Need a Breakthrough?

  

I greatly desire to understand Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. But nothing stood in the way more than that one expression, 'the righteousness of God.' I took that to mean the justice whereby God is just and deals justly in punishing the unjust. My situation was that I stood everyday before God feeling like a sinner troubled in conscience with no confidence that my merit would assuage Him. Therefore, I did not love a just God but rather hated and murmured against Him. Therefore, night and day I pondered and then I saw this statement. 'The righteous shall live by faith.' Then I grasped that through gift and pure mercy, God justifies us through faith. I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. When I discovered that distinction that the law is one thing and the Gospel is another, I broke through.

-Martin Luther

  

1. Do you understand that the Gospel is Good News?

  

Gospel: Good news about something that has been done for you.

Do you understand how utterly different Christianity really is?

How would you live if you knew that you had already won life’s ultimate battle?

How would it affect you if someone else had given so precious a gift to you that now, no matter what happens, you will not lose?

Is the Gospel mainly about you or mainly about JESUS and what he has done?

  

2. Do you understand that the Gospel relies on someone else’s power?

  

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'

-Romans 1:16-17

Something happened outside of us to change God’s relationship to us.

"If you give God all your sin, He will give you all of His forgiveness."

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

-2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus was given the treatment we deserve, We are given the treatment He deserves.

The Father loves, adores, has your best interest, values, treasures, and can’t wait for the day when you are seated with him in glory.

You belong to Him and not even the gates of Hell can snatch you from His arms.

  

3. The Gospel is not about your knowledge and strength but about the power of One.

  

I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the Power of God unto salvation.

-Romans 1:16

It is offensive to you.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel…

-Romans 1:16

You are never loved by God in spite of your character without that reality changing your character.

Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.

-Romans 1:5

  

When you realize what Jesus did to make you His treasure, you will make Him yours.

Go and tell them of the Good News. I have saved them all! Let them rejoice in my righteousness!

The number one enemy to the Gospel? The Gospel of Moralism.

God does not struggle with our struggle over the Gospel’s offensiveness.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'

-Romans 1:16-17

  

  

  

  

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