TGP: A Sent Messenger

Intro: Before and after Photos

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Q. Which transformation was the most drastic?

Q. What is the most drastic example of a “before and after” that you have experienced?

Talk about Paul’s transformation

Talk about our transformation and how it should overflow into our lives

Main Point: Believers are called to unashamedly share the Gospel and worship God only.

Believers are called

Romans 1:1–7 (ESV)

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be 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 descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 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, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. What does Paul call himself?

“A servant”

Points back to Damascus road

Completely changed

New spiritual eyesight

Greeks would never call themselves this

Moses was called this, along with other OT leaders

“Called”

God made the first move

Paul’s mission

“Set apart”

Before “Called”

In eternity past

Q. Who was Jesus a descendant of?

David (According to the flesh)

God (According to the Spirit)

The dual nature (both fully God and fully man)

Jesus is...

The Son of God

Our Lord

Q. What have we received from Jesus?

Grace

Getting the good thing that we don’t deserve

Apostleship

In reference to Paul specifically

Why have we received these things?

To bring about obedience

Q. Who does Paul address the letter to?

Those in Rome who are loved by God and called

Objects of God’s divine love despite sinfulness

The divine call = a major theme for Romans

Our special allegiance to God

Q. What does it mean for us to be called by God?

Salvation

Mission

Q. Paul said that He was “set apart from the Gospel of God” (v. 1). What would it look like for you to live “set apart?”

Same as for Paul

Set apart to display Him!

Set apart = a different purpose

Main Point: Believers are called to unashamedly share the Gospel and worship God only.

Believers are called

Believers are unashamed of the Gospel

Romans 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Theme verse for the book of Romans

Q. Why is Paul not ashamed of the Gospel?

Because it is the power of God for salvation

Paul knows God = knowing His power

God is both the initiator and the fuel for salvation

God reaches out and works in the lives of people

Paul experienced this Himself

Paul wanted other people to experience this

Q. Who is the Gospel the power of salvation for?

Jews and Greeks (all who believe)

Q. Why is it sometimes difficult to let go of who you were before knowing Jesus? How does Paul’s life encourage you?

We feel unqualified

Paul is evidence of God’s power to change

Q. What does the Gospel reveal?

God’s righteousness

Q. Who is God’s righteousness revealed in?

Jesus

Us

Q. How do we get God’s righteousness?

Faith (from start to finish!)

Quote from Habbakuk 2:4

Faith both saves us and compels us to obedience

Q. Paul’s life displayed the power of the Gospel. What needs to change so that your life does the same?

“Before and after”

Change should be clear

Continually walking away from sin

Main Point: Believers are called to unashamedly share the Gospel and worship God only.

Believers are called

Believers are unashamed of the Gospel

Believers are worshippers of God alone

Romans 1:18–25 (ESV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Q. What is the wrath of God revealed against?

Ungodliness and unrighteousness

Connects with 1:16-17

God revealing His righteousness = wrath revealed against unrighteousness

Q. How has what can be known about God been made plain to creation?

God revealing Himself in creation

Q. What are the two things about God that have been made plain specifically?

Eternal power

Divine nature (living above the natural order)

“Disbelief requires an act of rebellion against common sense.”

“Although the created order cannot force a person to believe, it does leave the recipient responsible for not believing.”

Connection with missions and the lost

Q. What does humanity do instead of worshipping God?

Idolatry

Q. How do we sometimes not glorify God although we know Him (v. 21)?

The slow fade/drift

Q. What is an idol? What idols does our culture worship?

Anything that takes the place of God

Modern examples:

Self-image

Popularity

Sports

Media

Relationships

Money

Q. How do you know if something in your life is an idol?

When it takes priority over God

Only God deserves it

Christ Connection:

Jesus told His disciples that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church, reminding us that God’s people are “no offense,” continuing the mission Jesus began. God’s plan is for missionaries to take the powerful and good news of Jesus to places of deep spiritual darkness with full confidence that Jesus will build His church.

Head: What lies of this world are you tempted to believe in place of God’s truth?

Heart: When have you settled for worshipping anything less than the Creator?

Hands: What steps will you take to fulfill your calling to share the Gospel?