The Book of Romans: The Heart of the Gospel

 

The Book of Romans

Introduction:

Well good morning Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Good morning to all of our visitors this morning. Happy Father’s Day to everyone this morning. I am so thankful for my Dad. You know, growing up I knew that I had a great Dad. He did a great job of taking care of me and my brother. He was a tremendous husband to my mother. He made all the sacrifices, did all the work, put in the hours. Everything that I know about fatherhood I learned from my Dad. 

I tell you what though, over the last several years I have really come to appreciate my Dad. I knew that he was a good Dad, but over the last 4 or 5 years, I have discovered that my Dad is a good man. Many of you know that my mother had brain surgery a couple of weeks ago. She was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. That disease kept my mother from being able to walk. She has been bound to a wheelchair for the last couple of years. Thankfully, her surgery was successful and now my mom is back on the road to recover. However, during that time when she was locked in her chair, I witnessed the love that my Dad has for my Mom. He did such a fantastic job of caring of her every need. All the late nights, all the early mornings, he never once complained. I have always loved my Dad but I can honestly say that I possess a new admiration for my Dad. I suppose I would say that I want to be like my Dad when I grow up. 

Happy Father’s Day Dad. I love you. 

Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads out there. 

Well…what can I say?

Wow what a week!

As many of you know, we wrapped up Vacation Bible School on Friday. Let me tell you friends there is no tired like a Vacation Bible School tired. 

I want to tell all of our volunteers, all of our crew leaders, Bible study teachers, recreation helpers, missions teaches, craft helpers, snack volunteers, decorators, preschool workers and teachers, and music teachers “thank you”. We also had a great many people helping with administration, security, and car line. I know that every year I say, “this is the best Vacation Bible School ever”, but friends…this was the best Vacation Bible School ever. 

We had well over 200 children participating, many of which live right here in the Lake Forest neighborhood. In my Bible study class, I had 2 children confirm to me that they had accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Wyatt and Jade both told me that neither one of their families attended church and that they had never asked Christ to come into their lives. They had never been baptized. Isn’t that awesome? I also know that other salvations occurred in some other Bible classes. 

Friends, you have to remember that Vacation Bible School is all about planting seeds. We pray, we plan, and we prepare all with the goal of sharing the Good News of salvation with children. The heart of a child is fertile ground for the Gospel. 

Jesus even states in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 18 verses 3, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Even Jesus knew that children are often times more ready to receive the gift of salvation than adults. 

I love the story of Jesus and the children in Luke 18. 

Luke 18:15-17 ESV

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. [16] But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. [17] Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

In ancient times, children were to be seen and not heard. They had no rights. They were seen as having little to no social status. Throughout the narrative of the Gospels, you see children constantly coming under spiritual attack. They are possessed. They are injured by demonic forces. Some are even killed. Children back then, as they are today, were spiritually venerable. 

Jesus loved children. He cared for them. When others disrespected and disregarded children, Jesus protected them, provided for them, and blessed them. In fact, Jesus reveals His passion for children in Matthew 18:6. 

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Folks that is why Vacation Bible School is so important. The event is far more than day care for our friends living in Lake Forest. It is more than free entertainment for stay at home Moms needing a break. It is more than busy work for working parents. I would say that Vacation Bible School is by far the most important mission opportunity at Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Vacation Bible School strikes at the very heart of our mission statement–as a church we desire to share Christ with every family in the community of Lake Forest and the greater Eastern Shore. More than fulfilling our mission, Vacation Bible School helps us accomplish the very heart of the Gospel. 

In fact, that is the title of my message this morning. The Heart of the Gospel. 

Today’s Message:

“The Heart of The Gospel”

So church, what is the heart of the Gospel?

Let me tell you what it’s not.

It’s not self-help.

It’s not positive vibes.

It’s not about trying harder, doing better, or earning God’s love.

