Trinity for Norman

How to Become a Fool (Romans 1:18-32)

The sermon is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans 1:18​-32 focusing on the wrath of God seen in the folly of our thinking. In sin, we refuse to worship and give thanks to God but exchange Him for created things and God hands us over to pursue all manner of ungodly practices, including homosexuality. To miss these truths is to completely lose the amazingness of God’s grace.

The Foolishness, Darkness, & Poverty of 'God-Making' (Romans 1:21-23)

In Romans, so far, Paul has introduced the saving gospel as by Sola Fide, now he begins to explain the urgency of believing the gospel -- despite all mankind knowing God, they suppress his truth, and God's wrath is revealed upon all nations in their grossest sin:  God-making.

The Wrath of God (Romans 1:18-20)

Big Point:  In v16-17, Paul has introduced the saving gospel as by Sola Fide, now he begins to explain the urgency of knowing the gospel—because of the wrath of God and three reasons why the wrath of God is righteous/just.

1. God’s Wrath is just because of SIN-people commit ungodly and unrighteous acts.
2. God’s Wrath is just because God of the SUFFICIENCY of his revelation-He has given sufficient knowledge of himself to those who commit ungodly and unrighteous acts.
3. God’s Wrath is just because when all people SUPPRESS his truth.Suppression of God’s truth is sin against him, and all who suppress his truth are without excuse and under His wrath.

Gospel Certainty - Sola Fide: by Faith Alone (Romans 1:16-17)

Big Point:  Focusing on 1:17, The Believers’ Powerful, Saving Gospel is Sola Fide

I.   A Present Hope: Faith Receives Present Righteousness accomplished in the PAST- Participle translated “Which Is Revealed”
II.  A Present Hope MUST BE Received NOW and WILL BE Lived: The Centrality of Faith “From Faith for Faith”
III. A Present Hope Received by Faith Founded and Based TRANSTEMPORALLY/in the Eternal Counsel of God: Proved from Scripture, Habakkuk 2:4

The Power of God for Salvation (Romans 1:16-17)

"16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Not Ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17)

Focusing on 1:16-17, We see that Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ on account of three reasons:

I. Why Would One Be Ashamed of the Gospel?
   a. Paul & Original Context
   b. Modern Context
II. Reason to not be Ashamed of the Gospel #1- It is the Power of God for salvation to all who believe- Jew, and then Greek.
III. Reason to not be Ashamed of the Gospel #2- It Reveals God’s Righteousness from faith for faith
IV. Reason to not be Ashamed of the Gosepl #3- God’s Word Revealed This Gospel

Faith is a Giant Small Thing (Romans 1:8-15)

J. Gresham Machen in "What is Faith?" says, “Faith is indeed intellectual; it involves an apprehension of certain things as facts; and vain is the modern effort to divorce faith from knowledge. But although faith is intellectual, it is not only intellectual. You cannot have faith without having knowledge; but you will not have faith if you have only knowledge.”

Grace Precedes Faith (Romans 1:5-7)

We see the glorious order that grace always precedes faith.

1. Grace First-Establishes Glorious Faith
2. Grace First-Establishes Glorious Calling
3. Grace First-Establishes Glorious Motives

Who is Paul? And Why You Should Listen to Him (Romans 1:1)

An adequate understanding of the author of this letter’s identity should draw us to carefully and enthusiastically examine Jesus and His gospel.

I.   Paul is a servant of Christ Jesus
II.  Paul was called to be an apostle by Christ Jesus
III. Paul was set apart for the gospel of God about Christ Jesus

The Meaning of Life: Everything Matters - Ecclesiastes 12