In Defense of Boldness
Notes
Transcript
Paul The Partner In Faith (vv14-15)
Paul The Partner In Faith (vv14-15)
Paul wrote this letter to the Romans with full apostolic authority.
Paul also knew himself. Romans 1:10-12
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.
He had the same personal needs and limitations that are common to all Christians.
Often times we think of these great people in the Bible as these perfect and unfoulable, they were just like us.
He is telling them that while he had to tell them some pretty hard things and things they did not want to hear that he was like them and that they were good believers and could take care of one another.
Paul The Priest (v16)
Paul The Priest (v16)
Jesus is now our high priest. Heb 2:17
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
With Jesus being the high priest the one who intercedes for what Paul is saying here is that he and all christians act like earthly priest bring the ones who need Jesus to His feet.
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
While we no longer have to offer burnt offerings to God in a since that is what we do when we share the gospel with someone.
We are presenting them as an offering for the Lord.
Paul The Preacher (17-19)
Paul The Preacher (17-19)
Although Paul was only a priest in a figurative sense, he was a preacher in the most literal sense.
16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
If God has called you to do something you need to do it.
Don’t be like Jonah and make God schedule your ride to where He wants you to go.
The rewards of following the calling of God is far better than anything the world has to offer.
God does not just call pastors, He calls welders, plumbers, teachers, we are all called by God to do something.
Paul The Pioneer (vv20-21)
Paul The Pioneer (vv20-21)
Even a superficial reading of the book of Acts reveals that Paul was a pioneer missionary, evangelist, and church planter.
He preached the gospel where no one else had ministered, where Christ was not already named.
Judging from the New Testament record, Paul ministered in more previously unevangelized areas than any other apostle or preacher.
More than any other, he reached the unreached, because his calling and his desire were to not build upon another man’s foundation.
Such was surely the primary function of a New Testament evangelist.
Here in this verse Paul quotes Isaiah 52:15
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
The context of that passage in Isaiah indicates that its primary reference is to Christ’s second coming.
But in its broadest application it refers to the process of evangelism that began in Paul’s day and will continue throughout church history until its ultimate fulfillment at Christ’s return.
We are called to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth just like Paul.
People who have had no news of Christ, who have not heard the gospel, are found everywhere.
They can be found in every country, every city and town, and in every community and neighborhood.
God does not call every believer to be an evangelist, but He calls every believer to be a witness.
It therefore should be the desire and prayer of all believers that the unsaved will be given spiritual sight to see Christ as their only hope of salvation and that they will be given spiritual hearing in order to understand the gospel and turn to Him to be saved.