RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH THE GOSPEL
MEMORY VERSE: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16, 17).
TEXT: Romans 1:1-17
Paul, the apostle wrote the epistle to the Roman believers from Corinth about AD 56-58. As a Pharisee, he once believed in righteousness by the works of the law and persecuted early believers who received the gospel and lived righteous lifestyles by faith in Christ. After his conversion however, be began to preach and write on the same message of righteousness by faith. Thus, every sinner and persecutor of Christians like Saul-turned-Paul can receive pardon and be justified by God. It was this experience of genuine conversion for instance, that made religious sinners, “strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes” who were converted at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10) instrumental to the founding of the church in Rome after the feast as Paul had never been there before he wrote this epistle. When these converts returned to Rome, a city that was then full of luxury and profligacy, they acted on what they believed and propagated their faith. As the city’s population increased with people from different nations conquered by the Roman empire, so were the abominations as we shall see in the later part of the text. Yet, the church planted there grew to be the subject of discussion in most cities of the then world. This is a lesson for believers who attend to be prompt and committed to the great commission and church planting. Prior to writing this epistle, Paul seemed to have been briefed about that church by Aquila and Priscilla and other Jews expelled from there by the decree of Claudius (Romans 16:3; Acts 18:2) that the church was made of up of Jews and Gentile believers. As it were, the claims of the Gentile converts to equal privileges in Christ with the Jewish converts was rejected by the latter resulting in conflict that Paul now addresses in this epistle. The Jews always believed that the Gentiles must observe the rite of circumcision to make their salvation complete. Paul begins this epistle by showing the Roman Christians his divine call to apostleship, reason for his commission and salutation to the church and commendation of their faith (Romans 1:7,8), expression of earnest desire to see them in order to impart to them some spiritual gifts (Romans 1:9-15) and ends these verses that form the introduction to the epistle with the description of the Gospel of Christ and its power to produce righteousness in every believer (Romans 1:16,17).
REVELATION OF PAUL’S APOSTLESHIP AND SOURCE OF THE GOSPEL
(Romans 1:1-8; Acts 9:16; 13:2, 4; 26:16-18; Romans 11:13; Acts 12:2; 9:15, 16; Galatians 1:15, 16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Titus 2:11, 12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 18).
Paul begins this epistle by revealing his true identity as “a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God”.
Though separated unto the gospel from birth, he went wild only to be drawn by the cord of God’s love and mercy into the fold and commissioned to fulfil God’s purpose for his life. Obviously, salvation experience brings a man’s life to the path of fulfilment. Although Paul was not among the original twelve apostles, he explained that he was among those who were called, those who “received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name”. As a persecutor of the church, Paul did not merit the salvation of God. He was saved by GRACE through faith. As grace was a gift so was his apostleship to preach the gospel. Obviously, no one can be an apostle or a servant of Christ who has not received the grace of God that brings salvation to all men, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12). The grace of God produces obedience in the professing believer that makes him a useful vessel (1 Corinthians 15:810). It was necessary he explained his call, commission and apostleship in relation to the gospel so as to give this epistle authenticity and acceptance among Roman believers. Besides, he also revealed that God is the Source of the gospel, that it had been promised and prophesied in Scriptures by the prophets and that the central subject of it is “his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”, who incarnated through the virgin birth, and has been “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”. Christian servants needs to faithfully reveal Christ the central subject of scripture to their listeners, viewers and readers as Saviour, Lord and Source of all blessings. It was through this gospel message that God called the Roman believers and still calls people out of sin today.
QUESTION 1: What was Paul’s purpose in writing the epistle to the Romans, and what should be the purpose of the gospel preacher and writer today?
Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Paul’s purpose for writing this epistle was to express his great joy for their new-found faith which was spoken of throughout the whole world (verse 8). It was also to communicate to them his earnest desire and prayer for them and express his desire for the establishment of their faith through the impartation of some spiritual gifts (verses 9, 11). Above all, it was also to prevent further spread of the false teaching adherents of Judaism were peddling which was capable of dividing and destroying the church. Paul also revealed his bond of fellowship and desire to have some fruit among them (verse12, 13).
