If you would, turn to Romans
chapter 1. Romans chapter 1. I'm just going to read verses 15
to 18. Romans chapter 1 verse 15. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel
to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the
just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who
hold the truth in unrighteousness." I'm just going to stop right
there for right now. I've got some more to say about
what comes on after. But what I want to speak to today,
if I can, two things revealed in the gospel The gospel of Christ is the power
of God unto salvation to everyone that believes To both the Jew
and the Greek There's only one gospel There's only one message
and it doesn't matter whether you're a barbarian or a Scythian
or a Jew or a Greek Paul said I am become all men of all things
to all men But the gospel doesn't change. There's only one message
He will come at it from a different direction when speaking to a
Jew than speaking to a Greek But it's still the same message
there is only the gospel of Christ but here specifically Tells us that the belief of the
truth is necessary to salvation the belief of the gospel is necessary
to salvation Sanctification of the Holy Spirit does come first
and belief of the truth Both are necessary as Walter spoke
about a couple of weeks ago But here in Romans 1 Paul is two
very specific things revealed in the gospel And I want to try
and speak to both of them Number one is the righteousness of God
is revealed. Therein. But the second thing
is also true. The wrath of God is revealed. That's what a lot of people don't
want to have a lot to do with. But it's just as true as the
righteousness of God. It's just as true as the holiness
of God. The wrath of God is just as holy as his righteousness
is holy. But here in verse 17, he starts
off, for they're in. And of course, the question is
then, they're in what? In what? Well, the reference
is into verse 15 and 16, the gospel. They're in the gospel in the
gospel Specifically as Paul wrote it here. He calls it the gospel
of Christ But therein Paul starts to expand from verse 15 and verse
16 therein I Am ready to preach the gospel to you at Rome Why
for therein? Like I said, there's two things
here in this scripture revealed in the gospel now You might wonder why I'm not
going to talk about and I'm not that closely it is the power
of God unto salvation Well, that's Paul stating in this place in
this context that stating what the gospel is Then he goes on
to expound beyond that to explain it therein The righteousness
of God is revealed therein the wrath of God is revealed So yes,
you can say the power of God is revealed in the gospel it
is But that's not what we're using here is the context that's
not what Paul was talking about He made that flat statement the
gospel is the power of God under salvation to everyone that believeth
Then he goes on therein Preaching Christ crucified The gospel is
the power of God and the wisdom of God definitely To them which are called Paul's being very specific here
Paul is very specific everywhere in his writings Therein it says
is the righteousness of God reveal The first thing listed here is
the righteousness of God So you start off and I want to start
off with the negative It's not talking about the righteousness
of man Okay, the gospel does not reveal the righteousness
of man The gospel reveals the righteousness of God. The gospel,
matter of fact, it does exactly the opposite of that. The gospel
reveals the unrighteousness of man, and first, actually, the
ungodliness of man. Death has passed upon every man.
What? For that all have sinned. The
gospel tells us this man's righteousnesses, man's good works, are filthy
rags. Walter, that's the best we can
aspire to. The best we can do is filthy. Paul wasn't here to cheer a man
up. a man He was here to preach the gospel He desired to go to
Rome to preach this gospel to these Romans who believed The best we can do is filthy
the best we can do is unclean But therein in that gospel of
Christ is the righteousness of God revealed It's not the righteousness
of man Goes on in Romans 3 in verse
21. He says but now the righteousness
of God without the law is manifested Was that word mean shown? It's known it's brought forth. It's brought to light. It's shown
is manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets and
even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ
Unto all and upon all Now the world would want to stop right
there and some of them do But Paul didn't he said unto all
and upon upon all them that believe There is no difference The righteousness of God is manifested
in the law and the prophets and here we tell us Paul tells us
It's manifested in the gospel So what do you mean? Well when
we preach the gospel the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus
Christ we are preaching the fulfillment of the law and the prophets and Him do all the scriptures speak To Christ do all the scriptures
speak When Jesus Christ spoke to those on the road to Emmaus
he expounded the scriptures. That's the Old Testament scriptures And when he opens the understanding
of the disciples later still in Luke 24 chapter 24 He opened
their understanding that For the express purpose that they
might understand the scriptures Because he expounded unto them
