Righteousness Revealed (17) Wrath Revealed (18)

MARCH 5, 2023 STUDY NOTES ROMANS 1:17-18 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED (17) WRATH REVEALED (18) INTRODUCTION In verse 15, Paul said that he was ready to preach the gospel in Rome Then he begins to tell us why he was ready to preach the gospel, notice the word “For” You will find the word “For” four times in three verses “For” I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (vs.16)--He was ready to preach the gospel “For” it is the power of God unto salvation (vs.16)--He was ready to preach the gospel “For” therein is the righteousness of God revealed (vs.17) --He was ready to preach the gospel But there is another “For,” another reason why the gospel must be preached in Rome Something that Paul knew was important to the preaching of the gospel Something that Paul knew must be preached at Rome and everywhere else “For” the wrath of God is revealed from heaven (verse 18) God’s wrath is found throughout the OT and the NT It is a study that cannot be neglected, it is a message that must be preached The “righteousness of God” is revealed and must be preached (vs. 17) The “wrath of God” is revealed and must be preached (vs. 18) RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED--Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. “For therein” refers back to verse 16, calling our attention to the gospel that must be preached Within the gospel “is the righteousness of God revealed” Within the “Good News” is how to receive righteousness before God Within the Gospel is the power of God to bestow righteousness upon the believer That sinners can be made righteous and stand before God is “Good News” The word translated “righteousness” is important throughout the teaching of the NT The word is found 92 times in the NT and Paul writes 60 of those 92 times If you count Hebrews as a writing of Paul, then you can add 6 more times to Paul Paul uses the word “righteousness” more than any other NT writer, he is “the preacher of righteousness” “Righteousness” is a key word in the book of Romans, it is found 36 times in 30 verses As we study Romans, we will find Paul using other Greek words that identify with righteousness Paul wants us to understand the truth of the righteousness of God and the unrighteousness of man Paul presents the most extended passage of scripture concerning man’s unrighteousness It begins in Romans 1:18 and continues through Romans 3:20 We will see the truth of sinful man and why he cannot obtain his own righteousness We will also see why sinful man faces the wrath of God Paul said that the righteousness revealed “is the righteousness of God” So, Paul begins his message of righteousness by confirming that “God is righteous” Righteousness is of God and can only come from God Righteousness must be a righteousness of God, or it is not righteousness at all All that God does is righteous; righteousness is the normal for God; it is the only way for God Jesus called upon God as the “righteous Father,” Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. Jesus also told us to seek the righteousness of God, Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The thought is not that we can attain righteousness but to earnestly desire the righteousness of God Sinful man cannot attain the righteousness of God through his own efforts of right living Page 1 of 5 Sinful man is not righteous, and it is impossible for sinful man to achieve righteousness The message of Paul is that no one is righteous, Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: That is why Jesus said that He did not come to call the righteous, Luk 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Righteousness cannot be attained by man doing right things, Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Jesus called those who claimed righteousness hypocrites, Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. They only had an outward appearance of righteousness, Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Man is not righteous before God because he does what he thinks is right Righteousness is not of man, so man does not determine that which is right God is the standard of righteousness--God alone sets the standard of righteousness God demands righteousness and man cannot attain his own righteousness So, the “Good News” is that God has provided the way for us to receive His righteousness That is why Paul says, “the Gospel is “the righteousness of God revealed” “The righteousness of God” is the works of God’s holiness toward sinful man Righteousness can only come from God and can only come through Christ Righteousness can only be received by faith in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ The “Good News” is that the righteousness of God is imputed to those who believe in Christ The imputation of the righteousness of God to the believer is through faith in Christ Paul fully explains to us how sinful man can be made righteous in Christ, Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: God provided through His plan of salvation the righteousness necessary to satisfy His Holiness Jesus is the only means of righteousness for sinful man, Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Jesus provided our righteousness by becoming obedient to the cross, Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Sinners are made righteous because they put their faith in Jesus, righteousness is “from faith to faith” Paul means that our righteousness before God can only come through faith Righteousness is entirely of faith it can come no other way than faith in Jesus Christ Righteousness is not by the law, it is not by our works, it is only by faith, Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. We are counted righteous because we put our faith in Jesus, Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. The personal testimony of Paul reveals that no man can attain his own personal righteousness If righteousness could be attained by personal works, Paul was well qualified Paul was born a Jew, Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Paul, was “A Hebrew of Hebrews,” Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; He was obedient to the Jewish law, he was a strict and faithful Pharisee No one was more religious than Paul, He was a zealous Pharisee, Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. The proof of his religious zeal was his persecution of the church Page 2 of 5 But then he saw Jesus, who revealed Himself unto Paul, and Paul was a total loss, Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. But his loss was all for the gain of Christ, Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, He lost all of his personal righteousness and gained the righteousness of Christ when he received Jesus So, Paul’s testimony was that he had received God’s own righteousness by faith, Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Paul said, “righteousness is of God by faith”) Salvation by faith is God’s gift, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. God has “Revealed” or made know to us the truth of “righteousness” In Romans 1:17 Paul only introduces the revelation of righteousness Paul will return to this revelation of righteousness in, Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; And there he begins a great exposition of the righteousness of God which is now revealed to us So, Paul says this revelation of righteousness has been written “As it is written” is used many times in the NT to introduce an OT scripture What follows will then be a quotation or a reference from the OT Therefore, that which “is written” presents the authority on any given subject The authority of truth on any subject related to life is the Word of God So, we find the truth of righteousness revealed in the Scriptures, “The just shall live by faith” “Faith” is not a new revelation from God, it is also found in the OT Prophets Paul