This message is a sort of preview of Romans chapter 4. There are seven principles the righteousness revealed that bridge the gap from wrath revealed and finally illustrated in Abraham.

The final section of Romans 3 sets forth the truth that righteousness is possible for those already judged unrighteous and liable for punishment. In this section, (vv. 21-31), Paul shows that God has manifested righteousness through faith in Christ. This is a gift to sinners by grace and not works. This manifest righteousness also vindicates God's past dealings, overlooking judgment due to old covenant offenders.

Our missionary to Mexico, Joshua Rose, preached a very encouraging message on why we need to stay faithful and persevere, even when it seems impossible to do so. Judah was about entering judgment in her exile to Babylon. Yet, God commanded the prophet to buy a field, something that seemed totally out of place. The lesson here is that we need to be faithful to the end with a song in our hearts.

This passage (Romans 3:21-31) forms the "golden bridge" that crosses the divide between the wrath of God and the grace of God. At this point, Paul begins to develop the positive aspects of salvation, such as justification, sanctification, ending in glorification.

The third chapter of Romans continues Paul's argument for the gospel. His wrath has been revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. Now, who qualifies for that indictment? All do. However, the Jews did not believe that they were under God's wrath due to their privilege under God's covenant with Abraham. They were given the law, and they bore the mark of circumcision. The second chapter destroyed that claim. So, the objection was raised, "what advantage was there in being Jewish? Paul answered, "Much every way." They were made custodians of God's Word but were unfaithful to it. However, the unfaithfulness of Israel revealed the greatness of God's faithfulness l.

While Romans was written to the Gentile church in Rome, Paul seeks to correct the errors of the Jews regarding the Gospel of God. While the nation of Israel prayed a significant role in salvation history, they presumed that they alone were the objects of God's special attention. Thus, they assumed they did not need the gospel, nor were they concerned about God's wrath. Paul sought to address these errors in chapter 2 and demonstrate God's plan to save both Jews and Gentiles by and in Christ Jesus.

In this first chapter, as Paul sets forth the good news of salvation, he begins by revealing the bad news. All, both Jew and Gentile, are subject to the wrath of God due to their sinful rebellion. Sadly, the Jews drew false conclusions about their standing with God due to their descent from Abraham. The fact is, neither religion nor moral uprightness will secure anyone from that judgment. Only Jesus Christ through can save us from that day.

Paul opens his argument for the gospel by revealing the need for it. God is righteous and no descendant of Adam is, due to Adam's disobedience. Thus, Romans 1:18-32 demonstrates the total depravity of man summarized in Romans 3:10, "None is righteous, no, not one." The sad news is that when people reject God, He rejects them and allows their sinful tendencies to play out in three stages: (1) when people refuse the truth about God, He lets them worship false gods. (2) When they worship the creature, God lets them degrade the creature. (3) The degraded creature not only plunge into greater debauchery, but they also take pleasure in those who do what they do, knowing that it is wrong.

Paul opens his argument for the gospel of Christ by first explaining the need for that gospel. All of Adam's descendants are guilty of ungodliness and unrighteousness and are, thus subject to the wrath of God. None can claim ignorance of this wrath for God has already plainly revealed it to them in both conscience and nature. The focus of this message is to explain wrath in God. Our tendency is to project on God our own experience. Our anger and rage flow from our emotional response against what angers us. God, however, is holy and righteous. Wrath is His natural response to what is unholy and unrighteous. I would argue that it is not an emotional reaction. This message explains this.

The gospel is about Jesus Christ because He is the Salvation of God. Salvation is deliverance from both the guilt of sin and the power of sin. As Paul stated in verse 17 of chapter one, it was "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, the Jew first and also to the Greek."