Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Romans 1:16-17 - Part 3
Transcript
- 0:00Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in Paul's letter to the Romans chapter 1.
- 0:16!
- 0:30I want to begin by reiterating what I stated the previous two times we looked at this text.
- 0:44We must be careful to get these verses rightly understood.
- 0:50Martin Lloyd-Jones, in his preaching of these verses, said,
- 0:53I suppose that, in a sense, there are no two verses of greater importance in the whole of Scripture than the two verses which we are now considering.
- 1:04You have heard me say, if we misunderstand these verses, then we will find ourselves misunderstanding the gospel itself.
- 1:14If we don't get these verses right, our evangelism will go awry and we will lose our ability to be effective witnesses to our great salvation.
- 1:24We will either get the message itself wrong or we will get the methodology of preaching that message wrong and likely both.
- 1:33So, we have some careful work to do this morning and I pray we will rightly understand all that's held for us in the final phrases of these two verses.
- 1:44Before I read them, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.
- 1:48It was written for His glory and for our good.
- 1:52And so, we do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.
- 1:59Paul writes, Romans chapter 1, verse 16 and 17.
- 2:03For I am not ashamed of the gospel.
- 2:07For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- 2:16For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.
- 2:20As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith.
- 2:25And we have carefully considered the phrase, for I am not ashamed of the gospel.
- 2:32We've given you reasons why Paul wasn't and why we ought not be ashamed of the gospel.
- 2:40Right there in the text is very reasoning, the phrase we considered last Lord's Day.
- 2:46For it is the power of God for salvation.
- 2:50And we thought about what it meant to be saved.
- 2:53Saved from and saved to.
- 2:56And how it is that the gospel is powerful.
- 3:01This morning we will take the rest of verse 16 and all of 17 phrase by phrase.
- 3:09We've broken that down into four pieces together.
- 3:11The first of which is to everyone who believes.
- 3:16So, Paul says, I am not ashamed of the gospel.
- 3:18For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
- 3:25Paul does not state that the gospel will save everyone.
- 3:30To understand the text that way would be the error of universalism.
- 3:35He qualifies who will be saved.
- 3:40Everyone who believes.
- 3:42Or you could say to everyone who has faith.
- 3:46We spoke last week much of the power of God that is this gospel.
- 3:52It is a power that sets out to accomplish a purpose.
- 3:57And necessarily accomplishes the purpose that it intends.
- 4:02We will explore this much further in our study of Romans.
- 4:06But please get here on the front end.
- 4:11The necessity of belief does not detract from the power of God for salvation.
- 4:18Let me repeat that to you.
- 4:19The necessity of belief does not detract from the power of God for salvation.
- 4:27Faith or belief is the avenue by which God saves.
- 4:32But it is not the power for salvation.
- 4:37Beloved, if you fail to understand this glorious truth.
- 4:41Then you will always be confused about the gospel.
- 4:45You will either think that you added something to the equation of your salvation and find yourself proud.
- 4:53Or you will think that you now need to add something to your salvation and will find yourself defeated.
- 5:00Let's hear some more of Paul's theology in Ephesians chapter 2 beginning in verse 8 and following where he writes,
- 5:11By grace you have been saved through faith.
- 5:16So there's the avenue, right?
- 5:18The power of God.
- 5:19Grace.
- 5:20Saved through faith.
- 5:21The avenue.
- 5:21And then he clarifies, verse 8,
- 5:24And this is not your own doing.
- 5:27It is the gift of God.
- 5:30This faith through which we're saved is a gift granted to us by God.
- 5:36Verse 9,
- 5:36Not a result of works so that no one may boast.
- 5:41So that no one might find themselves proud.
- 5:44Verse 10,
- 5:46For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works,
- 5:52which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
- 5:57And so we also have no need to feel defeated because we are made by God in Christ to work.
- 6:06We don't work that we might be made like Christ,
- 6:09but we are in Christ and so we work.
- 6:15In order to be saved, we must believe.
- 6:18But this necessary belief is granted to us by a merciful God.
- 6:25Then, having believed, he works graciously in us to cause us to walk in his ways.
- 6:32I hope that these grand truths will take to new heights in your mind this morning
- 6:40and then will settle deep in your heart
- 6:43that you may know the comfort and joy of being saved by the power of God,
- 6:48which is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- 6:53If these truths aren't doing this edifying work for you,
- 6:56then I hope that you will hang in with us as we continue to study this inspired text in the coming months.
- 7:01Paul is going to unpack this at length for our benefit.
- 7:06Now, we would cut this phrase short if I wasn't careful to say
- 7:10that you cannot believe in just anything that you would like.
- 7:15You can't make a Christ or a gospel of your own choosing and find yourself saved.
- 7:22Paul here is being specific.
- 7:25The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
- 7:30It's not a gospel, not some good news, not a version of good news,
- 7:36but the good news, the gospel.
- 7:42And so out of concern that anybody would be unclear,
- 7:44what is the gospel?
- 7:48What must we believe to be true in order that we might be saved?
- 7:53We must believe that God created a world and you in it,
- 7:59that he intends for you to be an image bearer,
- 8:03but that that image bearing was destroyed by our federal head, by Adam.
- 8:09He represented us.
- 8:11So not only are we born into sin, but we willingly sin.
- 8:16We, in our very nature, reject the lordship of our God.
- 8:22Our God is holy and he can have nothing to do with sin.
- 8:25He cannot become friends with sin.
- 8:29And so the proper, just response of God for sin is that sin would be punished,
- 8:35that his enemies would be vanquished one day, fully and forever.
