The Gospel Is Enough.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Alright, go ahead and have a seat. [0:02] Again welcome. [0:02] If you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them to Romans chapter 16. [0:07] We are coming to the end of our series on the book of Romans today after 62 parts of [0:14] the series. [0:16] And so over 62 Sundays over the past two years, as we took a couple of breaks here and there,

[0:22] the book of Romans, Paul’s letter to the church at Rome has been preached. [0:27] And so this is a day that some of you are like, okay, now we’re going to move on to [0:32] something else. [0:33] And for me, it’s kind of a sad day. [0:37] I love the book of Romans. [0:38] I would love personally just to start over and go back through the book of Romans, kind

[0:43] of scrap everything I’ve said, say some new stuff, figure it out. [0:46] Just because for me personally, you know, with this being the word of God, this being [0:52] where he specifically kind of gives us a light to follow on the path of following Jesus [0:59] on kind of some doubtful days, some struggles with sin, some personal thoughts in life. [1:06] This has been such a steady guide for me personally in my life because it is a real concise theology [1:15] of the whole gospel.

[1:17] And so for me, when you’re pastoring and you’re preaching, an item that I wanted to [1:22] do is I wanted to preach through the whole book of Romans. [1:25] I probably should have waited longer because now it’s like, well, what else am I going [1:29] to do because I’ve done what I really wanted to do, so I’ve got to move on to something [1:32] else. [1:33] But thanks be to God, there are 65 other books.

[1:36] And so we can move on to that. [1:39] And so just to kind of give you an eye view of what’s coming up next week, we’re starting [1:44] a short two week series on a pastoral perspective of wedding vows and what they mean. [1:50] So they’re going to be called vows for two weeks, talking about committing to living [1:54] out till death do us part. [1:56] And so I’m going to start talking about just a pastoral view for you, the church, as to

[2:01] how you can do that, how you can live that out, how you should view the covenant of [2:08] marriage in your life if you are married or if you’re single and you want to be married. [2:12] How do you prepare now for the commitment, not that you’re going to make to a person, [2:18] but you’re going to make to God till death do us part. [2:21] And then after that, we’re going to spend the rest of summer talking just on a series [2:26] and a focus on multiplication.

[2:28] First discipleship multiplication, then a good friend of mine from Northern Virginia [2:32] church, Planner named Kenji Adachi is going to come in and talk about planting among [2:35] different people groups in the United States, church multiplication. [2:39] And then we’re going to go straight into a series on our core values as a church, you [2:44] know, redemption, mission, community, and a culture of multiplication. [2:48] We’re going to spell that out to remind those of you that have been here for a while, why

[2:52] we do things the way that we do things. [2:54] And for those of you that have more recently started coming here to Village Church, just [2:57] kind of spell out why we do things the way that we do things. [3:01] And then after that, we’re going to join with a couple of dozen other churches in the area [3:05] and go through a series called Explore God, where we just as a kind of a city with a [3:11] couple of other churches, we’re going to answer objections to Christianity, answer questions

[3:16] of what is the purpose of your life. [3:18] Why do we believe the Bible? [3:19] Why do we believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation? [3:23] Then after that, we’re going to be in the Book of Ruth. [3:25] Then after that, we’re going to do a Christmas series. [3:27] Then after that, we’re going to at the first of the year, we’re going to have a series

[3:31] on gospel centered community so that you can understand what type of community that [3:36] we’re seeking to form here at Village Church. [3:38] It’s not just any old type of community, but rather it’s a community that replicates because [3:42] it’s gospel centered. [3:44] And then after that, we’re going to go through part three of the Book of Genesis. [3:48] And you might say, what about parts one and two?

[3:50] I don’t remember that. [3:51] Well, that’s on the podcast. [3:52] So you can go catch those. [3:54] We’re going to be in part three to finish out next spring. [3:57] We plan ahead here at Village Church. [4:00] So I was just like, you know what I’m going to do this morning?

[4:03] I’m just going to tell them where we’re going. [4:05] And then after that, we’re going to do something else that I’ll probably know pretty soon, [4:09] too. [4:10] But we’ve been in the Book of Romans for a while and I love the Word of God. [4:14] It is inerrant. [4:16] It is authoritative.

[4:18] It is sufficient. [4:20] So often when we’re dealing with issues in life, kind of like the big question after [4:24] you come to faith in Jesus, okay, now what do I need to grow in Jesus? [4:29] And she’s like, OK, I got to go to a bookstore and get some how to book. [4:32] And I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but that shouldn’t be the primary [4:36] thing.

[4:37] I believe that the scriptures should be the primary avenue through which you grow in [4:41] your faith. [4:42] I mean, the scripture is self attesting, saying that it is sufficient for you. [4:48] And so if you’re a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God is doing something in your [4:53] life and in your mind as you read the scriptures, as there’s going to be times where you’re [4:58] reading this and you’re like, I don’t know.

