Hey everybody. Welcome back to another edition of the daily Bible podcast. It is Saturday, December 7th, 2024. And this is a day that in 1941 was described as a day that would live in infamy. This is the day that's also known as Pearl Harbor day. Uh, this is the day in 1941, where Japanese carrier attack planes and others, uh, launched, uh, an assault, an unexpected surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor, and the United States Naval fleet that was gathered there. Um, over 350 planes were involved in that attack, two waves and many, many people lost their lives. Uh, five battleships were sunk during it damaged three more. A gunnery training ship was sunk. Three destroyers. Uh, another cruiser was, was damaged, heavily light cruisers. This was horrific. And now a number of casualties came from this. Uh, there were killed or missing from the Navy 2008. The Marine Corps, another 109, the army 218 68 civilians. Uh, and then there were many, many more wounded beyond this. And it's interesting because a lot of times I think we look at, and we read the old Testament stories and we have during our daily Bible reading regimen this year, where we've seen situations where God has brought nation against nation and done different things in moving around the pieces to bring about the events of world history in the unfolding of history. And it's all been part of his divine plan. And, um, I'm not gonna go so far as to, to press this to the exact same, other than the fact that God was sovereign over those events. And it was those events that ultimately. Ultimately led to the entrance of the United States into world war II. And we know from the rest of history, what a significant. Uh, decision. That was because at this point in time, it wasn't widely known what Hitler was doing with concentration camps in the choose and the extermination program that he had there. And so this is significant that, that this event, which was carried out by one of the enemies in Japan, Led to the United States, jumping into the foray of a, of a war. That was one that was extremely necessary in the grand scheme of good overcoming evil. And so God. Um, was sovereign orchestrating, ordaining, all of these things, um, and yet so much life lost. And, and so this is that tension that we live in, where we acknowledged the tragedy. And at the same time, acknowledge that God is. Uh, God's in control and we still see those things today. We still see that as events unfold before our eyes today, we see the tragedy and it's okay for us to acknowledge the loss and the hurt and the sorrow and the pain. And it's okay for us to have unresolved questions even. And yet we still, at the end of the day can come back and say, but God, we trust you. And you are sovereign. So, um, Pearl Harbor day is just a reminder of that. I think that that still for a lot of us, myself included happened long before I was born. And yet. It is a reminder that, that, uh, God is his sovereign today over the affairs of nations, just like he was during Daniel's day. Um, just like he was there in 1941. He still is today. And he's still doing what he's doing according to his purpose and his plan. And we're not always going to be able to understand it sometimes. The tragedy is going to hit real close to home. And yet we are. Uh, we are able to, and I say it that way. I'm not necessarily called to yes, we are called to, and yes, we are even commanded to, but I also want to say, we are able to. I trust in a sovereign God, which is such a source of comfort for us in the midst of all this. So. Uh, December 7th, 1941 a day, that would live in EMF. Infamy. And here we sit. Uh, in 2024, reflecting back on that to serve in the same sovereign God who is on the throne today, as much as he was on that day. Um, Yeah. All right. Well, let's jump into Romans Romans one through three today. At the letter of, uh, Of Paul's or the Romans was probably written from Corinth at the end of his third missionary journey. So his third missionary journey. Would have been the end of it, mid fifties around then. Um, Uh, written there from the effusion or the emphasis region in that area as that's where his missionary journey was, was taking place. During that time. The book breaks down. Essentially the first 11 chapters are heavy in doctrine and theology. And then verses 12 through 15, you get into a lot of the orthopraxy. So if one through 11 is orthodoxy, which is the. The right thinking. Orthopraxy how we live it out or ethics. You could put it that way in, in chapters 12 through 15. Um, Uh, themes in the book. Obviously righteousness is a massive theme in the book and that's going to come up time and time and time again. And then salvation. Uh, th this is really Paul's Magnum Opus. This is. Uh, Paul's systematic theology in so many ways. And, um, it is certainly the. Probably his most dense epistle that we have as far as that. Uh, is concerned and yet it's so rich. It's so good for us to read through it. And so I'm looking forward to us getting through it, but we open up in chapter one with his introduction as a servant of Christ. Jesus. Uh, Deuteronomy 34, 5, Moses's called the servant of Yourway. And Paul refers to himself a lot as the servant of Christ Jesus, but it's got lineage in, in, in, uh, continuity with some of the ways the prophets were referred to in the old Testament as the servants of God. And that's how Paul understood himself as well. But he opens up and says that this is going to be about the gospel. This is going to be