The Heart of the Gospel

What today we begin our new series in Romans. I encourage you to begin your personal I emphasize personal your personal discovery of this amazing book. The book of Romans. As you know, the pastors have prepared devotional dying for you. You can pick it up in the Galleria. If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to use that for your personal study, possibly your home with your family in the life groups unmasking the life group leaders to spend at least a little time in the life groups talking about what we've had and what we're reading from the book of Romans. If you miss a message. You can go on our lab or pick up a CD in the ward room are very excited about the study of Romans.

I was telling one of my friends who is a brilliant theologian that I was going to be tackling the book of Romans, and that he said well be praying for you John, but he says remember is like climbing Mount Everest. So I feel we are beginning to climb mind Everest.

So we pray for God to help us to understand Romans is to understand the central doctrines of authentic Christianity, and in our study of Romans Romans will help us to be completely gospel centered on Christ centered on God centered in our thinking. John Calvin said if we understand Romans we have a passage open to us for the understanding of the whole of Scripture that is in Calvin's you and I think his rights that Romans is not just another book of the Bible. All of them, as will see the mentor that inspired but Romans is a central book to the unfolding purposes of God than to understand Romans then will help us to understand all of Scripture number of you have been asking how long will the series be.

I really don't know Donald Barnhouse Prince in Romans for 3 1/2 years. Martyn Lloyd Jones, preached for 12 1/2 years. In Romans, and didn't finish so I don't know how long will be. I don't think it will be 12 1/2 years of but I trust you ready for it.

When this is signed and read some of the verses I've selected for us throughout Romans just to give us a flavor is a word of this request and and read to it together. Read with me. Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, for I'm 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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for our faith, as it is written, the righteous shall live by faith. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ's, what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means how can we who died to sin still live in it for sin will have no dominion over you since you're not under law but under grace. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus you however are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect event. Please be seated. I'm going to suggest this morning I've three main reasons for preaching on Romans.

First of all Romans is inspired by God.

If you have your Bible turn to the second Timothy chapter 3 of us.

We looked at but a month ago. As I talked on the importance of the word of God.

But the central text Paul's last letter to last letter. In fact, that he writes. He writes the young Timothy and he says here in second Timothy three verse 16 all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be confident equipped for every good work.

Scripture is inspired by God. It is God breathed, so when the apostle Paul who is the right of Romans when he's writing he's writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

That is, Scripture has its origin with Paul.

Paul is involved in the process, but Scripture has its origin with God and because it comes from God.

And because God is a perfect God and the God who cannot lie the word of God and inspiration guarantees.

This that the Bible is the inerrant word of God differ going to be authentic followers of Jesus Christ. If were going to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus.

If were going to be equipped for every good work. We must know and we must obey Scripture as a when we come to this wonderful book of all the Romans I want to remind you as you read it at home as you memorize it as you study it as you listen to it being preached on Sunday after Sunday. I want us all to remember that this is the word of God. Some of that majority of some of you may look again and say is that really in the Bible it conflicts with so much of the thinking of our world. But let's remember that it is the very word of God and that means if I am to be true to my calling as a preacher and Paul is going to say this to Timothy in chapter 4. If I'm going to be true to my calling as a preacher is God has called me to preach the gospel. I must use Paul's word I must preach the word in season and out of season. Paul tells us in these opening verses of second Timothy chapter 4 that is the word of God is preached, there is always opposition to the word of God people in the first century and suddenly people in the 21st century don't want some teaching policies to Timothy you're going to come across people who want to have something which will tickle their ears. People want to be reinforcing out on prejudices and desires but you Timothy verse five of chapter 4 you Timothy are to fulfill your ministry.

