Religious versus Righteous

Scripture: Romans 1:8-15

C.I.: The Righteousness of God

Today a new series. – The early church struggled to understand how a person became right w/God = righteous . – Many, like today, believed it was through their practice of religion - others believed it was through “living a good life.” – In his letter to the Romans Paul addresses these issues.

I. How God's Righteousness is Revealed, (Romans 1:16-17)

A. It is Revealed in the Gospel, (v. 16)

1. “Gospel” = Good News
a. Paul begins his letter saying, ( vs. 1-2 ), “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called an apostle, set apart for
the gospel of God , which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy scriptures.”
b. From the beginning God has been promising “good news.” – For He promised us when He cursed
Satan, ( Gen. 3:15 ), “I will put enmity between you & the woman, between your seed & her seed; He shall….”
c. Throughout the O.T. – God told the people “good news” was coming, (300 Messianic prophecies)!

2. So…what is “the gospel”?
a. It is the story of God's love for man through the gift of His Son.
1) His life and ministry, ( Mk. 1:1 ), “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.”
2) And also His death & resurrection, ( I Cor. 15:1, 3-4 ), “Now I make known to you, brethren, the
gospel which I preached to you … that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He
was buried,- and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.”
3) Thus, being right with God – is far more about what God has done – than what we do (religion/works)!!!

3. This is why Paul writes, ( v. 16 ), “I am not ashamed of the gospel – for it is the power of God unto salvation….”
a. Someone once said, “The gospel is like a lion in a cage. All we need to do is to open the door and let
him out!”
1) Once we allow the gospel into our lives – our lives will never be the same.
2) The Christians in Rome, like many today, did not fully understand the full message.
3) Its for this reason Paul wrote, “I am eager to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also,” v. 15 .
b. Far too often people want to hear the “gospel of salvation,” – but not the gospel that changes lives.

B. It is Revealed by God, (v. 17a)

1. ( v. 17a ), “For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed….”
a. As we read the message of Jesus life – we see a number of ways people attempted to become righteous.
1) Good deeds – ( Matt. 6:2 ), ”When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites
do in the synagogues & on the streets to be honored by men. Truly they have their reward in full.”
2) Prayers – ( Matt. 6:5 ), “When you pray, do not be as the hypocrites; for they stand & pray in the
synagogue and on street corners, in order to be seen of men. – Truly they have their reward in full.”
3) All these religious things – not only turn off non-believers, - they turn off God too!

b. Doing all these things is just about “old us” – striving to do “new things.”
1) The righteousness from God – is about changing the “old us” – into the “new us” - from the
inside out.
2) This is what Jesus spoke of in the gospels – ( Matt. 23:25-26 ), “ Woe to you… For you clean the
outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. – You blind
Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may become clean also.”

c. The “righteousness of God” changes our very nature.
1) This change occurs, not by our efforts - but as a gift from God.
2) ( Rom. 5:17 ), “…those who receive the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ.”
3) But those who seek to approach God on their terms and not his – are the ones He speaks of in
Romans 1:18-32 , “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, / - because that which is known about
God is evident within them; - for God made it evident to them. / - For since the creation of the world
God's invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood
through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. / Professing to be wise, they became fools
4) Thus, the righteousness of God – originates with Him and not with man!

C. It is Revealed by Faith, (v. 17b)

1. ( v. 17b ), “…the righteousness of God is revealed from faith unto faith; as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.'”
a. Some make “faith” into something requiring effort, and ask, “But what if I don't have enough faith?!”
1) This is why God's righteousness is revealed “from faith unto faith.”
2) This means, the person who in a very simple even timid way at the very beginning of their
walk with Jesus – will be just as “right” before God – as the most mature, seasoned believer
who has walked with Him for over 50 years!!! (From faith at the start – to faith at the end).

c. This is how a person can be saved – even though they may not know very much at the start.
1) When a person is “born again” – they, like an infant, may not know very much.
2) Peter says, “You have been born again, not of seed…,” ( I Pt. 1:23 ). – Then a few verses later he
tells us, “Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word…,” ( 2:2 ).
3) Take for example the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 . – In v. 35 , it says, “…Philip preached Jesus
to him.” – Then in the very next verse he asked, “‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being
baptized?'And Philip answered, ‘If you believe with all your heat, you may.' And he said, ‘I believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.'” ( vs. 36-37 ). Then Philip baptized him, Mk. 16:16 .

d. So as we mature as believers we will continue to “live by faith” as it is written.
1) Therefore, believers will not trust in their own efforts in order to be right before God – neither
will we live in fear of what others may think of us as we live by faith.
2) As Paul writes, ( II Cor. 5:7 ), we will now, “For we walk by faith and not be sight.”
3) It is our on-going trust in God – and in what He can do for us that we cannot do for ourselves
– that will keep us living “FAITH-FULLY” for Jesus!

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Review main three points

2. To the family here: how is our walk? – Are we living by faith – or are we more concerned of what others think?!
a. The gospel is to be preached, ( vs. 9 ), “I am eager to preach the gospel….”
b. We are under obligation to proclaim it, ( v. 14), “I am under obligation to the Greeks & barbarians, the wise & foolish.”

3. To our guests: Are you trying to be “right” with God on your terms – or on His?! – ( Mark 16:15-16 )