about. The gospel of God in verse one. And then he goes on to explain that this was promised beforehand in the whole holy scriptures. Uh, concerning Jesus, his son, who was descended from David, according to the flesh, declared to be the son of God in power, according to the spirit of holiness. By his resurrection from the dead. The significance of the resurrection shows up again right there for Paul there in Romans chapter one, that was so important. Remember, first Corinthians 15 without the resurrection. Everything else is meaningless. Our faith is in vain. And then he says, it's about Jesus Christ through whom we've received grace and Appalshop's apostleship to bring about verse five. The obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations. That is the obedience that's rooted in faith. The obedience that comes from. Our faith in the gospel, our faith in Jesus. After this, he has a personal section there. In verses eight through 15, where he just expresses to the believers there in Rome that he wants to be able to, to come to them and he wants to come to them so that he, and they might be mutually encouraged by each other's faith and, and built up by, uh, one another. He says, look, I've, I've often wanted to come to you, but I've been prevented this far. And he says, I've wanted to come to you, that I might reap some harvest among you, as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. He wants to get there and preach the gospel in Rome as well. And he says, you know what? Because at the end of the day, verse 16, and here's the theme verse. I'm not ashamed of the gospel for it's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes in Paul saying, I want to make sure that everybody gets this right to the Jew. First in also to the Greek for in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith. For faith. As it's written, the righteous shall live by faith. So salvation by faith, righteousness by faith key theme in the book of Romans. And so that's why Romans chapter one verses 16 and 17 are the theme verses for the entire. Tire book. From here, starting in verse 18, all the way down through the end of chapter one, he really goes on to indict the problem of humanity and why salvation is necessary. Because think about that. If we need to be saved, that implies, we need to be saved from something in the something that we need to be saved from is identified right there in verse 18. And that is the wrath of God. Um, that's an important doctrinal distinction for us when we are saved. God is not saving us from the wrath of Satan. God is not saving us from the wrath of somebody else or evil or wicked. God is saving us from himself. And it's the wrath of God that we are being delivered from through faith in Jesus Christ. But he says in chapter one, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. And then he's going to go on and he in chapter, one is going to say, everybody is accountable for this. And this is where we get the idea. That his invisible attributes verse 20. I have been clearly perceived. Ever since the foundation of the world in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. And so he's saying, look, there's enough evidence in creation. This is what we refer to as general revelation. The ability to look at creation and say something created this and that can have multiple levels. It can get all the way down to fine tuning, you know, in, in looking at the force of gravity and going, wow, it's so precise. Somebody must've created it that way. Or the tilt of the earth on its axis. It's such that we don't burn up or freeze to death that life can be sustained here on this planet and say, okay, somebody must have designed that. Or it can be as, as simple as standing on the, the, the. The banks of the sea. Or the ocean and looking out and seeing a beautiful sunset setting over the, the edge of the water, or it can be like walking outside here in Texas and looking up in the sky and seeing the, the beauty of the clouds and saying, okay, somebody must have designed that. And that is the knowledge that comes to us from general revelation. That renders us accountable for finding out who that is. He says verse 20. So they are without excuse. He says in verse 21 for, although they knew God, they did not honor him. And this is where he's talking about. They are suppressing it. And that is as, as lost humanity in LA the lost world. Has rejected God. And instead substituted. Really ultimately the greatest example of this is substituting mankind and in place of God, but, but generally speaking substituted the creation for the creator in worshiped and served the creation rather than worshiping and serving the creator. See, that's the thing it, Romans one is as we go from 18 through the end there, the main problem is this. That is a worship problem. Humanity's greatest problem is a worship problem because sin starts with a worship problem. All sin begins with worship. All sin begins with the question of, am I going to worship God? Or am I going to worship? God's things, things that he has made, things that he has given us that should be used to glorify him. Am I going to make that an ultimate thing? And if I do that, then man, that's where I'm in trouble. And so they're in, in chapter one, he says three times. Uh, for these reasons. Uh, God gave them up. God gave them up. God gave them up. It's a terrifying idea. That is that, that point where God might turn someone over to their own desires to say, okay, fine. You want that? You can