In other words, you must not be distracted by what people want to hear but you are entrusted with is the positive truth that I as the apostle Paul and passing on to you so that when you preach and you teach your preaching, not your own ideas, not your thoughts, not to entertain people not to make people comfortable not to reinforce them in their own prejudices, but are to preach the word and the only way I know to do that to preach the whole counsel of God is to preach consecutively through books of the Bible from time to time, we have the topical series and that's fine but that but I didn't want to visit where are the preach through the books of the Bible. And as we do that we had this experience before of hearing the voice of God is a when the Bible speaks God is speaking. So as we are reading this ancient text of Romans written 2000 years ago. Paul writing to the Roman Christians call the great apostle as we reasons we are hearing the very voice of God and an essential part of what God wants you to know is revealed in this magnificent book. The book of Romans. So I'm preaching. Romans, because it is inspired of God. Secondly, I'm preaching it because Romans has the gospel as its theme, but are many books in the Bible and the 11 1/2 years have been at Calvary asset when preach that many of preach through all of them obviously. And so if you ask, why have you chosen Romans here is one of the reasons. One of the main reasons the very theme of Romans is the gospel as I want to give a brief overview of Romans to demonstrate that in the first four chapters of Romans we have what I've called the heart of the gospel of your Bible to Romans, and I want to read with you. The first two verses of Romans one, the heart of the gospel, not particularly applies to the first four chapters of Romans where Paul is giving. I believe a brilliant exposition of the gospel. Martin Luther called Romans the very purest possible. I agree with them. With this Paul say Romans one � one. Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle sets apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures concerning his son Moses had Paul in the first two verses describes the gospel because first of all, it is the gospel of God. It is God's message wasn't devised by Congress. Then come as a result of a committee of intellectuals meeting in this discerning some philosophy wasn't devised by man this message the gospel is the gospel of God, and then he says in verse two.

It concerns his son. What is the gospel all about it is about our Lord Jesus Christ gospel means good news. So Paul is going to present in the 16 chapters of Romans is going to present the gospel and I believe in all of Scripture, the greatest and clearest presentation of the gospel is fines and Romans. My calling is to be a preacher of the gospel. I found that many people, including churchgoers, including some pastors and preachers don't understand the true gospel. There is great confusion on this all-important subject of the gospel.

Sometimes people are arched to believe the gospel.

The promise the benefits of the gospel, but they really don't understand the essence of the gospel.

It is essential then we get the gospel right that must be understood by us not only understood that must be personally received into our hearts and our lives.

And this is Paul's great burden as he picks up the pen and writes to these believers. In the first century at Rome when Paul begins his exposition of the gospel is going to tell us what the gospel is all about. He does not begin by telling us that God has a wonderful plan for your life.

You want to hear the dungeon God is a wonderful plan for your life. On the sense that is true but has no Paul begins as we will see in the following weeks after his introduction.

In the first 17 verses when Paul begins to prepare us for the good news of Jesus Christ with your Bible is that we begins in verse 18. Here is Paul's here is the apostolic preparation to hear the good news of the gospel. Verse 18 for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth from the shocking, isn't it someone says well this is the very word gospel means good news and I would all begin in such a and negative. A rather judgmental note.

I don't know if I like that it is the point the all important point.

The good news which comes from God, which concerns her son can only be understood against the backdrop of who we are before a holy God. Paul is saying that as God is concerned you're in godly and in righteous that understanding that all important understanding of who we are before God will deliver us from our contemporary obsession of focusing on our felt needs, and ourselves and our feelings and their opinions and their dreams and what makes us uncomfortable. All of these have their place but they are not of the essence of the gospel policy is preparing us to hear the good news he wants you and he wants me to see ourselves not as we see one another, but to see ourselves as God sees us. And so, in the opening three chapters, Paul deals with all kinds of people is going to deal with the pagan, he's going to deal with a moral person to deal with a nice guy is going to do deal with a religious person and then is going to deal at some length with the Jewish nation at this conclusion.

As we read it is that everyone without exception, whether you're a pagan, never having had the gospel whether you're a moral nice person whether he got religion or whether you are part of God's chosen people in the Old Testament the Jewish nation. All of us without exception of sins, and come short of the glory of God you believe that Adler's earlier this summer.

Good and I were in in the Florida and the and Lucent Augustine area think it was and that we went into this marble slab for ice cream and if you been to these places tremendous choices. Wish I had that choice when I was a boy but I didn't. But evidence and the it's a great place because they give you little spoon when you can try the different flavors. I am sure people spend all day doing that, but so I chose one and good and they chose one that you got the deciding that you wanted and that: what size are: choice of: the design remnants on some ice cream with evidence and would only people in the sore and there was a young woman at college and we chatted tour and I noticed as we went to pay at the end of the counter was a tip box something people give big tips for getting ice cream. Forget what I was cost more than I expected I would say but there is, but I was amazed and I talked to the young lady on the tip box. There were dollar bills on the side of it and the dollar bills were taped. I said to her, uses Florida an average age of 78 I mean do you really have people coming into buying ice cream and taking the dollar bill from the tip box.

