DTLC Radio

Wrath!

Isn't that a great word? Doesn't is just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? NO! Of course it doesn't. Wrath is not to be trifled with and certainly not the wrath of God.

Many people are so discomforted by the word that they reject the idea outright. "God is love," they say. "God isn't going to condemn anybody. Especially those who have never had a law to follow or heard the gospel." Well, yes, God is love. But God is holy, holy, holy as well. He is also a God of wrath and righteousness. Breaking His law demands retribution and punishment. Since God cannot be separated from His law, breaking it is a personal assault against Him personally.

No Excuses From You!

Paul's point in Romans 1:18-20 is that everyone - everyone - has been given some law. Through God's creation He has revealed Himself as Creator. Further, He has shown us His eternal power and divine nature. His expectation: that we simply acknowledge that He is God and we are not (thus honoring Him) and give Him thanks.

Sounds simple enough and yet, we fail to do it. It's on these grounds that we stand condemned before God, even though we may not have a written law from Him. Thus the excuse, "well, I never knew of God or what He expected" will never stand.

Paul is presenting the cold reality that everyone has broken the law, especially those who have suppressed the truth. Not a great diagnosis but a necessary one to counter any excuses. Remember: first the bad news, then the good news.

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Romans 1:18-3:20 is the first main section of the body of Paul's letter to the church at Rome. After transitioning from introducing himself and reveling in the gloriousness of the gospel, Paul makes a huge shift.

You Have Cancer!

If you were to notice that you were beginning to have problems in some physical way, you'd go to the doctor. You would want him first to examine you, ask questions, take tests, and then offer his diagnosis. In short, you would want him to tell you what's wrong with you. Why?

Because if you don't know what is wrong with you how will you know if there is a cure? Moreover, if you don't first have a diagnosis there's no way to tell if the cure is actually a cure! You have to have the bad news before you can receive the good news.

Everybody Has It!

The same holds true for the gospel of grace. It is a general principle that you have to understand your problem before you can fully appreciate the need and availability of its solution.

The very essence of sin is a transgression of the law. We cannot even know what sin is - nor understand ourselves as sinners - until we understand our relationship to God's law. This is the reason why the preaching of the law must precede the presentation of the gospel. How will they understand the good news if they don't know what is the bad news?

Paul, adhering to this principle, begins to give us the bad news. Anticipating the likely objections and cry for exceptions, he starts by showing that everyone is guilty of breaking God's law. Even the most basic and simple of laws.

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Previous episodes begin with #68 - Click Here For More

This week we continue to develop our understanding of the "righteousness of God" revealed in the gospel, according to Romans 1:17. We have discussed the definition of righteousness. Also, we examined what it means for God to be righteous. Today, we take a look specifically at how the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel.

The Key To Opening Your Understanding

Understanding and grasping exactly what Paul is describing is the key to comprehending much of the Bible. I would go even further and say that it has the potential to release you from the frustrating life you've been living to this point. This critical concept of how God's righteousness is revealed will free you in ways you never thought possible.

I have found that most Christians do not have a clear comprehensive understanding of this doctrine. Many are falsely taught that we are "made righteous" by Christ's perfectly lived life. This is not true. Many others understanding justification to mean "just if I'd never sinned." This too, is false. Do you know the difference between Christ's "active righteousness" and His "passive righteousness?" This episode of DTLC Radio will help you come to a clearer and more biblical understanding.

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Previous Episodes In This Series

Series begins with episode #68 - Faith Is Believing God!

Others in the series

The righteousness of God is said to be revealed in the gospel (Romans 1:17). As far as human beings are concerned, righteousness is conformity to the proper standard, norm, or law. At least that's how the Bible defines it. Simply stated, righteousness is meeting the requirements of the law.

By this same definition, we can define sin (i.e. unrighteousness) as failing to conform. In a word, lawlessness (1 John 3:4). By this definition, how do we apply it to God? To what law or standard must God conform? Once defined, how is this "good news" (i.e. gospel) to sinners? Well, in this episode we deal with the first of these questions. What does it mean that God is righteous?

The Righteousness of God

Simply stated, that God is righteous means that He is true to Himself. His law - including that which He has given to us - emanates from Himself. God's law is part of His nature. Thus, when we break it, it is a direct offense to God Himself. This results in the severity of sin's penalty.

Understanding these definitions is crucial to comprehending the impact of the gospel. In fact, it is what makes the gospel "good news" to sinners. But this is just the beginning.