No friends—the heart of the Gospel is this:

God did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That’s every one of us—from the pulpit to the preschool. We’re all broken. We’re all in need. And if the story ended there, it would be a tragedy.

Let me say it this way:

The Gospel is not about what we bring to God—it’s about what God brought to us through Jesus.

The Gospel is not earned—it’s received by faith.

The Gospel is not exclusive—it’s available to everyone who believes.

That’s what we teach in VBS.

That’s what we preach from this pulpit.

That’s what saves sinners and transforms lives.

So what is the heart of the Gospel?

Grace for the guilty. Hope for the hurting. Salvation for the sinner. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Do me a favor this morning. Fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. All have failed! Sin is our fatal flaw. Freedom comes through faith in Jesus. 

Today’s Thought:

All Have Failed! Sin Is Our Fatal Flaw. Freedom Comes Through Faith in Jesus!

Folks, that is about as succinct as I can make the Gospel message this morning. It’s as easy as the ABC’s. 

Admit that you are a sinner. Our sin separates us from God. If we were to die in that sin, we would all be separated from God in a place called hell for eternity. 

Next…

Believe that Jesus is God’s Son. He is the one and only way to salvation. As sinners, we cannot be good enough, smart enough, or wise enough to pay for our crimes. However, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He died on the cross in our place. He is the path to forever. 

Lastly, confess. Call on the name of the Lord. Anyone can do it. Salvation is available to everyone. Think about the thief on the cross. He admitted that he had done wrong and that his death was just. He believed that Jesus was and is the Son of the Living God. He even spoke of Jesus’ innocence and perfection. He then asked Jesus to remember him. There you have it friends, the ABC’s of salvation. 

You might say it like this, Jesus paid for our sin. He paid a price that we could never pay. 

Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 6:19-20 that our “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.”

Our sin is what nailed Jesus to the cross. We are all guilty, deserving of death, but God shows us grace. 

I love what Louie Giglio said in one of his recent messages on the topic of sin. 

Today’s Quote:

“Sin doesn’t make us bad—it makes us dead. The gospel doesn’t offer better behavior—it gives us new, alive hearts. Even when we were spiritually dead in our trespasses, God raised us to life through Christ. It’s not about moral improvement—it’s about resurrection.”

– Louie Giglio, Passion 2024: Session 5 

Oh friends, sin is a serious subject. In fact, that is the subject of Romans 3:21-31 this morning. Before we read that together, let me share with you why Paul wrote these words. 

Background and Context:

Paul was writing to a church in Rome made up of both Jewish and Gentile believers. The Jews had grown up with the Law—they knew the Scriptures, kept the traditions, and believed righteousness came through obedience. The Gentiles? They came from pagan backgrounds. They didn’t have the Law, but they had come to faith in Jesus.

Tension was building. The Jewish believers thought they had a spiritual edge. The Gentiles weren’t sure they fully belonged.

So Paul levels the playing field. In Romans 1 through 3, he lays out the hard truth: everyone is guilty. Gentiles. Jews. Church kids. First-timers. Romans 3:23 says it best—“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But then comes the shift.

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…” (v. 21)

Paul says there’s a new way to be made right with God—not through rule-keeping, but through faith in Jesus. That’s what Romans 3:21–31 is all about. This is the heart of the Gospel—grace for the guilty and righteousness through Jesus Christ alone.

Before we read from Romans 3, I want to remind you that…

Statement of Belief:

“We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.”

Today’s Scripture:

Romans 3:21-31 ESV

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- [22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. [27] Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. [28] For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. [29] Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, [30] since God is one-who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. [31] Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise His name, praise His holy name.”

3 Thoughts From Paul’s Teaching in Romans 3:21-30…

I. Sin is Universal vs 23 

So, I want to give you three thoughts from Paul’s teaching in Romans 3. 

Fill in the blank under Roman numeral 1. 

