11/3/2002
Everyone Needs Salvation
1. Motivate
Tell us about a time when you got lost driving, walking, hiking, sailing, etc.
- got off the wrong exit of the freeway
- lost in the woods
- could not find a location (someones house, a church, a restaurant, etc.)
- driving in a strange town (with poorly marked streets)
- in a dangerous part of town
How long did it take for you to realize you were lost?
- right away
- a few minutes
- an hour or so
2. Transition
Paul writes to the Roman church about his concern and burden for the spiritually lost.
- His concern
- God's provision
- The need of all men whether godless or religious
3. Bible Study
3.1 Concern for All
Listen for why Paul wants to come to Rome.
Romans 1:14-15 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the
foolish. [15] That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
What two words do you find in the passage which describe Pauls attitude about
preaching the gospel?
- obligated
- eager
To whom was Paul obligated?
- Greeks
- non-Greeks (barbarians)
- the wise and the foolish
people of culture, education, civilized
anyone else, people NOT of culture
basically everyone
How was Pauls debt or obligation created?
- he had Truth, these other people did not
- God had been gracious and forgiving to Paul who was a rascal he felt obligated
to help provide the same opportunity for others to be similarly forgiven
- Jesus had given the great commission as you are going, make disciples
11/3/2002
Everyone Needs Salvation
What are some synonyms of eager?
- enthusiastic
- excited
- raring to go
- ready
willing
impatient
fervent
Why do you think he felt this way?
- he realized the enormity of what had been provided to him
- he realized how God could provide the same for others in the same boat as he was
- the sooner people come to God, the sooner they experience the joy of sins
forgiven, peace with God
- they too can be involved in reaching out to more lost
To whom are we obligated in our day and age?
- people of our own culture
- people who are educated
- people who are less educated
- poor people, rich people
- everyone
Again to everyone
Ask yourself what do your actions and activities in reaching the lost demonstrate
about your eagerness??
3.2 Provision for All
Listen for why Paul is not ashamed of the gospel message.
Romans 1:16-17 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
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."
List the reasons that Paul says he is not ashamed of (disappointed with) the gospel
message.
- it is powerful
- God is the source of the power of the Gospel
- God's righteousness is revealed
If a person came to you and admitted he was ashamed of Christ, afraid to verbalize His
faith, what do you think he needs to hear?
- he needs to think of what Christ has done for him, how much Christ had done
- he needs to ask God for boldness
- the shame may be due to fear, inability to communicate training is available
- know that you cannot do this in your own strength or wisdom, it is only by the
power of God that any of us can be effective communicators
- know that some are better communicators than others, some are gifted
11/3/2002
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Everyone Needs Salvation
It is required of us that we take advantage of the opportunities God provides, that
we use the open doors of ministry God gives
What does the word righteous mean?
- when a person does the right thing
- Applied to God it is one of His attributes, characteristics
- In describing salvation it speaks to the how God attributes to believers His
righteousness
- our righteousness comes to us from God
- He confers it on us when we confess, repent, receive in faith His redemptive work
on the cross
- we have positional righteousness (right standing before God)
- we are growing in experiential righteousness (our actions and attitudes)
What do you think Paul meant when he said, The righteous shall live by faith?
- our initial salvation is by faith
- that is how we receive eternal life
- a daily life of righteous living and service to God is accomplished only by trusting
God for strength, wisdom, empowerment
- Our spiritual life is initiated by faith
- It is continued on a daily basis by faith
3.3 Need of All: Godless People
Listen for why a person in a primitive heathen culture will have no excuse to give to God,
even if a missionary has never come to their village.
Romans 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the
godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, [19]
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to
them. [20] For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power
and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so
that men are without excuse.
Who is it in this passage that has no excuse?
- godless men, wicked men
- people who suppress truth
What are the invisible qualities of God that can be clearly seen
- eternal power
- divine nature
- basically the creation natural revelation
God holds men responsible for the light or truth that they do have
He will provide the truth needed for them to receive eternal life
11/3/2002
Everyone Needs Salvation
In our modern society, we have much special revelation the preaching of God's
Word in many contexts
What kinds of excuses do people in our culture and society give for not accepting God?
- too many hypocrites in the church
- too busy, Ill do it later
- Im too bad of a person, God could never forgive me
- Im a good enough person, Im no sinner
- God will accept all people eventually Hes a loving God
Paul said that people suppress the truth how does that happen today?
- modern thinking such as tolerance
- we rationalize our actions, attitudes
- we refuse to accept responsibility for our actions someone elses fault
- they say God is a myth
- If we declare that sin does not exist, we are not sinners, then we think we have no
need for God
3.4 Need of All: Religious People
Listen for what claims the Jews made in their relation to God.
Romans 2:17-24 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your
relationship to God; [18] if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are
instructed by the law; [19] if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for
those who are in the dark, [20] an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have
in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth-- [21] you, then, who teach others, do you not
teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? [22] You who say that people
should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
[23] You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? [24] As it is
written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
What was the Jews claim for their relation to God?
- they had the Law they knew it, they lived by its dictates
- they believed that gentiles who did not have the law were without God
How did Paul say their actions had affected the gentiles, despite their claims concerning
the law?
- gentiles saw that the Jews did not really practice all that they preached
- gentiles saw through their hypocrisy
- they would actually despise and blaspheme God because of sorry behavior by the
Jews
What kinds of actions within churches today cause unbelievers to disrespect God?
- fighting amongst church members
- immoral behavior by allegedly godly men and women
- hypocrisy
11/3/2002
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Everyone Needs Salvation
we say we care but really dont show it
How can believers today reclaim credibility of our message to the lost?
- demonstrating the kind of care that God has for people
- we must give of ourselves to minister to others
- we must reach out in ways other than just throwing tracts at them or flashing our
Christian t-shirts and bumper stickers
- for more counter examples, see the book The Gospel Blimp.
4. Conclusion Application
4.1 People who have experienced salvation have an obligation to share the good news
with all people.
- through involvement in witnessing outreach
- through praying for and financially supporting missions
4.2 Ask God to help you overcome any feelings of being ashamed or disappointed in the
gospel
- when you read, study, and apply God's word you become more convinced
- When you are applying it to your own life, you begin to become excited about its
power and the reality of the Truth you are reading
- You become a satisfied customer
4.3 All men are lost and need to hear the Gospel message
- primitive peoples may have no excuse, but they still need to hear the Gospel
message to receive salvation
- That will happen if you and I are involved in the missionary effort of the church
- Modern peoples can rationalize themselves to a godless eternity
- They also, need to be confronted with the powerful Gospel message