[5:00] And in that moment, it takes a great deal of faith to actually look at it and say, [5:03] but I believe that the Holy Spirit is doing something. [5:08] And so I’m going to endure. [5:10] I’m going to stay in. [5:11] I’m going to saturate my life with the Bible. [5:14] And that’s frankly one of the reasons we’ve stayed so long in the Book of Romans, because

[5:18] I’m hoping to teach you how to read one of the foundational books and the whole Bible [5:25] as to what the New Testament is about, what the gospel of Jesus is about. [5:31] And so now I don’t want you just to move on. [5:35] My hope is that you will actually return often to read the words of this letter, to remind [5:41] yourself of what it actually means to be a believer in Jesus, what it actually means [5:47] to follow Jesus.

[5:48] My hope is that you will spend time memorizing this entire book, not because it makes you [5:54] that cool kid in Awanas, but because it makes you a person that trusts the word of God [5:59] to lead you through this life. [6:02] That’s our calling as we follow Jesus. [6:05] We believe that God’s doing a work inside of us because the power of God to save, which [6:13] is what the Book of Romans is about.

[6:15] It shapes our future by revolutionizing our present. [6:21] That’s what I believe that this word does, that there is a God who is there, and He [6:27] is the God who worked His sovereign plan throughout the centuries on this earth to actually enter [6:34] into history as a human being in the person of Jesus to seek and to save us as we were [6:43] lost in our sin. [6:45] You know, as Paul brings this letter to a close, he’s going to review the key themes

[6:49] of this book, and I believe he puts a wonderful kind of book end on the end of the Book of [6:54] Romans to bring it to completion by reminding us of everything that he has said thus far [7:00] in a concise manner. [7:03] And so in chapter 16, for the first 16 verses, point number one, Paul says hi to a lot of [7:08] people. [7:10] I know that doesn’t seem very deep, but that’s literally the best exegesis that I’m going

[7:14] to give it for you in this moment. [7:16] Now, if you are like me, that’s not enough. [7:21] But I know that a lot of you aren’t like me, and that is enough for you right now. [7:26] So if you’re like me, I want you to leave here, and I want you to unpack who these [7:30] people were, because we do know something about some of these people. [7:34] We don’t know a lot about others of them, but you can actually look, and the main thrust

[7:38] that you have here is this was a letter written to real people in real life. [7:44] This was not something that Paul wrote and just kind of posted on the internet. [7:48] He’s like, well, I hope somebody reads my blog and I get some comments. [7:52] No, this was a letter that Paul wrote to specific people, and they weren’t unlike you and I. [8:00] They’re real people dealing with real life issues in a real culture. [8:03] They are mothers and fathers.

[8:05] They are husbands and wives. [8:06] They’re single people trying to find their way through life. [8:09] They are doubtful people struggling just to believe. [8:11] There are people who are trying to do the best by their children that they can, and [8:15] so when they receive a letter like this, this is literally discipleship. [8:20] This is something brand new, and a culture, a Roman culture specifically, is going to

[8:25] be aggressively against their faith, and they’re going to be oppressed under an ungodly regime. [8:31] This is a light through a very dark tunnel for many of them that they need to stay true [8:36] to the faith that God has called them to and exactly what that faith is. [8:40] And so this is a book that must become a light to the path that we walk through life, [8:48] and to real people with real lives. [8:50] But number two, I’m going to begin actually this morning in verse 17 to read, and here’s

[8:56] what Paul says in his conclusion. [8:58] He begins by saying, I appeal to you, brothers. [9:02] And so what that means is, Paul uses this literary device all throughout Romans, all [9:07] throughout the rest of his books. [9:07] He’s saying, I beg you to pay attention to what I’m about to say, because I’m going [9:14] to ask you to do something.

[9:16] I’m going to ask you to do something that you probably aren’t going to feel very comfortable [9:23] doing. [9:24] Every time that Paul uses this language, he kind of comes at you with a countercultural [9:30] thing that you’re supposed to do that’s going to get some people kind of riled up at you, [9:35] get some people to think you’re not doing the right thing. [9:38] And he says, I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and

[9:44] create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught. [9:48] Avoid them. [9:50] For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. [9:57] And by smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive. [10:02] For your obedience is known to all so that I rejoice over you. [10:08] But I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

[10:17] The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. [10:23] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [10:26] Pray with me. [10:29] Father, Lord, thank you for your word. [10:36] What an act of grace. [10:38] You did not just tell us that you are there, but rather you instructed us as to who you

[10:46] are.

[10:48] You instructed us as to what you expect. [10:52] You instructed us as to what we are to believe and what we are to do. [10:57] That is such a great grace. [11:01] And we thank you. [11:04] Lord, I ask that as we finish your word in Romans, that you would bless it to our ears, [11:11] take it into our lives and change the way that we live through it.

[11:16] Give us more trust in you than we would have without it. [11:19] Give us more faith in you than we would have without it. [11:21] And give us more hope in you than we would have without it. [11:25] Be merciful to me, a sinner. [11:27] In the name of Jesus, I pray. [11:29] Amen.

