Adult Enlightener: Young Adult Bible Study: Failure, Restoration, and Salvation

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

The Adult Enlightener is a topical Christian quarterly study guide designed for the career-oriented adult. It uses language and ideas that are meaningful to the adult learner who is primarily handling work and family responsibilities. It is a practical resource for everyday Christian living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Aug 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781681678894

Book preview

Lesson 1

NONE IS RIGHTEOUS

Selected Scriptures:

Romans 1:16–20; 3:9–20

THEME: FAILURE, RESTORATION, AND SALVATION

INTRODUCTION

Romans was written by the Apostle Paul at the end of his third missionary journey. He wrote to an audience of Roman believers in the church in Rome. Paul wrote to ease the mounting tension in the church. He focuses on the Gospel and the righteousness that is revealed in us through faith, the common denominator for the salvation of all.

I. UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

It is necessary to understand Paul’s audience and reason for writing this letter to the Romans to understand today’s lesson. It is likely that the church at Rome began shortly after Pentecost as new believers took the Gospel back to Rome from Jerusalem and started a church. The Roman Christians were Gentiles, and many Jewish Christians believed that they must become Jewish proselytes to actually be saved because of the role the Law had played in their lives prior to the coming of Jesus Christ. However, Paul wrote this book to inform the Roman Christians and believers everywhere that salvation and righteousness are granted to us by grace through faith in Christ, not outward attempts to live holy lives. Consequently, all people need to hear the Gospel of Christ, and all believers must actively and boldly share the Gospel just as Paul did.

What was this Gospel that Paul was unashamed of preaching? Paul explained it is Good News because it revealed the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. This power of God in the Gospel signifies the effective and transforming power that accompanies the preaching of the Gospel and results in salvation. Who better to attest to the power of the Gospel than the Apostle Paul, a man who was widely traveled in the ancient world and who had seen the masses experience salvation through the proclamation of the Gospel.

KEY VERSE: As it is written: "There is no one who is righteous, not even one. (Romans 3:10, NRSV)

Salvation is a word that means deliverance from a broad range of evils. It was used in the Old Testament to describe God’s ultimate deliverance of His people from opposing situations. However, salvation in this context refers to God’s ability to rescue sinful humanity from the penalty of sin. There was no doubt in Paul’s mind that the Gospel was definitely the Good News and was the antidote to human sin and failure.

#AwayWithSin

Sin destroys the relationship between me and God, yet the Gospel reveals by faith we are forgiven.

Why does God pardon my failure?

Share your thoughts and tag us @rhboydco and use #rhboydco.

Implicit in this Good News and in the latter verses of this passage is the reality that all have sinned against God. No human has ever been without sin, except Jesus Christ. In Romans 3, Paul was more explicit when he said that there is none who does good or is innocent, not even one. What an indictment! God revealed Himself—His eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20, NIV)—through creation so every created being would see and understand that there is an eternal Creator. Men and women through the centuries have lived in disobedience and suppressed the truth in unrighteousness (v. 18, KJV). Our lives hide God’s glory when we continue to sin willfully against Him.

When we persist in sin, knowing it displeases God, Paul says it is not ignorance because God has allowed us to know about Him instinctively, because God has made it plain to us (v. 19, NIV). God created us with an internal radar for understanding right and wrong. Our consciences, although partial guides, help us in decision making. So why do we often find ourselves doing things that harm us and people in our circle of influence? It is because of the sinful nature we possess. Sin is a part of our nature and manifests itself in many ways in our lives. The hard truth we all have to face is we are all in bondage to sin and its consequences if we are without Jesus Christ. However, in the Gospel, we receive the news of God’s power to deliver everyone who believes (v. 16, NIV) and transform our lives to reflect His glory. Believers are declared righteous as they accept by faith the salvation of Christ. Now that’s really good news!

WHAT EFFORTS ARE YOU MAKING TO ENSURE YOU LIVE A GODLY LIFE?

HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP ON GOD’S SCALE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?

BIBLICAL TEACHING EMPHASES

I. Unashamed of the Gospel.

II. The Gospel of God’s Righteousness.

The Gospel message is that salvation is for everyone who believes, even though it was for the Jews first. Righteousness comes by faith in Christ, not through good works or keeping the Law.

II. THE GOSPEL OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

Although the Jews were privileged to have been given the Law and a covenant relationship with God in the Old Testament, Paul emphatically concluded that Jews were not better than and have no advantage over Gentiles because alike are all under sin (v. 9, NIV). Because of the sin nature, we might allow our throats to be open graves, our tongues to practice deceit, our mouths to be full of cursing and bitterness, our feet to be swift to shed blood, and our ways to be marked with ruin and misery (vv. 13–16, NIV). The sin of Adam and Eve has had devastating effects on humanity. All—Jews and Gentiles—are guilty before God and cannot obtain righteousness