Why do you have to to put Darren Megan understood that it was outside an elementary school and some 10-year-old is a stealing a dollar bill is always amazing. You're looking is not a square expected this is America, you know, find find absurd that here is a business that people if she turned her back, some is going to take the dollar from the tip box and I thought you know seniors in Florida like the rest of us.

The big sinners and no exceptions everywhere you go over there is Florida whether it's Michigan weather is Russia was Argentina, whether it's Ecuador when there is New Zealand's wherever you go. This is true of all humanity. No exceptions in any culture in any nation in any people all have sinned and when we begin to understand that not only about others about ourselves.

We begin to understand why Paul in the book of Romans is going to emphasize that salvation is not going to come from ourselves, couldn't come from ourselves. When God says what ungodly and unrighteous and where sinful, but this salvation is not going to come from you and for me what is going to come from God. Notice what Paul says in Romans four verse five what surely is one of the greatest verses and all of the of the Bible when he's telling us that we are justified. We are saved not by our works, but rather God is in the business of justifying of saving the ungodly Romans four verse five and to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies not the good man, not a religious man, not the person who goes to church on Sunday but God justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness is not brilliant as the gospel is in the having presented who we are before God. Paul then presents the good news of Jesus Christ, God's provision for the universal problem of sin, because apart from the gospel is gospel of God, which concerns our Savior Jesus Christ. Apart from the gospel. All of us stand exposed to the wrath of God is why Paul emphasizes in these opening chapters.

The sinfulness the universal sinfulness of humanity, whoever we are there any presents so beautifully and so powerfully the message of the gospel was that was the gospel that God brings sinful people like you and me. People who are ungodly people who are unrighteous who are guilty before him. God brings us into a living relationship with him as a gift of his grace we receive eternal life. When we believe in his son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins on the cross. Romans presents the great truth of justification that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone is why Martin Luther said and said so well.

He says that they the gospel lies entirely outside of you zooming by that is the opposite of what we once we would like to do something we would like to retain the art of pride in their self-righteousness and bring something to the table as it were.

In Luther is saying following the magnificent teaching of Paul. No. The gospel lies entirely outside of you by that he meant that our salvation is accomplished not by ourselves. How could it be when we are so sinful, but rather by looking to Christ and to Christ alone you look, I explained of yourself. The gospel is not you can do it. The gospel is not change her act. The gospel is not go through some behavioral modification would be better educated on our our become more religious on our frame or not even read your Bible more know the gospel is to Christ Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. No one that is good news.

This is the best news in the whole universal in our study of Romans were going to be studying the heart of the gospel and second lay in the first four chapters we have the heart of the gospel in chapters 5, six, seven, eight, we have the whole of the gospel of these are correct chapters on I'm already looking forward to these wonderful chapters. Romans 5678. I notice how it begins in Romans five verse one we read it together. Paul says then as he presents the gospel. He says therefore, since we been justified by faith music.

So lots. It's we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is presenting. Then in chapters 5, six, seven, eight what it means to be justified by faith. The results of been justified by faith with peace with God is going to say when will justified by faith we are freed from the law of sin and of the law of sin and of death.

We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit so that no we who are justified. We can live holy lives. Lives being conformed. As Paul says in Romans eight to the image of his son. That is, once we are saved is a radical difference. The Holy Spirit is given to us and now we are living out the gospel.

As we become more and more like Jesus for the mother as we live our lives following Jesus with all the ups and downs with the tragedies and the failures in the disappointments and the and the jollies in the exhilaration, irrespective of our circumstances.

Paul is going to say you have this assurance that nothing in the whole universe. No, not even hurricane are my or anything else like it.

Nothing in the whole universe can separate us from the love of God.

This love which is poured into our hearts. Paul says through the Holy Spirit who was given to us and of God is for us is God thoughts of course is God is always for his people of God. As far as who can be against us. So chapters 5, six, seven, eight, Paul presents the results of been justified by faith. That is the hope of the gospel and then in chapters 9, 10 and 11, Paul gives a wonderful defense of the gospel. What does he say turn with me to Romans 11 Romans 11 verse one because in Romans, Paul has explains that is not just a Gentile who ascends but the Jewish person also ascends both need the gospel. Both the Jew and the Gentile, and Israel. The gospel came first to Israel. As Israel has rejected the gospel the righteousness of God provided in the Messiah. Does that then mean that that God is finished with Israel. Romans 11 verse one ask then has God rejected his people has God forgotten his people. They never forgot God they rejected God there were the most privileged people in all of the world and the gospel came to them first, and they have rejected and have turned their back on God. They don't believe in the Messiah is God finished with them. Paul is going to say absolutely no because we have a faithful God and God is always faithful to his promises and his purposes on the promises that the purpose as he had for the Jewish nation will be fulfilled that God does not fabricate his promises to Israel. Presently, there is a remnant in Israel who believe will know those who have been raised in the Jewish faith in the come to faith in the in the true Messiah and the Lord Jesus Christ or the nation rejects the Messiah, but that is on remnant broadsides. Paul in Romans 11 verse 26 in the future. All Israel will be saved during our recent study in the book of Revelation we saw that that weanling time who are non-Jews and Gentiles in God's magnificent grace he has grafted us in to the olive tree.