quotes, Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted three times in the NT, each time it is quoted there is a different emphasis Paul’s emphasis in Romans 1:17 is upon “The Just,” Paul is explaining to us “The Just” Galatians explains to us “shall live,” Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Hebrews explains “by faith,” Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 11 is the classic chapter on the subject of faith, it is known as “Faith’s Hall of Fame” It tells us of those OT saints who lived by faith By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain By faith Enoch walked with God and did not see death but was translated By faith Noah built an ark and was delivered through the flood with his family By faith Abraham sojourned in a strange country not knowing where he was going By faith Moses chose to suffer affliction with God’s people and refused sin’s pleasures Throughout the OT you will find the same story over and over, by faith, by faith, by faith But we need to understand who it is that lives by faith, scripture identifies them as “The Just” Paul explains to us “The Just,” the word “just” has the meaning of righteous or upright The word “Justification” comes from the same root word as righteousness Justification is “to be made right,” it is being declared righteous before God Without the death and resurrection of Jesus there would be no justification of sinners Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. God can now freely bestow righteousness upon all who receive Jesus Christ, Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Within the gospel “is the righteousness of God revealed” But the Gospel Truth also reveals the “Wrath of God” WRATH REVEALED--Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all Page 3 of 5 ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Three reasons are revealed for the wrath of God in this verse: (1) Ungodliness (2) Unrighteousness (3) Unbelief of the truth First of all, we must notice that Paul speaks of “the wrath of God,” it is not the wrath of man It is not the wrath from man, it is God’s wrath against sinful man God’s wrath cannot be understood by comparing it with the anger of man As humans we have our moments of wrath, we get angry at times Certain things make us angry to one degree or another, we can experience an uncontrolled anger God’s anger against sin is not an uncontrolled anger The “wrath of God” is not telling us that God has lost His temper It tells us that the holiness of God is angry with sin, evil, and sinful mankind The “wrath of God” is not a favorite subject of our day The most popular preaching of our day presents a false gospel of health and wealth The blessings of salvation should be preached and must be preached today, we are “In-Christ” We like to hear of the joy that is in Jesus and the glory of living for Christ, the abundant life in Christ We must continue to preach, Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. You can never read or preach John 3:16 too often But the truth of God’s judgment upon sin must also be preached and understood today We must also preach, Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. When you understand God’s anger toward sin you will greatly appreciate God’s grace When you understand that God’s wrath requires that the penalty of sin be paid And understand how God paid it, you will sing from your heart the “Old Rugged Cross” God’s wrath must be revealed just as sure as the righteousness of God must be revealed If there is no wrath of God, there is no righteousness of God God’s wrath is His attitude toward Satan, sin, and the lost who are still in their sin Paul presents the wrath of God as a present revelation, “revealed from heaven” Literally it reads, “constantly revealed,” God’s wrath is constantly being revealed “from heaven” God has always revealed His wrath against sin The “wrath of God” is not limited to the days of the OT We know of God’s wrath against sinful man in the days of Noah and the Flood We know of God’s wrath against sinful man in the days of the tower of Babel We know of God’s wrath against sinful man when he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah God’s wrath fell upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians as they pursued the Israelites And there are many other examples of God’s wrath found in the OT The NT also proclaims the wrath of God against sin and the sinner The wrath of God can be experienced as a present judgment But God’s wrath will be fully and finally revealed in a future day, Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; The future day of God’s wrath is known as the “Day of the Lord,” God’s judgment upon all enemies Referring to a future day belonging to the Lord, the day He will display His wrath upon all evil God’s delay of the Day of the Lord is so that the lost have an opportunity to repent, 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But all sinners are not going to repent, so the day of God’s wrath must fall upon sinful man, 2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Christians are not destined for the Day of the Lord, we are delivered from the wrath of God, 1Th 5:9 Page 4 of 5 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, So, Paul tells us who will face the Day of the Lord, God’s wrath will come “against all ungodliness” “Ungodliness” describes wickedness in general The main thought is that the “ungodly” give no attention to God, they have no time for God No worship of God, no reverence for God, they totally neglect God There is also the thought of being opposed to the very purposes of God for our life Jude describes the ungodly as the enemies of God, Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. The OT prophets spoke of those who would pervert the grace of God and deny His Son Before the Flood Enoch prophesied concerning the ungodly, Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, Enoch is a type of the believer who will be translated at the time of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) Paul and Jude present to us the contrast between “saints of God” and those who are “ungodly” The wrath of God will fall upon the ungodly at the time of the return of Christ, Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. They will be judged because they have denied the Son of God who came to die for them The gospel is the message of God sending His Son to die for the ungodly, Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Jesus died that the ungodly might be saved, that they might have eternal life But because they reject Jesus the ungodly face perdition, 2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Perdition is the opposite of salvation, salvation is eternity with God and sharing in His Glory Perdition is being separated from God and facing the fiery judgment of God’s wrath in an eternal Hell God’s wrath will fall upon the “unrighteousness of men,” the wickedness of ungodly men They believe not the truth but delight in unrighteousness and will be damned, 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18 explains the delight of the ungodly, “Who hold the truth in unrighteousness” Wicked men suppress the truth of God’s Word, it is not something for them to live by Something that sinful man must do in order to continue to live an unrighteous lifestyle The consciousness of sin is being held down in our world today America is holding down the truth of sin by advertising and parading sin, presenting sin as a normal life Churches in America today are holding down the truth of sin by not preaching against sin When you lose sin-consciousness, you have lost God-consciousness The world around us is holding on to sin and holding down God’s Truth As Christians we must hold fast, Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) This verse has to do with our personal testimony and our public witness Remember what God has done for you and tell others what God will do for them Page 5 of 5