[11:30] Number two this morning, false doctrine must be eradicated rather than pacified. [11:39] False doctrine must be eradicated rather than pacified. [11:43] And so Paul instructs the church at Rome as he comes to a conclusion in the book of Romans [11:47] that there are going to come those into the church who are going to try to undo what he [11:54] has been doing. [11:56] There are going to be those who come into the church and make them question whether

[12:00] or not Paul was actually an apostle, whether or not Paul actually had the authority to [12:06] give them this teaching as to whether or not the doctrine that Paul gave them in the book [12:10] of Romans was true. [12:12] And Paul point blank, he says, these people are false teachers and they are not to be [12:18] entertained. [12:19] They are not to be toyed with.

[12:21] They are to be avoided at all costs. [12:24] And so the question first that I want to do with what is false teaching that Paul’s talking [12:29] about here? [12:30] To put it very simply, anything that contradicts what has been written in Romans is false [12:35] teaching. [12:37] What is contained within this letter is a concise theology of the entire gospel of Jesus

[12:43] Christ. [12:45] And so what Paul’s doing is, is he’s actually reinforcing first his authority that he [12:50] established in chapter one, and then he’s saying basically, if you learn this book, [12:56] you will be prepared to protect yourself from false teachers that could otherwise lead [13:02] you astray. [13:04] You’ll be protected.

[13:05] And so the way in which to protect yourself from false doctrine is not to get yourself [13:10] some false doctrine and then to get yourself acquainted with it so that you know what it [13:15] is. [13:15] No, Paul actually makes the blunt point. [13:18] He says, I want you to be wise as to what is good, and I want you to be innocent as [13:23] to what is evil.

[13:24] And he’s drawing a direct line from false doctrine that will divide the church to what [13:30] is evil. [13:31] And he’s saying, I don’t want you to be filling your life with false doctrine. [13:36] I don’t want you to be checking it out just to see if it really is what’s working for [13:40] you. [13:40] I don’t want you to entertain this stuff.

[13:43] I want you to avoid it, and I want you to saturate your life with doctrine that is [13:49] true. [13:50] I want you to fill your life with the truth of scripture. [13:54] Specifically, Paul’s pointing backwards to the Old Testament, and then he’s pointing [13:58] to the present, to the book of Romans, and that which the other apostles had been writing [14:03] in the New Testament.

[14:05] So he’s telling them, fill your life with this. [14:08] Saturate your life with this, and God will use you. [14:12] He will teach you. [14:15] But too often, we’re convinced that the answer to the questions that we have is found somewhere [14:19] else. [14:21] It’s found in some new teaching.

[14:22] It’s found in some new doctrine. [14:23] It’s found in some new cultural way in which to make our lives more acceptable to those [14:28] around us, because the answers that we’re looking for in life are all around us, and [14:32] that’s just repeating the pattern of Romans chapter 1 over and over and over again in [14:36] your life. [14:38] I can’t find satisfaction here, so I’m going to try to find more satisfaction over there.

[14:42] I can’t find it over there, so I’m going to go back over here. [14:44] It’s just a ping pong match in your life, and you’re never satisfied. [14:48] By the end of it, you’re filled with nothing but false doctrine. [14:50] You are not innocent as to what is evil. [14:52] You are wise as to what is evil, and you’re actually innocent as to what is good, because [14:55] you don’t know anything about it.

[14:59] You see, there’s truth, there is error, and then there are lies. [15:04] I want to make three distinctions about that. [15:07] Paul uses serious language about people causing division and promoting false doctrine. [15:12] The first thing he says about them in this passage is that they don’t serve Christ. [15:16] That’s a bold statement. [15:19] You see, those people who are coming in attempting to change the way that you think about the

[15:24] Scriptures, attempting to change the way that you’re thinking about Jesus, attempting to [15:27] change the way that you think about what is good and what is evil, what is obedience, [15:32] what is sin, what it means to follow Jesus versus what it means to not follow Jesus, [15:35] if they are teaching anything contrary to what the Word of God is teaching in the Book [15:40] of Romans, then they are not serving Christ. [15:44] That is a hard statement.

[15:47] It’s really hard when it’s your friend. [15:51] It’s really hard when it’s someone that you’ve thought wonderful things of for so long, and [15:55] then they take a veer in the wrong direction and begin to propagate false doctrine. [16:00] Paul’s saying, anything opposed to what I said is not truth. [16:03] It is error. [16:05] The second thing that he says about those that are promoting false doctrine, he says

[16:08] that they are con artists that seek to deceive. [16:14] They aren’t doing this for your good. [16:17] So you think they’re trying to help you. [16:19] You’re so deceived. [16:21] They’re not trying to help you. [16:22] He says they are self consumed, filling their own gluttonous, evil appetites for attention

[16:30] and everyone’s affection. [16:32] It’s all about them. [16:34] You think that they are wonderful. [16:38] They are so helpful. [16:40] They don’t draw you to Jesus. [16:42] They draw you to themselves.

