Romans 1:16-17

PART TWO

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN THE GOSPEL, Romans 1:16, Romans 11:36

The Proposition Stated, Romans 1:16-17

Text

Romans 1:16-17. For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:17 For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 1:16-17

30.

Is there any natural tendency to be ashamed of the good news? How can we call it good news and be ashamed?

31.

The gospel is God's power. The power of God is manifested in other ways in this material world; but there is a real difference in the power of creation and the power unto salvation. What is it?

32.

What is included in the word believeth as in Romans 1:16? There is more to believing than a mere mental assent. Just what is the nature of believing?

33.

Was the gospel God's power to salvation for the Jew first? If so, in what sense was this true?

34.

The good news reveals God's righteousness. Is this a revelation of the righteous character of God, or is this a revelation of some action by God in providing righteousness for man? Please do not forget the good news, or gospel, is defined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

35.

How is the word faith used as in Romans 1:17? Note please that one faith leads to another. Explain how this is true. Do not just mentally throw up your hands with the thought you can-'t explain this. This is as much your job as anyone else'S. What does it mean? To start with, you might remember that the word faith is used in several ways in the New Testament (Cf. Jude 1:3; Hebrews 11:1-2; Romans 14:23; Romans 10:17).

36.

The last statement of Romans 1:17 states that the righteous (who are they?) shall live by faith. What life is this discussing? Remember, please, you are under no obligation to accept any man's conclusion. But you are under obligation to God to attempt to understand His Word: otherwise He would never have delivered it once and for all to the saints (Jude 1:3). If scientists will spend years and years of lifeto say nothing of millions of dollarsto discover the laws of God in the physical world, is the thought incredible that we should spend much time and energy in thought and prayer that we might comprehend His higher moral and spiritual law as revealed in His Word?

Paraphrase

Romans 1:16-17. For although the learned among you think it foolishness, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), the powerful means which God makes use of for working out salvation to every one who believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

Romans 1:17 First, the gospel is the power of God for salvation, to every one who believeth; because the righteousness of God's appointment by faith is revealed in it, in order to produce faith in them to whom it is preached. And to this righteousness the Jews cannot object, since it is written, But the just by faith shall live.

Summary

He is not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to all who believe. In it is revealed God's justification by belief in order to induce belief.

Comment

In these two verses we have a proposition stated that takes nearly the whole book to develop. In Romans 1:16 a the gospel is spoken of as of great importance. In Romans 1:16 b we find that the gospel is of importance because it is the power of God unto salvation. In it or therein (that is, in the gospel) is revealed a righteousness of God which is imputed (attributed) to man by his faith in the gospel. Simply stated, the gospel contains God's answer to Job's question, Can a man be just before God? The gospel contains God's method for making man just in His sight.

The apostle's proposition, stated accurately in fewer words, could very well read, Justification by Faith in the Gospel. We repeat again this condensed proposition with explanation given in parentheses: Justification (being declared to be as if we had never sinned) by (through or by the means of) faith (which includes repentance, confession and baptism) in the gospel (which contains the facts of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. These facts are the basis for God being both just and justifier.). (Romans 1:16-17)

2.

Where do we find the proposition of the book of Romans?

3.

Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel?

4.

Why is the gospel called The power of God unto salvation?

5.

What is the brief statement of Paul's proposition to this book?

6.

What is the meaning of justification? Of by? What does faith include?

7.

What three facts are contained in the gospel? What basis do they form for God?