have it. You think that's going to be, what's going to bring you satisfaction and joy and happiness, have it and see how that works for you. And ultimately, as we know the rest of the story, None of that. Nothing outside of God is going to give us the true happiness and satisfaction. And enjoy in meaning and in hope that we, we long for and nothing outside of God can give us salvation, which is what we not only long for, but indeed. Uh, chapter two, then he goes, On on this. And he says, therefore, you have no excuse. So man, every one of you. And he talks here about the, the hypocritical self-righteousness that can come along. And he says those of you that think that you're better than someone else. You want to play the horizontal comparison game and think that you're okay with God, because you're not as bad as this person over here. And he says that that's that's, you're missing the boat. He says you, you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. And so God has being kind towards you. You have your own sin and God's being kind towards you and not just wiping you off the face of the planet though. That's his divine prerogative as the creator. He's not doing that in his kindness and not doing that is not meant to lead. You lend you to the thought of, well, at least I'm not as bad as this person over here or I'm better than that person over there. No, his kindness is meant to lead you to the place of going God, thank you for not destroying me there. That's what I deserve. And I want to repent. And so he goes on and he says in verse six, he will render to each one, according to his works, because in verse five, he said, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath. So here he's reminding them, don't think just because God is not zapping people with divine lightening bolts right now that everybody's just getting away with it. No, no. He is, is, is being kind towards you, as Peter's going to say, he's being patient towards you. Not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. And so. Paul is saying is he's really presenting the bad news here, but at the same time, he's booing it with some of the good news here. And he's saying, God is, is not a God who is going to be deceived here. You need to recognize why he's being patient with you. And then. Verse 12, he goes on and he's going to talk about the guilt of the Gentiles, those who perish without the law. Right. That's the, the Gentile people. Are they still guilty? He says, yeah. Why. Because their heart. It bears witness that they have a law that's written on their hearts. He says in verse 14, when Gentiles, who do not have the law by nature, do what the law requires. They are a law unto themselves, even though they don't have the law. So he's saying, look, even their conscience and the existence of a conscience and the existence of right and wrong. Proves that God exists. Cause where else does that come from? That's one of the arguments for the existence of God, the moral argument for the existence of God. How can we apply morality? If God doesn't exist? If morality is just a product of evolution. Then there is no foundation or basis for us to say that this is what's right. And that's what's wrong other than the person with the loudest megaphone and the most power. But instead, if we say no, there's gotta be something that explains that. That by and large. Cultures throughout the history of the world have all had certain degrees of right and wrong and what's, what's acceptable. What's not acceptable. And there's been a lot of similarity there. What does that point to you? That points to the fact that there's a God that put that in place. And he wrote that on our hearts. And so we sing to the Gentiles. Hey, look. You have no leg to stand on here, but then he's going to turn to the Jews. And equal opportunity offender here, Paul is he's going to say in verse 17, but if you call yourself a June, rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent because you're instructed. From the law. And if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those with darkness. He's going to accuse the Jews at this point of, of their hypocrisy. He's going to say you both, like, you're better because you have the law, but you're still sending, even though you do have the law. And then he goes on, he says, listen, if you break the law, Your circumcision that you're so proud of, it means nothing to you. Because circumcision without the law or with, with a breaking of the law that, that circumcision isn't going to do anything good for you. And now he's introducing a concept that he's really going to flesh out. Uh, in chapter three and chapter four with this concept of where the law fits in all of these things. And so in chapter three, He begins by asking this question, then do the Jews have any advantage? If circumcision is of no value, do the Jews have any advantage in a, he says, yeah, of course they do. To begin with Jews were entrusted with the Oracles of God, the messages of God, the prophecies of God, they have the inside track. In other words, On what, what God has promised. And he says, Does the, the unfaithfulness of, of a few, does that nullify the faithfulness of God? He says by no means no way. Megan Norton, no way. He says, look, don't get me wrong. The Jews do have a great advantage. And he goes on. He says, God is faithful to fulfill his promises. He is faithful also to judge sin. And then he says, look, if our sin shows his righteous judgment, it's fair for him. Is it fair