[16:44] They don’t point you to scriptures. [16:46] They point you to their new ideas.

[16:49] But then thirdly, he says the hardest thing.

[16:53] And this is hard when it’s someone that you’re in a personal relationship with. [16:57] He says avoid them.

[17:00] He says don’t toy with it. [17:03] He says don’t entertain it.

[17:06] He says avoid them. [17:09] Just as they must have been in Rome, these people are still with us.

[17:14] The problem is that we must, excuse me, the problem is that we don’t avoid them. [17:20] There’s a temptation in our culture and specifically in the local church because of our lack of [17:25] trust in the scripture to actually humor false teaching out of kindness. [17:30] It’s not kindness to humor false teaching. [17:34] The scripture is very clear. [17:37] False teaching specifically about the gospel truths of scripture creates division and it

[17:42] creates unnecessary obstacles to the gospel of Jesus Christ because it gets you focused [17:47] on the wrong things rather than the right things. [17:50] And it’s not that it’s mysterious what the right things are. [17:52] Scripture is clear about it. [17:55] The scriptures told us that it is sufficient. [17:58] It can build us.

[17:59] It can fully equip us. [18:01] It’s whenever you’re taken somewhere else for a new idea. [18:05] It’s replacement theology seeking to replace the scriptures with a new idea. [18:10] And friends, we must not do that. [18:12] You know, at Village, we often talk about open handed and closed handed issues. [18:16] There are some issues that we can disagree on and still be in fellowship with one another.

[18:22] But here’s the key. [18:23] Even on those issues, you can be divisive. [18:28] It’s a post specifically talking about false teaching that divides and he’s saying don’t [18:32] do it.

[18:35] Because then it becomes a problem. [18:38] You can be in error and it is correctable. [18:43] You can be wrong. [18:45] And we’ll be OK with that because we’ll correct it through the proper teaching of [18:50] scripture. [18:51] But it becomes an issue when you propagate error because that’s the line and within which

[18:56] it ceases to be an error and then becomes a lie that you are putting forward. [19:02] In our era, there are many false teachings that cause division that we aren’t taking as [19:07] seriously as we should. [19:09] From the false teachings about gender roles, definitions and sexuality to questioning the [19:14] extent of the atonement, to questioning the sufficiency of scripture, to questioning the [19:19] deity of Jesus Christ and the necessity for all people to place their faith in him.

[19:23] We toy with them. [19:25] We entertain them. [19:26] We go and check them out because it’s the new book that everybody wants us to read. [19:29] But it’s all driving us away from the sufficiency of scripture. [19:33] It’s all driving us away from the authority of Christ. [19:35] And it’s driving us to navel gaze, thinking that good is found within us when all that

[19:39] you’re going to find within yourself is a whitewashed tomb. [19:42] And you need to be looking towards Jesus.

[19:47] And so what God has done for the church is he has first and foremost given us the gospel [19:52] of Jesus in his word to lead us. [19:56] This is our authority. [19:58] This is what we submit to. [20:00] And then in the local church, he has placed in office elders, pastors among whom are [20:07] take it upon themselves to take the responsibility to delve into the word, to learn the

[20:12] word, and then to teach the word. [20:15] And the problem comes not when you are in error, not when you question whether or not I’m [20:21] right or wrong or Pastor Nate’s right or wrong or Pastor James or Pastor Clint or any [20:25] teacher that we have here is right or wrong. [20:27] The problem comes with what do you do when the pastor is said is wrong by a community [20:33] group leader?

[20:37] And so what’s happening to the people in that community group will be that they will be [20:42] forced to say, well, I think you are right and I think the pastor is wrong. [20:46] I think the pastor is right and I think you are wrong. [20:49] And what is the natural outcome? [20:51] That is called division.

[20:56] And that’s specifically what Paul warns us about here.

[21:03] Friends, it is not a happy task to have to correct false teaching.

[21:11] It’s stressful, it’s worrisome.

[21:16] Keeps you up at night. [21:18] We’ve had to deal with it here.

[21:22] And it is the hardest part of pastoral ministry personally for me.

[21:28] Because there’s real people that I’ve been real friends with and I’ve loved them, I’ve [21:32] prayed with them, I’ve wept with them.

[21:36] They cross that line to propagating false doctrine and then you have to confront them. [21:40] And then when there’s no repentance, you have to ask them to leave.

[21:46] Not because that’s what I naturally want to do, because I tell you my natural inclination [21:51] is not that.

[21:55] But because that’s what God says. [21:58] And I trust God more than I trust myself. [22:01] Do you? [22:02] Most of you don’t.

[22:06] Most of you would say, well, let’s try to avoid arguments.

[22:10] Let’s try to avoid it and let’s just have a free for all here where theology is concerned. [22:14] I can’t do that. [22:15] Hebrews won’t let me. [22:16] Romans won’t let me. [22:18] Ephesians won’t let me. [22:19] Jesus won’t let me.

