The Revelation of Righteousness  "The Gospel"

Our Text today will be Romans 1:1-17

We will now begin a group of lesson’s in the Book of Romans. The "Roman Road" to "Salvation" is known worldwide I’m sure.

The Holy Ghost used the hand of the Apostle Paul to write this wonderful book but just as all the Bible, God wrote these things to us personally because Our Lord is seeking a personal one on one relationship with each and everyone of His children.

The Apostle Paul presents the "Saving Gospel Message" clearly in the Book of Romans.

The "Theme" of Romans is "Righteousness" and "our righteousness" can only come through "God’s Saving Grace" and by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Let’s begin:

Rom 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

A man named Paul introduces himself as the writer of this book but he tells us some things about himself. The name Paul was used a lot at this time.

This Paul says that he was a servant of Jesus Christ.

We know that this Paul became a servant on the Damascus Road:

Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

This Paul said he was an apostle:

There were certain requirements that had to be met to be an apostle.

The Apostle Peter said:

Act 1:21  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22  Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

To be an apostle meant you had to see Jesus after His resurrection.

Paul describes this day for us:

2Co 12:2  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2Co 12:4  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

There are those that say that Paul did not meet all the requirements to be an apostle but it can be just as easily said that only Paul was called with such a "Heavenly Calling".

I believe it can be said that no one was given more authority to deliver the "Gospel" than that of the Apostle Paul!

Jesus said:

Joh 13:20  Verily, verily, I say unto you, [He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me]; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

We have read where Jesus sent Paul and praise the Lord, he sent Paul to the "Gentiles". A "Gentile" is anyone that is not a Jew.

Gal 2:7  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Gal 2:8  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

To not believe the "Gospel" according to Paul then is "heresy".

Heresy means they have made an error in opinion..

They have made an error in opinion of true Church Doctrine!

1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Paul then tells us what the word "Gospel" means:

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

When Paul says "according to the scriptures", he means just like it was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Paul then goes on to say he also just like the other apostles was separated unto the "Gospel of God":

1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Paul made it his life long work to bring to Jesus His Bride:

2Co 11:1  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

*****Our first lesson here is to see that TO BE CALLED OF GOD IS TO BE SEPARATED UNTO THE GOSPEL OF GOD.

That’s the actual death, burial and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. To preach any other way is not preaching the "Gospel".

We need to have a very clear understanding:

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1.) It is God that loved.

2.) It is God that sent.

3.) It is God that separates.

Our Job is to believe! To have "Faith" in the "Promises" of God.

Remember God will be "Faithful" to fulfill those promises.

Deu 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: [for without me ye can do nothing].

*****Rom 1:2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

What is God’s Old Testament "Promise" to the Church?

Isa 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

What is God’s Old Testament "Promise" to Israel?

Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

What is God’s Old Testament "Promise" to all that will believe?

Hab 2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

*****Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

1.) Jesus was that baby born to the Virgin Mary who was a direct descendant of David. Jesus was a Jew and to hate the Jew or to not stand with Israel is to be against the earthly family of Jesus.

2.) Jesus was that baby of "royal blood" because Mary would be married to Joseph who adopted Jesus as his own son.Joseph was in the kingly line of David through Solomon. This Mary was also in the line of David through David’s son Nathan.

3.) It took God’s Power to cause the "Virgin Birth". It took God’s Power to raise Jesus from the dead. These things happened by God’s Spirit, the Spirit of Holiness.

This the "Gospel" according to Paul. This is the message of "Good News"!

We must realize that this "Good News" to the Church will be followed up by the "Bad News" from Heaven:

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

a.) Jesus was "Christ" but also "Man" in the flesh and will keep all the promises to Israel as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

b.) Jesus was "Christ" but also "The Son Of God" declared so by the Power of the Holy Spirit and is High Priest of the Church and Our Lord.

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

*****Rom 1:5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

We must "Receive" the gift of God’s Grace  before we can serve Him. We must then be obedient to "Our Faith in The Gospel of Jesus Christ."

*****Rom 1:6  Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

We must not fall into the trap of thinking that Paul was establishing a New Christian religion as some do. To be Christlike is certainly to be a Christian but the "Gospel" preached by Paul is the same message given to us from the Old Testament that was fulfilled in Our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has had only one message since the fall of Adam. The Rapture of the Church will end the Church Age but God will continue on with the Promises made to Israel.