So in these chapters, Paul deals with the relationship between Israel and the church and in so doing, he brings up the pines that we sometimes think that God is unfair and God's unfair regards, not just sometimes there is mercy on people. Sometimes he hardens the hearts of people. How can this be Paul is explaining that God is sovereign in salvation that is true but is also true that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. So chapters 9, 10, 11. He gives the defense of the gospel and then in the remaining chapters, chapters 12 1314 1516 he deals with the transformation of the gospel and I had to stand in read the first two verses of Romans 12.

Let me read them to you again is presented no his case is prepared us to hear the gospel telling us what ungodly and unrighteous. He then presents our lovely Lord Jesus Christ who made propitiation for our sins is urging us to trust him. He's dealt with some objections as it relates to Israel, and so on. And now he says in Romans 12 verse one I appeal to you therefore, brothers, take this to heart this morning, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

So in these closing chapters will Paul was Paul doing Paul is giving practical and ethical teaching regarding how we treat others how we relate to others. How we relate to the state. How do we resolve differences within the Christian community.

In every case is explaining that the gospel makes a difference. He's also going to reassure the Romans that he desires to visit them on his way to Spain is going to stop over in Rome so he is planning that is after giving this up exposition of the gospel in chapters 1 through 11, Paul now calls on us calls on you and me to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. This is a total consecration to Christ is either you believe the gospel.

You don't. I have no problem with those who say I don't believe it, but for those of us who say we embrace it and we believe in the question I have for you is I challenge myself and what difference does it make why is it that in this country of United States of America. Millions of people claim to believe and have received the gospel, but it makes so little difference is the home we live: signal present yourself as a living sacrifice.

This is the practical outworking of the gospel in our lives were doing been following Christ is living out the gospel is gospel, which has saved you is no has transformed you and is transforming your as we live a life of humble obedience to our Savior. So why my preaching moments versus inspired by God. Secondly the gospel as its theme, and third is a really sad, but I want to emphasize Romans transforms lives is why I'm so excited teaching this book. This book will transform your life.

The gospel transformed Paul the writer. Look back to chapter 1 verse one did you notice how he introduces himself his brilliant man says Paul assignments literally a slave and Greg were doing us a slave of Christ Jesus as our policies himself is his way of confessing his total allegiance to Jesus Christ as his absolute master is total submission to his will. I am a slave of Christ Jesus will say next week for the Roman Empire knew much about slaves. The Romans do about slaves. Paul knew about slaves. This is not just an idle time know he is a slave of Christ Jesus, that is.

He's owned by Christ. Everything he has belongs to Christ, everything he owns is on by Christ the will of Christ is Paul's will is a slave of Christ. Christ, the Messiah, God's anointed one voluntary submission to Jesus Christ is the master of his life is fundamental to Paul or wasn't always like that. He was once called Saul, he was brought up as a very pious ability. Zellers Jew when he heard about Jesus, and this new teaching as he thought it was. He was furious. He was so angry that he devoted his life to persecuting the church to putting Christians in prison to blaspheming the name of Christ is later going to say that he was a someone who blaspheming Christ about one day is on these roads on the way and Saturday on the road to Damascus. We had a life transforming experience.

Suddenly, convective, and since then he sold out to the gospel is called a servant of Christ Jesus. Verse one called to be an apostle is going to say in Chapter 11 is an apostle to the Gentiles being a slave of Christ Jesus emphasizes Paul's commitment to Christ as apostleship emphasizes his authority.