[22:22] So I tell you, when false doctrine arises, it must be eradicated. [22:26] I cannot, by the grace of God, entertain it. [22:31] When you bring in the prosperity gospel, I can’t allow that. [22:34] God has not given me the right to allow the teachings of Joel Osteen to be spread [22:40] through this church, the teachings of T.D. [22:43] Parsley, the teachings of Creflo Dollar, the teachings of any number of false teachers

[22:49] to be propagated in the Church of Jesus Christ. [22:51] I have to eradicate it. [22:54] I cannot allow the teachings of the new homosexual agenda by Rachel Held Evans and even [23:00] some who are going that way. [23:02] And I might catch some flak, but when Jen Hatmaker makes statements like she’s made, [23:06] blaming the church for things that the church hasn’t done because we believe the truth.

[23:10] What am I as a pastor to do with that?

[23:14] I can’t allow it. [23:16] It’s teaching to be spread through the church, not because it’s something that I’m like, [23:19] well, I’m just going to get them all. [23:22] I’m busy. [23:22] I got kids.

[23:25] I’m a t-ball coach.

[23:29] I got stuff to do.

[23:37] But we must.

[23:40] Here’s the key. [23:42] Being wrong is a personal thing.

[23:47] I don’t know if you’re wrong, you’re wrong. [23:48] That’s cool.

[23:52] But being divisive is infecting others with error. [23:56] And that’s what Paul’s talking about here. [23:58] That’s what Paul’s trying to use the scalpel of the gospel to take what is malignant out [24:03] of what is holy. [24:05] And to preserve the truth of scripture, to preserve the wonderful nature of the Church [24:10] of Jesus Christ.

[24:12] Anything that would challenge our doctrine of the gospel centrality is anathema to Christ [24:18] that is against Christ. [24:20] There are times when sheep can be duped and they must be corrected gently. [24:24] And we try to do this. [24:26] We try so hard. [24:29] There are times when the sheep will not be corrected and they very quickly, they won’t

[24:34] keep it to themselves, but they rather go to others and begin to propagate false doctrine. [24:39] And they begin to infect other sheep with their error. [24:41] Then you are a wolf and wolves must go for the protection of the sheep. [24:47] This is not about lording anything over you. [24:49] This is about the preservation of the sufficiency of scripture and the right doctrine for the [24:53] New Testament Church.

[24:54] Titus 3 10 is very clear. [24:56] Tells us that as for a person who stirs up division after warning him once, then twice [25:00] have nothing more to do with him. [25:01] And this isn’t. [25:03] And even when Paul says avoid them, this is not just don’t talk to them anymore and just [25:07] leave them in the corner by themselves.

[25:09] [25:09] In verse 11, he says this, knowing that such a person is warped, sinful and self-condemned. [25:16] This is a statement that they are no longer a part of the flock. [25:20] They have come out and said, I am not part of the church because I do not believe the [25:26] gospel more than that, because that would be cool. [25:29] I would love to talk to you if that’s the truth.

[25:30] They say, I’m going to take as many people with me as possible. [25:34] And that is where God has called pastors to exercise his authority.

[25:41] Device of people are not looking out for others. [25:43] They are consumed with gluttonous self-appetite.

[25:47] That’s the most harmful thing about the social media generation to me.

[25:54] Is that you can very quickly with just a few words typed with no thought given to it, with [25:59] no theology behind it, with no Bible in it. [26:01] You can lead thousands of people astray with just a few sentences, and that is a dangerous [26:07] weapon of the devil.

[26:11] Friends, God wants the church to be a people who are so full of truth.

[26:16] That evil is so obvious that they could just stay away from it. [26:19] But the goal of the church is for people to grow in grace. [26:23] Not to spend time navel gazing over what truth is, but to focus on what God has revealed. [26:28] False doctrine. [26:30] If you go the exegesis on this passage, it is evil. [26:35] It is satanic.

[26:38] You see, Paul follows this with my favorite promise. [26:42] It’s my favorite promise in the whole scripture because it’s just such a juxtaposed idea [26:46] where he says the God of peace will soon crush Satan under his feet. [26:52] Because here’s what happens is that those of us that are real lovey dovey, we’re a little [26:55] ooey gooey and we’re like, oh, the God of peace. [26:59] What a cool idea.

[27:00] I just love it. [27:01] This is like that book I read last week. [27:03] It’s about love lovers and if we just love love and love one another, then the love [27:06] will expound into more love and then the level overflow with more love and the love [27:10] will just be loving, loving.

[27:14] Will soon crush satan. [27:16] You’re like, oh my gosh, I don’t like that. [27:23] I’m a dude. [27:24] It’s what I’m all about. [27:26] And I think he’s purposefully using this juxtaposed idea because he uses peace and [27:31] then a great violent analogy to explain that there is a false peace.

