Romans Chapter One                                 Lesson 16

Review:

Overview of 1:18-3:20

 

 

6. There are 4 distinct parts to Paul's arguments:  condemnation -  covers all 4 of them!

#1.  Condemnation of the pagan/heathen world   1:1:18-32

 

Heathen or pagan as used in the Scripture refers to anyone who does not worship the one true God. 

 

Another way to view this whole section, is that it gives us a picture of human history and human nature from God's viewpoint!

 

So this section 1:18-32, looks at the one who does not worship the one true God and also those who have no exposure to Scripture, to written revelation.

 

 

#2. The condemnation of the moral man!  2:1-16

 

- Paul says, in 2:1,  hold it, don't be so quick to judge the heathen, you in your moral self righteousness are as condemned before God as they are!

 

 

#3. The Condemnation of the religious man, one with revelation. 2:17-3:8

- Focus is the religious Jew, relies on the Law, boasts in God   v.17;  they are confident of their position  v.19

 

 

#4. 3:9-20  Guilt, condemnation of all Summarized! 

- The charge is "all under sin"  the guilt of all demonstrated in the evidence leading up to this point.

 

7.  [in the next section] The Provision of Salvation  3:21-8:39

Central focus: The Person and work of Jesus Christ in the provision of salvation, moving from guilt to grace by means of faith; develops the doctrine of justification by faith.         3:21-5:21

In the second have of this section the focus is on the provision made for the one who has believed in Christ. Answers the question now what? 6:1-8:39

 

 

Back to chapter 1:18

1. Declaration of God's Wrath  1:18 

 

a. First the source of Wrath  v.18a 

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven...

 

-  We must have "a righteousness from God" v.17;  but what we deserve from God is His wrath;

 

- We must see the reality of our status before God or we will never conclude that we need His grace provision of salvation.

 

- If man does not realize that he is damned, condemned before God, why would he come to the conclusion that he needs a delivery, a Savior?

 

 

Examples of Liberal theology and their views of God!

Harry Emerson Fosdick

 

 

 

 

Lord Bertrand Russell

 

 

 

It should not be surprising that Paul begins with the wrath of God.   wrath = ovrgh, 

- We must be careful not to read into wrath, what we normally associate with it in human terms/actions.

 

- The wrath of God spoken of here is in the process of being revealed now;

 

- Wrath speaks of the punitive justice from the Justice of God!

- Because God is righteous and Just He must pour out His wrath on all sin; all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men; 

 

Wrath stands as the necessary complement to the love of God,  God cannot love all good if He does not hate all that is sin/evil.

 

- The wrath of God as used here in 1:18 clearly expresses God's attitude towards sin, not specifically His punishment of it.

 

- The phrase "from heaven" links the wrath to the throne of God, and is reminding us that this wrath is from God!

 

 

> Where is God's wrath revealed ??

God's righteousness as we noted is revealed in the gospel; but so is His wrath;

- Both of these verbs are in the present tense therefore the emphasis is not on the future judgment of God, but on the present reality of His wrath during human history.

 

Righteousness is God's response to faith,  while wrath is God's response to ungodliness and unrighteousness.

 

>  The righteousness of God and the wrath of God both describe divine action taken by God toward man.

 

Righteousness is God's response to faith,  while wrath is God's response to ungodliness and unrighteousness.

 

** The evidence for divine wrath is found through out human history;

 

That is Paul's focus, in our context, the present state of all those who are outside Christ, they are objects of God's wrath.

 

** Wrath then is the appropriate preparation for the announcement of God's grace in salvation;

Man must know that he is lost before he can be saved;  

 

 

- Not only does a clear perception of God's wrath prepare men for the gospel; it is also a means whereby men are driven to grace.