Truth the will of God: Secret to Life's Application
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Romans 1:7-15
Romans 1:7-15
To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles. I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Paul reaching out to the Romans, Paul an apostle sent to the nations. Reaching out to Romans who were both Jew (when they were allowed in Rome) and Gentiles. Jews and Gentiles who have embraced the gospel concerning Christ.
Paul knows that Rome can be a gateway or a launching pad to the west. Taking the Gospel to the world. He knows if we unite our hearts and abilities in partnership in the gospel, the kingdom of God will go further then ever believed possible.
He knows he has been set apart for the gospel he has already said as much now he called the assembly in Rome “Saints”. This links Paul to the Roman Assembly. He is not some “super-apostle”, but they two are set apart as holy, as spiritual, as called by God to the highest levels of privilege, and therefor responsible. 29 times in eight of his epistles Paul refers to believers a saints.
Saint
Saint
Word there is hagios “holy”. they are the Holy ones. Holy in the Hebrew is a word that means set apart. Separated for divine use.
The first stage of holiness is positional; it is something believers are declared to be because of their position in Christ (Eph. 1:4).
Because of our positional holiness, we are able to become holy in practice, progressively more so as we mature in Christ (1 Thess. 4:7).
So when Paul calls the Roman believers saints, what is he saying?
He wants them to know that, regardless of how they view themselves, how unimportant they may think themselves to be in the grand scheme of things, they are as “holy” as Paul himself is.
Paul is a saint, and they are saints.
Paul has been set apart to accomplish God’s goal of spreading the gospel to the nations, and so have the Romans. It has nothing to do with spiritual giftedness, the office one does or does not hold, one’s education or appearance, one’s wealth or poverty, or one’s outward manifestations of spirituality. Rather, “holiness”—total dedication to the service of God and his purposes—is a positional reality for every believer, like it or not!
and these saints are being talked about all over.
Who would be surprised at there begin a church in Jerusalem, the spiritual capital of the Mediterranean world? no one, it is expected.
But in Rome, the capital of the pagan world, there is a thriving community of Christian believers. This was something to talk about, and people were spreading the word. That’s why he is so eager to meet and fellowship with these believers. He has his heart set on taking the gospel to the lands where Christ name has not been heard.
Much is said about Christians and their ministries today. Word spreads rapidly about increased attendance, about innovative programs, about multimedia presentations, about new facilities, about conferences and seminars.
But how often does one hear about a church that is known for its faith, as were the Christians in Rome?
It’s no wonder he continued to pray for them.
Perhaps he prayed, “Lord, keep their faith and their fire alive. May they be the catalyst for a powerful outreach into the nations of the world!”
Are you praying that for your church, your organization, your study group, your family—for yourself?
When one realizes that Jesus Christ has paid an infinite debt that secures one’s life and welfare for eternity, it is to the shame of the church that there are not millions of apostle Paul's roaming the earth looking for one more person to tell about the gospel of the grace of God.
What does it say about our understanding of the gift of God that so many feel no indebtedness, no obligation, to Christ at all?
Paul’s attitude was, “If I am the only one who senses this indebtedness, that changes nothing. I am still indebted. And as long as there is one person left on earth to whom the invitation to eternal life has not been issued, then I am not a free man. I will remain a bondservant of Christ until the last lost sheep has been brought into the fold.”
Greeks (the educated, the intellectuals, the sophisticated) and non-Greeks (the uneducated, the lower class, the barbarians), wise and foolish—there were no beginning and ending points on the scale of who Paul felt obligated to reach.
His use of a figure of speech (a merism, citing the extremes in opposite directions to indicate a totality; see Ps. 139:8–9) shows the breadth of his vision for the gospel.
Paul’s perspective should become “the characteristic of a Christian’s life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real. Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life” (Chambers, My Utmost, July 15).
Next Step
Next Step
Pray. Pray continuously for the community. That the gospel may be spread. That one more may come to life. Not to just a salvation line but to a life lived in life and away from the destruction. not just to get into heaven but to have life to its fullest now.
We spend so much time asking what is Gods will for my life. Use the gifts he has given you to live life to its fullest, not just for you, but to call others to life. come Hallelujah with me. Praise God with me.
Truth, the gospel truth is the ultimate application of our life.
If the time permits take 5 min and have them pray in groups
Bibliography
Bibliography
Kenneth Boa and William Kruidenier, Romans, vol. 6, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 25–29.
W., Jackson. Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes: Honor and Shame in Paul’s Message and Mission. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2019.