THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH

Romans 1:8-17

Key Verse: 1:17 “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

For last three weeks, we have learned 1 Corinthians 15, the chapter of the resurrection. We learned “The Gospel of the Resurrection”, “The Power of the Resurrection”, “The Glory of the Resurrection”. We are saved by the gospel of the resurrection. The power of the resurrection makes us alive in Christ. Therefore we have hope for the glory of the resurrection to bear the likeness of Jesus.

So what? What do we have to do now? ‘Live by faith!’ How do we have to live? Let’s read today’s title.

I pray that all of us may become the righteous by faith and live by faith from first to last.

We will learn today three important things: Gospel, Faith and God’s righteousness. May God help us to understand these three things deeply by the Holy Spirit so that we may live by faith.

Let’s read verse 8. “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”

Paul was thankful because Roman Christians’ faith is being reported all over the world. At that time, the Christians in Rome were unpopular. People misunderstood Christians were like barbarians because they drink blood and eat flesh. Actually, it was the Communion ceremony. Many Christians were persecuted by Roman emperor Nero. However, Christians in Rome held firmly to the gospel. So their faith was reported all over the world. Their faith moved all Christians all over the world. Paul was also deeply moved by their faith and was thankful.

By what are we reported? By good GPA of our JBF members or many JBF members? By a beautiful center? By a well-built homepage? Or by bad things? I pray that we may be reported by our faith all over the world.

Let’s read verses 9 and 10. “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.”

Paul was thankful because of their faith. He constantly prayed for them to keep their faith. Also, Paul is praying by God’s will the way may be opened for him to visit the church in Rome.

Here we can learn that we should pray for God’s flock constantly. Also, we should pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Is there someone who is praying for our JBF members constantly? We should pray for them to meet Jesus personally and have resurrection faith. The most important thing we can do is to pray for them constantly. Through this passage, I repented of my lack of prayer for JBF members. I prayed for you sometimes, not constantly. I often ask Rebecca Shin, “Rebecca! You pray for Samchon, don’t you?” Then, she always told me! “Sure!” When I got sick some days ago, Grace Jung told me, “Samchon! I’m praying for you to get better!” I was so thankful for their prayer. I pray that I may pray for you more constantly.

Paul is praying the way may be opened to go to Rome. Through verse 13, we can know Paul planned many times to go to Rome, but had been prevented from doing so. However, later by God’s will his prayer was answered. The way was opened for him to go to Rome. Paul went to Rome as a prisoner being escorted by the Roman Imperial Regiment free of charge and most safely.

Like this, Paul was a man of prayer. Paul worked harder than anyone else, but he effectively served God’s work with much prayer.

Let’s read verses 11 and 12. “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- (12)that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.”

What was Paul’s goal in visiting the church at Rome? Paul wants to impart to Christians in Rome some spiritual gift to make them strong. What is the spiritual gift? Most of all, the spiritual gift Paul longs to impart to them is the gospel faith. Imparting the gospel faith is the best spiritual gift we can give. The gospel makes us strong.

What makes you strong? Eating? Chatting? Playing? Watching movie or Korean drama? The gospel makes you strong. Later we will learn the gospel is the power of God which makes us really strong.

Let’s read verse 12 again. “that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.” Paul’s desire to visit the church in Rome is not merely to give to them, but to receive as well. Christians in Rome and Paul are mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. They are not encouraged one-sidedly. They do not discourage each other. They mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Here we can learn that our faith encourages others. I was deeply encouraged by Hannah Kwak’s faith. Last Friday I had to go to the important event in my major department. However I worried about who can baby-sit little Paul. I prayed in that morning around 6:30. Hannah Kwak told me she woke up at 6:30 strangely. When I came to Center, I saw Hannah Kwak watching a video clip through internet. Not boys over flower, but a creationism lecture in NJ homepage. She was having Spring break. I asked her to baby-sit Paul. At the same time Paul smiled at her. She willingly accepted and took care of Paul all day joyfully. With her help, I could do what I expected through the prayer. God answered my prayer. I told what God had done for me to Hannah Kwak, and she was encouraged deeply. She had faith to spend all day to baby-sit.

Like this, we can encourage mutually by each other’s faith. I pray for all JBF members to be encouraged mutually by each other’s faith. Kangsup and Daniel can encourage mutually by each other’s faith. Grace Jung and T Grace can mutually encourage by each other’s faith. Heesung and Rebecca are reported by their mutual encouraging faith. Don’t discourage mutually by hurting each other’s heart. Try to encourage each other by God’s words. Pray for each other. Encourage each other by your faith. Missionaries and Shepherds may encourage JBF, and also JBF may encourage Missionaries and shepherds by your faith. It is the mutual encouragement.

Paul planned many times to visit the church in Rome in order that he might have a harvest among them, just as he has had among the other Gentiles.

Actually, Paul had never been to Rome. Paul did not pioneer the church in Rome. Then, why does he pray for them constantly? Why does he want to impart spiritual gift so eagerly?

