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The Gospel Message According to John (with Romans 5-8 Supporting)

 1. The Universal Problem

  • All are under sin and death through Adam’s transgression (Romans 5:12).
  • This law of sin and death reigns over mankind apart from the law of the Spirit of life in Christ (Romans 8:2).

Teaching Point: The universal problem is that because of Adam's one transgression, all are judged and condemned (Romans 5:16). This is the plight of mankind, but the gospel is good news. God sent his Son to solve this universal problem. Whether people are good or bad is revealed by the light of Jesus, see The basis of judgment in point 5. 

Thought: Seems unfair that mankind is judged and condemned because of Adam's transgression. We would have done the same, but God had a plan in the beginning that really deals with man freely loving him or not. The kingdom of God is like a fisherman catching both good and bad fish, in the end keeping the good and throwing away the bad. The basis of judgment, discussed in point 5, determines who is good or bad.

2. The Mosaic Law Did Not Solve the Problem

  • The Mosaic Law could not perfect man because of the weakness of the flesh (Romans 8:3).
  • Though the Mosaic Law's goal was to expose sin and make sin increasingly sinful so to bring realization to their plight, it did not work, sin took opportunity through the commandments and instead created many religious people who thought themselves good (Luke 18:9-14; Romans 7:8-11)
  • The Law was given to the Jew, not the other nations (Romans 7:1; Ephesians 2:11-22).
  • The Mosaic Law created a hostility, a dividing wall, and had a curse. 
  • The Mosaic Law is annulled or set aside, because it made no one perfect and a better hope was introduced in Christ (Hebrews 7:18).

Application: No application of the Law is necessary in the gospel message to the Gentile. With the Law set aside the plight of man is still the same, death, under what Paul calls the "the law of sin and death," and "none will be declared righteous in the eyes of God by works of the law," but there is hope in Jesus.

Thought: if the Mosaic Law is set aside, then what is left? The universal problem; all mankind are under the law of sin and death since Adam. Since the Law is set aside and perfected no one, is it to be used as an evangelistic tool to expose people's sin? 

It did not work then, but the same issue existed under the Mosaic Law, many people still thought they were good people by following laws. In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus told a parable to these people who believed themselves righteous. Under the Law instead of recognition of unrighteousness Jesus said they cleansed the outside while the inside was dirty, ignored the plank in their own eye that revealed the curse of the Law and their unrighteousness, and judged others while not dealing with the the universal problem.

Romans 3:19-20 states "now, knowing because the law says, speaking to those under the law, so that all mouths silenced and the whole world becomes accountable to God. Because from works of the law, no flesh is justified before him for the law comes knowledge of sin." We see those under the Law their mouths should have been silenced, this makes sense as it should have revealed their sinful state before God. 

Now, interestingly Paul says "the whole world became accountable to God." The book of the law was a covenant God established with the Jew (Joshua 1).  Elsewhere he writes the Gentiles were not under this covenant (Ephesians 2). This would have been a terrible plight for the Gentiles thus the dividing wall of hostility, without hope and without God. Was the whole world or the Jew held accountable through the Law? The scriptures do not contradict themselves so what are we missing? 

Restated, Romans 5:14 from Adam to Moses, death reigned before the Law was given. Through Moses giving the Law sin was accounted against man. The Jew was under a guardian until the appointed time when Jesus would come. The Law exposed sin but sin increased, and where sin increased grace super abounded. The Gentiles were condemned without hope and without God. 

That God set apart the Jew and gave the Law as a guardian until Christ is important. Without being under a guardian they would have been like the Gentiles, who did not escape death and condemnation, as Paul states in Romans 5:16, one man's sin brought on this to all men. 

I think, Romans 2:14-15, is helpful which states there was a effect on the conscious of both Jew and Gentile. That "knowing because the law says, speaking to those under the law, all mouths are silenced and the whole world becomes accountable to God," doesn't solve the issue, "Because from works of the law, no flesh is justified before him for the law comes knowledge of sin." 

The curse of the Law, said you had to do it all, thus one lives by doing it. Understanding this, then "the knowledge of sin" through the Law should have been a revelation that they are sinners and need a Savior.

Nevertheless, the law was set aside as it was weak through the flesh and the basis of the gospel with its justification in the blood of Jesus rests on the promise given to Abraham beforehand, so that it is through faith according to grace, so the promise comes to those under the Law and those not.

"and the gift is not like through one man's sin, for the judgment from one transgression led to condemnation, now the free gift from the many transgressions led to justification" (Romans 5:16-17)

Something important happened; the Law was given to Moses but grace and truth came in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:3-6; John 1:14-16). Grace is a dispensation, it changes things. What we take from this is that even though the Law was given to the Jew revealing sin to them and to the whole world, it is set aside in the new covenant. Another basis of judgment is established.

"He [John the Baptist] came as a witness so that bearing testimony about the light, so that all might believe through him [Jesus the light], the true light, that which enlightens all men, existed coming into the world" (John 1:7-9).

The basis of judgment and condemnation is not the Mosaic Law but whether people believe and come to the Light or not, as the light of Jesus exposes the condition of peoples hearts. Thus the basis of judgment is how they respond to the light of Jesus, read more in The basis of judgment in point 5.

"for the word of God is living and effective... and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Nothing in creation exists hidden in his sight but everything is uncovered and exposed to the eyes of the one whom the word is spoken [logos]" (Hebrews 4:12-13)

The Light exposes the condition of the heart. All knees will bow in heaven and on earth, when Jesus stands before them. The Light is powerful then and now to expose the condition of the heart, and it exposes the heart. On earth we had a choice to bow before it or turn away from it. And as a messengers we point them to the Light, it is the job of Jesus to expose the heart.