It was God who called Paul to be an apostle was an apostle is an authorized representative by God who carries the full authority of the one who commissions and so Paul writes as an apostle, slave of Jesus Christ. That's fundamental that's who is but he's called to be an apostle Paul was not one of the original 12 apostles member of the 12 goodness commit suicide was replaced in the opening chapters of acts one. But Paul's apostleship is equal and authority to the other 12 apostles. He says in first Corinthians 9 verse one that I had seen the risen Christ. One of the characteristics of the apostle. He says in Galatians 1 verse one that I was called by God himself. The risen Christ called Paul one who saved Paul.

Paul saw the risen Christ in the same Christ commissions Paul to be an apostle and then from the more one is apostleship was under attack in second Corinthians reminds the Corinthians that he did the signs of the apostle Paul, your true apostle. Yes, he says he that signs and wonders, and mighty works there is no question about Paul's apostleship new rights in the full authority of God himself commissioned by God is speaking the truth of God, can I say. Incidentally, there are no apostles today.

I realize that are preachers who claim to be apostles that are people who believe that there are no apostles today. This was far conditional for the church.

But Paul writes as apostle. He also says here in verse one is set apart for the gospel of God. I like that Paul was your life about it's all about the gospel. I've been set apart for the gospel of God become a preacher because he had nothing else to do. He didn't become a gospel preacher because he wanted a lazy life on wanted to be admired by people know this is the work of God in his life. He's been set apart by God formed the gospel of God, what a ministry, a ministry of proclaiming the gospel of God. God chose Paul. God save Paul.commission Paul and his whole life is directed to the gospel. He says in verse 15. I'm eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Why are you so eager. Paul well because he had seen the impact of the gospel in his own life in his own soul. This is not just a theory to Paul, the gospel transformed this man. Also, the gospel has transformed countless millions then through the centuries through reading and studying the book of Romans the gospel. For example, transformed Augustine arguably no other book in the history of the world has had such an impact on the world is the book of Romans. Great reason for studying it is in the who's Augustine you say what is one of the world's greatest theologians before he came to Christ himself says that his life was in darkness was living a self-indulgent, sinful, immoral life and spiritual and moral darkness. But God in his grace flooded that dark heart through reading the book of Romans. Augustine himself tells the story is an ardent 386 A.D. and in the darkness. He hears a child saying to a company agreed to company grades and he took the scroll, which was by the sight of his friends and open the scroll and began to read what we know as Romans 13 verses 13 and 14. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy it puts on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires becomes the Christ and the impact of Augustine and the church of Jesus Christ to this day is shipments transforms Paul transforms Augustine the gospel of course transformed Martin Luther this year were celebrating the 500th anniversary of Luther Martin Luther, nailing his 95 theses to the Wittenberg door that sparked the Reformation which continues to reverberate out on the world. How did Luther, a Roman Catholic monk. How did he come to saving faith in Jesus Christ is a very sincere man. He's very hard-working. He's a reserve scholar of the of the holy Scriptures and is teaching his students as a professor of theology at this teaching them the book of Romans and that is teaching them. He comes to Romans 1 to 16 and 17. When Paul's eyes are not ashamed of the gospel. For subpart of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek foot in that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is, as it is written, the righteous shall live by faith that would live the red father and meditated on this expression, the righteousness of God. It filled him with great grand and despair, and rightly so, you think of standing before a holy God, a God who is infinite and his righteousness and holiness. How good you are good.

Even a pious monk like Luther stand before the righteousness of God and he said this expression, the righteousness of God, filled me with despair. He said even though if ever a monk got to heaven by his mom today.

It was I religious good sincere. Later he writes this I grasp the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness went by through grace and sheer mercy, he justifies us by faith. Thereupon I found myself to be reborn and have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning and whereas before the righteousness of God had filled me with hate know it became to me inexpressibly sweet and greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a gateway to heaven. The wonderful thing about the Reformation unit is beginning with Luther through the reading of Romans prayer is I've been praying in others of us have been praying that for many of us here many of you this passage. This book of Paul will become for you a gateway to heaven. The gospel also transformed John Wesley and Romans.

On 24 May 1713 John Wesley went to a religious meeting in Aldersgate St., London, England, and someone was reading in that meeting. Luther's preface to the epistle of the Romans, and what would happen you go to Bible study and summons reading the preface to the book of Romans run after the boring stuff you won some little fill in the blank thing that someday, but gave your here is Wesley and these listening to what Luther wrote in the preface to the epistle of Romans. Wesley later wrote in his journal. While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ.

