GRACE UNVEILED, “Creation on the Edge of Its Seat (Leaning Forward) | Jim Hammond
Recap
Pastor Jim taught his next installment in his teaching series on the book of Romans entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” Many scholars believe the book of Romans is the “peak” of the New Testament. In fact, multiple commentators and Greek scholars refer to Romans as “the definitive statement of Christian expression.” In this 35th teaching, Pastor Jim said, “The book of Romans can be better understood when you read it as if the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a number of little house churches in Rome.” He then went on to explain what he meant by that.
Dive Deeper
Many scholars believe the book of Romans is the peak of the New Testament. Multiple commentators and Greek scholars refer to Romans as “the definitive statement of Christian expression.”
You can better understand Romans when you read it as if the Apostle Paul is writing a letter to a bunch of little house churches in Rome.
Take, for instance, Romans chapter 1. Those who teach on grace will pick out and focus on the grace scriptures. Then those who teach on “hell and damnation” will focus on those scriptures. Neither emphasis (grace or hell and damnation) is teaching Romans correctly.
For instance, Romans 1:24 is often preached like this: “Wherefore, God also might give you up, church, to uncleanness through the lust of your own hearts, to dishonor your own bodies with yourselves. If you don’t straighten it out.”
This is not uplifting; it is being preached as if it’s a threat. You’ll hear them say, “Church, you need to clean yourself up from the lust in your hearts or God will give you up.”
Pastor Jim says, “What’s that? What is the lust? Food? Lust for what? Or God will give you up? No! He won’t. God’s not going to give you up. I could prove all day long God’s not going to give you up.”
In Romans one, the Apostle Paul is explaining the fate of the pagan world.
The Romans had to be a part of a Roman Guild, which is like a union of sorts, that worshiped a god. So in order to work, you had to worship that god. Very often, there were sexual components to the different guilds. And if you were a part of that guild, you had to participate in those sexual things. This was widespread in Rome.
In Romans one, Paul is explaining the fate of the people that worship pagan gods, when you do not believe in the Creator of the universe.
Look at Romans 1:18–20: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
Verse 20 explains it: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Paul is saying those people do not have an excuse. Paul is explaining the plight of the pagan man. In today’s world, that would be the Hindus, Buddhists, Islams, etc. The pagan man is anyone that worships another god.
Romans chapter 2 is the plight of the moral man. The Pharisees thought they were moral. Jesus called them snakes and vipers. Though the moral man thinks he has great standards, Paul said he cannot be justified in God’s eyes. No matter how good he thinks he is, his morality will not clear him from guilt.
Romans chapter 3 is the plight of the religious man. Paul chose the Jews as the religious man. Paul is telling them, in God’s eyes, they can never be New Testament righteous.
Romans chapters 1, 2, and 3 make it clear to everyone—the pagans, the moral, the religious—that they need Jesus as their Savior.
God wants to have a personal relationship with us, but in order to have a personal relationship with us, He had to make an adjustment within us. However, God doesn’t snap His fingers and make that adjustment within us. God gives everyone a choice.
God’s nature is perfect. How does a perfectly just God forgive you of your sins? Twice in Hebrews, chapter 8 and 10, it says God “forgets your sins.” How does God make Himself forget your sins?
We all sin. Fear is a sin. Worry is a sin. Doubt is a sin. Anything not done out of faith is a sin.
Today, too many Christians in their minds see themselves above other Christians that struggle with the “bigger sins.” But the Bible says anything not done out of faith is sin. There is no “sin scale” in the Bible. There are no “big” and “little” sins. In the eyes of God, sin is sin.
This all has to do with the gift of justification, also called the gift of New Testament righteousness. Those Christians in Romans 5:17 who receive an abundance of grace, which is undeserved favor, and the gift of righteousness will be the Christians that reign in life. And it’s a gift!
If He gives you a gift, He’s not taking it back. It’s not something that you can lose.
Pastor Jim says, “If you do not understand your justification in God’s eyes on a consistent basis, which most of the church world does not, in my opinion, you’re not going to ask God for favor you don’t deserve.”
[The above sermon notes are from the first 11.5 minutes of Pastor Jim’s message, “Grace Unveiled: Creation on the Edge of It’s Seat (Leaning Forward).” To hear the rest of the message, click on the link above.]
Read About It
Romans 1:18–20, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Romans 5:17, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”
Discussion Questions
Many commentators and Greek scholars refer to Romans as “the definitive statement of Christian expression.” In your own words, tell us what that means.
There are those who teach on the message of Romans chapter one as either grace or hell and damnation. What is it really talking about?
Can you tell us the three categories of people Romans chapters one through three are referring to?