GRACE AND GLORY - PART THREE

ON MY WAY

Romans 1:7–15 (ESV)

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and 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 all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

ENVIRONMENT/CONTEXT

What is Romans? (A letter)

Who wrote it? (Paul)

When was it written? (Between 55 and 57 A.D.)

Why was it written? (To encourage the Church at Rome and clarify doctrine in the early Church, especially in issues dealing with salvation and justification by faith. Because Rome was a cultural epicenter, its Church was a blend of Jews and Gentiles, all of whom were new converts. It’s believed that there was a group of Romans in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost who took the fire of the Holy Spirit back to Rome with them and founded this Church).

Why are we studying it? Romans is quoted often in pieces, but rarely in its proper context. There are hundreds of verses that are powerful in isolation, but they become even stronger in the presence of the entirety of the epistle.

VERSE SEVEN

Now that Paul has identified himself to the audience, he directs his attention to them.

He calls them “loved by God,” using the Greek word agapētos. Only God can love them this way.

He called them “called to be saints.” The Greek word for called is klētos, which is the same word Paul used for himself in verse one. They are just as called as he is. The Greek word for saints is hagios, which means dedicated to God, holy, pure, sacred, and consecrated. Because of the love of God, they have been made holy. The order is important. Love makes us holy; holiness doesn’t make us loved. Paul is already setting the table for the doctrine of grace that he’s about to masterfully articulate.

“Grace to you” was a common Greek greeting. Charis speaks of God’s favor and goodwill. Peace (eirēnē) was the Greek word used in the Septuagint as the translation of šālôm (nothing miss and nothing broken). By using both a common Greek and Hebrew greeting combined, Paul is intentionally declaring that this letter is for all who are loved by God and called to be saints, regardless of their ethnicity or culture of origin.

VERSE EIGHT

Paul says that he thanks God “through Jesus Christ,” which tells us how we are to pray prayers of thanksgiving. Our access to the Father is through the Son.

The faith of the Roman Church was being proclaimed (katangellō) throughout the whole world. This word was used to describe important announcements being distributed by the government. Paul uses it as a nod to the city of Rome, the political center of the world. There are announcements being made by the Roman government, but none are as important as what’s happening in the Roman Church. Their faith is making them famous. I want us to be famous for our faith. Faith that pleases God. Faith that moves mountains. Faith that’s the substance of things hoped and the evidence of things not seen. What will the world say about us? What will they say about our faith?

VERSE NINE

“For God is my witness” is used as a legal term. “I call God to to stand to testify to the truth of what I’m about to say.”

Paul tells us how to serve in the gospel. It has to be from your spirit. It has to start there. If it starts in the flesh, it’ll rot. If it starts in the soul, it’ll fade. The only way to be successful in ministry is by originating your service from the part of you that’s already been redeemed. The part of you that’s eternal. The part of you that’s not subject to circumstance. Start with your spirit and let your soul and flesh be transformed accordingly.

He tells them that they’re always in his prayers. He didn’t know them. He knew of them. We often struggle to remember to pray for the people we love, much less the ones we don’t know.

VERSE TEN

Paul was asking God for the privilege of visiting this Church. Why did he need permission? The Roman Church was outside of Paul’s inner circle. The other letters we have of his in the New Testament are to churches he founded and still covers as a spiritual father. He felt like he had to ask God to send him there, but he is careful to ask God to do it by His will.

He implies that he has tried to do it before when he says that he hopes to “at last succeed in coming.” We can desire good things, but we have to submit those desires to the Lord. He knows best and will accomplish more in us and through us by His will than we can do on our own. It was a good desire to visit this Church in Rome. The timing hadn’t been God’s will yet. Paul tells them that he’s praying that God would grant him the honor of visiting. It’s significant to Paul, because he’s a Roman citizen by birth. Rome held special meaning to him. The idea of a Church born by the Spirit there was so exciting to him that he had to see it for himself.

VERSE ELEVEN

He expresses another motivation for his desire to see the Romans. Paul wants to impart a spiritual gift to strengthen them.

Spiritual gifts are meant to build us. They’re to strengthen us. Serving God isn’t for the faint of heart. You can run hard and fast and find yourself dehydrated and exhausted on the side of the road without a strengthening that comes through impartation.

Paul was praying for them, but he knew that the deposit he desired to leave with them couldn’t come via letter. It had to come through an impartation. The anointed words on the parchment were good. We need the written Word inspired by the Holy Spirit. We also need to encounter Him through an impartation. Paul wanted to bring them more than just an encouraging message. He wanted to bring them something tangible.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV)

8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Ministry is personal. It involves people. God uses people. Paul shows us all throughout his correspondence with the early Church who he is...not just as an apostle, but as a person. If you’re called to ministry, never forget that you are a person ministering to people.

VERSE TWELVE

Paul shows some vulnerability here by saying that he’s not only hoping to encourage their faith, but he’s hoping to receive some encouragement for his own faith.

Remember that he uses the same word for “called” in verses one and seven. Paul recognizes the gift of God in this Church and says that he wants to receive from it. His faith needs encouraging. Yes, even Paul needed encouragement.

How did Paul expect to be encouraged by the faith of the Roman Church? Seeing their lives transformed by the power of God. Seeing the move of the Holy Spirit in a Church full of hungry people whose lives had been radically changed by the gospel.

RESPONSE

What will people say about us?

Will our faith be known around the world?

Will this generation be one known for faith or fear?

When people come here, will they be encouraged by what they see?

If you need an impartation of the strength of God, this altar is activated for the gifts of the Spirit to flow!