 : "And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'"
- When you lack Jesus in your life, it makes sense that this would be your motto.
- They are living a lie that they have believed in spite of the truth that they know! As a result, God gave them up to "vile passions." These words are fascinating to me.
- The word "vile" means to be offensive, but it seems to be much more picturesque than that. As far as I understand it, the word "vile" refers to the poor treatment of a dead body.
- Let me further explain. In all civilizations, dead bodies are treated at the least with reverent respect. In Biblical days, bodies were annointed and wrapped in cloths, placed carefully in tombs.
- Today, we bury people with suits on! Suits!? Faces are colored. Nails are done.
- To see a dead body and not respond to it will end in putressence. But that is the way men have dishonored their living bodies!
- The vile passions that are here referred to happen in context with idolatrous worship ceremonies, which were still very much a part of the Gentile world.
- Blatant sexuality, lesbianism, homosexuality are the outgrowths of eyes that do not recognize God's sovereign, benevolent rule. As a result their bodies are employed in unnatural ways.
- God does not hate the lesbian or the homosexual or the heterosexual who has cast off restraints. Those actions however are hateful to God because of the harm done.
- There is a penalty that is received for their error in thinking, not their errant construction!
- The word "penalty" is synonymous with "reward." They receive just payment for their actions. There can only be one conclusion, one consequence for a person who acts this way.
- It's not God judging them. It's the natural course of their activities.
• Romans 1:28-32 : "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." For the second time in this passage, Paul explains to the Roman believers that the Gentiles, the people that they are to reach with the Gospel in the marketplace, have been "given over."
- That means that they have been delivered up, handed over, allowed to be surrendered to their vile passions and here, a "debased mind."
- The word picture here is interesting, in that this word can be translated "corrupt" or in action, "disqualified" or "disapproved." In any of these thoughts, there is the sentiment of not standing up.
- It doesn't add up. Their minds are not geared for logic and therefore, restraint of themselves.
- Because of that, they do things that are not fitting. The issue here is not the gross sins of sexuality and the indulgence in that area. These issues are the more "respectable sins."
- They are sins that are glorified and deemed necessary to get ahead in your work place. Many of these sins can be renamed and it might be a strong resume in the work place!
- We have read this entire list and do not have time to touch each one, but you could break these down into categories. Sins that are mental and emotional, such as envy, strife, pride.
- There are sins that are anti-social, such as whisperers, backbiters, violent and malice.
- There are sins that are familial, such as disobedience to parents, unforgiveness and an unloving heart.
- The deep chasm that is left when one does not surrender their hearts to God, inevitably stirs up harm that comes against themselves and then harm that comes against all around them.
- Paul is telling the Romans that this is why the Gentiles need the gospel.
- Notice these last few words of this section. Those who practice such things are deserving of death! Whoa!! Paul, hey, let's not be so drastic?
- What Paul is saying is simple: For the wicked man that practices these things and then promotes sin in others is now in the pinnacle position of wickedness. I read this online yesterday.
˚ "For it is the summit of all evils, when the sinner is so void of shame, that he is pleased with his own vices, and will not bear them to be reproved, and also cherishes them in others by his consent and approbation."
- Turn to Proverbs 2. Solomon is talking about wisdom and it's great ability to correct men.
• Proverbs 2:10-15 : "When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths;"
Conclusion
- I want to leave us with a few thoughts. First, it's fairly obvious that the world around us stands condemned before God, no matter how outwardly "good" they seem! There is no exception!
- Second, arguments and correct thinking are not the way to go when it comes to sharing the gospel! The gospel is not a better argument, it's a statement, a declaration of truth.
- It's a declaration that God's love has sent Jesus to righteously fulfill the demands of God's law and because of that, we can be righteous in Jesus.
- Finally, if our hearts are not broken and filled with compassion for these people, then we have no right to speak into their life. Jesus came with compassion, love AND spoke truth.
- I pray that as we consider the teaching before us, we might grow in our ability understand the salvation that God intends for those around us.
"The Gospel Communication" • 1.13.09 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission
Intro
- At the end of our study last week, we noted that the church at the Jerusalem Council had a purpose in their communication, namely to clearly communicate the message of the gospel.
- Paul and Barnabas were responsible to disseminate the original letter from the council to the churches that they had begun or had contact with. That letter was the first real epistle.