I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ. Christ alone for my salvation, and the shooters was given me that he had taken my sins away. Even mine and save me from the law of sin and that the wonderful and the conversion of John Wesley launch the great spiritual revivals of the 18th century and the impact of these revivals in the impact of John Wesley continues to this day, saying that millions of people for their life transformed by the glorious message of Romans said the Romans has featured prominently in every spiritual every significant spiritual revival may revival come to our land through the truths presented in Romans hi, we need to hear this message. The message of the gospel is spiritual dynamite. Paul says that it's the power, the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes most of saying that they this book.

Romans the gospel will transform your syllogism of my resetting Romans mean sin, heavy things can full of doctrine that mean I just need help in my relationships.

I need some practical tips for my marriage and how to relate to my kids and I think on that water can and I to deal with life and as I think you should be preaching about John that this seems kind of heavy stuff from Maine, you have an interest in it, but I don't know if I'm there with that. I understand what you're saying but will need to grasp this. These supernatural and powerful truths of Romans will change your life.

These truths will change your heart.

Seems to me that so often would like were like as if we owned the house which is falling apart, which is terrible foundations and were coming to church everything the Bible and were thinking of a new coat of paint. There's a time and place for painting your house but there's something much more important to your house for the structural integrity for the foundation. What I'm saying to you for the foundation of your life and for the spiritual destiny of your very soul.

You must grasp and understand then live on the ply these wonderful truths of the gospel presented in Romans and would you get that writes these other things will fall into place.

So often we were dealing with a cosmetics rather than the heart of the situation is not what Jesus says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you and that your past that I'm concerned about your heart.

Yes, there is a place for these other things but these are very secondary and somewhat peripheral to the central truth is that Paul is presenting that you need Christ you need to live a life of submission to Christ, empowered by the spirit of God. Romans has changed my life continues to change me. I'm never go over the wonder that God in his grace, which starting to boy of 12 and save me through the gospel. This is my passion. This is my calling. There is nothing more important to me as your pastor and all of you would be in the right standing with God that you we truly would be authentic followers of Jesus Christ and I come to the greatest of privileges to preach the gospel and to preach these truths to you FF Bruce writes there is no telling what may happen when people begin to study the epistle of the Romans. You have been warned for the warning label on its Ad-Aware asbestos gloves when you touch this. This is no ordinary boat. This is not just some ideas of Paul 2000 years ago.

This is a very positive God. This will save your soul. This will give the central foundation of your life that your life is committed to Jesus Christ and if you read it if you study it.

If you receive when applying these trees. I guarantee your life will be radically and forever transformed. Don't worry about painting the house until the foundation of your life in your heart and your soul is right. Raymond Altman writes the more you understand believe in love Romans, the more filled you will be with God's spirit, the more you will walk in newness of life and the more your life will collect for the cause of the gospel is Romans has changed the course of human history. I think this is magnificent to think here we are with this ancient text in their hands very words that we have reading of the very words written by Paul himself, the very words that Martin Luther and Augustine in Wesley and countless millions of people have read and studied and applied, and that we the comfort of the sanctuary not own home in their classes can open God's word and understand the gospel. The heart of the gospel move in his commentary says this is the way in which God has acted to transform rebellious sinners into obedient saints and on about you, but my heart naturally is rebellious. Only the gospel, the payload of the gospel content in a rebellious person like me into being in the region follower of Jesus Christ. This is the good news is good news to you.

Have you personally received the grace of God and trusted in Christ as your personal Savior and Lord understand the gospel believe the gospel receive the gospel live the gospel communicate the gospel to others. It is the power of God unto salvation within stand in the minutes and sing of the Lord is our salvation and before we do that, I just want to pray opportunity for all of us to make a response to what we've heard, you can dismiss it and say just another message. I trust no trust with your follower of Christ in the God has spoken to you. You bow your head and if you don't know Christ. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We admit that you're a sinner. Look to the beauty of the Savior who came to seek and to see save the lost. Calling to him to save you, and to transform your to change your heart. The one who diet and was again the federal follower of Christ asking the light pole. You will be a slave of Christ Jesus during his will. Father, we thank you for this magnificent book work in our hearts yield the hearts of every person here.

We sang open arise popularized or send open arise to the beauty and the loveliness of our Savior. I pray many be passing from darkness to light relies to be being transformed. We thank you that you are the Lord of salvation that when you sent your son to this world. He didn't come to condemn us, but to give us a life and hope the new beginning, and transformation. We thank you in his name