[27:38] And that false peace that is satanic, that is false doctrine, that is leading some [27:45] people astray, there is coming a day where by God’s grace it will be crushed by real [27:52] peace. [27:53] There is a peace that will crush the opposition. [27:58] And so when you draw the lines in this text, what you find out is, is that this false [28:02] teaching that divides, this false teaching that creates obstacles for the gospel that

[28:07] shouldn’t be there and filling your lives with lies, it is of satan. [28:13] But by God’s grace, he’s going to take his giant foot and he’s going to crush satan. [28:21] Just as Genesis 315 promised he would.

[28:25] Number two, this morning, the goal of every follower of Jesus must be to grow. [28:31] You know, you need to have a vision in your life of growing stronger.

[28:35] You need to have a vision in your life of actually getting somewhere with your faith. [28:39] But what happens oftentimes is, is that we become so aware of our weaknesses. [28:45] We become so aware of the temptation to sin that happens in our lives and we become [28:50] so focused on the struggle that we really believe that there is not a grace that is [28:56] sufficient for us to grow. [28:58] And you may not agree with that by nodding your head, but the way that you’re living

[29:01] your life is agreeing with that. [29:02] And it’s not a completely false thought. [29:06] Here’s the key. [29:07] You are weak. [29:09] You are going to struggle with sin in your life and you do not have the innate ability [29:17] to grow under your own strength.

[29:21] Look in verse 25.

[29:24] He begins his doxology by saying, now to him who is able to strengthen you according [29:32] to my gospel. [29:34] This is a very important part of chapter 16. [29:38] Paul is saying you need to have a vision of personal growth in submission to Jesus, in [29:46] obedience to Jesus and actually having mile markers of I am growing in Jesus a way today [29:54] that I did not have in my life yesterday.

[29:57] I have submitted more of my life to him today than I did a year ago right now. [30:03] I have ways in which I am sacrificing for Jesus now that I did not do a year ago because [30:10] it’s not of me, but I have faith in the God who is able to strengthen you.

[30:19] So when you use a word picture like strengthen you, it’s like that guy who finally keeps [30:25] his New Year’s resolution.

[30:28] He goes to the gym every morning. [30:30] He actually eats salads with fat free dressing. [30:34] And this is the dude. [30:35] And when everybody’s at work, he’s finally like, nope, I’m pre-diabetic. [30:39] I don’t want to die. [30:41] And he follows the plan.

[30:43] And a year from now, brother is stacked.

[30:52] It’s not me.

[30:59] Well, Paul’s saying is it’s not you that needs to be trusted for that type of growth. [31:05] It’s not you that’s going to look back and say, oh, man, look at how obedient I’ve been. [31:11] Look how awesome my quiet times are. [31:14] And I tied twice this year what I did last year. [31:18] I’m the man. [31:19] No, if you grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ, you didn’t do it.

[31:26] It’s because your focus was on God more than it was on yourself. [31:32] God will strengthen you. [31:36] Now, the phrase, according to the gospel, according to my gospel is a very important [31:42] phrase. This is the pathway to the growth that’s supposed to come when God strengthens [31:49] you to become more obedient to him. [31:52] And it’s in God’s ability to do it, not in your ability to do it.

[31:56] There are four parts of the scripture, four major themes. [32:00] First, there’s creation. [32:02] Then very quickly, there is the fall of man. [32:05] Then thirdly, there’s the march towards redemption in Jesus Christ. [32:09] And then fourthly, there’s the restoration of all things that begins to happen throughout [32:14] the New Testament. And those are literally the four key themes of the Book of Romans

[32:19] as well. That’s the pathway that he’s been going. [32:23] And so when Paul says, according to my gospel, he is summing up the entire book of Romans [32:29] for you to understand how God is going to strengthen you. [32:34] It is not about growing past the gospel. [32:36] It is not about finding something beyond the gospel. [32:38] It is about living a life in which you are mesmerized by the gospel.

[32:43] In verse 25, this is what the gospel is going to do. [32:47] It reverses the lies of Romans chapters one and two. [32:51] It’s the first, the lie that you will find joy and satisfaction that you crave in creation [32:56] rather than the creator. [32:58] And then the second lie is that you can somehow fix the problem of the first lie by trying [33:04] harder to get it right after you fail time and time again.

[33:10] And then he very quickly from those two lies, he moves on at the end of chapter two and [33:14] into chapter three to begin to unpack redemption. [33:18] The fact that Jesus has atoned for our sin, that he’s justified us from our sin, that [33:21] he’s adopted us into our family. [33:23] And Romans two reveals that the only way to find redemption is through God and even [33:28] attempts by you to obey God’s morality, to return to him are selfish and cannot fix

[33:35] your problem. We are desperate for God to act on our behalf. [33:40] And Romans three puts it very simple. [33:43] Every single one of us is full of sin and at the mercy of God. [33:47] And the triumph of Romans three, twenty one through twenty six reveals, though, that [33:53] God not only wants to save, but he did everything that is needed for redemption in Jesus. [34:00] Jesus paid the penalty for sin through his perfection and sacrificial death.