the things in the scriptures that were speaking of him And that's what we're endeavoring
to do when we preach the gospel. We're trying to preach Christ
and It is called the gospel of Christ because it is gospel And
it's about him it is him it is the revelation of the righteousness
of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ Where's that faith come
from Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Are saved by grace
through faith and that none of yourselves it is the gift of
God Not of works lest any man should boast Excuse me 2nd Corinthians 5 and verse 21
put it this way and this has been a Wonderful scripture for
me. I know it's been a bone of contention
for some people, but that's their problem He hath made him to be
sin for us That's what it says and guess
what that's what it means I'm not here to debate that No, that's
just what it says Who knew no sin that And that's a nice word
there that that There's a purpose for Christ being made sin Here's
what paul writes about that invite verse 21 of chapter 5 second
corinthians. He says that we might be made
the righteousness of God what in him in him That's the gospel. That's the
gospel Still remember Henry Mayhem telling
about what Rolf Barner told me God does everything he does according
to his purpose On purpose because of his purpose his word will
never return unto him void it will accomplish That's what I
sent it forth And I can tell you this That can be salvation
and that can be condemnation That's just the way it is His
word will accomplish that for which he sent it for and his
son's death He hath made him to be sin what that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him what because he had
to be made sin And our sin had to be gone In order for us to be made the
righteousness of God in him That statement do all the law the
prophets the gospels and the epistles speak Jesus Christ is
our righteousness I Always remember when I first
read this verse here Walter. This is Romans 10 3 I Always
thought is a kind of a strange statement But that was my problem
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness that part I got
and Going about to establish their own righteousness Have
not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God now
Paul in Directly writing is writing this of the Jews in particular
But I will tell you this they ain't only ones It's still happening
today right now And I remember Henry, there's another thing
Henry said all the time when he read this, he said, they're
going about, they're going about, they're going about, they're
going about. And you can go to every church on every corner
of every street in America, and you will hear more than likely
people going about to establish their own righteousness. Why?
Because they're ignorant of the righteousness of God. The natural man is totally ignorant
of the righteousness. This is revealed in the gospel to believers, to those that believe,
and to no one else. No one else will have it. But that statement, that last
statement, I remember reading this years and years ago. They have not submitted themselves
under the righteousness of God. It just seemed a little odd to
me. Because at that time, I was young, and I was ignorant, and
on top of that, I was dumb. I've confessed to you people. I don't mind. I'm not as dumb
as I used to be, thank God, and I'm not as ignorant as I used
to be. But right here, because we get this thing in our head
naturally, That the righteousness of God is a thing. It ain't a
thing. But we get this. And there is
a sense where you can consider that God is righteous. But what we're talking about
here is the righteousness of God. And I've already read it
a couple times. That's in Christ. That's in Christ. The natural man thinks the righteousness
of God is something needing to be attained to. Or something
they need to obtain. They're wrong. The righteousness
of God needs to actually obtain you. And He will if He wants
to. Paul wrote it in 1 Corinthians
1 and 30. Those first six eight words words. They're just the
best words in the world But of him of God are ye in Christ Jesus? Who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption The righteousness
of God The gospel is Jesus Christ He is our righteousness He is
the righteousness of God by faith to everyone that believeth our
Righteousness the righteousness of God is a person It's not a thing These Jews, to whom preaching
Christ crucified is foolishness, they have not submitted themselves
to Him. They have not submitted themselves
to the righteousness of God. They will not have this man to
reign over them. And that is the state of thousands
of churches in America today, and everybody in them. It seems
that way. I don't think it is everybody.
I'm hoping there's some people there that believe God, that
believe Christ. I've been in an Armenian church
and a believer. Sure, I got kicked out, but what the heck? I was
there. Other people may not have been
as lucky to get kicked out and meet Earl Cochran and have Walter
Pendleton. He is our righteousness the righteousness
of God and he is revealed in his gospel Jeremiah says it in about three
places. He shall be called the Lord our righteousness Isn't
that a blessing Isn't that a wonderful thing? Jeremiah was speaking
of the future in his time, saying, they're going to be this way.