The Righteousness of God Revealed

This episode lays some of the ground work for digging deeper into what is revealed by the gospel. More specifically, what is revealed by the events of Christ's crucifixion and why it's good news. What we see in the cross will be discussed next time. This episode helps you understand how God is righteous to better grasp what He reveals through the cross.

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Previous Episodes In This Series

This series begins with Episode #68 and defining faith. Then we begin our study of Romans with Episode #69

"For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous man shall live by faith'.” Romans 1:17.

Critical Understanding

It is absolutely critical to understand what righteousness is, whether our own or God's. If it is revealed in the gospel - and Paul says it is - then we must strive to understand it. To understand we must first rightly define righteousness, biblically.

This has been the failure of the church for several decades. Instead of rightly seeing the righteousness of God in the gospel, many have concluded that God is ONLY love. This is neither true nor is it conveyed in Scripture.

It has become commonplace to redefine terms or simply ignore them outright. Many "christians" believe the gospel is about social justice, liberating the oppressed of our culture, and making the goal material blessings in this life. This is NOT what Paul is describing in Romans.

A Right Definition

Righteousness has everything to do with the law. More specifically, the law of God. Human righteousness is about conforming to God's will and His law. you can also define righteousness as meeting the requirements of God's law. Therefore, by definition, sin is not keeping God's law or meeting its requirements. In fact, the Apostle John gives this very definition for sin in 1 John 3:4.

Understanding righteousness is a primary component to understanding the gospel of Christ. It also helps us define "the righteousness of God" that is revealed in the gospel. This, we will address next time. In this episode, we explore the meaning of righteousness, how we fail to be righteous, and why this is a problem.

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"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." Romans 1:16 NASB

The gospel is not just the message of the cross but the cross itself. The actual events that took place on Calvary display the power of God. These events also provide the grounds for grace. And yet it is these events that cause some to be ashamed.

The idea that the Creator of the universe became a man and died a criminal's death is hard for many to believe. It was a challenge in Paul's day, too. But the evidence is clear. There is reason to believe and to live by faith.

Romans 1:16

This verse is one of the most recognized verses in all of the Bible. Yet, there are many who miss what Paul is saying. There is a depth to the gospel that we often miss. In this episode we discuss some of the details that Paul is referencing.

Is there more than one aspect to the gospel? What is the difference between belief and faith? What are the two components of saving faith? Why would Paul be tempted to be ashamed? Is salvation a process? Are there conditions to receiving grace? What is the difference between unmerited and conditional? These and other questions are answered in this episode.

In this episode we spend extended time - almost 2 hours - discussing the implications of this most important verse. Stay tuned, because the next verse offers even more information. Our study of Romans is designed to increase our knowledge of God and thereby increase our faith (Colossians 1:9-12).

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Click here for previous episodes in this series

Most people never experience much of the depth of the gospel. It is my contention that grasping it will change your life.

Paul's Desire to Preach the Gospel

I don't believe you can overstate Paul's deep desire to preach the gospel. And not simply the "saving" gospel but the "living" gospel. The sanctifying gospel. I attest to the fact that when you grasp it, life becomes much more enjoyable...and simple.

I can also attest to the personal desire to preach and teach the good news. And I share a deep satisfaction in discussing it while witnessing others "get it!" It's exciting to share in their realization and joy. Paul makes it abundantly clear that the gospel's power is awesome to change. This is the reason it is foundational to what we do here at DTLC.

The Personalness of the Gospel

There is nothing quite like seeing someone "get it" with regard to the gospel. Paul understood this. Verses 8-15 of Romans 1 describe the reasoning behind Paul's decision to write. It was not to correct, necessarily. It was not to attack false teaching, necessarily. The primary reason was Paul's uncertainty of making it to Rome in person.

The Book of Romans is Paul writing what he would otherwise deliver in person through preaching and teaching. Also, having the opportunity to spend extended time with them, Paul have the opportunity to help them apply the gospel to their daily lives. To coach them! 😉

The cornerstone of the grace system of salvation is justification by faith. What you may fail to realize is the depth of justification. In fact, you may fail to realize the correct definition of justification by faith. Herein lies the depth of the gospel as well.

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As we continue our study of Romans, we come to verses 5-7 of chapter 1. Here, Paul declares that part of the goal of the gospel is obedience.

Obedience of Faith

Paul has received the gift of being an apostle, by grace he has been called to that elite group. When he uses the word "we" he is not referring to all of us. Instead, he is using the term editorially, the same way I would refer to DTLC as "we."

