The Gospel revealed
Romans 1:18-20; 9/15/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
What is the gospel? At first glance, it seems like there is no answer because we can’t see or touch it, right? When the book of Mark introduces what the gospel is, it says: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1)” When Paul introduced the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15, he said: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” However, in Romans, when Paul introduces the gospel, he introduces it in a way that the gospel is revealed. Let’s look at the first point:
Revealed against sinners
This is an obvious phenomenon that we can observe, because there is no shortage of sinners in the world. First, God’s wrath. What is wrath? It is nothing more than an emotion, especially when people feel wronged and unfair, they may easily get extremely angry, evil thoughts will arise. God’s wrath is divine, not necessarily emotional, and completely justified. Judging from the revelations in the Old and New Testaments, God’s wrath is the righteous anger expressed against mankind’s sins, disobedience, and unwillingness to repent. For example, when the Israelites left Egypt and worshiped idols on the wilderness road, God even caused a large opening in the ground to devour the rebellious people. The conversation between the rich man and Lazarus mentioned by Jesus in the New Testament shows us the rich man’s despair in the wrath of God. However, the gospel tells us that God’s wrath is taken away because of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Secondly, the ungodliness and unrighteousness. Ungodly refers to a contemptuous attitude towards God, neither respecting nor worshiping nor believing in God! In addition to being contemptuous of God, having no sense of God’s grace that is ungratefulness. Unrighteousness means doing things wrong in the way of life, or even deliberately doing things that are wrong in the eyes of God. The difference is that he never admits his mistakes or has any regrets about what he has done. He treats them as normal and continues to let his mistakes keep piling up. The greatest ungodliness in life is disrespect for Christ, and the greatest unrighteousness is unbelief in God. What to do? Paul’s advice or solution to us is “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, (Philippians 1:27a)” That means doing everything in the name of the Lord!
Finally, suppress the truth. When people come to the point of suppressing the truth, they have reached the stage where Judas betrayed the Lord and sought glory. Judas was also a brother who served God at the beginning. He gained the Lord’s trust in the church and even managed the church’s finances. This shows that the Lord Jesus valued him and appreciated him. Judas may have been ungodly and unrighteous towards the Lord for a long time deep in his heart, but he just did not act out. Judah’s Self-Righteous Zealot Party Platform made his “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:15)” A person who chooses death, goes to death, and embraces death will inevitably become a person who does unrighteousness and suppresses the truth. Let’s look at the second point:
Shown to people’s heart
The gospel is evident to sinners. However, what God cares about most is revealed in people’s hearts. Because the results of a person’s life are produced by the heart. First, what can be known. What can one know? Have you ever thought about this? Philosophers, scientists, inventors, etc. since ancient times have all been discussing this question, that is, what can people know? According to our understanding of the truth, human cognitive abilities are not unlimited, but are limited by God’s revelation to humans. When the incarnate Lord died on the cross for us, we knew that God is love. This is the foundation for our acceptance of the gospel and the assurance of faith. On the one hand, we know only so much that we must be humble. On the other hand, based on what we know about God, we can believe in Him. In particular, people’s ability to accept the gospel is extraordinary and wonderful!
Secondly, revealed in people’s hearts. Have you ever thought about why people believe in Jesus Christ? Is it because the pastor or whoever preached the gospel very clearly? Then why don’t others believe it? Therefore, the essence of a man’s belief in God is nothing more than an expression of God’s choice of man. “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Eph. 1:4)”
In fact, according to what we know, there is still more we don’t know. Why did Paul believe in Jesus? Isn’t he someone highly valued by the high priest? Didn’t Mark become a deserter? Why did he turn around and rejoin the mission work? It’s as if God’s hand is always at work in our hearts to achieve His goal.
Finally, God has shown. This sentence, “God has shown it to them.” is the foundation of our faith before God. Why do I say that? God’s plan for our lives, including the so-called laws that guide our lives, does not require us to grasp, concern, or worry. Because God has shown it to us! If someone tells you that believing in Jesus also includes mastering God’s rules for people, it’s because they don’t really know God or His power. Isn’t it enough to have the Bible, the Holy Spirit, Christ, and the Father? Who are you that you want to grasp God’s laws for man? Either they have not studied theology, or they are confused and arrogant, and they think they can point the way for everyone. Let’s look at the third point:
Revealed in the things created
The gospel is manifested in God’s creation, and it is abundant, filling all things in the universe, and omnipresent. First, since the creation of the world. The starting point of the gospel is the declaration that God is a Creator. God created all things, including humans, also including time and space “since the creation of the world.” Time is established by Him, space is arranged by Him, and order is controlled by Him. Cosmology puts forward the proposition of the first cause, but due to the limitations of its philosophy, it stops at the revelation of God. As God said to Job: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (Job 38:4)” Facing the vast world created by God, how wonderful and glorious it is! How can humans not give all glory and praise to God?
Secondly, God’s eternal power and divine nature. Whether it is mountains and seas, grass, or even dust, they all demonstrate the power of God and His attributes. As soon as a human being is born, he can breathe, cry to express Adam’s debt to God, and even have breast milk for feeding and comfort. People have the ability to learn, accumulate experience through experiencing worldly things, grow through thinking, change through reflection, and worship and praise God through prayer, supplication and thanksgiving. People choose goodness because the God who created us is good. Although humans fall short of the glory of God because of sin, we can still know the goodness of God deep in our hearts. This is why Paul says that we have the desire to do what is right. That’s because inside of us lives the Lord who created us.
Finally, without excuse. Although we are unwilling to accept the truth and admit our transgressions because of Adam’s denial. But we all know that what we do is often evil that we don’t like. Our need for the gospel is something we accept without excuse to deny. No one can overcome the sin in his own heart by himself. It is easy to fall when temptation comes, and to give up and throw in the towel when a challenge comes. When you are alone at night and face yourself honestly, it is not difficult to feel that you are unworthy, unable, ignorant, and unwilling. Unless we rely on the Lord, the Lord who gives the gospel, who will deliver us from this body of death?
Conclusion
The revelation of the gospel is a profound theme of God’s revelation. While we were still sinners, the Lord laid down his life for us. God has carved the mark of salvation on our hearts, so that we no longer rely on our own whims and rely on ourselves to dig out God’s laws to brag about our abilities. Because God has used the things He created to show us that there is no need to increase or decrease! That is precisely the gospel: there is no salvation except in Him!
Let us pray……
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
