Romans 1

A Calling - Romans 1

This morning we are starting a series looking at the book of Romans, I am not sure how long we will be in this series, I am just trusting God and following His leading.

This morning we are starting right from the very beginning of the letter of Romans from chapter 1 verse 1.

There are a number of different ways we could look at the first seven verses of this letter, but what God has given me for this morning is A Calling.

We are going to look at four points this morning in these first seven verses, as we look at A Calling.

Now Paul begins this letter by identifying himself in three different ways.

First, he was a bond-servant of Christ Jesus. Second he states that he was called as an apostle which we know that Jesus confronted Paul on the Damascus road. Then Paul says he was set apart for the gospel of God.

Let’s look at our text and then we will dig into our four points this morning to see A Calling.

Romans 1:1–7 NASB95

1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray

I. Set Apart for the Gospel

Romans 1:1–2 NASB95

1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Let’s look at these ways that Paul describes himself.

First, again a bond-servant - this is the Hebrew word for slave the elevates it to one who willingly commits himself to serve a master he loves and respects.

Second is apostle, the word is primarily used for the 12 men that Jesus chose to accompany Him. The Greek word though means one who is sent.

Third, set apart for the gospel of God, this phrase gospel of God means good news - the message of gospel of God or good news that Paul was set apart for was that God will forgive sins, deliver from sin’s power, and give eternal hope.

Comes not only as a gracious offer, but also as a command to be obeyed. Paul was consumed with this messaged.

We should be like Paul and be consumed to the point that we devote our life to sharing the gospel message with others, and like Paul even to the point of death if that is what it comes to.

As believers we have been called to salvation, to be set apart for the sake of the gospel message.

II. Gospel has Power.

Romans 1:3–4 NASB95

3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

The gospel message is centered on God’s Son.

God’s Son is God the Father’s game plan for the reconciliation of lost humanity.

Jesus was truly and fully human, with that His blood line can be traced back to King David, as seen in the first chapter of Matthew.

Though He was fully human, He was also fully God in human form.

We know He was fully God because He was declared the Son of God with the power of the resurrection from the dead.

See there are a lot of so called gods out there that have died but they still are in the grave, like Baal, Zeus, Buddha, Muhammad, and there are thousands and thousands of false gods out there to lead people astray.

But there is only one way to heaven, there is only one Gospel message that has the power to save you, because it has the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ included in it.

See Jesus is the only God, only Savior and Lord that has been raised from the dead and has won victory of death and sin to give us hope for eternity.

III. Obedience of Faith

Romans 1:5 NASB95

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,

Grace is the unmerited favor which God shows guilty sinners, which we all are sinners.

Romans 3:23 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

That grace from God is salvation, which is a gift from God, the gift of salvation is wholly separated from any human effort or achievement.

Another words there is nothing we can do to earn it or achieve it. God has freely given it to us.

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

We did not even know we needed salvation and God provided it for us, we cannot earn it, but God has made it available for us to receive it.

Therefore, once we receive it we are to be obedient of the faith we have because of our salvation and what God has done for us.

See obedience is the true measure of a person’s faith.

True saving faith always produces obedience and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

People do not obey to be saved; they obey because they have been saved.

Ephesians 2:8–10 NASB95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

IV. Called as Saints

Romans 1:6–7 NASB95

6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul began his letter by identifying himself as servant of Jesus Christ who had been called to be an apostle.

Then he told the believers that they too had been called. They were called to belong to Jesus Christ.

God’s call is not an invitation but a powerful and effective reaching out to claim individuals for Himself.

To receive Christ as Savior is to give up all rights to oneself. Christians belong to Christ.

Paul the apostle was the servant of the Lord. We who believe have placed ourselves at Christ’s disposal to be used as He sees fit.

There is little room here for the mistaken idea that people can receive Christ as Savior without also allowing Him to be Lord of their lives.

In Verse 7 we as believers are described as loved by God and called to be saints.

God loves the entire human race as we know from John 3:16, but those who respond to Him in faith are loved in a special way.

They have experienced the love of God and become new creations.

To be called saints is that we are called to be holy.

The ultimate purpose of God’s calling is that redeemed humanity becomes like him in holiness. That single goal directs the life and conduct of every true believer.

Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I am not talking about a get out of hell free card, but a true - genuine life changing repentance of sins and receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.

The kind of life change that cause you to have obedience of faith.

If you have not then what is hold you back, as we are not guaranteed tomorrow, or even the next breathe to breath.

Will you come this morning and allow me to share with you, more about the gospel message, more about Jesus.