"Paul's Doxology"

Summary:

Sandwich Structure

Notice the sandwich structure of this text.

It opens and closes by pointing to God.

Reason to Praise

Paul is encouraging praise to God by giving a primary reason to praise God.

What does God do? (v. 25a)

“Strengthen” / “establish” - “to cause to be inwardly firm or committed, confirm, establish, strengthen” William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 945. The sense is “to make more marked by firm determination or resolution” Logos Bible Sense Lexicon.

1 Thessalonians 3:2 “and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Romans 1:11 “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—”

God “is able” - Paul knows this is only a work of God. How?...

How does God do it? (vv. 25b-26)

God uses the Gospel to change people.

“My gospel” - not the owner, but a steward

The content of this Gospel was “preaching [proclamation] of Jesus Christ.”

Which is the revealing of a “mystery” - refers to a past secret now disclosed

Romans 11:25 “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

1 Corinthians 15:51 “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”

Ephesians 3:3–6 “how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Colossians 2:2 “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,”

Colossians 4:3 “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—”

So, Paul’s preaching of Christ is a mystery. Not that it wasn’t know in a limited sense. The Messiah was predicted in a way that could be confirmed when He arrived, but exactly who He would be and exactly what He would do was not yet revealed. Paul was introducing people to the specific person who fulfilled the general purpose (which was revealed).

In fact, this past partial revealing is what Paul is referring to in “and through the prophetic writings.”

“but now is manifested, AND by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;” (v. 26 NASB).

Romans 1:2 “which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,”

The OT pointed to the Messiah. Paul was pointing to the Person. The prophecy was made known, but the Person was still a secret. Now the Messiah can be fully know, both prophetically and personally.

And fully known by “all the nations” not just one nation. Paul knew that many still needed to be told, many still needed his preaching.

Romans 1:5 “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,”

Romans 15:20–21 “and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.””

This states that no nation is restricted from the revelation. It is a message for all nations, not that all individuals will accept or even hear. But, the message is applicable and available to all ethnic groups across the world.

The article has been published for all to read.

God made it happen and the goal is faith.

“the obedience that comes from faith” (NIV)

Faith is obedience and obedience is the result of faith.

This is how the Gospel changes people.

Why does God do it? (v. 27)

The Point

We have a reason to praise God.

We have a reason to meditate on the truths of the Gospel.

This will stir us in praising God and strengthen us in our faith and therefore in our obedience.

Benediction: 2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1–17