Two Rivers

I wanted to get back to the first chapter of Romans. I last reflected upon Our Unashamedness found in Romans 1:16. I want to look at the two rivers flowing from this verse as outlined in the next two verses.

The gospel is central. It is the gospel which is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes. This salvation is revealed in two ways: the righteousness of God and the wrath of God.

The Righteousness of God
Stott speaks of the righteousness of God as being His divine attribute, activity, and achievement. Righteousness is a divine characteristic of God. It is His nature. It is also His work. Since righteousness cannot be achieved by man, it must be accomplished by divine activity. The ultimate achievement of God's righteousness was the substitutionary atonement through Jesus Christ. Jesus has become for us our righteousness. God is righteous, comes in grace to the unrighteous, and makes the ungodly righteous through the sacrifice of His Son.

Paul says that the righteousness of God is revealed. For His glory, God gives the gospel which is the power of God for salvation. Flowing from this purpose is God's revealed righteousness. A complete gospel must include the righteousness of God.

The Wrath of God
We don't hear as much about the wrath of God today as we do the righteousness of God. God's wrath is a holy God's response to sin. Wrath is a divine characteristic of God. It is His nature. Like righteousness, it is also His work. God must respond in wrath to all things unrighteous, including the sinful nature of man. Again, like His righteousness, God's wrath is a divine achievement. Jesus took upon Himself the wrath of God on our behalf so that we might be made righteousness.

Paul says that the wrath of God is revealed. For His glory, God gives the gospel which is the power of God for salvation. Flowing from this purpose is God's revealed wrath. A complete gospel must include the wrath of God.

The Two Rivers
When we proclaim the good news of Christ, we must share a complete gospel. We must proclaim the two rivers flowing from the gospel - His righteousness and wrath.