Home Group Study - Sermon Date: 26 April 2019

Text: Romans 1:16-17

Opening Discussion: Growing up, we all had role models that influenced us in one way or another. What would you say is the single most influential book you read or movie you watched that had a profound effect on your life personally? Share your story.

Summary:

Romans 1:16-17 has had a profound effect on world history. It was these verses that Martin Luther wrestled with and finally come to understand that transformed his life and influenced the Protestant Reformation. James Montgomery Boice, an American Christian theologian, pastor and author, wrote in his commentary on Romans that these verses (Romans 1:16-17), “are the most important in the letter and perhaps in all literature. They are the theme of this epistle and the essence of Christianity”.

The preacher on Friday summarized the theme of Romans by saying that this book is about “How the righteous God, righteousess unrighteous people.” The apostle Paul’s central message from Romans focuses on the main need of every human being, whether the most religious Jew or the most educated, worldly, immoral Greek—the need to be reconciled to the holy God. And the only way that will happen is if we are made righteous. The question every human being needs to ask then is, how can I be right before God? Simply put, to justify is to declare righteous, to make one right with God. Justification is God’s declaring those who receive Christ to be righteous, based on Christ’s righteousness being imputed to the accounts of those who receive Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God’s purpose in the gospel is to make us again righteous; to deliver us from condemnation and renew our souls in virtue and truth. This is the same thing as to recover us from death to life. By being righteous we live, by being unrighteous we die. Paul’s theme in Romans is God and the good news that comes from God, how sinners can be delivered from His righteous judgment and reconciled to Him. This is called salvation. Here in Romans 1:16-17, Paul tells us because the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, we must believe it and proclaim it boldly. To proclaim the gospel boldly or unashamedly, we must believe it. But to believe it, we must understand it. The gospel is all about salvation. 

Investigation & Interpretation:

• Read: Romans 1:16-17

1. Why is it that the unregenerate (unsaved) cannot please God? Romans 8:7-8 
2. Romans 3:21 says that “the righteousness of God has been manifested…” How has the righteousness of God been manifested?
3. If we fall so short of God’s standard what hope do we have? What does it mean to be justified? How about redeemed? Romans 3:23-24
4. Read Romans 3:25. What does propitiation mean? What does it mean that God passed over the sins previously committed?
5. The term “The Great Exchange” comes from 2 Corinthians 5:21. What does this mean? What exchange has taken place?
6. Romans 8:12-14 says that the old and new natures cannot work together, nor can they peacefully coexist. Why is this?

Application

How must I change?

• Is there a Truth to be believed?

Why is it important to understand that salvation is not just a human decision, but requires the very power of God in imparting new life? What errors occur when we forget this?

• Is there an Attitude to be fostered?

J.C. Ryle said; “If a man does not realize the dangerous nature of his soul’s disease, you cannot wonder if he is content with false or imperfect remedies…The plain truth is that a right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity.” What is a right knowledge of sin and what is a wrong knowledge of sin?

•  Is there a Behavior to be changed?

What are some reasons that you have been ashamed of the gospel in the past? How can you prepare yourself so that it won’t happen in the future?

Conclusion

“Come in your disorder. I mean, come to your heavenly Father in all your sin and sinfulness. Come to Jesus just as you are: leprous, filthy, naked, neither fit to live nor fit to die. Come, you that are the very sweepings of creation; come, though you hardly dare to hope for anything but death. Come, though despair is brooding over you, pressing upon your bosom like a horrible nightmare. Come and ask the Lord to justify another ungodly one. Why should He not? Come, for this great mercy of God is meant for such as you. I put in it in the language of the text, and I cannot put it more strongly: the Lord God Himself takes to Himself the gracious title, "Him that justifieth the ungodly." He makes just, and causes to be treated as just, those who by nature are ungodly. Is not that a wonderful word for you? Do not delay till you have considered this matter well.” – Charles Spurgeon (All of Grace)

Prayer Points:  

1. Pray that NLC would feed our faith day by day with the promises of the triumphant gospel.
2. Pray that we would believe that the gospel is the power that gives us victory over temptation to despair and to pride and to greed and to lust.
3. Pray that NLC would not be ashamed of the gospel, but rather eager to preach the good news of the Gospel which has the power to save sinners from their sins.