Romans 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

I would like to think that I am not ashamed of the gospel, as this passage so famously begins. That I am not ashamed of my faith.

And yet, I sometimes am.

Sometimes I'm afraid of what people will say and think. I see them as stronger than myself. And perhaps, for a moment, I see them as stronger than God.

Sometimes my little human mind is so confused, yes?

This is the power of God. This is salvation... life! This is the greatest gift of all!

I've been reading the book "Intercessory Prayer" by Dutch Sheets. One topic it's talked about is that we are God's representatives on earth. His re-presenters. We are to present him again.

*poof* Mind blown, yes?

If in the gospel is, as verse 17 says, the righteousness of God revealed, then when we speak of the gospel we are re-presenting the righteousness of God! We cannot reveal the gospel... that has been done, once and for all, but we can re-present his righteousness. We are not righteous, but through and only through faith in the gospel, as re-presenters or righteousness, we bear the authority of his righteousness!

We can. You and me. Ordinary people. People saved by faith. Little me, little you.

Little, ordinary people can make a big kingdom impact.

Romans 1:14-15

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

Obligation. To be bound by duty.

The Greek word used is "ὀφειλέτης, ου, ὁ", transliterated "opheiletés".

The word refers to a debtor, or one who has sinned against another.

It's the same word used in Matthew 18:23-33, the parable of the talents.

What a statement that is. "I am obligated."

Paul, in those 3 words, recognizes himself as a sinner. And yet, because of God's grace, Paul's sin was covered. Forgiven. Salvation had come.

So what was Paul obligated to?

Love.

To share Christ's love.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3)

Paul is a man surrendered. Surrendered to being Christ's hand of love, without discrimination. He desires so greatly to be able to serve the early church in Rome!

We are a people that have been called to a state of full surrender. A people that love as Christ loved. A people that love everyone we see with an unconditional mercy.

Will we?

Romans 1:11-13

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

Biblical Community.

The most beautiful expression of God's love, yet so often abandoned in our modern church in favor of bigger numbers and efficiency. It requires sacrifice, love... and a whole lot of the Holy Spirit.

My favorite description of Biblical community is found in Acts 2

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Bible study. Sharing meals. Praying. Giving. Worshiping.

The result?

Relationship to God. Wonders and signs. Many added to their number.

Relationship is an attribute of God. God is a perfect relationship.

Relationship brings strength, as said in Ecclesiastes 4:

9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

And yet, within this community, Paul wishes for a harvest.

2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (Luke 10)

As I spend my summer preparing to lead my lifegroup, I find my desire aligning with Paul. To develop relationship in a Acts-like Biblical community. To have a harvest within my circle of relationship.

Father, I ask you to begin to prepare the students you bring into this Biblical community. Bring their hearts into a place of searching. Protect their hearts, not against spiritual warfare, but against hardening as a result of such warfare. Teach me to love them freely

Romans 1:8-10

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

 As I read v.8, I was struck by the phrase "your faith is being reported all over the world".

The Greek word used, according to my limited resource of the internet, is "καταγγέλλεται", translated to "is being proclaimed". This word is used only 2 other places in the Bible.

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. (Acts 13:38)

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, (Philippians 1:18)

It fascinates me that in a day where news moved slow, before post offices and waaaaay before social media and email, that their reputation could be proclaimed in such a glorious way all over the world! That is a truely remarkable statement of their faith and testimony!

And Paul loves these Christians. "God is my witness to how much I think of you and pray for you. I ask him that maybe God's will would open for me to come visit you again!"

I think back to my time in high school, when some of my closest friends were from music camp. Living all over the US, we really only got to see each other once a year. Oh, how I would long for July to come around to see my dear friends. When they would struggle, I would pray for them because I cared about them; I would wait for the day when I could give them a hug again!

Now that I'm older and just a bit more mature, I long for people in a deeper way. I long to sit down and here about people's struggles and counsel them. I long to hear their progress and walk through life with them.

I imagine that's what Paul desired as well. These were the people he loved and was called to. And he longed for them.

That's also God's desire for us. To be with those he loved. So much so that he would sacrifice his son.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) 

Romans 1:1-7 (Part 3: A Commission)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Part 3... Paul has already spoke of his renewed identity, as well as telling the gospel. And in the last 3 verses of this passage (5-7), Paul gives the church of Rome a commission.

A commission has a rather lengthy definition. It can be used as both a noun and verb.

com·mis·sionnoun
the act of committing or giving in charge.
an authoritative order, charge, or direction.
authority granted for a particular action or function.
a document granting such authority.

verb
to give a commission to
to authorize; send on a mission; to give the order that places a warship, military command, etc., in a state of complete readiness for active duty. 

Though the common use of the word "commission" generally has to do with money, it's a very military word. And that's what Paul is doing here.

"You are called to obedience. You are called to belong to Jesus Christ. These are your orders."

1 John 5 says this of obedience: 

2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Therefore, we can see that obedience is the fruit of love for God. This is the fruit that the Christian bears. This is the commission, the authoritative order, Paul asks of the early Christians... and of us.

Love God. Obey God. Be His.

Romans 1:1-7 (Part 2: The Gospel)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Part 1: A Calling, we looked at Paul's radical transformation of identity. In this section, we'll be looking at verses 2-4. The Gospel for which Paul put his identity in. A simple gospel; the gospel told throughout Acts. 

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,

    which has become the cornerstone.’

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4)

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10)

2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.“This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. (Acts 17)

The message of this gospel is simple: Christ came, Christ died, Christ rose from the dead, Christ saves. 

This is the evangelism tool of the early church that saved thousands. This is the gospel. The only gospel. For as Jesus said in John 14:16, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" 

I have read that Latin for this phrase is "Via, Veritas, Vita". It reminds me of "Veni, vidi, vici" (We came, we saw, we conquered), another Latin phrase reportedly written by Julius Ceasar in reference to a great battle. And that is the simplicity of the gospel - "He came, He Saved, He Conquered"

Romans 1:1-7 (Part 1: A Calling)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

(I have the honor of wearing the title of "Lifegroup Leader" at our colleges BSM this coming year. I am looking forward to leading my girls in Bible study, as well as getting to mentor them one-on-one. We are going to be going through the book of Romans for the upcoming fall semester.)

Romans 1:1-7 is a hefty, though short, passage. In these 7 verses, we see: a calling, the gospel, and a commission. 

The calling seen in v. 1 is beautiful - "I am Paul, and I am Christ's servant. I have been called and set apart. This is my identity."

What a beautiful act of faith.

We see a passion for this identity in Philippians 3:7-11:

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

This is Paul. Persecutor of the early church turned persecuted missionary. A Pharisee turned prisoner for Christ. A man who gave up everything because of a calling.

A calling that asked him to re-write the fabric of who he was.

"Radical", we might say. Yes, very radical. Yet, we are ALL expected to make this change in our lives!

Are you willing to let Christ be your identity? Are you willing to be radically changed? To give up everything you have to follow Christ? To participate in his sufferings? 

Sounds dangerous. Terrifying. Foolish.

Yet wonderful.

He is trustworthy. 

He is the Son of God.

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