|  |  | |  |   | | | The Foundation of Grace John Lusk, Evangelist Denver Church of Christ
Romans 1:1 - 3:20
It is challenging and inspiring to learn about the depth of God’s nature. Many aggressively misunderstand and teach about grace in such a way that it hurts people’s faith in God. Here is a definition of grace:
“The favor of God freely given to the undeserving.”
With this definition in mind we may think we understand it clearly. Our problem isn’t our understanding of grace and how God shows it to us through his favor. The problem is we do not truly grasp just how undeserving we are. When we lose gratitude over how wretched we are, we rob ourselves of the true motivational power of God’s incredible favor for our lives. This is the key area that we need to comprehend before we can fully appreciate God’s grace.
Once we understand God’s definition of grace, we will begin with Paul’s discussion of the wrath of God. This concept is often misunderstood because of our human experience with anger. However, God’s wrath is a fair and natural outgrowth of His just character. We think of wrath as arbitrary, capricious, or simply out-of-control. However, just as God is love, God is just. We cannot accept one part of His character and reject the other side.
Understanding Sin in Light of Man’s Nature
1. The Sinfulness of the Nonreligious Person (Gentile) 1:18-32
A. Paul didn’t hold back on going after sin here. He jumped right in.
1. This is the just part of God and how He deals with sin.
2. This doesn’t counteract His love for us.
B. Sinful nature of the Gentiles. They didn’t lack truth; they simply suppressed it. They had enough in life to know God.
1. The creation was the first way. It is seen in all cultures.
2. Their conscience. Romans 2:12-15. It was a law on their hearts. There is a social conscience
presence in every society. They are held to what they know and not just simply what they do not know.
C. Progress of the sinful nature
1. They gave no glory or thanks to God. They had become ungrateful and prideful.
2. Their thinking became futile – messed up and skewed.
3. They started making mistakes and cut off the relationship with God.
4. They redefined God on their own terms.
D. God gave them over to their evil desires. Quote by C.S. Lewis: “They enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded, and are therefore self-enslaved.”
It all started when they lost their relationship with God. It was not because of a lack of truth, but a lack of gratitude. We must track our level of gratitude throughout the day. The real issue always is our relationship with God. On a scale of 1-10, how amazed are you of God? How much do you appreciate your relationship with Him?
2. The Sinfulness of the Religious Person (Jew) 2:1-16
A. Righteousness is a moral attribute of God which is unattainable by man apart from God’s grace.
B. Our goods deeds don’t make us righteous either – 2:17-24
1. We get so involved in helping others that we become prideful and blind to our own sin.
2. Circumcision – 2:25-28 – we can’t hide behind this either.
3. You are a Jew if you have a righteous heart that shows in your life.
C. What advantage is there in being a Jew then? What value is it? You can even be closer to God because of the law.
D. Conclusion: Everyone is under Romans 3:9-20.
Our plan for salvation isn’t working. Is it fair? Is it fair if you die and go to hell or your grandmother dies and goes to hell? What is fair is that we go to hell for our sin – see Romans 6:23 regarding the wages of sin. God says if we sin, then we die. We all get many years of mercy in the hope that we will turn and come back to God. Some will say, I didn’t know it was wrong. Would you tell your parents about your sin or advertise it to the world? We all know. | | |
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