"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
The Gospel is the good news about God. That's the literal meaning of the
word. When Jesus comes preaching at the beginning of his ministry, he does
not come preaching a list of dos and don'ts--a standard by which we all must
strive toward. He does not preach, "Repent! God is angry with you!" That
message would have filled them with fear.
Nor does he come with the message, "Your sin is no big deal; just believe
God loves you." that message would have filled them with false hope.
But his message is one of grace and truth. It says in Mark's Gospel, "Jesus
came preaching . . . 'Repent and believe the good news.'"
John's Gospel says "The Law came through Moses, grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ."
The Apostle Paul continues Jesus' message of salvation in his letters to
various churches.
We are in a series of messages on the first 8 chapters of his Letter to the
Romans. From chapter 1 to chapter 8 Paul lays down what salvation is and
how it was God's plan from the beginning.
The Letter to the Romans has been called one of the most important books
ever written. It influenced Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley and many
others to become followers of Christ.
In order to understand this letter, we have to understand the background:
Paul was a persecutor of the church until around the age of 30 when he was
dramatically converted. For the next twenty years, he traveled planting
churches in Ephesus, Corinth, Philippi, and several other important cities.
Now he writes a letter to Christians in Rome for two reasons: He wants to
give them a basic understanding of the gospel and he wants to let them
know that he will be visiting.
The world at the time was controlled by the powerful Roman Empire. You
can see its influence in this map. The darker colors are under their control.
There was a common term at the time to describe their rule over the world:
"Pax Romana." It simply means, "Roman peace." Their laws and armies
kept peace throughout the world. That may sound wonderful, but the way
they kept peace was with a heavy hand. If there was any up-rising, or any
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"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
kind of disturbance that threatened peace, the Roman army would step in
and crush it with lethal force. Thousands were crucified. Peace was kept
through fear.
The Apostle Paul was loved by the Roman Empire when he was persecuting
the church because it kept Christians from getting out of control. When Paul
converts to Christianity, he becomes a part of the problem.
In Acts 24, he is brought before Felix, one of the governors of Rome. Listen
to the charges brought against him: “We have enjoyed a long period of
peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this
nation . . ." Then the one bringing the charges says . . ."We have found this
man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the
world." That was a threat to pax romana.
Normally, if one was found guilty, they would carry out the sentence
immediately. But, Paul was a Roman citizen. That means that he had the
right to a trial in the capital city of Rome. That's where he was sent. When
he arrives there he was put under house-arrest. For six years, while he
awaited trial, he could still preach and teach about Christ.
In Romans 1, you can feel his heartbeat with these words:
"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because
your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in
my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how
constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray
that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come
to you.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to
make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually
encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be
unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to
you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that
I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the
other Gentiles."
In the next two verses we see what drives his life:
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"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
"I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and
the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to
you who are in Rome."
Why would Paul risk his life to preach this message? Because the message of
Christ brought peace to him. Paul saw it as the hope of the world.
2,000 years later, this message is still relevant. Our world is striving to find
peace and meaning. In the last two weeks, we've heard about a peace treaty
with Iran. Yet if every nation in the world got rid of their nuclear arsenal
would that suddenly bring peace? No. What we long for is not outward
stability, but inward stability. Where does that come from? It is found only
when we embrace the hope of the gospel we read about in this passage. The
next two verses are the heart of his message:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of
God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the
Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God
is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as
it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Prayer:
Why is the gospel good news?
1. The Gospel unleashes the power of God into spiritually dead lives
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of
God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the
Jew, then to the Gentile."
The Greek word for power is δύναμις; we get our word dynamite from this
word. However, dynamite was not invented until 1867 by Alfred Nobel. So,
Paul did not have in mind an explosive power, but a power unleashed by
God so that we might receive salvation and be set free to serve him.
Why is this important?
Without this power in our lives the Gospel becomes bad news since the
gospel calls us to live in obedience to God. It is the power of God that
awakens us from our spiritual slumber.
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"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
Alcoholics anonymous' first step is to realize they are powerless over alcohol.
Where did they get this idea? It is the same principle found in the gospel
message. We come to God and confess not only that we are sinners, but
that we are powerless to do anything about it.
This is the reason many have not put their faith in Christ. They think, "I can
never be a Christian because I can't forgive others, I can't get rid of bad
habits, I can't get rid of my lust, I can't get rid of my constant negative
attitudes toward others. So, being a Christian is just not my thing."
They stay in these destructive sinful patterns never realizing what could
happen if the power of God was unleashed into their lives.
God has called us to experience, "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control." But, these come not
through our own strength, but through God's power released when we put
our faith in him.
What Paul is speaking of in verse 16 is justification.
Justification: The means by which God declares us not guilty and
through his power awakens us from our dead slumber and bridges
the gap between our sinfulness and his holiness.
2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has gone and the new has come."
When we confess our sin, put our faith in Christ, two things happen at once:
--We are forgiven.
A way to remember this is when we are justified, it is "Just-as-if-I'd never
sinned."
God wipes away our past sins and we are not accountable for them any
longer. The Bible says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he
removed our transgressions from us."
What was once a stain upon our record is wiped away forever. We no longer
need to walk in bondage and guilt to that which once controlled us.
--We are brought into fellowship with God.
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"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
This is why it is good news. God makes the first step toward us and
empowers us to follow him. Without the work of God in our lives, we are
destined to wander around looking for meaning in life forever.
When I was about 18, I decided to change my spark plugs in my car. Many
times I had changed spark plugs in lawn mower engines so how hard could it
be to change six of them? I finally got them all changed and properly
gapped. Then I realized something . . . I forgot which wire went to which
spark plug. A car's engine has a firing order and if you don't get it perfectly
right, the car will not have power. I worked at it for about an hour and
finally gave up. I called my brother who drove one hour to where I was and
spent less than two minutes putting them in proper firing order.
