The following are sermon notes from Romans Soli Deo Gloria. This is a study of the book of Romans. To read more about this series, including the introduction, download the study guide, resources and listen to audio content click here.

Have you ever hoped for something, prayed continually for something and strongly desired something that never happened? How did you respond when your hopes, dreams and desires never came into fruition? How does faith inform, direct or affect your reaction? What if what you want is an exceedingly good thing, yet it never happens? Do you grow angry? Do you lash out? The Bible teaches us what true faith is, and it is absolutely contradictory to what most think.

Pauline Pleasantries

Paul wrote the book of Romans to the church in Rome around 57AD. Paul himself had never been to Rome though he had long desired to do so and had even tried on numerous occasions. He begins his letter with something I like to call “Pauline Pleasantries”. This is something that Paul does in all his letters to varying degrees and structures. First, Paul greets the church, second he gives his Apostolic credentials outlining his authority.

In Romans, Paul begins with outlining the gospel and teaching about Jesus.

“Paul a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ…” (Romans 1:1-6)

The gospel is so important and foundational to Paul’s teaching that all of what he is about to say to the church in Rome must first be color and predicated by the gospel.

There is nothing more important than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Longing

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11-12).

It was Paul’s hope, desire and probably even prayer to get to Rome, preach the gospel and see what Jesus had done in the church there. Yet, up to this point, Paul had not been able to get there. Something always deterred him. One time as Paul was heading to Rome a riot erupted in Ephesus (Acts 19:40-41) turning him away from his destination.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? You prayed, hoped and strongly desired for something to happen, yet it was never granted to you. What did you do? How did you react? Did you lose faith? Did your frustration grow?

Paul continue to be eager (Romans 1:15), hope and pray for this to happen. He never lost faith. Paul’s faith is an example to us when we have continually hoped and prayed for something, but our hopes and plans haven’t happened the way we’d hoped.

Maybe you’ve hoped and prayed for a spouse, but are not married yet. Or possibly you’ve prayed for children, but you haven’t been able to conceive. Paul shows us and tells us that we must remain faithful to our Lord who has promised good for us.

Faith and Righteous

Those who are saved by Jesus are required to live by faith. This means we trust that our God has the ability to save us from our sin which is totally deserving of punishment and death. Furthermore, we have faith that our Lord will work out His will according to His desire and that His will, will result in our good. Now let me be clear here: good is not defined by our thoughts, desires or circumstances. It is defined by God’s will. Therefore, if you are suffering it is good because God has allowed it in His perfect will.

This is especially important when something we’ve longed for and hoped for isn’t happening the way we desire. When our dreams and longings haven’t come into fruition we need to have faith. We need to trust that God is still good, that His will is better than ours.

Where do you lack faith? Why?

We are to be people who live by faith. You and I lack faith just by mere fact that we are humans and the fact that you are most likely a middle-class American with every comfort you could ever need. Do you trust your bank account more than Jesus? Do you trust your 401k for that the Lord of all? Do you trust your insurance than God our Healer?

“The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

Live by faith then! Trust in the Lord Jesus!

For more information about this series click here.

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