GRACE AND GLORY - PART FOUR

COME GET SOME

Romans 1:13–17 ESV

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. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

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 THIRTEEN

Paul tells the Romans that he has often intended to visit, but has been prevented up to this point.

Paul was led by the Holy Spirit and wouldn’t go anywhere the Lord didn’t direct him or permit him. It didn’t change his desire to go to Rome, but he prioritized the leading of the Spirit over his own desires. Because of that, Paul put his attention on other churches and waited for the direction of the Spirit to go to Rome.

In the mean time, he tells them what he expects will happen when he gets there. He expects to reap a harvest in Rome the same way he expects to reap a harvest among all the Gentiles to whom he’s been assigned to preach the gospel. That harvest is souls. Paul is confident that harvest will come because seed has been sown. God is always at work preparing the hearts of people to receive Him. People have to choose Him for themselves, but He will always present opportunities for them to see who He is and make the choice of salvation.

VERSE FOURTEEN

Paul is under obligation (opheiletēs) to preach the gospel to all people. He references two categories of people here that cover all of humanity. You’re either Greek or not Greek. “Barbarian” would have been a colloquial term used to refer to people less civilized than the Greeks. He further breaks it down by saying he’s called to preach to both wise people and foolish people. No one is excluded from needing the gospel, so Paul is obligated to preach to all of them.

His obligation is both to God and the people who need Him. Obligation to Him who died produces obligation to those for whom He died. Understanding the goodness of God will compel you to tell others.

VERSE FIFTEEN

This is why he says he’s eager to preach to the Gentiles. He believes in the life-altering power of the gospel of Jesus.

He desires that they receive the fullness of what he has received and he’s willing and able to be used by God to bring it to the Romans.

VERSE SIXTEEN

This is why he says he’s not ashamed of the gospel. Why would Paul be ashamed? Paul’s history is unique and important. He’s a Roman citizen by birth, a Pharisee by training, and an apostle by calling. Taking this message to the cultural center of the world could have been intimidating. The story of a Jewish carpenter who died to save not only His people, but all people. Still, Paul is not ashamed of it.

He’s not ashamed of it because of what he says immediately following that initial declaration. It’s the power of God for salvation.

What is salvation? The Greek word is sōtēria, which finds its roots in sōzō. This encompasses more than just the rescue from eternal damnation. It’s more than rescue; it’s being rescued and then established in the goodness that comes with it. It’s healing. It’s wholeness. It’s prosperity. It isn’t the bail that gets you out of prison; it’s the inheritance that transforms your life in every way.

It’s available to everyone who believes. God had always taken care of the Jews, but now He’s making salvation available to everyone.

VERSE SEVENTEEN

In the good news of salvation is the righteousness of God revealed from faith for (or to) faith. The righteousness of God is our identity. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Our identity informs our position. Because we are in right relationship with Him, we have access to Him. We’re no longer estranged. We are adopted sons and daughters in right standing with the Father.

It’s revealed from faith for faith. In other words, it moves us from receiving life through faith to the power of living by faith. It’s beginning and ending in faith. There is nothing without faith. There’s no possible way to live without it.

He quotes a scripture from the Old Testament here to give the point some reference.

Habakkuk 2:4 (ESV)

4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

In the Old Testament, a better translation would have been that the righteous shall by faithfulness. In other words, the righteous are kept during difficult times by their faithfulness to God. Paul changes the grammatical structure and tense of the words, though, and says that those who are righteous by faith will receive life.

RESPONSE

Tonight’s invitation is to come to this altar by faith. To receive the righteousness of God that comes from faith in Him. For salvation. For healing. For wholeness. Just as your right standing with God is accomplished by your faith, the life that accompanies it must also be received by faith. Your healing is here tonight for you to receive by faith. Your wholeness. Your deliverance. I invite you to take a step of faith and receive that at this altar tonight.