- 8:41But because God is also merciful,
- 8:46he sent his son to live the life that he demanded of us,
- 8:50the righteousness found in the law,
- 8:54to die the death that we deserve,
- 8:57bearing God's wrath for our sin on the cross,
- 9:02to rise again three days later,
- 9:04defeating death fully and finally,
- 9:07and that one day Christ will return and make all things new.
- 9:14And this gospel, this good news,
- 9:16requires a response on our behalf,
- 9:19a turning from our sin and our believing that we can be saved.
- 9:26This is the gospel that he is referring to.
- 9:29We also don't do well to only think of this idea of believe as a mental assent to stated truths.
- 9:39You this morning might go,
- 9:41sure, sure, all those things.
- 9:43Yep, you may have grown up in church and heard them again and again.
- 9:48But it is the sort of belief that changes you.
- 9:53This Greek word is packed full of meaning for us.
- 9:57It's not merely some mental assent,
- 10:01but it is a belief that changes the trajectory of your very life.
- 10:07Now, those of you paying attention,
- 10:08notice that I have a copy of Pilgrim's Progress with me this morning.
- 10:11So, here we go.
- 10:14If you're a guest this morning,
- 10:15I joke that if you stick with us long enough,
- 10:18I'll read the entirety of this book to you as I read excerpts from it.
- 10:22This book was written by a Puritan by the name of John Bunyan,
- 10:25and he does such a good job of putting into literary form,
- 10:29allegorically,
- 10:30the journey of the Christian.
- 10:33In fact, the main character in the book is named Christian.
- 10:37And at this point,
- 10:38in this little bit that I want to read to you,
- 10:40he's picked up a companion along the way named Faithful.
- 10:43Faithful and Christian are walking along,
- 10:45and they encounter another character by the name of Talkative.
- 10:50And he knows the things to say.
- 10:56In fact, much of the discourse that he has with Faithful
- 10:58seems very positive, this Talkative.
- 11:00He says some amazingly true things about God
- 11:04and about the nature of man and about the nature of salvation.
- 11:08But then Christian beckons him over and says to him,
- 11:11this man doesn't believe anything that he says
- 11:14because we know him back in our town to be a wicked man.
- 11:18These things he says he believes have worked no real change in him.
- 11:25And so Faithful desires to be parted with him.
- 11:28He doesn't want to have just meaningless conversation anymore.
- 11:32And so he asks Christian,
- 11:35what shall we do to get rid of him?
- 11:38Take my advice and do as I tell you,
- 11:41and you will find that he will soon be sick of your company also,
- 11:44unless God touches his heart and changes it, Christian suggested.
- 11:50Faithful asked, what would you have me do?
- 11:52Christian answered, go to him and enter into some serious discourse
- 11:56about the power of religion, which he will affirm, I assure you.
- 12:01Then ask him plainly whether this power is something
- 12:04that is truly working itself out in his heart
- 12:07and in his home and in his behavior.
- 12:12So Faithful stepped back over to where Talkative was walking
- 12:14and began to converse with him.
- 12:16How are you doing? He asked.
- 12:18Very well, thank you, Talkative replied.
- 12:20I thought we should have a great deal of talk by now.
- 12:23Faithful offered, if you would like, we will continue our conversation.
- 12:27And when we last spoke,
- 12:28you left it to me to pose a topic for discussion.
- 12:31Here is my question.
- 12:33How does the saving grace of God make itself known
- 12:36when it is in the heart of man?
- 12:40I see, Talkative stated.
- 12:42You want to talk about the power of things.
- 12:44Well, that is a very good question.
- 12:46I will be happy to answer you.
- 12:48I will make my answer brief and to the point.
- 12:51First, where the grace of God is at work in the heart,
- 12:53it causes there to be a great outcry against sin.
- 12:57Secondly, Faithful interjected, wait a minute.
- 13:00Let's consider your points one at a time.
- 13:03I think you should have said,
- 13:05it makes itself known by inclining the soul to abhor its sin.
- 13:11Why, what is the difference between crying out against and abhorring sin?
- 13:15Talkative inquired.
- 13:16I hope the Christian in the room knows the answer to that already.
- 13:21Faithful answered, there is a great deal of difference.
- 13:24A man may cry out against sin out of principle,
- 13:27but he cannot abhor it unless he has God's own antipathy against it.
- 13:32For instance, I have seen many cry out against sin in the pulpit
- 13:35who yet abide it well enough in their own heart, home, and manner of life.
- 13:41Potiphar's wife cried out against Joseph with a loud voice
- 13:43as if she had been very holy.
- 13:48Yet she would have gladly, despite her cries to the contrary,
- 13:51committed adultery with him.
- 13:52Some cry out against sin as a mother cries out against her child
- 13:56when she calls her a good-for-nothing and a naughty girl
- 13:58and then smothers her with hugs and kisses.
- 14:03I think you're trying to trip me up with details,
- 14:05Talkative accused.
- 14:07Faithful responded,
- 14:09no, I am only trying to set things right.
- 14:12But what is the second way in which a work of grace
- 14:14makes itself known in the heart of man?
- 14:15Great knowledge of gospel mysteries, Talkative offered.
- 14:22Hear this, my theology-loving brothers and sisters.
- 14:26Don't stop loving theology,
- 14:27but be sure you're loving the God of that theology.
- 14:31Faithful countered,
- 14:32this sign should have been first,
- 14:34but first or last, it is also false.
- 14:37For knowledge, even great knowledge,
- 14:39may be obtained in the mysteries of the gospel
- 14:41without a work of grace in the soul.
- 14:43The truth is that a man can have an abundance of knowledge
- 14:47and still be nothing,
- 14:48and so consequently, no child of God.
- 14:52When Christ asked,
- 14:54Do you know all these things?
- 14:56And the disciples answered,
- 14:57Yes.
- 14:58He added,
- 14:59Blessed are you if you do them.
- 15:02That's John 13, 17.
- 15:05He did not pronounce a blessing for knowing,
- 15:08but for doing.
- 15:09For there is a knowledge that is not connected with doing.
- 15:11He that knows his master's will and does not do it.
- 15:16A man may know like an angel,
- 15:18and yet not be a Christian.
- 15:21Therefore, the point you make is not true.
- 15:24Indeed, to know is something that pleases talkers and boasters,
- 15:28but to do is that which pleases God.
- 15:32Not that the heart can be good without knowledge,
- 15:33for without knowledge the heart is empty.
- 15:35But there are two kinds of knowledge.
- 15:37The first alone in its bare speculation of things,
- 15:40and the second is accompanied by the grace of faith and love,
- 15:44which causes a man to do the will of God from the heart.
- 15:49The first kind of knowledge will serve the talker,
- 15:51but a true Christian will not be content
- 15:53until his knowledge results in sincere works that please God.
- 15:57Give me understanding,
- 15:58and I shall keep thy law.
- 16:00Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
- 16:03But Psalm 119 and verse 34.
- 16:08Talkative protested,
- 16:09You are trying to trap me again.
- 16:10This is not edifying.
- 16:12Well then,
- 16:13tell me another way in which the saving grace of God
- 16:15makes itself known when it is in the heart of man,
- 16:18faithful challenged.
- 16:19And Talkative responds,
- 16:21Not I,
- 16:22for I see we shall not agree.
- 16:25So, I hope,
- 16:28one,
- 16:30and less importantly,
- 16:31that you want to read the poem's progress.
- 16:33It'll be good for your soul.
- 16:34Secondly,
- 16:36much more importantly,
- 16:38that you see that it's altogether possible
- 16:40to say that you believe something to be true,
- 16:43to hold it in your mind
- 16:45and have it not affect change
- 16:47in your heart.
- 16:49Those who love God
- 16:51will find themselves in increasing measure
- 16:53loving him in his ways more
- 16:54and hating the world
- 16:56in that way more.
- 16:58There should be an evidencing of this belief.
- 17:04So,
- 17:05the gospel that Paul is not ashamed of
- 17:07is the power of God for salvation
- 17:10to everyone who believes.
- 17:13Have you believed
- 17:15the gospel of Jesus Christ?
- 17:18If you have not,
- 17:20throw yourself
- 17:21on God's mercy
- 17:22this morning.
- 17:24The next phrase we see
- 17:26is the power of God for salvation
- 17:28to everyone who believes
- 17:29to the Jew first
- 17:30and also
- 17:31to the Greek.
- 17:34Here we see
- 17:35a most wonderful declaration.
- 17:38The gospel is offered
- 17:39to everyone.
- 17:42Not just to the person of Jewish descent,
- 17:44but also for all other
- 17:46nationalities.
- 17:49Lloyd-Jones again,
- 17:50he says this,
- 17:50why is this a gospel
- 17:52for everyone?
- 17:53The answer is
- 17:54because it is God's power.
- 17:57If it were not God's power,
- 17:58it would not be for
- 17:59anyone.
- 18:02This statement
- 18:03to the Jew first
- 18:04and also to the Greek
- 18:05is a statement of
- 18:06chronology
- 18:08and not
- 18:09preference.
- 18:11Paul is not saying
- 18:12that the Jewish people
- 18:13have greater importance
- 18:14or more image-bearing
- 18:16worth.
- 18:17historically,
- 18:19salvation came
- 18:20first
- 18:21to the Jews.
- 18:24Now you can think about this
- 18:25as it concerns
- 18:26Jesus' ministry.
- 18:27He was careful
- 18:28in who he came
- 18:30and preached the gospel
- 18:31to.
- 18:33An evidence of this
- 18:33is in Matthew chapter 10
- 18:34verse 5 and 6
- 18:36where he sends out
- 18:37the apostles
- 18:38instructing them,
- 18:39go nowhere among
- 18:41the Gentiles
- 18:41and enter no town
- 18:42of the Samaritans
- 18:43but go rather
- 18:44to the lost sheep
- 18:45of the house
- 18:46of Israel.
- 18:48He was concerned
- 18:49chronologically
- 18:51but not in
- 18:52importance.
- 18:54In keeping with this point,
- 18:55when Jesus appears
- 18:56to the disciples
- 18:56at Acts 1,
- 18:57what does he tell them
- 18:58there?
- 18:59You will receive
- 19:00power.
- 19:02This is the verse 8.
- 19:02when the Holy Spirit
- 19:04has come upon you
- 19:05and you will be
- 19:05my witnesses in,
- 19:07think chronology,
- 19:08Jerusalem,
- 19:10in all Judea
- 19:10and Samaria
- 19:12and to the end
- 19:13of the earth.
- 19:15this gospel
- 19:17is the power
- 19:18of God
- 19:18for salvation
- 19:19for these
- 19:21Roman believers
- 19:21whether Jewish
- 19:23or not
- 19:24and most scholars
- 19:25agree that this
- 19:26was a mixed audience.
- 19:29Paul is going
- 19:29to develop this
- 19:30truth further
- 19:31for us
- 19:31throughout his letter
- 19:32with particular
- 19:33intention to its
- 19:34implications
- 19:34in chapter 11
- 19:36so I'll let you
- 19:37hold your breath
- 19:37on all that this
- 19:38means until
- 19:39chapter 11
- 19:40but this morning
- 19:41simply and
- 19:42profoundly hear
- 19:43this
- 19:44this gospel
- 19:45is the power
- 19:46of God
- 19:47for salvation
- 19:48for you
- 19:50regardless of
- 19:51how you might
- 19:52perceive yourself
- 19:53however far
- 19:55you might be
- 19:56from his grace
- 19:57however far
- 19:58you think
- 19:59you may be
- 20:00from salvation
- 20:00God is powerful
- 20:02to reach you
- 20:03and bring you
- 20:04to himself
- 20:05to the Jew
- 20:07first
- 20:08and also
- 20:08to the Greek
- 20:09this includes
- 20:10an offer
- 20:11to all people
- 20:12to repent
- 20:13and believe
- 20:15he goes on
- 20:17in his logical
- 20:18progression
- 20:19he keeps
- 20:19adding these
- 20:20fours
- 20:21beginning of
- 20:22verse 17
- 20:23for in it
- 20:24the righteousness
- 20:25of God
- 20:27is revealed
- 20:28Paul tells us
- 20:30that something
- 20:31is revealed
- 20:32which means
- 20:33to make
- 20:34plain
- 20:34or make
- 20:35clear
- 20:35or make
- 20:36known
- 20:37we do
- 20:38not have
- 20:39Christianity
- 20:40without
- 20:40revelation
- 20:41we will
- 20:43not stumble
- 20:43across
- 20:44saving truth
- 20:45without a
- 20:45loving God
- 20:46making it
- 20:47known
- 20:47to us
- 20:48we believe
- 20:49that the
- 20:50scripture
- 20:50is the
- 20:50revelation
- 20:51of God
- 20:52to us
- 20:53Paul says
- 20:54that the
- 20:55powerful gospel
- 20:56makes
- 20:57something
- 20:58known
- 20:59it makes
- 21:00known
- 21:01the
- 21:01righteousness
- 21:02of God
- 21:04let's begin
- 21:06understanding
- 21:07this phrase
- 21:07by defining
- 21:08the word
- 21:09righteousness
- 21:10let's just
- 21:10start there
- 21:11righteousness
- 21:12is the
- 21:13quality
- 21:13of being
- 21:15morally
- 21:16perfect
- 21:17and don't
- 21:18miss this
- 21:19morally
- 21:20perfect
- 21:21without
- 21:21fault
- 21:23having both
- 21:25obeyed
- 21:25everything
- 21:26and not
- 21:27disobeyed
- 21:28everything
- 21:28morally
- 21:28perfect
- 21:29Paul says
- 21:32the gospel
- 21:32reveals
- 21:33the
- 21:33righteousness
- 21:34of
- 21:35God
- 21:37now
- 21:38certainly
- 21:38our
- 21:39God
- 21:39is
- 21:40righteous
- 21:41he is
- 21:42without
- 21:42fault
- 21:43he is
- 21:44morally
- 21:45perfect
- 21:45we often
- 21:46use the
- 21:46word
- 21:47holy
- 21:48to describe
- 21:48this
- 21:49attribute
- 21:50think of
- 21:51revelation
- 21:514 8
- 21:53this picture
- 21:53that John
- 21:54has of
- 21:54heaven
- 21:54of four
- 21:55living
- 21:56creatures
- 21:56with six
- 21:57wings
- 21:57and full
- 21:58of eyes
- 21:58around
- 21:59and within
- 21:59day and
- 22:00night
- 22:00they never
- 22:00cease to
- 22:01say
- 22:02you think
- 22:03of what
- 22:03they say
- 22:03holy
- 22:04holy
- 22:05holy
- 22:06which is
- 22:07a compounding
- 22:08thing in
- 22:08Greek
- 22:09saying
- 22:09perfectly
- 22:10holy
- 22:10without
- 22:11any fault
- 22:11he is
- 22:12holy
- 22:12upon
- 22:12holy
- 22:13upon
- 22:13holy
- 22:13is the
- 22:14Lord
- 22:14God
- 22:14almighty
- 22:15who was
- 22:16and is
- 22:16and is
- 22:17to come
- 22:19but
- 22:21is it
- 22:21God's
- 22:22holiness
- 22:22that Paul
- 22:24is here
- 22:24referring to
- 22:26a certain
- 22:28Augustinian
- 22:28monk
- 22:28by the name
- 22:29of Martin
- 22:29Luther
- 22:30thought
- 22:30so
- 22:30to his
- 22:31great
- 22:32detriment
- 22:33look out
- 22:34I've got a
- 22:34second book
- 22:35this morning
- 22:36I keep
- 22:38saying I
- 22:38need a
- 22:39larger
- 22:39pulpit
- 22:40I need a
- 22:41preaching
- 22:41desk
- 22:42this is
- 22:45really key
- 22:45right
- 22:46we are
- 22:46Protestants
- 22:47for good
- 22:47reasons
- 22:48right
- 22:48we believe
- 22:49in
- 22:49sola
- 22:49scriptura
- 22:49we believe
- 22:50what it
- 22:50teaches
- 22:50us to
- 22:51be
- 22:51true
- 22:51we had
- 22:52better
- 22:53get
- 22:53this
- 22:54right
- 22:54this
- 22:55is
- 22:55the
- 22:55text
- 22:56that
- 22:56launched
- 22:57the
- 22:57Protestant
- 22:57Reformation
- 22:58I'm going to
- 23:00step over
- 23:00a little bit
- 23:01of history
- 23:01I'm reading
- 23:02Lloyd-Jones
- 23:03quoting
- 23:03Luther
- 23:04and I
- 23:04hope
- 23:04that
- 23:04it'll
- 23:04be
- 23:05clear
- 23:05when
- 23:05he's
- 23:06speaking
- 23:06and
- 23:06when
- 23:06Luther
- 23:06is
- 23:06speaking
- 23:07if
- 23:08not
- 23:08you're
- 23:09welcome
- 23:09to
- 23:09borrow
- 23:09my
- 23:10book
- 23:10listen
- 23:11carefully
- 23:12it is
- 23:14just
- 23:15at this
- 23:15point
- 23:16we're
- 23:16talking
- 23:17about
- 23:17right
- 23:17now
- 23:17that
- 23:18the
- 23:18experience
- 23:18of
- 23:19Luther
- 23:19is
- 23:19such
- 23:19great
- 23:20value
- 23:20to
- 23:21us
- 23:21because
- 23:21Luther
- 23:22while
- 23:23he
- 23:23was
- 23:23yet
- 23:23a
- 23:23Roman
- 23:24Catholic
- 23:24decided
- 23:25to
- 23:25give
- 23:25a
- 23:25series
- 23:25of
- 23:26lectures
- 23:26on
- 23:26the
- 23:27epistle
- 23:27to
- 23:27the
- 23:28Romans
- 23:28he
- 23:29came
- 23:30up
- 23:30against
- 23:30this
- 23:31verse
- 23:32and
- 23:32because
- 23:33of
- 23:33his
- 23:33misinterpretation
- 23:35of the
- 23:35meaning
- 23:36of
- 23:36the
- 23:36righteousness
- 23:37of
- 23:37God
- 23:38he
- 23:39passed
- 23:39through
- 23:40an
- 23:40agony
- 23:41of
- 23:41soul
- 23:42listen
- 23:44to his
- 23:44own
- 23:44words
- 23:45I
- 23:46labor
- 23:46diligently
- 23:47and
- 23:47anxiously
- 23:48as
- 23:48to
- 23:48know
- 23:49how
- 23:49to
- 23:49understand
- 23:50Paul's
- 23:50word
- 23:51in
- 23:51Romans
- 23:51117
- 23:52where
- 23:53he
- 23:53says
- 23:53the
- 23:53righteousness
- 23:54of
- 23:54God
- 23:55is
- 23:55revealed
- 23:56in
- 23:56the
- 23:56gospel
- 23:57I
- 23:58sought
- 23:58long
- 23:59and
- 23:59knocked
- 23:59anxiously
- 24:00for
- 24:00the
- 24:01expression
- 24:01the
- 24:02righteousness
- 24:02of
- 24:02God
- 24:03blocked
- 24:04the
- 24:04way
- 24:05you
- 24:07see
- 24:07he
- 24:08thought
- 24:08it
- 24:08was
- 24:08just
- 24:09a
- 24:09description
- 24:09of
- 24:09God's
- 24:10character
- 24:10and
- 24:11of
- 24:11God's
- 24:11being
- 24:11and
- 24:12as
- 24:12he
- 24:12stood
- 24:13before
- 24:13this
- 24:13revelation
- 24:14of
- 24:14God
- 24:14who
- 24:14is
- 24:14light
- 24:15and
- 24:15in
- 24:15whom
- 24:15there
- 24:15is
- 24:16no
- 24:16darkness
- 24:16at
- 24:17all
- 24:17a
- 24:17God
- 24:17who
- 24:18was
- 24:18so
- 24:18just
- 24:18that
- 24:19he
- 24:19cannot
- 24:19even
- 24:19look
- 24:20upon
- 24:20sin
- 24:20as
- 24:21he
- 24:21saw
- 24:21this
- 24:22righteousness
- 24:22of
- 24:22God
- 24:23he
- 24:23just
- 24:24felt
- 24:24it
- 24:24was
- 24:24impossible
- 24:25he
- 24:26says
- 24:26that
- 24:26this
- 24:27expression
- 24:27the
- 24:27righteousness
- 24:28of
- 24:28God
- 24:28blocked
- 24:29the
- 24:29way
- 24:30to
- 24:30salvation
- 24:30for
- 24:31him
- 24:32and
- 24:33he
- 24:34went
- 24:34further
- 24:34and
- 24:34said
- 24:35as
- 24:36often
- 24:36as
- 24:36I
- 24:36read
- 24:36that
- 24:36declaration
- 24:37I
- 24:37wished
- 24:38always
- 24:38that
- 24:38God
- 24:39had
- 24:39not
- 24:39made
- 24:39the
- 24:40gospel
- 24:40known
- 24:41you
- 24:42see
- 24:42he
- 24:43thought
- 24:43that
- 24:44it
- 24:44meant
- 24:44that
- 24:44in
- 24:44the
- 24:44Old
- 24:48Ten
- 24:48Commandments
- 24:48and
- 24:48the
- 24:48moral
- 24:49law
- 24:49yes
- 24:50but
- 24:50he
- 24:50thought
- 24:51it
- 24:51was
- 24:51an
- 24:51imperfect
- 24:52revelation
- 24:52of
- 24:53it
- 24:53and
- 24:55that
- 24:55it's
- 24:55only
- 24:55in
- 24:56Christ
- 24:56you
- 24:56get
- 24:56a
- 24:57full
- 24:57revelation
- 24:58and
- 24:59one
- 24:59which
- 24:59is
- 25:00infinitely
- 25:00greater
- 25:02he
- 25:03thought
- 25:03the
- 25:03gospel
- 25:04of
- 25:04Jesus
- 25:04Christ
- 25:05was
- 25:05condemning
- 25:06to
- 25:06him
- 25:06as
- 25:06it
- 25:06revealed
- 25:07God's
- 25:08righteousness
- 25:09he
- 25:11misunderstood
- 25:11the
- 25:12text
- 25:13and
- 25:13he
- 25:13found
- 25:14it
- 25:14to
- 25:14be
- 25:14a
- 25:14block
- 25:15for
- 25:15him
- 25:15to
- 25:15believe
- 25:16the
- 25:17gospel
- 25:17he
- 25:17wished
- 25:18the
- 25:18gospel
- 25:18had
- 25:18been
- 25:19never
- 25:19preached
- 25:20praise
- 25:23be
- 25:23to
- 25:24God
- 25:24that
- 25:24he
- 25:24unveiled
- 25:25the
- 25:25full
- 25:26meaning
- 25:26of
- 25:26this
- 25:26text
- 25:27to
- 25:27Luther
- 25:28before
- 25:29we
- 25:30get
- 25:30to
- 25:30the
- 25:30last
- 25:31part
- 25:31of
- 25:31verse
- 25:3117
- 25:32look
- 25:32with
- 25:32me
- 25:33at
- 25:33another
- 25:33verse
- 25:34where
- 25:34Paul
- 25:34employs
- 25:35this
- 25:35phrase
- 25:36the
- 25:36righteousness
- 25:36of
- 25:37God
- 25:38this
- 25:38is
- 25:38Romans
- 25:38chapter
- 25:383
- 25:39and
- 25:39verse
- 25:3921
- 25:40if
- 25:41you'd
- 25:41like
- 25:41to
- 25:41turn
- 25:41there
- 25:42briefly
- 25:42here
- 25:45we
- 25:45see
- 25:45right at
- 25:46the
- 25:46beginning
- 25:46of verse
- 25:4621
- 25:47but
- 25:47now
- 25:48the
- 25:49righteousness
- 25:49of
- 25:50God
- 25:50there
- 25:51it
- 25:51is
- 25:51again
- 25:51the
- 25:51righteousness
- 25:52of
- 25:52God
- 25:53has
- 25:54been
- 25:54manifested
- 25:55or
- 25:56revealed
- 25:57apart
- 25:58from the
- 26:00law
- 26:00although
- 26:00the
- 26:01law
- 26:01and the
- 26:02prophets
- 26:03bear witness
- 26:04God
- 26:05to
- 26:05God
- 26:06to
- 26:07God
- 26:07to
- 26:07us
- 26:07to
- 26:08us
- 26:08to
- 26:09!
- 26:09to
- 26:11us
- 26:12by
- 26:13Christ
- 26:14has
- 26:15been
- 26:15revealed
- 26:17Luther
- 26:18came to
- 26:19understand
- 26:20the
- 26:20doctrine
- 26:20of
- 26:21double
- 26:21imputation
- 26:22which
- 26:23he called
- 26:23the
- 26:24great
- 26:24exchange
- 26:26our
- 26:27sin
- 26:27given
- 26:28to
- 26:28Christ
- 26:28and
- 26:29his
- 26:29righteousness
- 26:30given
- 26:30imputed
- 26:31to
- 26:32us
- 26:33Paul
- 26:35speaks of
- 26:35this in
- 26:362nd
- 26:36Corinthians
- 26:36chapter 5
- 26:37verse
- 26:3821
- 26:39where he
- 26:39says
- 26:39for our
- 26:40sake
- 26:40God
- 26:41made
- 26:41Christ
- 26:42to be
- 26:42sin
- 26:43gave
- 26:44our
- 26:45sin
- 26:45to
- 26:45Jesus
- 26:46who
- 26:47knew
- 26:47no
- 26:47sin
- 26:48he
- 26:48was
- 26:49perfect
- 26:49without
- 26:50fault
- 26:50he
- 26:51was
- 26:51holy
- 26:52so
- 26:52that
- 26:53in
- 26:53Christ
- 26:54we
- 26:55might
- 26:55become
- 26:55the
- 26:56righteousness
- 26:56of
- 26:57God
- 26:58right
- 26:58his
- 26:58law
- 26:59keeping
- 26:59given
- 26:59to
- 27:01us
- 27:02we've
- 27:04got to
- 27:04get this
- 27:04right
- 27:04if we're
- 27:05going to
- 27:05understand
- 27:05this
- 27:06verse
- 27:07again
- 27:09from
- 27:09Lloyd
- 27:09Jones
- 27:10speaking
- 27:10of
- 27:11Luther
- 27:11he
- 27:11called
- 27:12that
- 27:13abstract
- 27:14conception
- 27:15of the
- 27:15righteousness
- 27:16of
- 27:16God
- 27:16and
- 27:17he
- 27:17could
- 27:17not
- 27:17get
- 27:18past
- 27:18it
- 27:18God's
- 27:20holiness
- 27:20but
- 27:21then
- 27:21he
- 27:22suddenly
- 27:22saw
- 27:22this
- 27:23phrase
- 27:24the
- 27:24just
- 27:25shall
- 27:25live
- 27:26by
- 27:27faith
- 27:28oh
- 27:29he
- 27:29said
- 27:30there
- 27:30is
- 27:31such
- 27:31a
- 27:31thing
- 27:31after
- 27:32all
- 27:32then
- 27:32as
- 27:32a
- 27:32just
- 27:33person
- 27:33a
- 27:33righteous
- 27:34person
- 27:35there
- 27:36is
- 27:36the
- 27:36abstract
- 27:37righteousness
- 27:37here
- 27:38is
- 27:38the
- 27:38concrete
- 27:39righteousness
- 27:40he
- 27:42then
- 27:42said
- 27:43what
- 27:43is
- 27:43this
- 27:44and
- 27:45suddenly
- 27:45he
- 27:46saw
- 27:46it
- 27:46he
- 27:47saw
- 27:47that
- 27:48this
- 27:48is
- 27:48the
- 27:48whole
- 27:48difference
- 27:49between
- 27:49the
- 27:49law
- 27:50and
- 27:50faith
- 27:51he
- 27:51had
- 27:52been
- 27:52trying
- 27:52to
- 27:52work
- 27:53a
- 27:53righteousness
- 27:53according
- 27:54to
- 27:54the
- 27:54law
- 27:54but
- 27:55there
- 27:55is
- 27:55an
- 27:55absolute
- 27:56stumbling
- 27:56block
- 27:57to
- 27:57that
- 27:57this
- 27:58righteousness
- 27:59of
- 27:59God
- 27:59but
- 28:00now
- 28:01he
- 28:01begins
- 28:02to
- 28:02see
- 28:03how
- 28:04are
- 28:04these
- 28:04people
- 28:04righteous
- 28:05Ah!
- 28:06it
- 28:06is a
- 28:06righteousness
- 28:07by
- 28:07faith
- 28:08so
- 28:09then
- 28:09that
- 28:10righteousness
- 28:10of
- 28:10God
- 28:10does
- 28:11not
- 28:11mean
- 28:11the
- 28:11attribute
- 28:12of
- 28:12God
- 28:13it
- 28:13is
- 28:14a
- 28:14righteousness
- 28:14that
- 28:15God
- 28:15gives
- 28:16so
- 28:17hear
- 28:17that
- 28:17it's
- 28:18the
- 28:18righteousness
- 28:18that
- 28:18comes
- 28:19from
- 28:19him
- 28:20it's
- 28:20a
- 28:20righteousness
- 28:20he
- 28:21gives
- 28:21and
- 28:22he
- 28:22gives
- 28:22it
- 28:22to
- 28:23faith
- 28:24Luther's
- 28:25whole
- 28:26life
- 28:26was
- 28:26revolutionized
- 28:27he
- 28:28saw
- 28:28the
- 28:28abstract
- 28:29and
- 28:29the
- 28:29concrete
- 28:30coming
- 28:30together
- 28:31and
- 28:31this
- 28:31is
- 28:32how
- 28:32he
- 28:32puts
- 28:33it
- 28:33when
- 28:34I
- 28:34saw
- 28:34the
- 28:35difference
- 28:35that
- 28:35law
- 28:35is
- 28:36one
- 28:36thing
- 28:36and
- 28:36gospel
- 28:37another
- 28:37I
- 28:38broke
- 28:38through
- 28:39he
- 28:40broke
- 28:40through
- 28:40the
- 28:41barrier
- 28:41that
- 28:41was
- 28:41holding
- 28:41him
- 28:42back
- 28:42and
- 28:42he
- 28:42goes
- 28:42on
- 28:43as
- 28:43I
- 28:43had
- 28:43formerly
- 28:44hated
- 28:44the
- 28:44expression
- 28:45the
- 28:45righteousness
- 28:45of
- 28:45God
- 28:46I
- 28:46now
- 28:46began
- 28:47to
- 28:47regard
- 28:47it
- 28:47as
- 28:47my
- 28:48dearest
- 28:48and
- 28:48most
- 28:49comforting
- 28:49word
- 28:49so
- 28:50that
- 28:50this
- 28:50expression
- 28:51of
- 28:51Paul's
- 28:51became
- 28:52to me
- 28:52in
- 28:52very
- 28:52truth
- 28:53a
- 28:53gate
- 28:53to
- 28:54paradise
- 28:54what
- 28:56a
- 28:56revelation
- 28:56what
- 28:57a
- 28:57transformation
- 28:58from
- 28:59a
- 28:59miserable
- 29:00wretched
- 29:00unhappy
- 29:00monk
- 29:01counting
- 29:01his
- 29:01beads
- 29:02and
- 29:02fasting
- 29:02and
- 29:02sweating
- 29:03and
- 29:03praying
- 29:03and
- 29:04yet
- 29:04being
- 29:04more
- 29:05and
- 29:05more
- 29:05conscious
- 29:06of
- 29:06failure
- 29:06to
- 29:07the
- 29:07herald
- 29:08of
- 29:08the
- 29:09reformation
- 29:09to
- 29:10the
- 29:10glorious
- 29:10preacher
- 29:11of
- 29:11the
- 29:11gospel
- 29:11rejoicing
- 29:12in
- 29:12the
- 29:12glorious
- 29:13liberty
- 29:13of
- 29:14the
- 29:14children
- 29:14of
- 29:15God
- 29:15and
- 29:16it
- 29:16came
- 29:16to
- 29:17him
- 29:17through
- 29:17understanding
- 29:18Romans
- 29:191
- 29:1917
- 29:20the
- 29:21abstract
- 29:21righteousness
- 29:22the
- 29:23concrete
- 29:24righteousness
- 29:25a
- 29:26righteousness
- 29:26that's
- 29:27granted
- 29:27to
- 29:28us
- 29:28by
- 29:30Christ
- 29:31in
- 29:32the
- 29:32power
- 29:32of
- 29:33the
- 29:33gospel
- 29:33to
- 29:34see
- 29:35this
- 29:35and
- 29:35see
- 29:36it
- 29:36clearly
- 29:36to
- 29:37get
- 29:37the
- 29:37gospel
- 29:37right
- 29:39the
- 29:41final
- 29:41phrase
- 29:42the
- 29:42rest
- 29:42of
- 29:42verse
- 29:4317
- 29:43from
- 29:44faith
- 29:44for
- 29:44faith
- 29:45as
- 29:46it
- 29:46is
- 29:46written
- 29:46the
- 29:47righteous
- 29:47shall
- 29:48live
- 29:48by
- 29:49faith
- 29:49now
- 29:50I
- 29:52love
- 29:52and
- 29:52appreciate
- 29:53that
- 29:53Paul
- 29:54is
- 29:54an
- 29:54Old
- 29:54Testament
- 29:54preacher
- 29:55let's
- 29:56not
- 29:56unhitch
- 29:57our
- 29:57faith
- 29:57from
- 29:58it
- 29:58Paul
- 29:59has
- 29:59now
- 30:00referenced
- 30:00faith
- 30:01four
- 30:01times
- 30:02in
- 30:02verses
- 30:0216
- 30:03and
- 30:0317
- 30:04he
- 30:05refers
- 30:05to
- 30:05everyone
- 30:05who
- 30:06believes
- 30:07or
- 30:07has
- 30:07faith
- 30:08in
- 30:08verse
- 30:0816
- 30:09and
- 30:09then
- 30:09we
- 30:09see
- 30:10in
- 30:10this
- 30:10last
- 30:10bit
- 30:10of
- 30:11phrase
- 30:11again
- 30:12from
- 30:12faith
- 30:13for
- 30:13faith
- 30:13as
- 30:14it
- 30:14is
- 30:14written
- 30:14the
- 30:15righteous
- 30:15shall
- 30:15live
- 30:15by
- 30:16faith
- 30:17which
- 30:18is
- 30:18a
- 30:18citation
- 30:19from
- 30:19Habakkuk
- 30:192
- 30:204
- 30:21recall
- 30:23that
- 30:23I
- 30:23have
- 30:23told
- 30:24you
- 30:24that
- 30:24the
- 30:24theme
- 30:24of
- 30:24this
- 30:24letter
- 30:25is
- 30:25that
- 30:25we
- 30:25are
- 30:25justified
- 30:26by
- 30:26grace
- 30:27alone
- 30:27through
- 30:28faith
- 30:28alone
- 30:29in
- 30:29Christ
- 30:30alone
- 30:30a
- 30:32lot
- 30:32of
- 30:32ink
- 30:33has
- 30:33been
- 30:33spilled
- 30:33working
- 30:34out
- 30:34the
- 30:34exact
- 30:35meaning
- 30:35of
- 30:35the
- 30:35phrase
- 30:36from
- 30:36faith
- 30:37for
- 30:37faith
- 30:38and
- 30:39I'm
- 30:39going
- 30:39to
- 30:39spare
- 30:39you
- 30:40the
- 30:40details
- 30:40by
- 30:41simply
- 30:41telling
- 30:41you
- 30:42the
- 30:42prominent
- 30:43view
- 30:43which
- 30:44I
- 30:44wholeheartedly
- 30:45agree
- 30:45with
- 30:46if
- 30:46you'd
- 30:46love
- 30:47to
- 30:47read
- 30:47about
- 30:47it
- 30:47I
- 30:48encourage
- 30:48you
- 30:49to
- 30:49do
- 30:49so
- 30:49with
- 30:50your
- 30:50muck
- 30:51boots
- 30:51on
- 30:51another
- 30:53fair
- 30:53way
- 30:54to
- 30:54translate
- 30:54this
- 30:55phrase
- 30:55would
- 30:55be
- 30:56by
- 30:56faith
- 30:57to
- 30:58faith
- 30:59so
- 31:00the
- 31:00righteousness
- 31:01of
- 31:01God
- 31:01is
- 31:01granted
- 31:02by
- 31:02faith
- 31:03to
- 31:03faith
- 31:04and
- 31:05this
- 31:06phrase
- 31:06parallels
- 31:06believes
- 31:07in
- 31:07verse
- 31:0716
- 31:08and
- 31:08adds
- 31:09to
- 31:09it
- 31:10continuing
- 31:11faith
- 31:12John
- 31:14MacArthur
- 31:14says of
- 31:15this
- 31:15text
- 31:15there
- 31:15is
- 31:16emphasis
- 31:16here
- 31:16on
- 31:17the
- 31:17continuity
- 31:17of
- 31:18faith
- 31:18it
- 31:19is
- 31:19not
- 31:19a
- 31:20one
- 31:20time
- 31:20act
- 31:20but
- 31:21a
- 31:21way
- 31:21of
- 31:21life
- 31:22the
- 31:23true
- 31:23believer
- 31:24made
- 31:24righteous
- 31:24will
- 31:24live
- 31:25in
- 31:25faith
- 31:26all
- 31:27of
- 31:27his
- 31:27or
- 31:28her
- 31:28life
- 31:29this
- 31:30is
- 31:30the
- 31:30doctrine
- 31:31of
- 31:31the
- 31:31perseverance
- 31:31of
- 31:32the
- 31:32saints
- 31:32we
- 31:32believe
- 31:33and
- 31:33we
- 31:33believe
- 31:34and
- 31:34we
- 31:35believe
- 31:35we
- 31:36hang
- 31:36on
- 31:37to
- 31:37the
- 31:37precious
- 31:38promises
- 31:38that
- 31:39are
- 31:39ours
- 31:40in
- 31:40Christ
- 31:41and
- 31:41we
- 31:41do
- 31:42so
- 31:42until
- 31:43the
- 31:43end
- 31:43and
- 31:45the
- 31:45promise
- 31:45that
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