- More letters would be needed, with greater detail, answering a wider scope of questions about the gospel itself.
- Romans is the most pure and clear presentation of the gospel in the New Testament.
- Paul starts out pretty quickly and makes it very clear what he is going to get at.
• Romans 1:1-4 : "Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."
- Paul was who he was as a result of who Jesus Christ was! Paul was a man on a mission: He was a man who was separated unto the Lord of the Gospel.
- His life was wrapped up in the person of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God's promise. After explaining his desire to come to Rome, Paul comes to a theme verse in the book of Romans.
• Romans 1:15,16 : "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 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."
- We can assume that the gospel message that he was ready to preach was the same message that he here writes out to the believers in Rome.
- I want us to be aware of few things that Paul presents to the Roman believers in these first chapters. it's an extreme temptation to go as deep and wide as possible when examaning the genius, beautiful work of Paul in the book of Romans.
- However, for Paul's readers, this was an impassioned letter describing the greatest truth of all time and how it applies to our view of the world.
- Because of the righteousness of God, revealed in the Gospel, embodied in Jesus Christ, God's wrath against mankind is expressed in three judgments against the world.
I. Defective Eyes (1:18-22)
II. Dishonored Bodies (1:23-27)
III. Debased Minds (1:28-32)
II. Dishonored Bodies (1:23-27)
III. Debased Minds (1:28-32)
Text
I. Defective Eyes (1:18-22)
• Romans 1:18-22 : "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." : This might disturb you a bit. "The wrath of God." However, a God that does not have wrath against sin, cannot have a love for righteousness. God is a passionate God.- The first words of the gospel are that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The last words are so that the world would not perish!
- Love and justice. Righteousness demands a response to that which is evil in the world and make no mistake, God hates wickedness, His righteousness demanding that He respond.
- Turn with me to Psalm 7. King David is writing about Saul's campaign against him, an unfair, unjust campaign, born without regard to truth or righteousness.
• Psalm 7:10,11 : "My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day."
- Throughout the Old Testament, there are verses that lay out the hatred that God has toward various actions. A lying tongue, a perverse mouth or a haughty stare evoke the most passionate response from God.
- But there, as well as right here in verse 18, it's never the people that are hated. It's the actions! Here it's ungodliness, an attitude that kicks God out of the sphere of influence of our lives.
- Then it's unrighteousness. These are activities that are grievous to the heart of God.
- What makes the attitudes and the actions so especially grievous is that men do them in the sight of God. He has left plenty of evidence, but they would not acknowledge Him.
- They would see, but not see. They would be exposed to evidence, but not see the truth.
- Their thoughts became "futile." I like the way this is translated in the NLT: "And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like."
- Their hearts, at this point, failing to honor and recognize God for what He has revealed about Himself, have been darkened. Paul writes in verse 22.
• Romans 1:22 : "Professing to be wise, they became fools,"
- Do you understand the implication? It's not just your best argument! It's not knowing the latest fad in apologetics! That guy has the same evidence that you have. Because He refuses to acknowledge God as sovereign over His life, he must come to some other conclusion!
- A few weeks ago Sunday, I received a visit from Athiest Bob out at the visitor's table. He has come before on a Sunday, with "real concern" for our "misguided sheep."
- Bob makes no attempt to hide his agenda. He comes right out and says, "How can anybody believe in a God that does not exist?"
- Then after this incredible display of concern, Bob goes on to say that he has scientific evidence that he says can prove the non-existence of God.
- I stopped him there and said, "That same evidence points, in just as valid a way, to a benevolent, personal creator that you have rejected as a possibility."
- Same evidence, different conclusions, both requiring faith. The difference is God taking initial saving faith and grounding it in evidence that only makes sense with Him at the center!
- Paul says that preaching the gospel is not just going to be about the right words. You need to understand the depth of the problem.
II. Dishonored Bodies (1:23-27)
• Romans 1:23-27 : "and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." : Paul moves us from the eye, or the perspective of the person in the world, to the activity. Belief will dictate behavior.
- Paul is communicating with the Romans just why it is that the wicked are the way they are!
- Paul explains that this is why there is idolatry. There are no restraints. There is no intrinsic value to their life beyond what pleasure they can derive from base activities.