Sin is universal. Let’s go back and read verse 23 this morning. 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

What does that mean? What does it mean to fall short of the glory of God? Well we will look at that a lot closer in just a second, but you might explain it this way–

“Every person, no matter who they are, has sinned and stands guilty before God.”

Let me tell you something this morning, church—sin is an equal opportunity offender. It doesn’t care how old you are, where you’re from, how long you’ve been going to church, or how many VBS t-shirts you own. Sin doesn’t skip over the sweet grandma who bakes pies for the church bake sale. Sin doesn’t pass by the guy who trims the hedges out front or the teenager who just got baptized last week. “All have sinned…” Paul says. That includes me. That includes you. That includes everybody.

You know, if sin were a cold… we’d all be sneezing.

Solomon says it plainly in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.” Not one. It doesn’t matter how polished someone looks on Sunday morning or how well-behaved their kids are during the sermon—we’ve all missed the mark. That’s what “falling short of the glory of God” means. It’s an archery term. Imagine pulling back the bow, aiming for perfection, and the arrow just thudding into the ground 10 feet in front of the target.

Now, you may be thinking, “Well, I haven’t done that much wrong.” That’s like saying, “I only stepped partly into the quicksand.” Friends, whether you missed the mark by a little or by a mile, you still missed it. Sin is sin.

And here’s the kicker—it’s not just something we do. Sin is something that lives in us. It’s baked into the dough. It’s our default setting apart from Jesus. We aren’t sinners because we occasionally mess up—we sin because deep down, our hearts are prone to wander. Left to ourselves, we don’t drift toward holiness—we drift toward self. Toward pride. Toward sin.

And let’s be honest—it’s not just the “big” sins that break God’s heart. It’s not just murder, adultery, or stealing someone’s identity online. It’s the everyday stuff we’ve grown so comfortable with that we don’t even call it sin anymore.

It’s the white lie you tell to make yourself look better. “No, officer, I had no idea I was speeding.” Or, “I’d love to help, but I already have something going on”—when “something” is you and a couch and a bag of chips.

It’s the jealousy that rises up when your neighbor gets a new boat, or your coworker gets the promotion you prayed for.

It’s the bitterness you bury instead of confess. You smile at someone on Sunday but avoid them in the fellowship hall because you’re still holding on to something they said three years ago.

It’s gossip wrapped in spiritual language. “Hey, I’m only telling you this so you can pray…”

It’s the judgmental glance you give to a struggling single mom… the silent pride in your heart when someone else fails and you think, “That would never happen to me.”

It’s the quick temper behind the wheel that flares up when someone cuts you off. You may not wave with all your fingers, but your heart’s already filed a complaint with Heaven.

It’s the sarcasm that wounds your spouse, or the cold shoulder you give them to make a point.

It’s parenting out of frustration instead of grace—when our tone becomes sharper than our correction.

It’s the self-righteousness that grows when you compare yourself to the “bad people” on the news and forget the daily grace you depend on.

It’s the scrolling addiction—hours given to social media, but no time for Scripture.

It’s the worry that keeps us up at night, revealing a heart that trusts more in control than in Christ.

It’s the thanklessness we carry when God’s been nothing but good—and we still want more.

It’s the stinginess when we say, “I’ll give when things are better,” but somehow never find the moment.

It’s ignoring the Holy Spirit’s nudges—when you know you should text that friend, encourage that coworker, invite that neighbor—but you put it off and forget.

It’s the good we know we should do… but don’t. James 4:17 says it plain: “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

See, sin isn’t just what breaks laws. It’s what breaks relationship. It’s subtle. Sneaky. And often socially acceptable.

But it drives a wedge between us and God all the same.

Sin isn’t just the splash—it’s the slow drift.

And you can be sitting in the sanctuary every week, singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” while still carrying a heart full of stuff that needs to be surrendered.

Paul says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

And Solomon backs him up in Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NLT): “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.”

Every person. Every age. Every nation.

From the pulpit to the preschool… from the church pew to the prison cell—sin is universal.

