July 30, 2017
Morning Service

We have just finished a wonderful study on the letter Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus.  You could feel the love he had for them in the words he wrote as he knew them very well.  He encouraged them to strive for unity within the body of Christ (the church).  He defined how the church leadership was set up to teach and equip the saints to do the work of the ministry.  He explained very well that God desires for His followers to do life together; each of us doing our part for the betterment of everyone (church). 

Today we will begin a study on the letter Paul wrote to the church at Rome.  Paul did not set up the church nor had ever been there but his heart’s desire was to visit them soon.  He wrote this letter from Corinth on his 3^rd missionary journey as he traveled to Jerusalem with a love offering for the poor there.  Rome at this time was the most powerful city in the world.  It had well over a million inhabitants and the church was flourishing there with both Jews and Gentiles worshiping together.  He writes this letter to both introduce himself and to make a clear declaration of faith.

The four Gospels present the words and works of Jesus, but this letter delves into what His death and resurrection truly means to a believer.  It is a letter full of very deep theology, but also rich with practical exhortation that a follower of Jesus can easily understand and apply to their lives.  The Gospel message is stated in a very clear and powerful manner.

Martin Luther wrote; “This epistle is the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest gospel.  It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.”

As we read and study this letter together, I challenge you to reexamine your commitment to follow Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and soul through these words He inspired Paul to write.  Let’s begin and see where the Holy Spirit leads us!

Romans 1:1-6  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to the gospel of God  (2)  (which He had promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures),  (3)  about His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh,  (4)  who was marked out the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;  (5)  by whom we have received grace and apostleship, to obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name;  (6)  among whom you also are the called-out ones of Jesus Christ:

·         Paul lays out the groundwork that he will build on throughout this letter.  His calling to be an apostle (authority) came from Christ Himself on the road to Damascus many years earlier.  He quickly emphasizes that Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament prophecies which were proven true by His resurrection from the dead.

·         This includes also the first of many times that he points out the Gospel message.  Jesus, the Son of God, came in the flesh, lived a life free of sin, died and was resurrected opening the door for God’s grace and kindness to be poured out on all mankind.

 Romans 1:7-13  To all those who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (8)  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  (9)  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you  (10)  always in my prayers, making request if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you.  (11)  For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to you for the establishing of you.  (12)  And this is to be comforted together with you by our mutual faith, both yours and mine.  (13)  But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that oftentimes I purposed to come to you, and was kept back until the present; that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other nations.

·         Notice how Paul encourages and exhorts those within the church that their faith is well known throughout the whole world.  How powerful and comforting it must have been to the church that this well-known apostle had taken notice of what God was doing through them.   He shows his love for them in that he prays for them always and longs to come and minister to them.  He knew they were much like the Christians he had ministered to at Berea that “searched the scriptures daily to see if the things he said were true.”

 

 Romans 1:14-17  I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the foreigners, both to the wise and to the unwise.  (15)  So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are at Rome also.  (16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  (17)  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

·         Paul’s calling to preach the good news of the Gospel message was to everyone throughout the world.  His calling was so strong that he gave up everything and totally surrendered himself over to God in order fulfill it.

·         In verse 16 he makes one of the many powerful statements that this letter is known for (read).  Paul believed by faith the words that he spoke and that they were without a doubt true.  He was not ashamed to proclaim them to anyone who would listen and felt a burning obligation to do so because he truly believed they were true.   In fact, he knew they were true because they had changed him.

·         Are we that way today?  Do we truly believe that this Gospel message is the power of God unto salvation?  Are we proclaiming that boldly to those who seem to have lost their way and are searching for an answer?  If not, then it might be that we are ashamed of the Gospel message and really don’t believe it to be true.  We must have faith in God in order to please Him.  Listen to this verse that challenged and changed me many years ago.

 

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

·         This verse made me ask myself that very question; “do I believe that He is?”  If the answer to that is yes then my life should reflect it.  Yesterday at Joe’s funeral everyone you talked to saw Joe’s faith in his actions; he lived out what he believed.  I guess the challenge in this is not so much asking if you would die for Christ, but if you would surrender your life and live for Him?  Do not be ashamed of the Gospel message but allow it to change your life into something beautiful that God will use for His glory.  Believe it, live it, and proclaim it. 

 

Father, please grant us the desire to build our faith and live a life that shows it.