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

What does it mean to be obligated? Paul was motivated by his deep sense of God’s grace. Paul had received the forgiveness of sins and God’s holy mission freely by grace. 1Co 15 :10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” He did not deserve God’s grace at all. He felt compelled to pay it back. In other words, he had sense of a debtor. He felt obligated to help all people know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, what is the gospel? Let’s read verse 16. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

We already learned what the gospel is. 1Co 15:3,4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

We are all sinners because of sin. There is no one righteous, not even one.(Romans 3:10) However, God did not give up sinners. God had a plan for salvation works. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God opened the way for all sinners to salvation. Jesus’ death and resurrection solved sin problem and satisfied God’s righteousness.

This is the gospel. This gospel is the power of God. Only this gospel can give us salvation. Money cannot solve sin problems. Any knowledge in the world cannot save us. Boyfriends or girlfriends cannot save us. When I was in my middle school, I used to think a girlfriend could save my life. When I was in high school, I thought my friends could save my life. When I was a college student, I thought money could save my life. However, I had been always suffering from the power of sin and death. I finally realized nothing could give us salvation. However, the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The gospel is the power of God that saved me and gave me salvation. The gospel is the power of God that changed my sinful life into a shepherd life. The gospel is so powerful that it can give salvation for everyone who believes, even me. Someone think everyone can be saved, but not me because I committed terrible sins. However, the gospel is the power of God that gives salvation to all people who repent and believe. In Adam, all die, but because of the gospel which is the power of God we are made alive in Christ.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Some people feel ashamed of the gospel. We learned that in Rome the Christians were not popular. They believed Jesus who died on the cross like a criminal. Some might feel ashamed by the lowest classes of people. They might feel ashamed of the gospel. So they did not want to reveal their identity as a Christian before people.

We sometimes feel ashamed of the gospel because our friends are not Christians and do not want to hear the gospel. So even we skip meal prayer when our friends are watching over us. We used to feel ashamed of preaching the gospel to our friends. However, only the gospel can give them the salvation because it is the power of God. Therefore do not feel ashamed, but feel proud of the gospel. Let’s use the power of God proudly and preach the gospel to our friends who still do not know the gospel. Let’s pray for our friends and invite them to the Easter Bible conference so that they may hear the gospel.

Let’s read verse 16 again. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

Then, how can the gospel give us the salvation?

Let’s read verse 17. “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””

The gospel reveals the righteousness from God. What is righteousness? It is not speaking of the holy righteousness of God which is one of God’s characteristics. It is not our self-righteousness. The righteous God punishes sinners based on what they did. So nobody can be saved. However, the righteousness from God is given to the sinner who has faith in the gospel. Although we are sinners who do not deserve salvation, when we believe in Jesus, God’s righteousness is given to us freely. We are sinners, but we become the righteous before God. I saw many people feel unrighteous because of their sins and weakness. However, we should only look at Jesus on the cross and depend on Him only. When you put your faith in Jesus, God’s righteousness is revealed and given to you.

Some people think they are righteous because they keep the law. Do not misunderstand that you are righteous by your works or anything else. We are saved not by our works or self-righteousness, but only by faith. It is God’s one-sided grace. When we go to the kingdom of God, God will not see our sins and our works, but the righteousness that we received through believing in Jesus.

Faith is the only way to receive God’s righteousness. “A righteousness that is by faith!” Faith is the only way to become the righteous. Faith is the only way to reveal the power of God.

In the Bible, there are many people who became the righteous although they did not deserve.

David committed adultery and killed Uriah. He was rebuked by the prophet Nathan! At that time David did not hide his sins, but repented all his sins with tears before God.(Ps 51) So the Bible says, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” King David became the righteous by faith although he was a terrible sinner.

Abraham was credited righteous. He was an old man who did not have a child. His body was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old. Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. When Abraham believed God’s promise, God credited it to him as righteousness.

When we believe in Jesus, We are counted righteous before God! We are forgiven by faith. When we live by faith, we are credited righteous to God like Abraham and King David.

We become the righteous only by faith. Then, how do we have to live? Let’s read verse 17 again. “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."”

We become the righteous by faith. Also, the righteous will live by faith. From first to last we live by faith. Some people live by faith at the first time. But they lose their faith at the end. It is not the life of the righteous. The righteous live by faith from first to last.

How can we live by faith? We can be forgiven by faith every day. We can forgive others by faith. We can live by faith holding God’s promise through one word of God. We can study by faith. We can play by faith. We can preach the gospel by faith. We can prepare the Easter Bible conference by faith.

Romans 14:23 says, “Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” That’s why we should live by faith only. We can reveal God’s glory by living by faith.

Hold firmly one word of God as God’s promise to the end by faith. Have God’s vision for your life by faith to the end. If you want to go to the Princeton, go by faith. If you want to be a UN diplomat, accomplish by faith for the glory of God, not for your selfish ambition.

I pray for you to be the righteous in this generation. I pray that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Do not be ashamed of the gospel, but share proudly so that you may experience the power of God. I believed that your faith will be reported all over the world when we live by faith only.

The righteous will live by faith.