A God-Centered Introduction
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God’s Servant
God’s Servant
1:1a — “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus”
Paul could have started his introduction by lifting himself high:
Paul could have started his introduction by lifting himself high:
His religiousness (Philippians 3:4-7)
Devout Jew
Member of the tribe of Benjamin
First King of Israel came from here
Pharisee
His spiritual experiences (Galatians 1:11-12, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Acts 9:3-9)
Received the Gospel as a direct revelation from Jesus
Received various visions
His conversion was a direct interaction with Jesus.
His hardships and persecutions (2 Corinthians 11:23-30)
He was:
beaten
imprisoned
shipwrecked
endangered
sleep deprived
starved and dehydrated
His intelligence (1 Corinthians 1:17-31)
From a highly academic city (Taurus)
As a Pharisee he was highly trained in Jewish law and theology
Fluent in many languages
Instead, Paul places himself as low as possible so that God may be seen as high as possible.
Instead, Paul places himself as low as possible so that God may be seen as high as possible.
He is a servant of Christ Jesus
The word “servant” could mean many different things according to context
Ultimately, a servant was a person who has been purchased and under the possession of a master.
Paul is communicating his complete dependence and commitment to the Lord.
Where have we placed ourselves, above or below God?
Where have we placed ourselves, above or below God?
As Christians we are called to submit all that we are to God.
We give our time over to God.
We give our desires over to God.
We give our words over to God.
We give our friends over to God.
We give our sin over to God
God’s Gospel
God’s Gospel
1:1c — “set apart for the gospel of God”
The Gospel, a message from God about God.
The Gospel, a message from God about God.
A better translation than “the gospel of God” would be “God’s gospel”.
The focus should be that the Gospel isn’t just about God, but is a divine message from God
The Gospel carries all the authority of God
Do we dismiss the Gospel, forgetting it is a direct message from the King of Kings?
Do we dismiss the Gospel, forgetting it is a direct message from the King of Kings?
Their is no greater credibility in a message than coming from God Himself, we can fully trust it.
R.C. Sproul “It annoys me when I see the bumper sticker that says: “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.” We must get rid of that middle term. If God says it, it is settled, whether we believe it or not. There is no higher court of appeal than the voice of God.”
God has not just sent us any message, He has sent us a message of salvation.
God (Genesis 1:1, Psalm 145:17, Isaiah 6:3, Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 John 4:8, Psalm 103:8)
God is the creator and King of the universe. He is perfect in every way. He is holy, righteous, just, loving, and merciful.
Man (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
Man sinned against our God. Now we live in a broken world where we are slaves of sin. Our punishment will be an eternity in Hell.
Christ (Genesis 3:15, John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Yet God has always had a plan that can be seen in the first book of the Bible. This plan was fulfilled by His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus left took on our humanity and came to earth as a baby. Being fully God and fully Human, He lived the perfect life without sin that we could not accomplish. In order to satisfy the punishment that we deserve, Christ suffered and died on the cross. Yet, it did not end there. Christ was resurrected, defeating death so that we also might have life.
Response (Acts 3:19, Romans 10:9)
How do we respond? We respond by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in the work of Christ. When we truly respond with repentance and faith we enter into a relationship with God that we will never be separated from.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
God’s Servant:
Why do you think Paul chose to identify himself as a servant of Christ Jesus rather than emphasizing his accomplishments or experiences?
How does our tendency to elevate ourselves impact our relationship with God and others?
Share an experience where you've struggled with the balance between submitting to God's authority and seeking your own recognition.
God’s Gospel:
What does it mean for the Gospel to be a message from God about God?
How does this impact the credibility and significance of the Gospel? Discuss a time when you might have taken the Gospel message for granted. How can we remind ourselves of the great importance of this message?
How does understanding the Gospel as a message of salvation impact the way we share it with others and live out our faith?
