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THE GREATNESS OF THE GOSPEL
(ROMANS 1:16-17)
…We live
in a day that has gone “nuts” over __sports__. Fans will go to great
extremes to express their support for their team. There is no shame. One man
wiped dolphin meat…
…We have
been studying the 10 Commandments and have discovered that God’s moral law is __powerless__
to save anyone. Yet it brings all people to ruin, for all have sinned….
…Paul’s words in
our text have been called, “the __greatest__ words ever penned.” These
point us to our only hope…it is the Gospel…and we should never be __ashamed__
of it.
TWO REASONS WHY
THE GOSPEL IS THE GREATEST THING OF ALL
I.
Only The Gospel Has The __Power__
To Deliver Us From Judgment. (16.)
A.
Paul was not
ashamed of the Gospel.
1.
Why
would Paul put it this way? We are far more attuned to the world than…
2.
What
are some __reasons__ that may tempt us to be ashamed? The Gospel is
unattractive and repulsive to the natural man, for it __exposes__ man’s
sin, depravity and lostness. The Gospel is completely contrary to the world’s
way of thinking. Remember: “an inoffensive gospel is also an __ineffective__
Gospel.”
B. This
Gospel is powerful. It produces a __life__ changing effect. It saves.
1.
To __speak__ the Gospel
is to unleash the power of God…
2.
The Gospel is the greatest __work__
going on anywhere in the world. It is not…
C. This
Gospel is the __one__ message for all people everywhere. “to the Jew 1st,
then…”
II.
Only The Gospel Provides Us With The
Righteousness That Saves.
…for this Gospel
shows us how we can __acquire__ the righteousness we need. (17)
A. This
was Martin Luther’s __verse__ and became the foundation for the
Reformation.
1.
At first, Luther hated this
verse, because he failed in personal righteousness.
…the harder he tried to please God by himself, the __more__ he failed.
2.
After he saw the real meaning,
this verse opened “the gates of paradise.”
B. The
words, “righteousness of God”:
1.
It does not mean that __God__
is righteous. He is, but this verse means…
2.
Rather, here it
means that God is the __source__ of this righteousness. (Christ’s)
C. God
imparts this righteousness to us when through regeneration we believe the
Gospel. Sola Fide. We are justified by __faith__ alone. Not by our
righteouness…
1.
This righteousness, which makes
us right with a Holy God, is a __gift__ to us. Faith is the channel by
which we receive this. Faith is not some kind of __good__ works.
2.
This righteousness of Christ
was imputed to us…and our sins (all of them) were imputed to the Savior. (Double
imputation) “the Lord laid upon Him…”
3.
It is God, the __father__,
who declares us just! All this is apart from the Law.
… The
Gospel is “__not__ simple,” it is utterly deep and wondrous…
D. This
was not a new teaching, for the Old Testament presented it. “The just shall live
by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) This is the __only__ way men and women have
ever been saved. It is still possible to become right with Holy God. Come!!!
THEREFORE, PAUL
GLORIFIED IN THE GOSPEL…AND SO SHOULD WE!!!
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1.
As a
Christian, it is required of you to understand the Gospel.
2.
Have you
received this gift of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ?
3.
Don’t worry
about offending people with the Gospel.
4.
Tell everyone
you can about the Gospel.
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