You guys made this last week awesome! I just want to take a second before I get into the notes from the lesson to thank you for joining us. We have heard so many encouraging words from you, thank you!
Another quick note, don't forget the feedback link to the right (sorry you folks on mobile, you'll have to view the desktop site), we'd really like to know what you think!
The first thing we talked about in class is that unless I say different, I am using the ESV when I quote a verse. The reasons I use the ESV are that it is "essentially literal", it was translated and published by over 100 people from many denominations, and it is one of the most consistent translations I can find.
Last week Rick told us a lot about Paul, the author of Romans. This week we talked about the Romans, the audience Paul was writing to. Rome was the chief city of the known world. There were several thousand Jews living in Rome, and Christianity had made considerable progress among them. There was a lot of tension between the Jewish-Christians and the Gentile-Christian. The tension centered around who was actually a Christian. The Jewish-Christians claimed that since the Gentiles were not under the law and were not God's chosen people, they could not be Christians. The Gentiles believed that the Jews had been rejected by God, scattered, and for that reason were not able to be Christ followers. The Gentiles believed that they were the new chosen people.
Paul wrote to the Romans to help resolve this conflict. He takes his position in this conflict in Romans 1:14-17:
For I am under obligation both to Greeks [a different word for the Gentiles] and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."Here, Paul states that the gospel is valid for both the Jew and the Greek. The way that we are normally used to information being given to us is in a "if this, then that" format. The way that Paul writes is the other way around: "this, because of this". So Paul starts with the conclusion when he says the gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Then, he goes on to tell us why the gospel is valid for anyone who would believe.
Before we get into the next verses though, lets look some more at what we can learn from verses 16 and 17. As Luther would stop short and say, “What does this mean, that there’s this righteousness that is by faith, and from faith to faith? What does it mean that the righteous shall live by faith?” When R. C. Sproul gave a lesson about the topic of Justification by Faith, he said that these two verses are the "thematic exposition of the gospel that Paul sets forth in the book of Romans." These verses are where the lights began to come on for Luther. Luther had always heard the Latin word for "righteous" in verse 17: justificare.This word is made up of two latin words: justus and facare. Which is justice or righteousness and “to make”. This time, Luther was reading the verse in greek and he came along a word here that carried a different meaning: δικαιοσύνη (dik-ay-yo-soo-nay) - “which didn’t mean to make righteous, but rather to regard as righteous, to count as righteous, to declare as righteous” (Sproul). This does not not speak to the kind of righteousness that God possesses, but the righteousness that God gives… This is a word that means we are innocent and holy, not by by act or being holy, but by being declared holy. Paul says “as it is written”and quotes from Habakkuk 2:4 where the Hebrew word for righteous (tsad-eek) carries an understanding that the righteousness is one that is attained by the justification and vindication (clear [someone] of blame or suspicion) of God. This carries a very similar meaning, where God clears a debt and claims us as righteous people.
Moving on, we see that Paul begins by building tension in his letter, mounted on top of the conflict between the Jews and the Greeks. Notice in verse 17 that Paul says that the righteousness of God is revealed through the gospel. Then in the next verse he says, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." In addition to this, more tension is built when Paul says that he is not ashamed of the gospel and follows that up by speaking about people who suppress the gospel. Then he does it again through yet another artistry of words:
"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."Paul says that even to the people who suppress the truth in their unrighteousness, the truth about God has been revealed to them through the created world. I underlined "power" and "divine nature" because I believe Paul uses those words intentionally to build even more contrast in the letter. In verses 16 and 17 we see that through the gospel the power of God and the righteousness of God (His divine nature) are revealed. Then, we see in the next few verses that the power of God and His divine nature have been clearly seen in the world God created. Paul's point is that even those who may not be saved, or know how to be, Paul says they know everything they need to know about God. "So they are without excuse."
Do you feel the tension? This is some intense stuff. The question that comes to my mind at this point is, "Who are these people who suppress the gospel? Because so far it sounds like they are in a really scary position before God." It just so happens that Paul answers this question in the rest of the chapter. I'd encourage you to stop and read 1:18-32. Maybe even read starting in verse 14.
Done? What did you think? The people Paul describes sound pretty awful, right? Something that is often done when reading this chapter is that we think it is talking about people who are far worse than us. I mean, we don't worship the creature instead of the creator, right? Actually, here in America we do something even worse. We don't just worship what God created, we worship the things that the creation of God creates. Things like technology, money, success, educational systems, the list goes on. At least the guy who worships a cow is a step closer to the creator than we are when we worship something with no life, breath, or consciousness.
But what about the rest? As we get to the next few verses we hear Paul talk about homosexuality, and
"...since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."The problem is, we can tend to read the verses I have quoted and apply them to homosexuals. We lose track of who Paul is talking about. Paul is actually talking about the same "they" the entire second half of the chapter - those who suppress the truth. That long list of sin, that applies to anyone who suppresses the truth. Those are the sins God will hand people over to if they show Him that is what they want by suppressing the truth.
That all sounds pretty scary for someone who isn't saved, right? Well, remember the question Paul is addressing: who are the real Christians, the Jews or the Greeks? What Paul does here is tell the Greeks that even though they are not part of God's chosen people, they are under the law and are held accountable for their sins. He is also building up to the message he has for the Jews. Chapter 2 verse 1:
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"What Paul is is really asking, in essence, is this, "Do you really hate that God would be so good to allow someone different than you to come to repentance? Don't you know that it is that same goodness that even allows you to be saved?" If we deny the power that would bring a sinner to repentance, then we are denying the power that saves ourselves. That is a dangerous thing!
Paul strengthens his point in verses 6-11:
"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality."What does that sound like to you? Salvation by works? If that's what you hear, then you'd be right. Paul means exactly what that sounds like. If anyone if good enough, they will receive eternal life. If anyone is sinful, they will receive wrath and fury. Let me insert a really big "but" here... Please keep reading.
In 2:12 through chapter 8 Paul begins to clarify. He tells us that no one is good enough. If anyone were without sin, they could earn their way to heaven, but no one is! The reason Paul makes this point is to show that both the Jew and the Greek are on even ground before God and that the only way to salvation is through the gospel and that gospel has power to save them both.
More on that is coming in future weeks.
Comment, email, use the feedback link, or text me if you have any questions or comments about the lessons! Can't wait to see you all this Sunday!
