It's All about the Gospel
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Introduction: It’s all about the Gospel | Romans 1:1-17
Doctrine of the Gospel |Romans 1:18-8
Divine Plan of the Gospel | Romans 9-11
Duty of the Gospel | Romans 12-14
Dedication of the Gospel | Romans 15-16
Romans 1:1-8..
Bond-servant
Set apart
Beloved of God
Called saints
Grace and peace come from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Today we will be looking at Romans 1:8-17. We will read through it first, and then work our way through it in more detail. As we read, look for these three things:
Paul’s motives for wanting to come to see the believers in Rome.
The theme of Romans
The big idea behind the theme
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Paul’s motives
Paul’s motives
to visit the believers in Rome
Let’s look at Romans 1.8-10
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
Motive 1: To meet these believers!
Motive 1: To meet these believers!
These people were making a name for themselves. They were being talked about everywhere that Paul went. And it wasn’t for the wrong reasons.
Corinthians...
Christians in the news...
Us...
They were being talked about because of their faith!
They were standing strong in their faith.
They were living their faith.
Showing love to one another, and to others. Paul was not writing to this church because he heard about problems, whether in doctrine, or living. He was writing because he heard about their faith.
Have you ever heard of someone and wanted to meet them?
Motive 2: To make them stronger spiritually
Motive 2: To make them stronger spiritually
This may sound prideful. But I do not believe it was a statement Paul made from pride. Rather, it was the role, the task that God gave to him.
Remember, Paul was writing to them as a slave of Christ.
He was also writing as an apostle. And apostle was one chosen and sent by Christ to share his word with others.
As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-13
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
As an apostle, it was his ‘job’ to equip the saints. To build them up in their knowledge of the Son so they could continue to grow in maturity.
So, Paul was speaking out of his role, not out of pride.
As he said to the Corinthians,
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
Paul’s second motivation was to fulfill his God-given task of strengthening believers spiritually.
Motivation 1 & 2: Mutual encouragement
Motivation 1 & 2: Mutual encouragement
that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Romans—Righteousness From Heaven Paul’s First Ministry Motivation: Mutual Encouragement (vv. 11, 12)
Paul knew that very few things will strengthen an older believer’s faith more than the vibrant faith of a new believer. On the flipside, there is little that will benefit a new believer more than exposure to the mature faith of a more experienced brother or sister in Christ.
A little background...
A little background...
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
Motive 3: Obligation to preach the gospel
Motive 3: Obligation to preach the gospel
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
Obligated
Obligated
Indebted
Demand
Must be done
Paul viewed himself as being obligated, under a debt to everyone, to share the gospel with them.
Was he indebted to them?
He was indebted to God to share the gospel with everyone.
R. Kent Hughes...
Debt is owed to God and paid to men...
Romans—Righteousness From Heaven Paul’s Second Ministry Motivation: a Sense of Obligation (vv. 14, 15)
Hudson Taylor, realized this, as was seen when it was suggested by someone that he had given his life to the Orient because he loved the Chinese. To this he shook his head and answered thoughtfully, “No, not because I loved the Chinese, but because I loved God.”
We don’t necessarily have to have affection feelings toward those around us. But we do need this sense of indebtedness that Paul had.
We are obligated to share with them.
What a difference that would make...
Maybe then we could offer to pray, or share a pocket testament, or ask to share the reason we have hope.
allan emery - billy graham evangelistic association, Joseph Olzewski - I will be praying for you...
Obligated
To preach the gospel
To preach the gospel
It is important to proclaim the gospel. How will they know if they are not told.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
The Theme: The Gospel
The Theme: The Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Power of God
Power of God
Dynamic… life changing
Salvation to everyone who believes
Salvation to everyone who believes
Here we begin to see the good news, salvation is by faith :to everyone who believes.
The Big Idea: Righteousness
The Big Idea: Righteousness
The root of this word, which is used to form nouns, adjectives and verbal forms (Logos Morph search root:δικη) occurs 60 times in Romans.
Completely right, just
Being and doing what is right according to a standard
God’s standard is requirement for the Righteousness of God
In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - perfection, living up to God’s standards
We cannot humanly achieve this, in fact, God’s righteous standard shows us our imperfection… where is the hope?
The gospel… righteousness may be had by faith...
from first to last…
The righteous will live by faith...
We gain righteousness and eternal life by faith…
we live righteously by faith…
we will finally become wholly righteous to live in eternity by faith
What about me?
What about me?