The Jews are going to be saved. Israel's going to be saved. Why?
He said, well, they're going to call his name the Lord our
righteousness. The Lord our righteousness is
the gospel. But I want to be very clear.
They're in the gospel. Righteousness of God is revealed The righteousness of God is not
made by the gospel It's not provided by the gospel. It's not given
by the gospel. It's not supported I Don't think
his righteousness needs any support It's not applied not enhanced
not achieved not obtained The righteousness of God is revealed
in his gospel. The positive is that the righteousness
of God is revealed means it's made manifest, made known, shown,
brought to light, and literally the word means unveiled. That righteousness was always
there. But if our gospel be hid, it
is hid to them that are lost. Righteousness of God has always
been there The Lord our righteousness has always been there We didn't
see him That's why he's got to be revealed
in the gospel, but he's only revealed in the gospel to them
that believe Because Christ Jesus the father
of Revealed both of them are revealed in the gospel in the
good news The preaching of the gospel is the proclamation of
the father the son and the holy spirit the righteousness of God
is manifest in the preaching of what did Paul say Jesus Christ
and Him crucified Perfect holiness and perfect righteousness are
proclaimed The gospel of Christ and they are proclaimed as Christ That's preaching Christ at him
crucified that verse in 2nd Corinthians He hath made him to be sin for
us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of
God in him That's preaching Christ and him crucified And this is only seen from faith
to faith. That's what it says. Notice very
carefully both parties in that statement have faith. One sinner saved by grace preaching
to another sinner saved by grace. The gospel is the power of God
unto salvation. to everyone that believeth. The sower sowing the seed doesn't
make the ground good. There's four types of ground
there and only one of them is good. But the sower sows the
seed. And guess what? That seed is
the gospel of Christ. And it is the power of God unto
salvation. What? To everyone that believes.
From faith to faith. What does this mean? Well, the righteousness of God
is not revealed to the lost. It's not revealed to unbelievers.
It's not revealed to those without faith. That's just the way it
is. But to those that believe, to
those that have been given faith by His grace. What? To him that works not, doesn't
work. but believes on him that justifies
who? The ungodly. Do you fit in that
category? You've been in that category.
Do you know that category? The world does not know that
category. That's the problem with the world.
They don't know what category they're in. I know that category because
I used to be in that category all the time. Now I'm still ungodly,
but I also know the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel
now. I never knew it before. His faith is what? Counted for
righteousness. Blessed is the man unto whom
God imputes righteousness without works. Networks from faith to faith The righteousness which is by
faith of Jesus Christ So last statement The just by faith live That's
the actual order in the Greek The righteous one by faith shall
live it's what it says in Young's literal translation By grace through faith, and that's
not of yourself And it is revealed from faith to faith Now the second thing Verse 18 says for This is a continuation
of the last verse. This is still going on. This
is not an addition. This is not a, well it is I guess
an addition, but it's, what do you call it? It's connected. It's not a but. But we do this. But of God. This for the wrath
of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men who hold the truth and unrighteousness The wrath of
God is also revealed in the gospel Ain't nobody wants to talk about
the wrath of God They don't like talking about wrath of anybody
for that matter But they sure don't like talking about the
wrath of God because they don't want to acknowledge it Because, don't
you know, God loves everyone? No, I don't know that. I used to think that. I don't
anymore. Why? For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, and that includes me. That includes you. That includes
everyone. But only those who believe will
see this revealed in that gospel. That same gospel that reveals
the righteousness of God reveals the wrath of God. Upon all unrighteousness
and all ungodliness. And I said that in the wrong
order because actually it's ungodliness and unrighteousness. You have
unrighteousness because you are ungodly. Ungodliness is the cause
of unrighteousness. It's not because you do unrighteous
things that you become ungodly. No, you already were ungodly.
I already was ungodly. And guess what? Because of that,
I was full of unrighteousness. My best deeds were filthy rags.
We're back to that again. It's all there. in the gospel. So, I want to
be clear about this. The wrath of God is not revealed
unto ungodly and unrighteous men. That's not what Paul is
saying. He's talking about ungodly and
unrighteous men. He's not saying this is revealed
to them. Now he does go on, and I mean, boy, he just goes on
from here on out about ungodly and unrighteous men through the
end of this chapter. You can read it for yourself.