Jesus is the word (logos) of God, John 1:1-2, and that he is the light and way and truth and life, John 14:4, and that this is the message being proclaimed from the beginning (of first importance) that God exists Light and His words, "Jesus the  incarnation of the word," exists eternal life and a light to men. 

The first thing Paul taught was that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He preached Christ crucified. And at the same time he teaches profoundly in his writings what this means, so to build up the church. Romans is not a simple message, see Romans 6 in regards to the application of Christ been crucified. 

The message proclaimed is that God exists light and in him is life. If people get this most important thing (they have found life in Jesus, now and forever) then the word as living and active has been effective.

3. The Divine Requirement

  • You must believe in God's Son (John 3:16-18). 
  • You must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5–6).
  • Jesus, is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).

Application: Emphasize Jesus came to save from the universal problem of sin and that being a good or bad based on what we do doesn't matter, all fall short of the glory of God. The divine requirement for entering the kingdom of God are believing and new birth, not moral improvement.

Thought: We look at scripture in light of the new covenant, which took Jesus's death to establish. The old was a shadow of the reality to come in Jesus. Even the gospels that tell about Jesus, we see he was born under the Law to redeem those under it, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, and the promised Holy Spirit had not yet been given, but was sent upon his resurrection and ascension. 

Jesus came from the father, he died, was buried, and rose from the dead. United in Christ's death and resurrection the universal problem is solved. United in his death is a releasing from the law. United in his life, releases all who are born of the Spirit from the law of sin and death (Paul states this in Romans 8:1-2 as "the law of the Spirit of life that has set you free from the law of sin and death").

4. The Saving Provision

  • God so loved the world that He gave His Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
  • Looking to Jesus, lifted up on the cross, and believing brings deliverance from death into life (John 3:14–15).
  • In Him is life, and that life is the light of men (John 1:4). 
  • "Whom existed from the beginning, whom we heard... concerning the word of life and the life revealed  and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the ternal life" (1 John 1:1-4).
  • "This is the message we heard from him and proclaim to you, God is light and exist no darkness in him" (1 John 1:5-7). This reinforces the The basis of judgment in point 5.
  • Jesus himself exists the word of life and that life is a light to the world, it is this we proclaim as the gospel message, the good news.

Application: Emphasize the good news, God's love and salvation plan that only comes as a gift through Jesus. Proclaim Jesus coming from the Father as a light offering as a gift light to the world.

Thought: Believing requires divine initiative. The Father must and grant, the Spirit must draw people to Jesus (John 6:44). Jesus said as written by the prophets those taught by the Father would come to Jesus, they learn (John 6:45). John also equates Jesus as the word of God, the word of life, the truth, and the way. Hebrews equates him as the author of faith.

"For this I said, no one has power to come to me if not given him from the Father" (John 6:65)

"... to whom shall we go, your words possess eternal life and we have come to believe and know that you exist the Holy one from God" (John 6:68-69).

Illustration: Just as Israel looked to the bronze serpent and lived, solving their sin problem, so we look to Christ lifted up and those who believe have eternal life (John 3:14-15)

Thought: Life in Christ is more than just being saved from wrath, it is being saved in his life (Romans 5:9-10). We are saved from wrath through justification by his blood, so while enemies we were reconcile by his death, but much more are we reconciled (from kata "according" and allasso; "to change mutually") saved through his life. Such a salvation speaks of change, transformation through God's glory that shines in the face of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

Everything leads up to being a new creation in Christ, so we can be blameless in his presence. Reconciliation involves change, this is what we are chosen for (Ephesians 1:4-5). To have fellowship with him we must be in the light and be partakers of his divine nature (1 John 1:1-6; 2 Peter 1:4)

5. The Present Division

  • Those who believe in the Son are saved from death (John 3:16).
  • Those who do not believe are condemned already (John 3:18).
  • The basis of judgment (John 3:19–21):
    • Those who love darkness avoid the Light, lest their bad deeds be exposed (John 3:20)
    • Those who love truth come to the Light (John 3:21)
    • The basis of judgment then is that they come to the light or not (John 3:19). The Light of Jesus reveals the heart of mankind, not the Mosaic Law (Luke 8:17; Ephesians 5:13)

Application: The gospel exposes the heart—their response to the Light reveals their true condition. Let the light of Jesus expose the condition of their hearts.

The response to "I am good person" not is not to use the Law to reveal their sinfulness and need but respond with what John writes is the basis for judgment, basically "good people come to the light." Tell them this and invite them into the light, Jesus. 

Thought: 

Ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). Paul says we attempt to persuade others, compelled by love, trusting God to work in their conscience. 

Think how it would be received if an ambassador went to another country, judging and condemning, counting their trespasses against them. The sinful nature will get defensive if perceived to be attacked. What gave sin power was the law, its fear of punishment and condemnation and did not correct mankind's sinfulness but sin increased. 

Grace: Where sin increased grace super abounded. Grace is the embodiment of the Father in Jesus (John 1:14-17). Thus in Christ we rule over sin not under the Law but under grace. From the riches of God's grace and glory we receive heavenly blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). And God is demonstrating his loving-kindness to this age from the riches of his grace. "But God rich in mercy, through his great love made us alive..." (Ephesians 2:1-8).

Gift of God: The gospel presented without God's divine initiative would be like giving pearls to pigs, its value not understood. Salvation is by grace through faith, a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Only through the light of Jesus can the gospel be perceived as good news, treasure valued. 

✨ Gospel Summary

  • All are under sin and death.
  • You must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.
  • You must look to Jesus and believe in Him to be saved.
  • Those who do not believe are condemned already.
  • The basis of judgment is revealed in how people respond to the Light—those who love truth come to Jesus; those who love darkness turn away.





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