Dr. Alexander Kurian

Theme: The Gospel of the Righteousness of God (1:16-17)

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Paul now turns attention away from his ministry and focuses it on the major theme of the letter – the Gospel. Paul has already declared his fervent desire and zeal to preach the gospel in Rome. Paul now gives a solid reason for his passion to proclaim the gospel. He is never ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel was ‘foolishness’ to some and a ‘stumbling block’ to others (1 Cor.1:18, 23). The faithful proclamation of the gospel arouses ridicule, opposition, and contempt. Paul knew this very well from his own experience and it is true even today. Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel, because God’s power is at work in the proclamation of the good news to transform lives.

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Paul uses four key words that are crucial to understanding the gospel – power, salvation, faith, and righteousness. Five major gospel truths (see the exposition below) also are highlighted in verses 16-17. Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel, because of what the gospel is all about.

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1. The Source of the Gospel: Gospel is the Gospel of God (1:1). God is the source or the origin of the Gospel. Jesus Christ is the content of the gospel. It is not like the philosophies and religions of the world that vie for the attention of men. Gospel is not something which man has discovered as a means of salvation. It is not built on human wisdom, religiosity, works, or merit. Gospel is God’s message, God’s plan, and God’s means to save sinners. It is the only way God has provided for the salvation of men. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that he preached the Gospel of God to them (1Thess.2: 2, 8).

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2. The Nature of the Gospel: It is the “power” of God for salvation. Power is from dunamis from which we get the word dynamite. Gospel carries with it the omnipotent power of God to transform lives. Throughout Romans Paul declares man’s impotence and God’s power (5:6; 8:3; see also 1 Cori.1:18, 23-25). Jesus Christ was declared Son of God in power (1:4). Gospel is the power of God leading to salvation. No other power can lead a person to salvation. The emphasis here is not on the blowing, blasting or destroying power of the gospel, but rather on its intrinsic efficacy. “People in Rome were surrounded by evidences of power, but it was merely human power. God’s power is infinitely greater” (Stewart Custer).

3. The Purpose/Effect of the Gospel: It is “for salvation”. The word salvation (soteria) occurs five times in Romans (1:16; 10:1, 10; 11:11; 13:11). Salvation is a broad concept. Its basic meaning is deliverance, wholeness, soundness. The idea is rescue from the power and dominion of sin. It includes forgiveness of sins and promises the restoration of all that sin has marred. In Pauline theology it denotes the ultimate deliverance from God’s wrath and eschatological judgment (Rom.13:11; 1 Thess.5:9). The power of God in salvation rescues people from the ultimate penalty of sin. The New Testament speaks of salvation in the past tense (Eph.2:8), the present tense (2 Cor.2:15), and the future tense (Rom.13:11). In the past, the believer has been saved from the penalty of sin. In the present, the believer is being saved from the power of sin. In the future, the believer will be saved from the presence of sin.

4. The Scope/Extent of the Gospel:  “Everyone who believes.” “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom.10:13). Gospel is a universal message offered to all – men and women of every land, race, color, and culture. God’s saving grace is extended to all everywhere through the gospel call. “God so loved the world” (Jn.3:16). God’s salvific power is available to everyone even today.

5. The Reception/Condition of the Gospel: “Everyone who believes. Faith is the only condition or the requirement of the gospel. “Believes” carries the basic idea of trusting in, relying on, having faith in (the verb “to believe” occurs 21 times in Romans). Saving faith is the necessary response to the Gospel. Everyone who is saved is saved exactly the same way – by faith and by faith alone. Salvation is trusting Jesus Christ as Savior. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ means trusting him to forgive your sins and to bring you into a right relationship with God.

“To the Jew first and also to the Greek” – “Jew first” is both in a chronological (historical) and theological sense. They had the advantage of the Old Testament revelation, which prepared the way for the coming of the Christ (Messiah) to be the Savior of the world. God ordained salvation to come through His chosen people (Jn.4:22). To the Jews were given the first opportunity to receive the Lord Jesus (Jn.1:11). The Messiah came first to the lost sheep of Israel (Matt.15:24). The priority of the Jews in the salvation program of God is both theological and historical.

“Greek” in v.16 is a more broad usage, referring to any non-Jew.

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Verse 17: “The righteousness of God” - The Gospel makes manifest the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God is God’s righteous and just initiative in making sinners right with Him, restoring of right relationship between man and God. Our own righteousness cannot grant us a righteous status before God. The righteous God in a righteous way pronounces the unrighteous righteous before Him through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “The righteousness of God is God’s just justification of the unjust” (John Stott). God imparts His own righteousness to those who believe. Righteousness of God is revealed, reckoned, imparted and imputed to believing sinners (Rom.3:21-22, 24, 26; 5:1).

“From faith to faith” – Faith from start to finish, “by faith from first to last” (NIV), or out of faith into faith. The phrase simply means that it is righteousness wholly by faith. Faith is at the beginning of the salvation process, and it is the goal as well. We are saved by faith and also called to live by faith.

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“But the righteous man shall live by faith” – This text is a quotation from Hab.2:4. It is also quoted in Gal.3:11 and Heb.10:38. One can be righteous before God only through faith. As in Habakkuk’s day, so now also God’s people live by faith. He who is righteous by faith (rather than works) shall also live by faith. The abiding place and validity of faith in Christian life is reiterated again. The quotation confirms the truth that righteousness is to be attained only on the basis of faith.

“In vv.16-17 is the essence of Paul’s theology. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Charles Ryrie).

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