- Turn with me to I Corinthians 15. Paul is talking about the the implications of living in the light of the gospel and considering what the alternatives are.
• I Corinthians 15:30-32 : "And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'"
- When you lack Jesus in your life, it makes sense that this would be your motto.
- They are living a lie that they have believed in spite of the truth that they know! As a result, God gave them up to "vile passions." These words are fascinating to me.
- The word "vile" means to be offensive, but it seems to be much more picturesque than that. As far as I understand it, the word "vile" refers to the poor treatment of a dead body.
- Let me further explain. In all civilizations, dead bodies are treated at the least with reverent respect. In Biblical days, bodies were annointed and wrapped in cloths, placed carefully in tombs.
- Today, we bury people with suits on! Suits!? Faces are colored. Nails are done.
- To see a dead body and not respond to it will end in putressence. But that is the way men have dishonored their living bodies!
- The vile passions that are here referred to happen in context with idolatrous worship ceremonies, which were still very much a part of the Gentile world.
- Blatant sexuality, lesbianism, homosexuality are the outgrowths of eyes that do not recognize God's sovereign, benevolent rule. As a result their bodies are employed in unnatural ways.
- God does not hate the lesbian or the homosexual or the heterosexual who has cast off restraints. Those actions however are hateful to God because of the harm done.
- There is a penalty that is received for their error in thinking, not their errant construction!
- The word "penalty" is synonymous with "reward." They receive just payment for their actions. There can only be one conclusion, one consequence for a person who acts this way.
- It's not God judging them. It's the natural course of their activities.
III. Debased Minds (1:28-32)
• Romans 1:28-32 : "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." For the second time in this passage, Paul explains to the Roman believers that the Gentiles, the people that they are to reach with the Gospel in the marketplace, have been "given over."
- That means that they have been delivered up, handed over, allowed to be surrendered to their vile passions and here, a "debased mind."
- The word picture here is interesting, in that this word can be translated "corrupt" or in action, "disqualified" or "disapproved." In any of these thoughts, there is the sentiment of not standing up.
- It doesn't add up. Their minds are not geared for logic and therefore, restraint of themselves.
- Because of that, they do things that are not fitting. The issue here is not the gross sins of sexuality and the indulgence in that area. These issues are the more "respectable sins."
- They are sins that are glorified and deemed necessary to get ahead in your work place. Many of these sins can be renamed and it might be a strong resume in the work place!
- We have read this entire list and do not have time to touch each one, but you could break these down into categories. Sins that are mental and emotional, such as envy, strife, pride.
- There are sins that are anti-social, such as whisperers, backbiters, violent and malice.
- There are sins that are familial, such as disobedience to parents, unforgiveness and an unloving heart.
- The deep chasm that is left when one does not surrender their hearts to God, inevitably stirs up harm that comes against themselves and then harm that comes against all around them.
- Paul is telling the Romans that this is why the Gentiles need the gospel.
- Notice these last few words of this section. Those who practice such things are deserving of death! Whoa!! Paul, hey, let's not be so drastic?
- What Paul is saying is simple: For the wicked man that practices these things and then promotes sin in others is now in the pinnacle position of wickedness. I read this online yesterday.
˚ "For it is the summit of all evils, when the sinner is so void of shame, that he is pleased with his own vices, and will not bear them to be reproved, and also cherishes them in others by his consent and approbation."
Unknown Author
- This is the reprobate, debased mind in summation: To love wickedness and seek to encourage and propogate it!- Turn to Proverbs 2. Solomon is talking about wisdom and it's great ability to correct men.
• Proverbs 2:10-15 : "When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths;"
Conclusion
- I want to leave us with a few thoughts. First, it's fairly obvious that the world around us stands condemned before God, no matter how outwardly "good" they seem! There is no exception!
- Second, arguments and correct thinking are not the way to go when it comes to sharing the gospel! The gospel is not a better argument, it's a statement, a declaration of truth.
- It's a declaration that God's love has sent Jesus to righteously fulfill the demands of God's law and because of that, we can be righteous in Jesus.
- Finally, if our hearts are not broken and filled with compassion for these people, then we have no right to speak into their life. Jesus came with compassion, love AND spoke truth.
- I pray that as we consider the teaching before us, we might grow in our ability understand the salvation that God intends for those around us.
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