Jan. 01, 2023

“DOING THE RIGHT THING”

“PAYING RESPECT”

ROMANS 1:1-17

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 1:1 “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.”

Setting of Rome:

I believe the key theme is stated by Paul:

Romans 15:15-16 “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

1.   Paul Presents His Qualifications- Romans 1:1-7

*He was a servant of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1 “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ…”

*He was an apostle.

Romans 1:1 “…called to be an apostle…”

This word means “one who is sent by authority with a commission.”

*He is a preacher of the Gospel.

Romans 1:1-4 “…separated to the gospel of God 2which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

It is the “Gospel of God” vs.1, because it originates with God, it was not invented by man. 

*He is a missionary to the Gentiles.

Romans 1:5-7 “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7To all 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.”

Note the repetition of the word “called”: Paul was called to be an apostle; the believers were the called of Jesus Christ; and they were also called saints.

2.   Paul’s Purpose- Romans 1:8-15

*He was thankful for them

Romans 1:8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

*He prayed for them

Romans 1:9-10 “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 always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.”

“Without ceasing,”

*He loved them

Romans 1:11-12 “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”

*He owed them a debt

Romans 1:13-14 “Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.”

Paul said “I am a debtor” to the lost world!

*He was eager to preach the Gospel

Romans 1:15 “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”

“I am ready to preach the Gospel”

3.   Paul Affirms His Confidence- Romans 1:16-17

But Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel. He had confidence in his message, and he gave us several reasons that explain why he was not ashamed:

*The origin of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…”

*The power of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 “for it is the power of God…”

Why be ashamed of power?

“Power”- Greek word “dunamis”-from which we get our word dynamite. Explosive, innate power.

*The outcome of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 “for it is the power of God to salvation…”

“Salvation”-is the all inclusive term of the Gospel, and it simply means “deliverance.”

*The outreach of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 “…for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

“To everyone who believes”- this includes the entire human race

*Righteousness Revealed

Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In Romans Paul is saying to us, “Be Right!” Be right with God, with yourself, and with others!

Are you right with God?