But thank God… that’s not the end of the story.

So why does Paul start here? Why does he drive this point home so strongly?

Because you can’t appreciate the beauty of salvation until you understand the brokenness of sin.

You can’t rejoice in the cross until you realize why it was necessary.

You can’t see how amazing grace really is… until you know how badly we needed it.

Friends, sin is universal—but so is God’s invitation to be saved. That’s the good news we’re about to get to.

But before we move on, let me ask you this:

Have you admitted that you are a sinner?

Not just a sinner, but your sin. Because that’s where healing begins. That’s where salvation starts.

3 Thoughts From Paul’s Teaching in Romans 3:21-30…

I. Sin is Universal vs 23 

II. Sin is Undone vs. 24 and 25

So, our first point is that sin is universal. Our second point is that sin is undone. This is the part of the sermon where things turn positive really fast. There is hope. There is help. There is healing for our brokenness. There is salvation for our souls. Let’s go back to verses 24 and 25 this morning. 

[24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 

And here is the good news…

“Jesus paid the full price for our sin so we could be made right with God by His grace.”

Paul reminds us that God made Christ to carry the weight of our sin and our judgement on the cross. All of that wrong that we have done has to be punished. Yes, God is love but God is also just. He cannot let a crime just go unpunished. That is neither just or loving. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:21 reminds us that…

2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)
“He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].”

So, go back to verses 24 and 25. 

Now let’s break that down. Paul says we are justified—that means declared righteous. Not guilty. Case dismissed. Not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Christ has done for us.

And he says it’s a gift. Church, when was the last time you paid for a gift? You didn’t. Because if you paid for it, it’s not a gift—it’s a transaction. This is grace—unearned, undeserved, unbelievable grace.

Then Paul drops a big theological word: “propitiation.” That’s one of those words that sounds like it belongs on a seminary final exam. Don’t let it intimidate you. It simply means that Jesus satisfied the wrath of God. The punishment we deserved? Jesus absorbed it. The judgment we earned? Jesus took it. He didn’t just pay our bail—He served our sentence.

Think of it like this: imagine every wrong thing you’ve ever done, every selfish thought, every sinful action, every bitter word—and then imagine someone stepping forward and saying, “I’ll take that. All of it.” That’s Jesus.

When I was a kid, I thought the worst punishment in the world was my dad’s belt. And I’ll tell you this—I was real good at pleading my case. I’d say, “Dad, I didn’t mean to… it was Spencer’s idea…the ball didn’t even break the window—it just cracked it!”

But justice still came.

Now imagine this: what if Dad had said, “You’re right. That window should be paid for. But I’m going to pay for it myself.”

That’s what Jesus did—He took what He didn’t deserve, so we could receive what we never earned.

Let me give you another picture. Imagine you’re drowning—gasping for air, flailing in the deep—and then Jesus doesn’t just throw you a life vest. He jumps in, grabs you, and pulls you to safety while He goes under. Friends, that’s what redemption looks like.

And don’t miss this: Paul says it’s all “to be received by faith.” You don’t earn this. You don’t climb a religious ladder. You don’t work your way up a moral checklist. You trust in the finished work of Christ.

That’s it.

So here’s the good news this morning:

You don’t have to stay guilty.

You don’t have to keep trying to earn God’s love.

You don’t have to fix yourself before you come to Him.

Sin may be universal… but grace is unstoppable.

Sin may be powerful… but Jesus is greater.

Sin may wreck our lives… but Jesus redeems them.

That’s why we call it Good News.

3 Thoughts From Paul’s Teaching in Romans 3:21-30…

I. Sin is Universal vs 23 

II. Sin is Undone vs. 24 and 25

III. Salvation is Unlimited vs. 29 and 30

So, here is our last point this morning: salvation is unlimited. You heard me right. UNLIMITED!

“God offers salvation to everyone—no matter their background—through faith in Jesus Christ.”

