Romans 1:13-17 – Essential Relationships – Bible study

Romans 1:13-17 Essential Relationships Relationships-They are the key to our society. We cant get along without them. As the 17th century poet and preacher, John Donne, said, "No man is an island." Yet, relationships can be HARD, BAD, and WRONG. But there are five relationships that we need to know about and get right. I. Relationship of the people to God-They are lost. A. This relationship is not specifically stated in the text but it is implied. 1. The point of the text is to tell us that the preached gospel can save. 2. To have a spiritual rescue necessitates a spiritual dilemma. 3. That dilemma is being lost and separated from God. 4. There are plenty of other Bible verses that clearly tell us this truth. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. B. We need to understand the seriousness of this relationship. 1. Unsaved people spend eternity separated from God. Re 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 2. Most have some understanding that the evil or even the unchurched may be condemned before God. 3. However, most have never considered that even most of those attending some kind of church are still lost! Matt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 4. Most people falsely think that just because a religion recognizes Jesus is some way, it is a Christian religion. a. Not so! b. The only ones who are Christians are those who worship the Biblical Jesus. Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (1) Paul warned a church which he had started that they had moved away from the true gospel. (2) He told them that no matter who tried to change the gospeleven if it was an apostle or an even angelnot to follow them. (3) Paul then stated that anyone who did preach another gospel was cursed. That is a nice way of saying damned! (4) I might also add that anyone who believes another gospel or in a different Jesus is damned. C. This is all horribly sad, but it is the condition that our sin has left us in. 1. We must be careful because the devil is working overtime not just to keep the unchurched damned but to keep those in the church damned as well! 2. How can I know if I am following the real Jesus and the real gospel? a. Dont rely on books or preachers. Go directly to the Bible. (1) If what you have is the same as the Bible, you dont need it. (2) If what you have is different than the Bible, you dont want it. b. Reject any gospel that makes you work to get to heaven. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 3. This far too serious a relationship not to take seriously, immediately, and carefully. II. \#Rom 1:16\ Relationship of the gospel to the lost-It is the power to save. A. All you need for salvation is the gospel. 1. The Greek word for power there is dunamis (doo-nam-is). a. It is the word dynamite comes from. b. Used 120 – power 77, mighty work 11, strength 7, miracle 7, might 4, virtue 3, mighty 2, 2. The idea means that it is more than capable, more than able. It will get the job done. B. The gospel has the power to save you no matter what you have done. Acts 16:31 – And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. C. The gospel is all the power you need to change you. 2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. D. The gospel is all the power you need to keep you. Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. E. The gospel is all the power you need to change the circumstances of your life. Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. III. \#Rom 1:14\ Relationship of the Christian to the world-He is a debtor. A. Paul said he had a debt and Paul represents the Christians, all of us. 1. Why did Paul owe the world a debt? 2. Even more, why do I? 3. I have heard the phrase often, "You dont owe anybody anything." Sometimes, they will complete the thought by saying, "And nobody owes you anything either." The lesson behind that little speech is that we all have to work and provide for ourselves. 4. But here Paul said we do owe a debt? What does he mean? What What has the world done for me? a. Most probably nothingat least not anything good. b. The world is a pretty tough place and if it has ever acknowledged your presence it was probably with a low blow. B. What debt do I owe? 1. If you are a Christian, you owed a debt to Jesus. a. He paid your sin debt. b. Jesus transferred the debt you owe Him to the world. 2. AND JESUS SAID Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. a. So we now owe a debt to the world. b. The same level of diligence that we would give to repaying Jesus, we should give to getting the gospel to the lost. c. commitment, compassion, determination 3. Even though Jesus transferred our debt to the world, He will check on our repayment effort. Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. C. And so we owe every human being on the planet. 1. Skin color, place of origin, financial level, age, sex, residencenone of these are important. 2. The only thing that is important is that they will go to hell and Jesus does not want that. We must reach them. It is our debt. IV. \#Rom 1:15\ Relationship of the Christian to the lost-He is ready to preach. We are to be READY to preach the gospel. A. Readiness suggests desirous. 1. Too many people are glad when they CANT do what the Lord wants them to do. 2. We should recognize the debt and WANT to pay it. 3. They are lost! Should we not WANT to rescue the perishing? B. Readiness suggests preparation. 1. Some manner of preparation is needed to present the gospel to the lost. 2. God is not looking for perfection but there is looking for conscientious. a. We should have a testimony. What has the Lord done for you? That testimony should be current. b. We should have a scriptural message. A testimony is a good introduction, but the message should be from the Bible. c. We should be prepared to answer some questions. Each time you are stumped with a new question, go home and study it. 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: V. \#Rom 1:16\ Relationship of the Christian to the gospel-They are not ashamed. A. Until recently, we may not have known what Paul meant by saying that he was not ashamed of the gospel. 1. To be a Christian in Pauls day, was a. illegal. b. uneducated (red neck). c. old fashioned. d. judgmental. 2. Because of all of that, some would know that they ought to say something but would not. B. In our country, that has not been the case. 1. It has been easy to speak for Jesus. 2. That is changing and it will continue to do so. Mr 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.