For Us Or Against Us? Evans Olang

Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

One of the greatest struggles in our days is to have someone you can trust. Experiences has caused people to be skeptic when it deals with trust issue. Trust is very fragile. Someone said, “it is easy to mend broken love than broken trust.”

The Life of Faith: Living by Faith, Benjamen Leahey

Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””

This morning I would like to share with you some thoughts about faith. In modern religious thought, faith has been largely defined as some sort of mystical feeling or emotion. But faith in its true, biblical sense, is the very attitude that the Christian comes to live by. It is the ground of belief, it is a conviction of the heart, a firm statement of truth from within, one that overtakes all other thought and tramples all doubt.

Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 1of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “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. 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.”

One of the books in the bible I ever struggled to understand was the book of Romans. When I finally understood it’s message and application, it has become one of my favorite books. I wonder if you have ever spent some time studying it. I hope to share from the first chapter which lays a foundation for the entire book.

Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 2of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “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. 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.”

Why is the book of Romans instrumental to us?, because it is the heartbeat of the gospel. I don’t see how anyone can understand why 80-90% of people who make a profession of faith fall away until they have studied this master piece. Do you know that 88% of children raised in evangelical homes leave church at the age of 18 never to return? These rates are very alarming. If the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, shouldn’t the same power that saves be the same power that keeps unless the power that keeps never saved in the first place?

Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 3of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “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. 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.”

In vs. 5, we come to learn how Paul’s journey began and how our Journey in Christ begins. He says, “Vs. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship /for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;”. I break vs. 5&6 in sections.

Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 4of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “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. 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.”

I fast forward to verse 16, 17 and 18 which summarizes the theme of Romans in my judgment. However I work my way backwards starting with 18-16. I choose this approach because verse 18 highlights verse 17, and verse 17 highlights verse 16.

Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 5of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “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. 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.”

I draw our attention back to Vs. 18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness”. The “for” introduces an argument which shows that Christ’s gospel is the world’s only hope. Not only by the declarations of the Holy Scriptures, and His judgments, but by nature’s teachings, and by the human conscious. God has given all me conscious which means “with knowledge”. Our day, men suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Where conscious is tampered with, it’s nearly impossible to bring about conviction.

Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 6of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “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. 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 greatest sin is unbelief, the exchange of the glory of God for corruptible things. What we know as sin stems from the exchange, by first denial of who God is and His attributes. Vs. 19, says, “because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse”. I think this vs. sums up the problem of man. You get rid of God and you have no accountability, anything goes.

Romans Chapter 1 Study, Part 7of12, Evans Olang

Romans 1:1-31, “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. 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.”

Satan teaches men first to doubt, and then to deny. Ever since, fallen man has sought to avoid God and to deny His glory and even His very existence, this can be seen from Genesis 3. And the gospel addressed in Romans 1:16-18 makes no sense until you have addressed Romans 1:19 to chapter 3 which unveils the problem with man.