But what he's talking about, he's writing to us, to believers,
to specifically these believers in Rome about ungodly and unrighteous
men. And he tells us why the wrath
of God is against ungodly and all ungodliness and all unrighteousness. Why? Verse 19, because, because
that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God has
showed it unto them. Ungodly and unrighteous men have
had this shown to them. The invisible things of him from
the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood
By the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead
so They are without excuse And the wrath of God is revealed
to us against all ungodliness and unrighteousness And they
are without excuse even if they don't know it and Consciously
It's there it's there you can go all around the world and guess
what you will find in every continent every country in the world You
will find religion You will find people going about
going about to establish their own righteousness You will find people who are
going about They've heard the gospel If they've heard the glorious
gospel of Jesus Christ And don't receive it what they
have done is what? Trodden the son of God underfoot If the gospel has been preached
to them, and they don't receive it They know more than just Heathen
out there. We haven't heard a thing the
healer still without excuse You understand what Paul has just
explained here and is explaining here is what about the poor sinner? They're without excuse just like
I was But God By the election of grace
has chosen his people And he is chosen to reveal the righteousness
of God and the wrath of God from heaven to his people. The gospel is hid of the lost. To whom what? The God of this
world has blinded the mind of. And we are Believers we are under
God a sweet saver of Christ In them that are saved and in them
that are perish that perish Excuse me to the one we are We
are That's just not just me and Walter. That's Speak to somebody
about Christ You are a saver of Christ under God and to them
Some we are the saver of death unto death and to the other the
saver of life into life It's not saying that the gospel is
the saver of life unto life and death and I've been guilty of
quoting it that way No, it says you are we are all of us Marvel not Brethren when men
hate you You're the saver of death unto death today Who is sufficient for these things?
for Here's what it's talking about. We're doing for we are
not as many which corrupt the word of God We're surrounded
by them But as of sincerity, but as of God in the sight of
God Speak we in Christ We preach Christ and him crucified
and in so doing we preach Christ punished for sin by the wrath
of God and resurrected Completely fulfilling our redemption
our salvation our It's always particular And it's always complete. And because of this, because
we speak of these things, we are the saver of death unto death
for some. And because of this, though,
we are the saver of life unto life to those who know the gospel
is the power of God unto salvation. To whom have been revealed the
righteousness of God and the wrath of God. He poured out his
wrath on his son. I mean, can we comprehend that?
I don't think we can. Martin Luther, God forsaking
God. How do I comprehend that? Well,
I believe it. I believe it. Because God said
it in his word. And this is the whole thing.
None of this was pretense None of this was pretend This actually
happened to our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord our righteousness Was
forsaken by God on that cross he was punished he was made sin
And sin had to be punished Why Because he is a just God
Be holy for I am holy are not just words Without holiness no
man's gonna see God You can go about and try and get some holiness
But I'll tell you this it ain't gonna work and it doesn't matter
if you have Pentecost holiness over the door You ain't gonna
get no holiness But the righteousness of God
is in Christ He is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and
sanctification and redemption And all of this is revealed in
his gospel the gospel of Christ God will not look over sin Even
when it's in his own beloved son in whom I am well pleased
and There's the wrath of God revealed in the gospel. There's
the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel. He is our righteousness. He was our substitute. He took
our place. He purchased and obtained eternal
redemption for us. The righteousness of God and
the wrath of God are both revealed in the gospel of Christ. That's the way it is. That's
the way it is. And if you don't see that, the
problem is with you. You can take that any way you
want. It's just the way it is. There is no forgiveness of sin,
no remission without the shedding of blood. Heavenly Father, thank you for
this time, this place. Most of all, thank you for your
Son, our Lord, who did come and who did give himself a ransom
for many, and who paid the price we couldn't pay, who suffered
for our sins, died under the wrath of God, forsaken of God in our place. that you rose, resurrected him
from the dead, because it wasn't possible that life be held by
death. Thank you, Lord, for all you've
done. Amen.