We Are Indebted to Sinners – Romans 1:14-17

Romans 1:14-17 – We Are Indebted to Sinners

Romans 1:14 — I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.  16 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.  17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

I.  The Biblical Incentive for Evangelism

Romans 1:14 – I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

NKJV – I am a debtor

There are two ways to become a debtor:

1. Borrow money from someone
2. Be given money for someone by a third party

• In the first option: I put myself in debt.
• In the second option: Your friend put me in debt.

Paul is in debt because of the second option.

• He didn’t borrow anything from the Romans. But Jesus has entrusted him with the gospel for them.  Many times Paul mentions this.
• Here are a few:
• 1Cor. 4:1 – This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
• Gal. 2:7 – On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised.
• 1Thes. 2:4 – but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
• Jesus has entrusted you.  And whoever taught you the gospel has entrusted you.  2Tim. 2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
• The Gospel is given to us for sharing.  It’s our obligation.  Therefore, we realize that Paul views evangelism as a matter of STEWARDSHIP  — to Jesus and all those who have paid the debt to teach us the gospel.

• Paul specifically feels like that God has entrusted him with the Gospel for Gentiles.  Romans 1:14 — I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
• Notices contrasting groups of Gentiles = differences in nationality, culture, language, education. Paul is saying, if this is whom I am indebted to then I will pay my debt to all of them without partiality.
  • Who do you feel like God has entrusted you with the Gospel for?
    • Who are you indebted to?
    • Will you pay your debt?
    • Or will you keep from these people the “Good News” of Jesus Christ that God has given to you to give to them?

Now that you understand Paul’s incentive for Evangelism, you can understand his attitude.
II.  The Proper Attitude of Evangelism

• Romans 1:15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
• Paul was eager to pay his debt to the world.

III.  The Power of Evangelism

Romans 1:16 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.  17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Many people reject the fact that Jesus Christ is actually God, and that he lived a perfect human life, died for our sins, and rose again to reign as Lord.

Many Gentiles despise it as foolish:
1Cor 1:18 – For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

• Foolishness, Folly to some = moria = “moronic” = dull, stupid = the message sounds unbelievable = “useless”
• Many see religion as a something man-made to control the masses by fear.  And now, because of so many wars being fought in the name of religions, religion is not even seen as a useful tool for global peace.  Many Jews reject it: “they stumble over it” as Paul would say.

On the other hand, many Jews just can’t believe that Jesus is the Messiah:
1Cor 1:23 — but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

• Jesus fulfilled every prophecy of the Messiah given in the Hebrew Bible. But many Jews today have rejected Jesus as the Christ.  So, many Christians are ashamed of the Gospel, or at least tempted to be.  They are afraid of rejection and ridicule.  But  how did Paul overcome this fear:

1Cor 1:18 – For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Realized that the Gospel is Powerful in Saving

• Romans 1:16 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.
• We know this mostly because we have experienced it.  We heard the Gospel and it shook us to the core of our being.  We heard the voice of God in the Gospel calling us to Himself.  We believed in Christ.  Were reconciled to God; forgiven; indwelt with His Spirit; and are continuing to be radically transformed by the Gospel.  How can we be ashamed of the Gospel?

• There is power in the Gospel. Romans 10:14 — How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”  17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
• God transforms people through the hearing of the Gospel.  Notice even in this passage in Romans 10 that it s faith that is given to a person by God upon hearing the Gospel.  So if you want people to get saved – you MUST share with them the Gospel.  Don’t be ashamed – be eager to share.  It actually reveals what the substance of true faith is.
• When a person says, “I believe in Jesus” what do they mean?  What exactly do they believe about Jesus and why do they think they are saved because of it?  Why is that important?  Because it is our unrighteousness that has us condemned and under judgment.
• Our sinfulness has separated us from God’s blessings and placed us under his wrath and curses.  But Jesus Christ came to earth to live a righteous life and when you have faith in him, you are actually trusting that Jesus’ life was lived for you.  That He is your substitute.  That requires that you believe in Him as God – b/c only God is perfect.
• And that you believe that Jesus was actually a human person – b/c you need a human substitute.  And that you believe that he died for your unrighteousness, therefore your sin debt has been paid.  And that you believe that he rose again which is final proof that all of this is true.  And that he ascended into Heaven as Lord of All.
• If you believe in that, God will grant you the righteousness of Jesus.  Paul says that it is faith FROM God and FOR you.  It is by faith through and through.  By faith from start to finish.  Salvation is a gift of God from beginning to end.  God’s righteousness is revealed as He justifies you, removing your sin guilt.  God’s righteousness is revealed as He credits you with the righteousness of Christ.  You don’t become righteous in and of yourself as much as you become united with Christ.
• And now Christ is revealed in your life as you begin to live righteously by the power of Christ in you.  So now you live and live life abundantly!  You shall never perish.  The sting of death has been removed as you will now live forever in God’s glory. It is through the Gospel that God transforms people.

Realized that the Gospel is Powerful in Saving… all who Believe

Romans 1:16 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.

Faith is the great equalizer = everyone who gets saved gets saved the same way!

The Jew being “first” is a historical matter b/c God revealed his salvation through the Jews historically.

But all people get saved the same way – through hearing the Gospel and believing in Jesus Christ.

Realized that the Gospel is Powerful in Saving all who Believe because through Faith in Christ we are made Right with God

Romans 1:16 — 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

What does this mean? Paul is saying that the “righteousness of God” is revealed (is manifested, is imputed, is divested, is deposited, is uploaded) into a person’s life when they trust in Jesus Christ.

Invitation:

1. Christians must share the Gospel.
   1. God gave you the Gospel to give to others.  Who specifically do you think wants you to share with next?
   2. You are in debt to those people.  It is a debt you can pay.  Eagerly pay it.  Don’t be ashamed or afraid.
   3. You aren’t held responsible by God for the results just the delivery of the Gospel in fullness.  The Gospel itself possesses the power of effectuating the results that God has ordained.
2. If you have heard the Gospel today in this message and want to believe in Jesus and confess Him as Lord, do so right now.
   1. Romans 10:8 — But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
   2. Confess your unrighteousness and trust Jesus right now as your Savior.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 28th, 2009 at 2:34 pm and is filed under GOMVC, Romans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.