Introduction: The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. What is the good news? Because we’re sinners, we are separated from God and deserve judgment for our sins. In response to our spiritual condition, Jesus died on the cross in our place for our sins. He received God’s wrath for us. For those who place their faith in Christ to be saved from their sins, God promises forgiveness and reconciliation.

 

The blessings of the gospel include forgiveness, reconciliation, adoption, peace, grace, hope, and love. The gospel (should) impact and transform all of our relationships: family, school, work, church, neighborhoods, cities, states, and global.

 

The Gospel (Romans 1:16-17)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes…For in it the righteousness of God is revealed…

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it’s God’s power for salvation. We cannot save ourselves through good works. Our finances, social status, physical appearance, jobs, or education can’t save us. The gospel reveals our true spiritual condition and saves us from our sins.

 

Sin (Romans 3:10-12)

None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it transforms our sinful condition. Through the gospel we’re declared righteous, understand spiritual truth, seek God, turn toward God, experience worth, and serve others with acts of goodness.

 

Salvation (Romans 3:21-22)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We are sinners; we can’t be saved without God’s righteousness. When we receive the gospel, we also receive Christ’s righteousness (accredited to those who have placed their faith in Christ).

 

Justification (Romans 5:1-5)

…we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2…into this grace in which we stand 3 we rejoice in our sufferings… suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope 5…God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit

 

The Gospel is beautiful because God has justified us— declared us righteous (Christ’s righteousness has been accredited to us). As a result, we experience the blessings of the gospel (forgiveness, reconciliation, adoption, peace, grace, hope, love).

 

 

 

Spiritual Union (Romans 6:3-4)

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because we can experience God’s love and forgiveness through our spiritual union with Christ (spiritually died, buried, raised to a new life with Christ). We experience our spiritual union with Christ when we experience the gospel on a regular and consistent basis.

 

Spiritual Misery (Romans 7:16-18-8:1)

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate….17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

 

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.….23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

 

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it deals with our spiritual misery. The gospel reminds us why we are spiritually miserable. We experience spiritual misery when we fail to pursue our spiritual union with Christ (Romans 6:1-11) and life in the Spirit (Romans 8) through Word, worship, prayer, community.

 

Life in the Spirit (Romans 8:5-6)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it leads to life in the Spirit. The gospel transforms us so that we can now live a Spirit-filled life. Not only does the gospel liberate us from spiritual bondage, but it also leads us to the path of the Spirit’s presence and power.

 

Holiness and Christ-likeness (Romans 8:29-30)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it provides a way for us to become part of God’s elected/chosen community through faith in Christ. God’s people are chosen for holiness and Christ-likeness. God has secured our “membership” in this spiritual community (He foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified us).

 

 

 

 

More than Conquerors (Romans 8:37-39)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

The Gospel is beautiful because we are more than conquerors in Christ’s love. We live defeated lives when we allow our past experiences or decisions to define us. We create false identities when we allow the world to mold us into its image. God’s love through the gospel establishes a Christ-centered identity that leads to truth, freedom, and Spiritual-empowerment.

 

Evangelism (Romans 10:13-15)

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent?

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it saves everyone who calls upon Jesus for forgiveness and reconciliation. God exhorts us to share the gospel with family, friends, and those near and afar. We are too concerned about what others think or say about us (this is why our identity must be Christ-centered). God has sent us into the world to be His witnesses, to proclaim and live out the gospel for His glory.

 

Spiritual Worship (Romans 12:1-2)

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. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it teaches us to present our bodies to God as living and holy sacrifices. In response to the blessings of the gospel (forgiveness, reconciliation, adoption, peace, grace, hope, love), Christ-followers offer everything to God for worship. Because all of life is worship, it’s imperative to not conform to the world but be transformed by renewing our minds.  

 

Love (Romans 12:9-21)

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor….14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

 

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

 

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God… 20…“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it transforms us to love others. God uses the blessings of the gospel—forgiveness, reconciliation, adoption, peace, grace, hope, and love to renew us from the inside-out. As we experience these gospel blessings, we begin to change from selfishness, pride, and callousness to people who authentically and sacrificially love.

 

Three Kinds of Citizenship (Romans 13:1, 10, 12)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God….10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love is the fulfilling of the law….12 let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

The Gospel is beautiful because it teaches us about citizenship. The gospel calls us to be in the world but not of it. The blessings of the gospel (forgiveness, reconciliation, adoption, peace, grace, hope, love) provide the foundation for gospel-citizenship—submitting to our government authorities, loving our neighbors, and living Christ-like in God’s kingdom.

 

Don’t Judge, Stumble Others (Romans 14:13, 17)

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother….17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because we no longer judge or stumble others. Just as God’s judgment passes over us when we receive the gospel, Christians must likewise, refrain from judging others. Because the gospel calls us to humility and love, we should consider how our lifestyle can cause others to stumble in their faith.  

 

Our Calling (Romans 15:15-19)

because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus…in the priestly service of the gospel of God….what Christ has accomplished through me…by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God…I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it provides a framework for our calling. The gospel teaches us that all callings and careers are sacred (saved to bring God glory), Spirit-empowered (saved by the Spirit’s work in our lives), and service-centered (saved to serve others with compassion, justice, love).

 

Gospel Partnerships (Romans 16:3-16)

Greet Prisca, Aquila, the church in their house, Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus and Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, the family of Aristobulus, Herodion, the family of Narcissus, Tryphaena,

Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, his mother, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, the brothers who are with them, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them….

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it creates partnerships for building God’s kingdom. Partnerships not only create spiritual friendships, but they help us to see God’s glory and impact outside of our own “windows.” Because the gospel transcends nations, cultures, social structures, and languages, partnerships reflect God’s love for all the peoples of the world.

 

Gospel and God’s Glory (Romans 16:25-27)

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

 

The Gospel is beautiful because it strengthens us, leads to obedience, and brings God glory. We are weak and unable to spiritually grow without the blessings of the gospel. The gospel transforms us (we are new creations in Christ) so that we can obey God. The gospel reorients us toward a theocentric, God glorifying life.  

 

 

Reflection: Which truth(s) in Romans have been the most impactful for you? Share. How will you put this truth into action on a regular basis?