TEXT:  Rom. 1:16-17

INTRODUCTION:

A.  vs. 17.  LEAVES PEOPLE WONDERING ABOUT “A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.”

B.  WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

I.  MEANING OF THE WORD “RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

A.  dikaiosune  "the character or quality of being right or just" (Vine).

B.  AN ATTRIBUTE OF GOD (Rom. 3:5).

C.  AND OF JESUS (1 John 3:7;  Matt. 3:15).

D.  BUT THIS NOT REVEALED ONLY IN THE GOSPEL.  ALSO IN THE OLD

          TESTAMENT (Ezra 9:15;  Neh. 9:7-8;  Psa. 97:2, 6;  116:5;  119:137, 142; 

          145:17;  Jer. 9:23-34;  Lam. 1:18;  Dan. 9:14).

II.  WHAT IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED IN THE GOSPEL?

A.  LOOK AT THESE PASSAGES:

          1.  Rom. 3:19-21.  Witnessed by the law and the prophets.

          2.  Rom. 10:1-3.  Rejected by the Jews – ignorant of HIS righteousness.

          3.  Phil. 3:8-9.  From God by faith.

B.  GOD’S ARRANGEMENT FOR MAKING SINNERS RIGHTEOUS (Rom. 3:21-26).

C.  IT IS NOT PUTTING CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUS LIFE TO OUR ACCOUNT.

          IMPUTATION OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE.

III.  FACTS ABOUT THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

A.  FROM GOD (Phil. 3:9).

B.  WITNESSED BY THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS (Rom. 3:21-22).

          1.  A specific law – the concept of law tells us nothing.

          2.  Luke 24:44-45;  1 Cor. 15:3-5;  1 Pet. 1:10-12.

C.  CONDITIONAL – “BY FAITH” (Phil. 3:9;  Rom. 1:17;  3:22).

D.  NOT BY FAITH ONLY (Jas. 2:14, 24;  Gal. 5:6;  Rom. 1:5;  16:25-26).

E.  NOT BY WORKS OF THE OT LAW (Gal. 2:16-17;  3:10-12).

F.  NOT BY BOASTFUL WORKS OF MERIT (Eph. 2:8-9;  Luke 17:10).

G.  WORKS OF OBEDIENCE (Phil. 2:12;  Rom. 1:5;  Heb. 5:8-9;  Matt. 7:21).

IV.  WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS – WHAT MUST WE DO?

A.  Mark 16:15-16;  Acts 2:38;  Gal. 3:26-23.

B.  WHAT ABOUT THE ROMANS?

          1.  Did they have faith? (Rom. 5:1).

          2.  Did they repent? (Rom. 6:1-2, 11-12).

          3.  Did the confess? (Rom 10:9-10).

          4.  Were they baptized? (Rom. 6:3-7).

CONCLUSION:  WHAT ABOUT YOU?

A.  BEEN BAPTIZED?

B.  WHO RULES? (Rom. 6:12;  1 Pet. 3:15).