There is still only one way to Heaven and that will never change even in the Millennial Kingdom. Every Saint of God is connected to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is nothing in this world nor in Heaven that can sever the connection between Christ Jesus and His Saints!

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*****Rom 1:7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What we know is that God loves everyone in this world we live in:

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

There is no truer statement in the entire word of God BUT:

Only the Saints, His children, those of the Household of God are called "The Beloved of God"!

1.) "Grace" has only one source, God.

2.) "Grace" has only one channel, The Lord Jesus Christ.

3.) "Grace" has only one administer, The Holy Spirit.

So only those who have received Jesus Christ can truly become God’s Children!

Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

*****Rom 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Paul shows us that he is also related to us all in the family of God. Every believer no matter the race or nationality are tied together by their "Faith" in Christ Jesus. Just as "Faith" links every believer, it is the "Grace" of God that links us all to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are not linked by denomination, or Apostle, or Preacher, or Missionary, it is God that gathers His People to Assemble!

It is the "Job" of every child of God to "sound this out to all the world with every means at our disposal.

*****Rom 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

We can see that the "Power of God" moves only through "Prayer". These people could not have known how much Paul had prayed for them but God certainly knew and Paul was not afraid to say so.

My health has faltered these past couple of years and it is truly a humbling thing to know so many of my brothers and sisters are shouting my name all over Heaven.

We owe it to each other to pray for each other! This shows our Love to God better than any other way.

Paul said he served in his spirit:

There are a lot of people that do not believe in the trinity of man. They believe that the human body only consist of two parts, the "body" and the "soul".

The Bible is specific about this subject:

1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God [your whole spirit and soul and body] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must remember our creation:

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Our God is a trinity and therefore in His Image, we are also a trinity.

But to serve in the spirit, is to serve in the Holy Spirit of God!

Paul said he did not hold "inspirational meetings" but he did hold "Spiritual Meetings". Any gathering without the Holy Spirit is just a social event.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

We are not alive without being filled and sealed with the Holy Ghost of God. When we give our selves to the Lord, He will give us His Spirit.

*****Rom 1:10  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Paul always prayed that his testimony would produce fruit for Our Lord.

God has said:

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

To produce fruit we must be in the will of God:

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

We must showcase our "Faith" in our "Prayer Life"!

*****Rom 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Paul is not saying that he could give gifts that only the Holy Spirit can give. Paul was saying that he could help them "grow in the Spirit".

I just recently witnessed a preacher that after preaching a fairly Biblical sermon asked at the end of that sermon if anyone wanted a little extra spirit. He then laid his hand on their forehead and said receive ye the Spirit.

God’s Holy Spirit will not flow through the laying on of hands. God’s Spirit only comes with acknowledging Jesus Christ as your Savior.

The Laying on of Hands simply means you are joining with another in seeking the will of God.

Jesus Christ gives us our example:

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

We must remember these people could not go home and find comfort in their Bible because they did not have one.

Paul preached to provide these things:

2Th 2:17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

*****Rom 1:12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

This the comfort supplied by a "Pastor" of the Church. The "Pastor" is the earthly shepherd who will also look ahead to the mutual blessings that will come to those that "Love" the Lord Jesus Christ..

*****Rom 1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

The Apostle Paul was a perfect "Ambassador" for Christ Jesus and he longed to be used wherever he was led by the Holy Spirit. Paul could not choose his own path.

What was the fruit that Paul was seeking for these people?

Rom 6:21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God will never hinder the spread of His Word so if he was hindered then it had to be Satan that did this. We should not be surprised by the efforts of Satan to hinder the spread of the Gospel.

*****Rom 1:14  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

The "Greeks" are those influenced by the Greek culture and were considered the elite of society.

The "Barbarians" were not Greek and considered a lower class of people.

The "Wise" and "Unwise" could be from either group.

Paul said he was in debt to the Lord Jesus for all classes of people because there is no class of people "righteous" in the eyes of a Holy God.

We are not "Sinners" because we sin!