This is like the power of the gospel. We may think we have power, but we
are dead on the inside. As much as we try we can't fix the problem. We need
someone who can restore us again. This is where the power of the gospel
comes in. The gospel restores in us the fellowship that we desperately need
with God.
That's why the gospel is good news.
2. The gospel is for everyone who believes
Notice that it is good news because it is not just open to an exclusive club,
or those wealthy enough, or bright enough, or popular enough--it is for all
who believe.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of
God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the
Jew, then to the Gentile.
What does the word "Everyone" mean? Who is excluded in this call to
believe the gospel? No one. I ran across a quote by John Piper when I was
studying this verse:
"O, what an exhilarating word to those of us in this room who feel that there is
something about us that rules us out! Wrong family, wrong background, wrong
education, wrong language, wrong race, wrong culture, wrong moral track
record. Then to hear the word, "Everyone who believes." Everyone! One thing
can rule you out: unbelief. Not trusting Jesus. But nothing else has to."
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"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
Paul desired to preach in places that had not yet heard the gospel because
he believed this truth: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved. Jesus' last words to his disciples were not ones of exclusiveness, but
inclusiveness. He said, "Go into the world and preach the gospel."
God's purpose for the world was not exclusive. He told Abraham that
through him all nations would be blessed. When John the Baptist sees Jesus
he says, "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world."
Listen to some other passages that reveal God's purpose for salvation:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever
believes on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the
sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
“‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take
the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17.
There are those who teach that the gospel is limited to a select few--this is
neither biblical nor ethical. God, who loves us, loves all his creation.
Many struggle with this concept. There are many who say, "It may be okay
for you, but I just can't believe that God will forgive me."
I talked with a young lady this week who struggles with this very issue. She
cannot come to believe that God will accept her because of all the things she
had done.
Remember, these words are written by a man who went around authorizing
the killing and persecution of Christians. He knew that if God could save him,
God would save anyone who believed. That's why he was convinced of this
truth.
If you feel less than worthy to be a child of God, you're right. We are all
unworthy to stand in the presence of God. But, because of his grace, he
invites us to come and experience new life.
Now this doesn't mean that all will be saved. Salvation is for all who believe.
That's the elect which the Bible speaks of. Jesus warned that we must go
through the narrow gate and not the wide.
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"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
Paul adds the phrase, "First to the Jew and then for the Gentile." What does
he mean by that?
God chose to bring salvation to the world through the Jewish race not
because they were a large, significant nation, but just the opposite. The
Jews were weak and vulnerable. The Messiah was born from the line of King
David. Paul, in this passage, is not saying that the Jews get a pass and will
not be judged. He is saying that they are honored first with the good news of
the gospel.
Acts 17:2, "As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three
Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures . . ."
But, instead of limiting his message to his fellow Jews, he also called himself
the Apostle to the Gentiles. The good news is for all who turn to Christ and
believe. It is not for an exclusive group, but for those who respond.
Salvation is for all who believe. That is why it is called good news.
3. The gospel is received by faith, not achieved by works.
"For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a
righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:
“The righteous will live by faith.”
Here we have two very important principles about this good news. How we
enter this salvation and how we walk in it.
Repentance and faith are the entry doors into receiving the good news of
God. When Jesus comes preaching he says, "The time has come. The
kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark
1:14-15).
Repentance is turning from sin. Faith is choosing to believe the promises of
God are true and to receive those promises as your own. It's not enough to
believe that they are true; we must personally receive these promises into
our lives. When we do, we are brought into fellowship with God.
The Good news in pictures:
Slide one: Sin separates us from God.
Slide Two: Nothing we do can take away that separation
Slide Three: Only in Christ do we see the gap between us and God bridged.
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"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
This is an act of faith. The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please
God." Without faith, it is impossible to stand before God forgiven.
Paul says the same thing in Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been
justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this
grace in which we now stand."
Christ provided a way in which we can know God--it is through faith in
Christ.
Faith begins our walk with Christ, but it doesn't end there.
We are now to walk in faith.
Often, this is misunderstood. Faith is seen as the ticket to forgiveness. Yet,
this verse says, "The righteous will live by faith."
Salvation is much larger than a one-time decision. It is a life of faith that we
continue to walk in.
The Bible says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." It doesn't say,
"You need faith to get started, but once you're in, you no longer need to
exercise it."
To walk with God means we walk in faith daily believing his promises. If we
do not, we are not following God's plan for our lives.
Faith is not always easy, but it is necessary. There will be times in your life
when all around you says, "Don't believe. Throw away your faith. Christianity
is not true." There will be times in which you will say, "I am going to believe
in science, but no Christianity." What do we do in these moments?
When I pastored in the Adirondack Mountains, my office opened up to this
view of Whiteface Mountain. Twice this was where the world came to ski
for the winter Olympics. There were times that I would look out my office
window and see the beauty of this nearly 5,000 foot mountain. But, the
weather was known to change quickly there. One minute you could see the
mountain with all of its trails and then a cloud would roll down the
valley and it would be covered up completely. I was sitting in my office and
saw that the clouds had covered the mountains that day. I had a God8
"Why is the Gospel good news?" Romans 1:16-17. July 26, 2015
moment. God began to speak to me and say, "That's how you walk by faith.
You know the mountain is still there--even when you can't see it."
The gospel is good news because it is a step of faith from beginning to end-not a life of endless works. Our call is to walk in faith and not by what we
see. That's good news.
Where are you in this time line of receiving the gospel?
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