[34:06] He atoned for our sin by giving his very life. [34:09] He has taken us from guilty to innocent. [34:12] He has taken us from God’s wrath to God’s favor. [34:16] Then in Romans four and five, he unpacked God’s plan to save through faith and faith [34:21] alone. We trust in Jesus and are redeemed completely forever. [34:25] And this is how God has always received glory.

[34:29] He marches through the Bible, pointing out people who were not saved by things that [34:33] they did, but rather were saved because they trusted that the word of God is true. [34:38] To have faith in what God has done returns us to finding joy, satisfaction and hope in [34:45] him rather than anything else. [34:47] Romans six and seven deal with the reality of what it is like living with faith in a [34:53] fallen world.

[34:55] We will live by faith, but there will be struggle, which is why time and time again, [35:00] we need to return to the gospel to remind us of truth. [35:04] We do that by what Romans eight tells us, by submitting to the mindset of the Spirit [35:10] of God that dwells in our bodies. [35:13] How do I know I’m saved? [35:15] Excuse me, because I trust that God keeps his word.

[35:19] How do I walk through this world and hope? [35:21] Because God has adopted me and calls me his child in Jesus. [35:25] What about the hard times? [35:26] What about the suffering? [35:28] God will deliver this world because Jesus shows that he takes pain and redeems glory. [35:35] Everything works together for good because God has predestined that salvation in Jesus

[35:41] is true. [35:42] Then in Romans nine, he begins to delve into the fact that God is powerful enough to work [35:48] this plan and to keep his promise. [35:50] It is revealed that God not only made a plan, but has the power to work creation itself [35:54] to fit his plan. [35:56] He is the sovereign God that forms vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy, and all of

[36:01] them work to his ultimate glory. [36:04] Romans 10 leads us to take the truth of his sovereign plan and find hope that God will [36:12] lead his people to find hope in this world through the good news of Jesus Christ being [36:17] spread to people all around us. [36:19] He will reap redemption out of our words to those people that he has chosen by his [36:25] faith. The sovereignty of those that he has chosen will give him glory in a hope of

[36:30] sharing the gospel with others. [36:32] Romans 11 reveals that there has never been a failure with God, but that at every moment [36:37] he has saved more and more people from all nations. [36:41] Then Romans 12 through 14 begin to show us the restoration that God has in our lives [36:46] through setting us apart for his purposes, through giving us the power of the Holy Spirit [36:50] and then giving us a new identity as the people of God.

[36:54] It is revealed that when we give our lives to faith in Jesus, our every day is lived [36:58] through the filter of trusting the gospel. [37:02] When you trust that your life is in God’s hands, you will submit to his plan and exercise [37:07] your gifts from him to build his vision of a church that functions as the body of Jesus [37:12] Christ in the world. [37:14] And through this, you will grow in faith.

[37:17] Through this, you will submit to God’s will. [37:20] Through this, you will live to be conformed to the image of Christ so that others will [37:26] marvel at the work of God in your life. [37:29] You will become more like Jesus every day. [37:33] You will experience more of the power of the Holy Spirit every day. [37:36] Then Romans 15 shows that God has saved, is saving, and will keep saving lives through

[37:44] the gospel throughout the entire world. [37:46] As the church lives in unity to strengthen one another by combining our gifts together [37:52] for the mission of Jesus, more and more people will come to faith in Jesus. [37:58] That is what according to my gospel means. [38:04] This is the gospel and there is no other.

[38:09] Because finally, this morning, you need to understand that the gospel is enough. [38:13] The gospel is enough. [38:16] I’m so tempted in my life and my journey of following Jesus to believe that something [38:22] else is going to be enough. [38:25] If I just add this other thing, that’s going to be enough. [38:28] If I just add this new thing, that it will be enough.

[38:33] The word of God leads us to trust God, to trust that his work is enough, to trust that [38:41] what he is doing is enough for our lives. [38:46] In the final few verses of this, I want to show us three different areas in his doxology [38:51] where he’s telling us that the gospel is enough and God is going to be enough for us. [38:57] He says in verse 25 again, he says, Now to him who is able to strengthen you according [39:01] to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery

[39:07] that was kept hidden for long ages, but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic [39:12] writings has been made known to all nations according to the command of the eternal God [39:18] to bring about the obedience of faith to the only wise God be glory forevermore through [39:25] Jesus Christ. [39:27] Amen. [39:29] The first thing that he does in this recap of the entire book of Romans is he tells

[39:33] us that we need to trust God’s faithfulness. [39:37] Romans shows the abundant faithfulness of God. [39:40] The focus of this book is not about how you can become the best you that you can be. [39:46] This book shows that the gospel of Jesus reveals that God is the only being in existence that [39:52] is actually faithful. [39:54] You can trust him.

[39:56] You must trust him. [39:58] If you do, you will be saved. [40:01] If you do not though come to the end of yourself and define your life by the fullness of God [40:06] alone, then all will be lost. [40:10] The book is clear. [40:12] Verse 25 has a term that God is able.