In like manner, church workers and leaders involved in preaching the gospel and Christian literature writing must aim at achieving specific objectives as:
(i) evangelizing the sinners (Matthew 28:19,20);
(ii) teaching the church the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27);
(iii) edifying the body of Christ (Romans 1:12; Ephesians 4:11-14);
(iv) influencing the society towards righteousness (Matthew 5:14-16);
(v) warning believers against the danger of being lured into sin by false teachers and philosophers (Matthew 7:15; Philippians 2:8); and
(vi) preparing the Church for Christ’s second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Colossians 1:28,29).
PAUL’S PASSION AND READINESS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN ROME
(Romans 1:8-15; John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 20:20, 24; 21:13; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Mark 16:15-20).
“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”
QUESTION 2: How can a believer be as passionate to preach the gospel as Paul was?
Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Paul’s passion and readiness to preach the gospel was founded on solid spiritual experiences and sound scriptural truths. He had a clear commission from Christ immediately after his conversion to preach to the Jews and chiefly to the Gentiles. It was “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18). He also had a relentless zeal and passion to rescue sinners from the impending judgment of God (Romans 10:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:11). Paul’s passion for souls was borne out of his relationship with Christ (Philippians 3:8-10). Passion results from regular devotion and growing intimacy with God through prayers, profitable Bible study and purposeful meditation. Consistent soul-winners usually have an excellent devotional life, walk intimately with the Lord and have pursuit of personal holiness.
QUESTION 3: Briefly mention the content of the gospel message.
Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Readiness to preach the gospel manifests in the believer’s commitment to daily tell people about Christ’s sacrifice for their salvation (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). To be ashamed of the gospel is to be ashamed of Christ. A believer is ashamed of Christ if he is unwilling to publicly speak of the sacrifice of Christ and His free gift of salvation (Mark 8:38). The word gospel refers to the glad tidings of salvation through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. The inherent power in the gospel of Christ regenerates a soul that is dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1; Titus 3:5). However, just as a stick of dynamite needs to be lit before its inherent power becomes evident, the gospel needs to be preached before the power of God to save souls can become manifest. And believers are the only media God has ordained to get His message to a lost and dying world.
THE GOSPEL AS SOURCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Romans 1:16, 17; Matthew 5:20; 3:8; Proverbs 28:13; Acts 20:20, 21).
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
The words, “righteousness” and “righteous” are mentioned about 300 times and 236 times respectively in the King James Version of the Holy Bible. This shows the centrality of this virtue in man’s relationship with God. God seeks to convert and bring every sinful soul to the path of righteousness. Righteousness is doing that which is morally right and acceptable in the sight of God.
QUESTION 4: What does biblical righteousness entail?
Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Christ in His gospel declares, “For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Christ reveals that believers must manifest a kind of righteousness that is different from those of the Pharisees which was mere legal compliance and not out of love for God. Biblical righteousness must come from what God has done in us, not what we can do by ourselves and go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles of God’s word. We should be just as concerned about our inward dispositions that people do not see as about our actions that are seen by all (Matthew 5:16).
QUESTION 5: Mention the necessary steps a sinner must take in order to obtain biblical righteousness.
Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
Anyone desirous of God’s righteousness in his life must realize and acknowledge his state of sinfulness (Psalm 51:3); repent and confess them to God (1 John 1:8,9; Acts 3:19,20); renounce all fellowship with the devil and his agents and destroy all materials in his possession (Acts 19:19); receive Christ as personal Lord and Saviour (John 1:12); and (6) reckon himself dead unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11-13).
QUESTION 6: How can a believer maintain a righteous walk with God?
Your Answer:___________________________________________________________________
The virtue of righteousness can be maintained by abiding in Christ, watching and praying (John 15:4; Mark 13:32-35). The believer who hopes to live with God eternally in heaven must avoid relapsing into bitterness and harshness of spirit, unprofitable conversation, unkind criticisms, evil speaking, self-indulgence, prejudice, impatience, selfishness and self-management but continue in holiness till the end.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk