“The Power and Righteousness of God”
Romans 1
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 50:4‐11
The Sovereign Lord has given me His words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will. The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear! See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys His servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.
The theme this week: Paul is introducing himself to the Romans, developing his authenticity of the Gospel, and at the same time trying to create a kinship with the citizens of Rome. He uses his intellect from the best education of his day and lastly shares with them that he is a Roman citizen.
New Testament reading: Romans 1:14‐17
I am a debtor to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish—hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”
Paul was a Roman citizen, he had great privilege and yet Paul says that there is nothing compared to Jesus as Lord (a title reserved for Caesar.) ~D. Moore
Paul again states he is not ashamed of his belief, he is not ashamed by the Roman understanding of Jesus, not ashamed by the Greeks’ understanding of Jesus. He continues to be undeterred by the Pharisees and leaders of the temple in their belief of Jesus. So, in contrast to the earthly world belief about Jesus, Paul is enthusiastic to share the Good News to the Romans. ~D. Moore
1 Corinthians 1:24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
God’s wisdom is better than my wisdom or yours, or the leadership of the Roman Empire, or all the philosophers in Athens, and the temple leadership in Jerusalem. So, if God chooses the painful way for Himself to bring righteousness to us, that is His wisdom, and we should not be ashamed of His wisdom. ~D. Moore
I am amazed, and we all should be too. Because of His love, the depth of which we cannot fathom, God has spent His energy and focus on bringing us back to Him. That is the power of God and His wisdom. ~D. Moore
And what we get then, is the righteousness of God. ~D. Moore
The Meaning of Righteousness:
*What is right; justice; the act of doing what is in agreement with God’s standards; the state of being in a proper relationship with God.
Thayer says:
‐In a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the conditions acceptable to God
When we think of righteousness we are agreeing with God. As Christians we have been given a gift of faith, which allows us to believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God who died for our sins, and we are given righteousness. Our sins are forgiven, and we then appear to God as righteous people. We did nothing except use our own faith to believe in God’s only Son. ~D. Moore
Habakkuk 2:1‐4 The righteous will live by faith.
Do not worry about what the world sees in you, you have been given the Good News, you have Jesus. And that is enough to live by.
This week: thank God for the faith you have been given and that your sins have been forgiven. God bless. Look to the Christ in all that you do.