[29] Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, [30] since God is one-who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

And here it is, church—our third and final truth this morning:

Salvation is UNLIMITED.

Let me say it again so it sinks in—UNLIMITED.

Not restricted. Not reserved. Not rationed out by behavior or background.

Unlimited salvation means: it never runs out, and it’s for everyone.

Paul asks a bold rhetorical question: “Is God the God of the Jews only?” And then he answers it with an emphatic, “NO! He’s the God of the Gentiles too!”

Translation for us today: He’s the God of everybody.

He’s the God of church folks and the God of people who’ve never stepped foot in one.

He’s the God of those raised in Sunday School and the God of those raised on the streets.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 (CSB) reminds us:

“This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Let me break this down.

Unlimited salvation means Jesus saves…

The preacher and the prisoner.

The deacon and the drug dealer.

The choir director and the karaoke bar regular.

The college student with straight A’s and the dropout with a record.

The sweet little church lady and the loud guy with no filter.

The conservative in a suit and the rebel with tattoos.

The one who tithes faithfully and the one who’s flat broke and spiritually bankrupt.

The child who just understood sin for the first time—and the man on death row who’s seconds from his last breath.

That’s the scandal of the Gospel—it’s for everybody.

We love our limits, don’t we? Limited time offers. Limited seating. Limited access. But God doesn’t work that way. Heaven doesn’t run on quotas. The blood of Jesus doesn’t discriminate. There’s room at the cross for all who will come.

You want to know how deep this goes? Think of the thief on the cross. He had nothing to offer—no time to prove himself, no chance to clean up his act. Just one broken plea: “Jesus, remember me…” And Jesus said, “Today, you’ll be with me in Paradise.” That’s unlimited salvation. That’s grace.

And let me go a little further…

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.

If you’ve lied—He’ll forgive.

If you’ve run away—He’ll welcome you home.

If you’ve messed up your marriage, your money, your mind—He’s not done with you.

If you’re sitting here thinking, “Not me, not after what I’ve done…”—let me stop you right there.

YES, YOU.

If God’s grace has a limit, we’re all in trouble.

But thanks be to God—His mercy is more.

So this morning, I want to say it plainly:

You can be saved.

Right here. Right now.

Not because you’re good—but because God is.

So whether you’re a holy roller or a hell raiser, whether you’re a Bible-carrying Baptist or a backslidden mess—salvation is available.

That’s the heart of the Gospel:

•Sin is Universal—we’ve all fallen.

•Sin is Undone—Jesus paid it all.

•Salvation is Unlimited—you can be saved.

No matter who you are. No matter what you’ve done. We Are All Level At The Cross and it’s never too late to come home!

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We come before You this morning humbled by the truth of Your Word. We confess what Your Word makes clear—that sin is universal. Every one of us has fallen short. We’ve missed the mark. We’ve said things we shouldn’t have said, thought things we shouldn’t have thought, and done things that have broken Your heart. But Father, thank You that You didn’t leave us in our guilt.

Thank You for Jesus.

Thank You that sin is undone—not by our good works, not by our effort, not by our reputation, but by the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. He became sin so that we might become righteous. We are justified, redeemed, and restored because of Your amazing grace.

And Lord, thank You that salvation is unlimited. You don’t run out of grace. You don’t turn anyone away. You save the church kid and the criminal, the faithful and the fallen. There’s not a soul beyond Your reach. Not one.

So today, Lord, I pray for the person who has never placed their faith in Jesus. May they know that salvation is not earned—it is received by faith. I pray for the one who feels far from You, the one who’s carrying shame, regret, or doubt. Remind them right now that the cross is big enough, the blood is strong enough, and the invitation is wide enough for them.

We love You, Lord. We thank You for the Gospel—simple enough for a child to believe, strong enough to save the worst of sinners, and powerful enough to change the world.

In the name of Jesus—our Savior, Redeemer, and King—we pray,

Amen.