I. The Righteousness of God Revealed (vs. 17)
A. It is revealed in the gospel of Christ (I Cor. 15:3-8). Notice the word “therein” in verse 17.
1. The gospel is the power of God in salvation. The power is not in our new ideas, gimmicks, or methods. There is no need to try and improve upon on the pure gospel message–just preach it!
2. We are not to be ashamed of the gospel. It is easy to become ashamed when handling such power (dunamis-dynamite). You’ll stand out when using such power.
3. One must believe in order to be saved. Don’t wait for some special event or feeling. If you realize your sinful, hopeless estate, repent and believe on Jesus Christ now!
B. How is God’s righteousness revealed in the gospel?
1. In order to be saved, you must put your faith in the fact that only the righteousness of Christ in your stead will save you (II Cor. 5:21, Phil. 3:9).
2. Old Testament faith versus New Testament faith
a. The Old Testament verse quoted (Hab. 2:4) actually says, “The just shall live by his faith.” In the Old Testament, “faith” (only mentioned twice in the O.T.) is a man’s personal faith to do what God told him to do.
b. In the New Testament, faith is a gift of God (Rom. 3:3, 3:22; Eph. 2:8-9). Faith is given to believe by God in this dispensation, that is why the word “his” was dropped by the Holy Spirit.
1) Faith is given by hearing (Rom. 10:8, 17).
2) We are to preach the gospel (Rom. 10:14), God gives the hearer faith to believe, and it is the sinner’s responsibility to believe.
Note: In the New Testament (through the gospel, salvation, and faith) we see God’s righteousness revealed.
II. The Wrath of God Revealed (vs. 18)
A. Holding the truth in unrighteousness
1. God reveals Himself to man (vss. 19-20). Man is given a witness by creation (Psa. 19:1-5), his conscience (Rom. 2:15), and of course scripture. Every element in our 3 dimensional world points to the Godhead (Trinity). Length, width, and height are all separate entities, and yet you cannot remove any of them for a 3 dimensional object to still exist.
2. Man, in spite of these revelations, doesn’t glorify God (vs. 21), but rather he glories in himself and his created idols (vs. 23). This applies to educated and uneducated pagans alike. One man worships a carved image of an animal, and the other worships at the altar of the Theory of Evolution.
3. Man, in spite of these revelations, is unthankful (vs. 21). Man, naturally, has no regard for God.
4. Man changes the truth into a lie (vs. 25). Man always likes to create his own “truth.”
B. The form of God’s wrath.
1. God gave them up to uncleaness (vs. 24).
2. God gave them up to vile affections (vs. 26). It seems that the sin of Sodomy discussed in these verses (“men with men”, etc.) is not necessarily the sin being punished, but is rather the natural, vile depths of the flesh. It is the result of God letting someone alone to live as their wicked flesh desires without any spiritual restraint. If you want to see how “righteous” your flesh really is, view the goings on at a San Fransisco “Gay Pride” parade.
3. God gave them over to a reprobate mind (vs. 28). God does this after man gives himself over to his sinful desires and rejects God.
Note: One of the worst judgments God can pronounce upon an individual, institution, or country is to leave them alone to let them do as they please in their wicked imaginations.
