Sharper Iron — The Righteousness of God for You: An Epistle of the Purest Gospel

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 1:1-7.

St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans lays out the fullness of the Christian faith centered around the truth of justification by grace through faith in Christ. Paul identifies himself both as a child of God bound only to Christ and as an apostle sent to preach the Gospel of God. That Gospel was announced already in God’s promises through the Old Testament prophets. That Gospel centers in Jesus Christ our Lord. He is true man, our Brother, the Christ from the line of David. He is true God, declared to the world in His resurrection from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. These are more than empty historical facts. Jesus has accomplished this for sinners, to give us His grace and give us a new identity underneath the hearing of His Word. This is what the Romans have received as those loved by God and made holy by Him. Because of Jesus, grace and peace are theirs and ours still today.

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Romans 1:1-7

Greeting

1 Paul, a servant^[a] of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ²which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, ³concerning his Son, who was descended from David^[b] according to the flesh ⁴and 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, ⁵through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ⁶including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

⁷To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Footnotes:

Romans 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
Romans 1:3 Or who came from the offspring of David

English Standard Version (ESV)

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).