[40:17] That’s the exact same term from the original language from chapter one. [40:22] It’s the term in chapter one verse 16 that is translated power. [40:26] It’s this dynamos, this dynamic moving power. [40:31] It’s this ability to do that which was claimed will be done. [40:35] And I think Paul is specifically using the same term to remind us of what is said here [40:41] because he wants us to return to that idea that he gave us from the very outset where

[40:46] he says I am not ashamed of the gospel. [40:48] For it is the power or the ability of God for salvation to everyone who believes. [40:57] The Jew first, also the Greek. [41:01] For in it, the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith as it [41:06] is written the righteous shall live by faith. [41:11] See he is reminding us that God has established through the gospel the power to save.

[41:17] You see you do not grow past the gospel. [41:21] You do not need more than the gospel. [41:24] You simply need the good news of Jesus Christ in your life and trust that God is faithful [41:32] to deliver on what he said he will deliver. [41:35] The second thing that I see in here is that you need to trust God’s plan. [41:39] You need to trust God’s plan.

[41:41] God’s faithfulness reveals that plan. [41:44] He writes in here, he says that the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation [41:48] of the mystery that was kept hidden in secret for ages, he says it has now been disclosed [41:53] through the prophetic writings made known to all nations according to the command of [41:57] the eternal God. [42:00] He is speaking specifically here of the plan of God that he showed throughout the book.

[42:05] He says that before the foundations of the earth, God determined the plan. [42:12] God wrote the story of how he would get ultimate glory out of every aspect of this world that [42:19] he made. [42:20] None of it was by accident. [42:23] Friend, you will give God glory. [42:28] You will.

[42:28] There is no choice. [42:29] Every single one of you will. [42:31] Every single person that has ever been born is going to give God ultimate glory. [42:35] And it will either be to your detriment or you will be the beneficiary of it. [42:41] You see Jesus took every ounce of God’s wrath for sin onto himself that you deserve. [42:47] And if you put your faith in him for that, turning from your wickedness to live a life

[42:53] of trusting Jesus, then you will be saved. [42:56] But if you do not, then you will face the penalty for your sin yourself. [43:00] You will receive the wrath of God as a penalty for your sin against him. [43:07] And it will give him glory. [43:09] But you don’t have to. [43:11] You can be saved.

[43:14] You see the third thing that we see here is that we need to trust God’s glory. [43:18] We need to trust God’s glory. [43:20] He says to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ. [43:28] So be it.

[43:32] You see do not be tempted to live this life for your glory. [43:37] You will be tempted towards that every single day. [43:39] And some will fall prey to that lie. [43:42] And so I tell you don’t trust yourself. [43:44] Trust God. [43:46] It is his glory that will reign forever and you should live to enjoy his glory above absolutely

[43:51] everything else. [43:53] The righteous shall live by faith. [43:56] Those are six words that are the most important words that you will ever hear. [44:02] God has the power. [44:03] You do not. [44:05] His power is trustworthy.

[44:07] And his power will reign forever. [44:10] Trust him. [44:12] Friend the gospel is Jesus Christ.

[44:16] And Paul uses the term, he says, my gospel. [44:21] And the question that you need to deal with in your life is it your gospel?

[44:27] Or are you believing a different one? [44:30] Because the gospel of Jesus can be your gospel. [44:33] It must be your gospel. [44:36] It is enough.

[44:39] As the band comes up, as we close the pages of the book of Romans, as we transition into [44:47] a time where we just reflect on what God has taught us, we’re going to be tempted [44:52] to kind of walk away and start to think about other things and to not saturate our lives [44:57] with this, to begin to kind of be swayed by thoughts of my faithfulness, my plan, my [45:03] glory, what I’m getting for myself, what I’m doing for myself. [45:07] But my hope is that in the coming days and weeks, that instead of that, you will be consumed

[45:12] with reminders of the gospel. [45:15] You will be consumed by the thoughts of I need to trust God’s faithfulness. [45:20] How do I do that? [45:21] I need to trust God’s plan. [45:22] How do I do that? [45:23] I need to trust God’s glory.

[45:25] How do I do that? [45:27] To begin that process, there’s no better way than confronting ourselves with how God [45:32] showed his faithfulness ultimately, with how he worked his plan to completion, and [45:36] with how he will receive ultimate glory with the body and blood of Jesus Christ. [45:41] You see, the bread of communion represents his broken body. [45:45] The cup of communion represents his shed blood.

[45:50] And that moment on the cross, we see God’s faithfulness to complete his plan on display. [45:57] And we see the moment in history that we’re all called to look back to, to say, this is [46:03] what brings people to God. [46:05] This is what reconciles people to God. [46:07] Look at the wonderful glory of God and never look away from it. [46:15] If you believe that, if you trust the gospel, I invite you to one of the stations that

[46:22] are in the front of this room and in the back of this room to express that to others by [46:27] eating and drinking. [46:28] Say yes, I believe. [46:31] When you’re ready, come.