Romans Series 2
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The Gospel Servant
The Gospel Servant
Text: Romans 1:8-15 Notes
Text: Romans 1:8-15 Notes
Short recap
Short recap
The conversion, calling, authority and motivation of the Apostle Paul is in full credit to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
God’s path for Paul’s ministry was to take the gospel to all places it had not already reached (all nations).
He wrote many letters to places he had not yet visited and some he would never visit.
Grace is the drive behind any genuine obedience to Christ.
1) Faith Is Huge
1) Faith Is Huge
VERSE 8
VERSE 8
Paul gives us insight on how a believer is able to speak to God through prayer…JESUS CHRIST.
“your faith”
This is HUGE!
This very statement about the faith reaching the known world speaks to evidence of Jesus’ resurrection.
Absolutely NO ONE would be so open about faith in Jesus due to risk involved in the first century (prison or death).
2) Paul’s Truthful Witness
2) Paul’s Truthful Witness
VERSE 9
VERSE 9
“For God is my witness”
God can vouch for the truthfulness of His witness!
“with my soul”
The “new man” is in view regarding a couple of things here:
FIRST — His service to God “in the gospel of Christ”
SECOND — His prayers come from the core of the inner man. He realized how much prayer was needed among believers while he was hunting them down during his time as an unconverted Pharisee.
Illustration — Have you ever had a wake-up call to the importance of prayer regarding something particular only after you were impacted by the same thing at a previous time?
3) Paul’s Prayers
3) Paul’s Prayers
VERSE 10-12
VERSE 10-12
Paul gives some insight on voicing the desires of one’s heart in prayer:
I believe the desires of someone’s heart do align with God the more a believer spends time with God.
Paul however is requesting to visit these believers in order to gain mutual encouragement and impart a spiritual gift.
Even though your request may be godly in nature, we must remain faithful in submitting it to God’s timing and plan.
Paul reminds us that there is no where on this planet you can’t reach through prayer!
(v12) Two reasons why you need church: You need to be built up & others need you.
4) Paul’s Intentional Life
4) Paul’s Intentional Life
VERSE 13
VERSE 13
Paul makes them aware of his intentional lifestyle. He wasn’t just “waiting for a opportunity to present itself.” Paul made plans and then surrendered them to God.
PLEASE NOTE…Paul faced hinderances!
1 Thess. 2:18 “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”
Satan won’t give too much attention to the “passive” Christian.
Paul was always focused on Gospel fruit.
Satan understood just how crippling it was to His plans when Christians displayed gospel fruit.
Paul’s hinderances could have been from the devil or it could be for the sheer fact he was: tending to church problems in Antioch, Galatia, Corinth and Thessalonica; a few stints in prison; a few beatings; and writing part of the Bible.
Think of the impact of spiritual fruit throughout the Bible:
Give me some examples of Spiritual fruit and it’s impact.
This letter reached the Christians at Rome three years before he got there.
He would eventually make it to Rome but only after being mobbed, arrested, imprisoned, and having survived a shipwreck! Moreover, he entered Rome as a prisoner (Acts 27–28). We too never know what awaits us.11 Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 15.
5) Paul’s Life Of Debt
5) Paul’s Life Of Debt
VERSE 14
VERSE 14
Giving is at the heart of Christianity!!!
“I am a debtor”
This self description is interesting:
People groups: Greeks (Greek culture); Barbarians (foreigner to Paul’s country); the wise; the unwise
What about these groups leads Paul to classify himself in such a low degree? NOTHING!
Ans — The very nature of the gospel… “for God so loved the world.”
Paul gives insight to the extent of His ministry; NO EXCEPTIONS.
Quote: “It is illustrative to think about how I can be in debt to you. First, you may have lent me $100—and I am in debt to you until I pay it back. But second, someone else may have given me $100 to pass on to you—and I am in debt to you until I hand it on. It is in this second sense that Paul is “obligated” to everyone, everywhere. God has shared the gospel with him. But God has also commissioned him to declare it to others. So Paul owes people the gospel.” — Timothy Keller
6) Paul’s Readiness
6) Paul’s Readiness
VERSE 15
VERSE 15
“as much as is in me”
This falls right into Paul’s personality.
Acts 9:1-2
This comparison tells the story of an inward change reseeds and outward change.
Paul speaks of the “single-minded” life.
“I am ready”
Whatever and to wherever the Lord would permit him to travel, Paul was going to be ready.
He was ready to declare the gospel!
He was ready to evangelize the unbeliever and edify the believer with the GOSPEL!
Concluding Thoughts
Concluding Thoughts
Phrases to remember from Paul:
(v9) “whom I serve with my spirit”
(v10) “my prayers”
(v11) “For I long to see you”
(v13) “I purposed to come to you” (I have often made plans)
(v14) “I am debtor” (I am obligated)
(v15) “I am ready” (I am eager)
A helpful tactic to be effective in evangelism: Build rapport with those whom God has laid on your heart to share the gospel with.