At the time Paul wrote this in 56AD, Rome was a cosmopolitan city of about 1 million people, and because of the reach of the Roman Empire there were people from all over the world. All of the sudden all of these cultures were clashing together and combining to mix all of their thoughts and beliefs. Out of that came 3 schools of philosophy:
- Stoicism: Believed in Rationality, virtue, duty, acceptance of fate.
- Epicureanism: Believed the goal of life is pleasure.
- Scepticism: Believed that nothing could be known for sure.
There were Jews that were mixing Christianity with Jewish Orthodoxy and pressing into legalism, by trying to uphold the letter of the law while also following Jesus. There were also Gentiles that were mixing Christianity with all of these philosophies and pressing into license, by deciding to keep on sinning while also following Jesus. Everyone was kind of mixing everything.
Legalism
Missing Jesus because we’re so wrapped up in perfection... Focusing so much on the law that we forget that Jesus was the completion of the law.
License
Abusing God’s grace, and choosing to keep sinning... Seeing what we can get away with because we know that we’re forgiven no matter what.
So, how do we land in the middle and have a healthy view of the Gospel?
Abraham
Romans 4:1-3
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Genesis 15:1
Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.”
Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Faith
Romans 4:9-13
9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promisethat he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Abraham was considered righteous before the Law was even put in place. The Law was a merciful response to the faith that Abraham had and it didn't dictate his faith. Abraham was the father of both Jewish and Gentile believers because now through Jesus, everyone who has FAITH is sanctified.
We have a healthy view of the Gospel when we live by Faith - not trapped in a spirit of Legalism.
Our Legalism
Our legalism comes from another place: Thinking that we have to be good enough to earn God.
Are there any things you do, that make you think that God might not love you anymore? Those are probably the places where you are being legalistic.
License
We see all over the Bible what gives us a healthy view of the Gospel in that area: Righteousness
James 2:17
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