The goal of Paul's apostleship - and ultimately the goal of the gospel message - is to produce obedience. "Obedience of faith" is a phrase meaning "a faith that produces obedience." God desires obedience to His law. He is the Lawgiver and Creator. As such, it is His right to require, expect, and demand obedience.

Too often, this requirement results in our having resentment toward God. We approach obedience as something we have to do. Faith however - that is is, believing God - generates a desire to serve Him. The result is an attitude that I want to keep His laws. My faith actually generates an attitude of servitude. It is obedience that results from my faith.

The Audience

Paul's specific audience - though not exclusively - is Gentiles. Gentiles simply refers to anyone (and everyone) who is not a Jew. That is, you and me, since we are not Jewish by birth. Again, the gospel was first delivered to the Jews, even by Paul. But Paul's specific and targeted audience are Gentiles.

As such, we should be eternally grateful to have been included in God's invitation to salvation. Ultimately, the gospel and its subsequent obedience are to bring honor and glory to God and Jesus Christ.

Paul concludes his introduction in these verses and then begins in verse 8 to share the reasons behind his writing. This is the subject of this and next week's episodes.

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Related Episodes

This series begins with Episode #68

As we continue our study of Romans, we come to verse 4 of chapter 1. Jesus is declared the Son of God by virtue of His resurrection from the dead.

Don't Skip On By

Don't just skip on by that statement. It is the resurrection of Jesus that definitively declares that He is the Son of the Living God. Paul goes into deeper detail in 1 Corinthians 15 about the significance of the resurrection. it is not too crass to say, without the resurrection, Christianity is a waste of time! In fact, Paul says exactly that - without the resurrection - there is no salvation for anyone.

It is the power of the Holy Spirit who gives us live - new life (Romans 6:4) - and raises Christ to life. He guided Christ's ministry and gives us the capacity to overcome sin.

Two States of Jesus

This verse reveals to us the two states of Jesus. Similar to how verse 3 shows the two natures of Jesus - Divine and human - verse 4 show His two states. Actually, He has existed in three states. Meaning simply that Jesus existed in eternity before creation as the Logos, the Second Person of the Trinity (John 1:1-3,14; 17:1-5). This was His first state of existence - eternal.

His second state of existence - called the humiliation - is when He came down to earth and took on flesh. Here, He existed as fully/truly man and fully/truly God. In this state - His humanity - He kept the law perfectly.

His third state - called the exaltation - is His glorification (in body and position) back to the right hand of the Father. Now (from His resurrection forward) He exists in a glorified body and is exalted to the highest place in all of creation. This is just one of the points Paul makes in this verse.

Volumes of Information

It has been said that the first seven verses of Romans encapsulate the rest of the 16 chapters of the book. There is so much deep and rich meaning in these verses, it's hard to move through them. This is the reason we have spent so much time already just discussing this single sentence.

As we move forward, you will begin to understand better the message Paul is straining to communicate. And in the process, your life will change.

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Related Podcasts

This series begins with episode #68 - see them here

As we continue our study of Romans, we come to verses two and three of chapter one. Simply stated, Paul's "gospel of God" is that Jesus has fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

Promised Beforehand

The Gospel is not new. In fact, it's as old as creation itself. The first promise ever given regarding the Messiah comes in Genesis 3:15. There, God says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

Everything Paul is about to write and teach regarding this gospel can be validated by the Old Testament prophets. Even the sacrificial system for sins is a foreshadowing of what Jesus would ultimately accomplish. In verse 2, Paul declares that the gospel was "promised beforehand through [God's] prophets." Further, we can go back to the "holy Scriptures," that is the Old Testament, and read for ourselves. Some of the most specific prophecies pre-date Jesus by almost 1,000 years!

Two Natures - Divine & Human

In verse 3, Paul points out that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. First, he points to Jesus' divinity as "Son" - a title He alone carries - the only begotten of God. This is detailed further in verse 4...which we'll discuss next time.

In verse 3, Paul draws our attention to Christ being a direct descendant of King David. This too, fulfills specific prophecies about the Messiah. Jesus was "born" - ginomai; came into being - as a human. He is eternal as the Logos, the Word which became flesh. But He is human in that Jesus of Nazareth was born into this world.

The reality of Christ's two complete natures has a major impact on the gospel and the fulfillment of the law. We'll discuss this in greater detail as we move forward.

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Previous Episodes

#69 - Introduction to Romans

#70 - Paul

#71 - Slave of Christ

#72 - An Apostle of the Gospel of God