We "Sin" because we are born "Sinners"!

Jesus Christ tasted death for every one on this world:

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

We must repeat these words for our own self or we are not one of God’s children.

The message Paul has for the Saints of God is this:

Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

There are many that reject the "Gospel" according to the Apostle Paul and they have turned away.

1.) They reject the "Virgin Birth".

2.) They reject the "Death of the Messiah".

3.) They reject the "Burial and the Bodily Resurrection" of Our Lord.

4.) They reject John 14:6:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

5.) They reject the "Gospel" according to Paul because they reject the Apostleship of Paul.

6.) They did this in Paul’s time and many do it now:

Paul wrote to Timothy:

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me;

We know where Asia is and they still reject the Gospel of Paul in Asia.

Jesus tells us in the Book of Revelation when it is all over:

Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

It will be too late to make changes in the way you believe!

Today is the day of "Grace"!

*****Rom 1:15  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

At this time in Rome the Jews were a hated and a despised people. They just refused to be ruled by some foreign power. I can’t say I would not be like these Jews if America ever fell.

The Apostle Paul was a short man and considered weak when compared to other men.

2Co 10:10  For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

Paul knew that any Jew that had influence in Rome would consider him a troublemaker. The Roman rulers considered themselves to be gods and what happened in Rome could influence what might happen throughout the Roman Empire.

The "Gospel" had already been rejected by these Jew.

Act 28:22  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

The entire world was against Christianity. This has not changed very much in our day because this world is under the guidance of Satan:

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Paul had the Power of the Holy Spirit on him and he was not afraid of stiff-necked crowds, Paul was always ready to "Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

Paul was always ready to die for the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

Act 21:13  Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

*****Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Verses 16-17 give us the "theme" of the Book of Romans.

Paul uses the word "For" to mean "There is no doubt"!

1.) For I Am not "Ashamed" of the "Gospel" (there is no doubt)

2.) For it is the "Power of God to Salvation" (there is no doubt)

3.) For the "Righteousness of God is revealed in this Gospel" (there is no doubt)

4.) For the "Wrath of God is revealed unto all ungodliness" (there is no doubt)

Paul was willing to go to the Home town of the Enemy that had crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. Just like the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul "despised the shame" and therefore was not ashamed of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Christ was crucified!

Christ did die!

Christ was buried!

Christ did rise from that death in the Power of God!

Paul said:

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

No Preacher will have the Power of God until he has fully accepted these "TRUTHS"!

And everyone that rest in these words can be saved!

This is God’s "Good News" the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ".

To "Preach" this ‘Gospel is to Please God!

1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

The Cross may be a symbol to many but it is the Preaching of the "Gospel" that is the "Word of the Cross"!

1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The Cross with no Savior cannot save!

The Christ with no Cross cannot save!

Our Salvation rest in a Christ That was Crucified!

This message is to be broadcast and not discussed or argued.

To proclaim this truth does not allow for such foolishness!

What the "Gospel" is NOT!

It is not the Power to reform.

It is not the Power to be educated.

It is not the Power of progress.

It is not the Power of development.

Those that are lost do not care about these things.

What the "Gospel" is, THE POWER OF SALVATION!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:

Php 1:28  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Jesus Christ was rejected by the Jew.

Then the Gospel was first delivered to the Jew and again it was rejected.

Paul went back to Jerusalem one more time before he died to preach the Gospel and again it was rejected by the Jew.

What we find is that even in Rome the "Gospel" was rejected:

Act 28:28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Act 28:29  And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

Just as all the Lost, the Jew will not have any excuse.

*****Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Our "righteousness" is based from faith to faith, which means the only work we have to do is to "Believe"!

Our "righteousness" is of God but it is based on the "redeeming work of the Lord Jesus.

1.) The Blood of Christ, "Redeemed His Church"!

2.) It is God’s Word that we must Keep!

3.) But our "Faith" must be in the entire Word of God!

4.) The belief of the "Gospel" is the means of "Our Justification"!

This is God’s Plan we have no right to disagree!

Because Our "Soul" hangs in the balance!

Hab 2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Though our "Soul" is not upright, we can be "Justified" by our "Faith" in the ‘Living Word of God"!

Let’s pray!