Faith in Romans, Part 2: The Gospel revealed to Paul reveals the Righteousness of God and by which believers are saved and unbelievers are judged:

Today, we’ll revisit two significant verses from the last study: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:11 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

616 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.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:1717 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

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The word “gospel” in verse 16 is translated from the Greek “euanggelion” (G2098) found 77 times in the New Testament (NT), meaning “good or glad news.” In the NT it is used in reference to three distinct gospels:

1. God’s everlasting gospel of grace, mercy and salvation existing from the beginning, i.e., Abel, Hebrews 11:44 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

, Abraham, Galatians 3:88 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

, and continuing throughout time to His righteous judgment at the end, Revelation 14:6 - 76 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

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2. The gospel of the Kingdom of heaven on earth that God promised Abraham and David for Israel, as preached by Jesus on earth, Matthew 4:2323 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

; Acts 1:3 - 93 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

, and again to Israel by Peter and those with him, Acts 3:20 - 2120 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

; Acts 8:2525 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

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3. The gospel revealed to the Apostle Paul for us during this age of Grace. Paul calls it variously: the Gospel of the Grace of God, Acts 20:2424 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

; the Gospel of God, Romans 1:1; the gospel of His Son, Romans 1:99 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

; the gospel of Christ, Romans 1:1616 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.

16 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.

; the gospel of peace, Ephesians 6:1515 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

; the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Thessalonians 1:88 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

. Paul refers it as “my gospel,” Romans 2:1616 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

; Romans 16:2525 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

; 2 Timothy 2:88 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

as well as “the gospel of the uncircumcision” (the gentiles) committed to him while the gospel of circumcision (that of Israel’s Kingdom) was committed to Peter, Galatians 2:77 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

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The gospel Paul preached, in simple terms, is that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:2323 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

, meaning all men and women naturally stand unrighteous before God; but all anyone has to do to be righteous before God and be saved to eternal life is to believe from the heart that Christ died for their sin/s, that He was buried and rose again, according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ even though most Jews and many Gentiles harassed, beat and tried to kill him because of it. Israel did not believe Jesus was their Messiah and God’s Son and therefore handed Him over to the Romans to be crucified. Then Paul came along and reiterated the same thing about Jesus’ Messiahship and Sonship; and furthermore, that Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses and died, was buried and rose again to save them from their sins. They rejected Paul’s message outright, claiming it necessary to follow the Law, even though they did so hypocritically. The Gentiles didn’t believe the Gospel of Christ as it ran counter to their idol worship, which included sexual immorality and provided a livelihood to many of them; and it didn’t fit their human wisdom/ reasoning. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:21 - 2421 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

. Today, the Gospel of Christ is still a stumbling block to most Jews and foolishness to most Gentiles, and even though many Gentiles may believe Christ died for them, they believe and depend more for their salvation on their own ethical/ moral behavior, or on one or more of their religious beliefs, which are works, rules, laws, rites, rituals, church membership, etc.

Paul wrote that the Gospel of Christ has the unlimited power of Almighty God to give salvation to any Jew or Gentile who truly believes it, Romans 1:16. “For therein (the gospel of Christ) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17. The righteousness of God is the fact that God is right in His Being and in everything He does. “From faith to faith” refers to the individual faith of each of those in the past who believed and obeyed what God told them. God’s Word (instructions) was different to Abel, than it was to Noah or Abraham or Moses for Israel. They each believed and obeyed God’s specific Word to them and He counted them righteous because of their belief and obedience. Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:44 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

with the phrase “The just (righteous) shall live by faith” in Romans 1:17 and repeats it in Galatians 3:1111 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

and Hebrews 10:3838 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

, so we know faith in God’s Word has always been a requirement from the beginning. But we must ask just how the righteousness of God was applied to those who believed and obeyed God before the Lord Jesus Christ revealed the Gospel of Christ to the Apostle Paul.

None of those who believed and obeyed God prior to the Apostle Paul were aware of the real reason God could recognize them righteous. They knew nothing about the Gospel of Christ, which God later revealed to Paul. They had no idea that God Himself would fulfill their faith and provide them righteousness by coming to earth as a Man to die the most horrendous death possible, that of the cross, be buried and rise from the dead. Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

: “Now faith is the substance (or confidence) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc., had faith, which was the substance or confidence for which they hoped (their eager anticipation), it was the evidence of what they could not see. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:1717 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

, even if they didn’t know how God would accomplish what they hoped for and could not see.

In Hebrews 11, After listing the witnesses to faith, the Apostle writes: “And these all, (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc.) having obtained a good report (“obtained a good report” is translated from one Greek word, “martureo” (G3140), which means having been witnesses) through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:33 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

9 - 4039 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

. Those in the past had to wait for God to finish His work of redemption so they, along with we who believe today, can be made perfect. Please read the following passage in Romans 3:21 - 2621 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

carefully: “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; v. 21, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: v. 22, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; v. 23, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: v 24, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; v. 25, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” v. 26.

The phrase “his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” in verse 25 contains several unique words I’ll define: 1) “remission” is from the Greek “paresis” (G3929) found only here in the NT; according to Thayer it means “passing over, letting pass, neglecting, disregarding.” 2) “past” is “proginomai (G4166), used only here, meaning “to arise or come before, happen before;” 3) “forbearance” is “anoche” (G463) found only twice, here and in Romans 2:44 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

, meaning “toleration, forbearance.” Thus, God passed over the sins of those who believed and Obeyed His Word in the past through His tolerance/forbearance and He did this “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:2626 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

. “At this time” was when God revealed the “Gospel of Christ” to the Apostle Paul for every believer, past and present.

Let us contemplate the Second Person of the Godhead Who is the Word of God, John 1:1 - 21 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

, Who we now know as the Lord Jesus Christ. He has always existed. At some point in eternity He created time “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3. This means the second person of the Trinity spoke this universe into existence out of nothing; He also holds everything together, Genesis 1:1 - 31 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

; Ephesians 3:99 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

b; Colossians 1:16 - 1716 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

; Hebrews 1:22 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

b. He created Adam and Eve and walked and talked with them in the Garden; it was He who killed the animals from which He made clothes for them after they sinned; it was He who instructed Abel what kind of sacrifice to bring; it was He who spoke to Abraham and all those mentioned in the OT. And, think about the fact that from eternity past He knew what a shameful, terrible, brutal punishment He faced when He would come as a man in the fullness of time, Galatians 4:44 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

, to suffer and die on the cross to save all those He spoke to from the beginning of time. The Godhead knew all this but never revealed it to anyone until Paul, Romans 16:25 - 2625 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

; Ephesians 3:2 - 52 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

primarily because Satan and his minions would never have allowed Jesus to be crucified if they had known His death, burial and resurrection would not only save Gods’ believers past and present but would also seal Satan and his minion’s fate in hell for eternity, 1 Corinthians 2:6 - 86 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

; Revelation 20:1010 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

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In Romans 2:1212 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

we read: “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” then verses 13 - 15 are a parenthesis explaining verse 12 and the thought of verse 12 continues in Romans 2:16 “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” This means the “secrets” (from the Greek word kruptos, G2927 meaning concealed, private, inward, hidden secrets) of all non-believers from throughout the ages will be judged by Jesus Christ when they stand before Him at the Great White Throne, and that judgment will be based on the Gospel of Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11 - 1511 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

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Today, men and women have a choice, either to believe the Gospel of Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul and stand righteous before God and be saved or not believe and be judged by Jesus Christ for their sin/s based on the Gospel of Christ.