We address the implications of immorality in this episode as we look at Romans 1:16-32. I explain the importance of Romans in my life as we begin to discuss the weighty truths Paul shares in this important letter.

The church at Rome was well known throughout the world because of their faith in God. Paul knew that they were in a city that worshipped idols, and he knew that the Christians in Rome would have been thought of as atheists or at least counter-cultural from a religious standpoint. This is similar to our modern culture in the U.S. today. Increasingly, Christians are thought of us peculiar and even oppressive because of our faith in Jesus Christ.

The Beauty of Justification by Faith

Paul introduces the beauty of justification by faith. He uses a legal term to explain our imputed righteousness from God by faith alone in Christ alone.  Paul uses a very logical, strategic approach here, and he uses legal language – language of the judiciary. He begins here in chapter one of Romans to build a beautiful legal argument that explains the doctrine of justification by faith so well.

Paul says rather plainly in this section that immoral people are damned. He begins painting a picture of the implications of the fall of man. He accuses us of being self-reliant or self-sufficient, and he discusses the hardness of our hearts that comes from living immorally over time.

The Implications of the Fall of Man

This counter-cultural counter-intuitive lesson on the implications of sin is often neglected in our churches, but it is important to see clearly who God is, who man is, and how God relates to man. Paul contrasts the immoral person with the moralist, the person who believes they can be good enough on their own. This is powerful, radical truth that changes lives. This foundational understanding is critical to our ability to place the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the right context.

Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.