Preaching to the Choir:Preaching to the Choir:Why Christians Need the Gospel…Why Christians Need the Gospel…

Romans 1:8-17Romans 1:8-17

Grace Community ChurchGrace Community Church10/15/200610/15/2006

Romans 1:8-10Romans 1:8-10

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.opened for me to come to you.

Romans 1:11-12Romans 1:11-12

11I long to see you so that I may impart to 11I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strongyou some spiritual gift to make you strong—12that is, that you and I may be —12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. faith.

Romans 1:13-15Romans 1:13-15

13I do not want you to be unaware, 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.I have had among the other Gentiles.

14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.the gospel also to you who are at Rome.

Why isn’t our faith being Why isn’t our faith being reported all over the world?reported all over the world?

We are asking the wrong question.We are asking the wrong question.

WWJDWWJDWhat would Jesus do?What would Jesus do?

WWJD?WWJD? Keep the Law… (see Sermon on the Mt.)Keep the Law… (see Sermon on the Mt.)

WDWD?WDWD? Break the Law… (see Sermon on the Mt.)Break the Law… (see Sermon on the Mt.)

WDWDWWCDWJWD?WDWDWWCDWJWD? We fake it… Dumb down the law.We fake it… Dumb down the law. We throw in the towel… We quit.We throw in the towel… We quit.

WDLD?WDLD?

I labored and diligently and anxiously as to I labored and diligently and anxiously as to how to understand Paul’s word [in how to understand Paul’s word [in Romans 1:17], where he says that the Romans 1:17], where he says that the righteousness of God is revealed in the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel. I sought long and knocked gospel. I sought long and knocked anxiously for the expression “the anxiously for the expression “the righteousness of God” blocked the way, righteousness of God” blocked the way, because I took it to mean that because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is righteous righteousness whereby God is righteous and deals righteously in punishing the and deals righteously in punishing the unrighteous. unrighteous.

My situation was that, although an My situation was that, although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner troubled in conscience, and I a sinner troubled in conscience, and I had no confidence that my merit would had no confidence that my merit would assuage him. Therefore I did not love a assuage him. Therefore I did not love a righteous and angry God, but rather righteous and angry God, but rather hated and murmured against him. Yet I hated and murmured against him. Yet I clung to the dear Paul and had a great clung to the dear Paul and had a great yearning to know what he meant.yearning to know what he meant.

Martin Martin LutherLuther

If WWJD is not the right If WWJD is not the right question, what is?question, what is?

WDJD: What Did Jesus Do?WDJD: What Did Jesus Do?

In other words:In other words:WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?!!!!!WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?!!!!!

Romans 1:16-17Romans 1:16-17

16I am not ashamed of the gospel, 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”righteous will live by faith.”