The Substance Of The Gospel of Grace
God’s Grace in Romans
Today we shall begin a series on God’s Grace in the Book of Romans. The chief design of this epistle to the Romans by Paul is to reveal God’s love and grace for the Jew and Gentile.
Here the doctrine of justification by free grace is set in clear light. It is Paul’s grand delivery on the subject of grace.
Herein declaring against the Gentiles that it is not to the light of nature, and the works done in obedience to the law of nature, And against the Jews, that it is not by the law of Moses, and the obedience of the demands that a man is justified.
He evinces this by clearly revealing the wretched and sinful nature of both the Jews and Gentiles, and shows that both the light of nature and the law of Moses are meant to show the Jew and Gentile alike their wretchedness and their need for a saviour outside of themselves.
That the light of nature and the law of Moses are not so they can be made righteous by, but that it is by the righteousness of Christ imputed through the grace of God that men are eternally justified.
And that this grace is accessed through faith which yields the results of peace, joy in the soul, and holiness in life and conduct.
After his usual introduction and salutations, he opens up what the gospel committed unto the apostles is, right here in the sixteenth verse of the first chapter;
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
Observe carefully this statement “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:”
By making this statement he intimates here that the gospel is somewhat contemptible to the world and to his religious counterparts, however, he has made up his mind to preach it despite foreseen reproaches.
The statement is made in anticipation of opposition, for he knew what was ordained from the foundation of the world to occur wherever the true gospel of Christ is preached.
In his letter to the Galatians, he exposed that this was prophesied by symbolism through the life of Ishmael and Isaac.
That as the son of the bondwoman(Haggai) persecuted the son of the freewoman (Sarah), even so shall the sons of the law (bondage), those that trust in their works, persecute those that believe and receive salvation as a free gift of grace through Jesus.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Galatians 4:29
So he anticipated opposition in advance of what he was about to share in this epistle, but he emphatically stated that this is the gospel of Christ, this is the gospel Christ preached though his death, burial and resurrection which he had received by revelation.
Then he declares “for it is the power of God unto salvation “ it is not a power but ‘the power’ of God unto salvation.
God’s solution to humanity is the gospel of Christ. Essentially and instrumentally the gospel is what God has ordained should give the world full, total or complete deliverance.
The Greek word used above for salvation is the word sōtēria and it means rescue or safety, physically or morally. Strong’s Concordance G449).
This speaks of physical and Spiritual deliverance from sin and death.
The gospel of Christ is the power of God that sets free from poverty, sickness and disease, sin and death, procuring prosperity, health, wealth, blessings, righteousness, holiness and more for the believer.
This means in the gospel there is power to keep the believer from absolutely falling away from the faith for it is the power of God unto complete rescue and safety to all those that believe without respect of persons “to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Now you may ask, what is the main doctrine of the gospel of Christ?
We are told what the gospel is all about in this following verse;
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17
In the gospel is the “righteousness of God — revealed from faith to faith”.
The word translated in the above verse for righteousness is from the Greek word dikaiosunē and it means equity (of character or act); specifically Christian ‘justification.’
In simple words it is the character, act or work of God in justifying sinners. So in this gospel the work of God in justifying sinners is revealed.
What God did to save sinners is the righteousness of God which is revealed from faith to faith and it is this revelation of what God did for the sinner that saves him totally.
In his letter to Corinth, Paul explains this righteousness of God revealed from one level of faith to the other;
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
So when you believe in what Christ has done, when you believe in the goodness of God expressed through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, you are saved; delivered, created righteous and the rest of the Christian walk is to live by faith in what saved you in the first place.
This is why we hear “the just shall live by faith.” You were saved from sin by faith, your works didn’t save you from sin, trying to quit sin by your efforts didn’t change your sinful nature, however, it was by your simple trust in the righteousness of God; the work of God for the ungodly.
Therefore, continue to walk in this way, rooted and grounded in the faith of Christ.
Confession
Thank you father for your love and grace, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for the wretched, I believe that through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ I am forever delivered from the dominion of Satan, sin and death.
I am delivered from sickness and disease, poverty and afflictions. I walk in health, prosperity, joy and peace by the life and nature of Christ at work in me. Hallelujah.
Prophetic Insight
In an encounter with the Lord, I saw as the Lord surprised many sons in the kingdom with the fulfilment of vision.
It was a supernatural grace of God in manifestation as many trusting God went on to see that things the Lord has laid on their hearts to do were already accomplished by grace and they were only receiving them as gifts of grace.
Coming out I was led to;
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” — Eph 2:10
Then the Lord said, “Beloved, I have commanded my blessings upon you even before you were born. My plans for you are self sufficient. Every item prearranged and ready for you to walk in.
You are a work of my hands, I have created you in myself, I have fashioned you for good works, even a prosperous destiny which I created for you to walk in right from the foundation of the world.
Do not be anxious, I have made all things ready, you are walking into favour upon favour, grace upon grace as you stand in awe of my goodness.”
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church