The Righteousness of God

Sept. 8, 2002                                                                                                                      Northwest Bible Church

Romans 1:17

The Righteousness of God

INTRO

Today, the gospel is like a sponge.  It absorbs the pop culture around us, secular psychology, worldly philosophies, the ever changing mystical mist of what is called “spirituality.”  It has changed its focus to be man-centered rather than God-centered.          It is vitally important that we understand the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is being severely eroded today in the church.  The book of Romans will correct all of the above errors.

In v. 17 Paul is laying out for us a deeper understanding of the gospel and the primary issues that are involved.

I.  THE GOSPEL DEALS WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

A. God’s righteousness and salvation.

“For” - gives us the reason why the gospel is the power of God for salvation.  Why can the gospel save?  Because it alone can solve the problem of the righteousness of God.  Here’s the delimma:

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS

MAN IS AN UNRIGHTEOUS SINNER

GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS REQUIRES THAT SINNERS BE JUDGED

HOW CAN AN UNRIGHTEOUS SINNER EVER ENTER THE PRESENCE                                      OF A RIGHTEOUS GOD?  HOW CAN HE EVER BECOME                                                       RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF A RIGHTEOUS GOD?

The theme of righteousness controls the book of Romans.  It is found 64 times in the book in the form of either “righteous,” “righteousness,” “just,” etc.

Cf. Romans 2:5; 3:10; 4:3-5; 5:17; 6:19; 9:30-31.

B.  The gospel reveals the righteousness of God.    “In the [gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed” -  What does “the righteousness of God” mean?

1) God’s own righteousness.

2) The righteousness that God requires for entry into heaven.

3) The righteousness of God that God gives.

C. The righteousness of God is received by faith.

1) Not that our faith is an act of righteousness.

2) The righteousness of God is received by faith. The gospel is the good news of a righteousness acceptable to God and available to men graciously on the condition of faith.

3) The quotation from Hab. 2:4 is very important.  It is also found in Gal. 3:11 and in Heb. 10:38.  It teaches that the righteous man lives by faith, and that this is not a new concept invented by Paul.

4) But what does the phrase, “from faith to faith” mean?   DIFFICULT.

a) Faith alone.

b) Witnessing faith.

c) Righteousness by faith revealed to believers.

d) Persevering faith.

CONCLUSION

This is why the gospel has the power to save because it has the power to impart God’s righteousness to unrighteous sinners.