for him to condemn? He's going to ask this rhetorical question in verse five. And then repeat it in verse seven. If through my lie God's truth bounds to his glory. Why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why does, why not do evil that good may come. He's going to return to this theme in Roman six. When he's going to say, should we send that Grace May have bounty. He's going to say no way, no way, same emphatic, no there. And he's introducing the same idea here. He says, look. Understand your you're not good enough to be righteous in the eyes of God. You are a sinner, but that doesn't negate God's faithfulness. In fact, God is going to be faithful despite your sin. Uh, it goes on in verse nine. He says then are we Jews any better off this time? He's going to say actually, no, because you still are a sinner. So yes, you have an advantage because you've been given the inside track on God's storyline here. You've got the promises that Kevin is the Oracles of God. But when it comes to your standing before God, are you better? Because you're a Jew than a Gentile. He's going to say no, because why? Because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None is righteous. No one seeks for God. And so Paul here in chapters, one through three of the book of Romans he's laying out everybody he's, he's saying everybody needs Jesus is basically what his goal is here. And he's setting it up. This is the bad news before he gets to the good news. And he says in verse 20 for by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight. Since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But the good news, he's going to begin to pivot and transition here at the end of chapter three and we'll hit on it more in chapter four. The good news is the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law. That's great news. That means it doesn't come through obedience. Then. Where does it come from? The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, verse 22 for all who believe that's the good news. That's the gospel. He says in verse 23 for all, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift. Through the redemption that's in Jesus. This is the gospel that we know of. And then he says, Jesus, verse 25, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith that we're propitiation. Is a word that means satisfaction. He put him forth as the atoning sacrifice the sacrifice that would satisfy all of God's wrath against our sins. That is Jesus. And how do we get that? We receive it by faith. We repent from our sins and put our trust in Jesus as our Lord and savior. And he goes on. He says, he's passed over in his divine forbearance, former sins, verse 25. To show his righteousness at the present time so that he might be just in the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. That's crucial for us to understand that that's the answer to. Could God not just. Wave his magic hand and say, everybody's forgiven. Don't worry about it. We're all good. Regardless of what you do with Jesus. And the answer is no. Because that would not be just because for him to be just seen as to be punished. And the only way that sin can be punished is one of two places, either on Jesus at the cross or in hell on, on. Lost sinners. And so God, in order to be just in the justifier, the one who can make you and I righteous justify us in his sight. For, for us to be justified, he has to remain just in the only way for that to happen is Jesus for Jesus to go to the cross for us. And so the pivot happens at the end of chapter three. And that's the good news that he introduces. So Romans one through three, what's it about in a nutshell? He's introducing the concept. This is going to be about the gospel. And then he says, look, why do you guys all need the gospel? Because everybody's in trouble. Nobody's righteous. Nobody's good. He's going to start out with all humanity then he's going to say, Hey Gentiles, you guys are in trouble. Hey Jews, you guys are in trouble, but the good news is the good news is God's made a way for him to be just, and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. That's Romans one through three, and we'll keep going on that in chapter four. Uh, starting tomorrow, pastor, rod will be back with us then looking forward to that, but let me pray for us. God, we thank you for this day. We thank you for Christ and that he is the one who has satisfied. Uh, your wrath, like I said, at the very beginning of this episode, when we are saved, we are not saved from the wrath of Satan. We are not saved from the wrath of evil or anything else. We are saved by you from you in, in so many ways. And, uh, and we are so grateful for that reality that the righteousness that we need does not come by works of the law, because why, because Jesus fulfilled it for us. Jesus worked at Forrest and he gives us that righteousness when we come to him in faith and trust. And so we thank you for that. We praise you for that. Uh, we also appreciate you that you are the sovereign God who ordains all things and orchestrates all things in this world in overall history. And we look forward to understanding more and more, especially once we get into return to do with you, to be able to see more of what you were doing. Uh, during those times that maybe we didn't fully understand. And so we thank you for this. You, we praise you for this in Jesus name. Amen. Are y'all keep, bring your Bibles and tune in again tomorrow for another edition of the daily Bible podcast by.