The Gospel Exalted PT 2

Intro:

Refresher last week: Introduction from Paul

Big Idea

The Gospel was exalted in Pauls life through The Call God had given Paul

He was an apostle on who had seen Jesus

Given Authority and commission to share the Gospel to the gentile churches

The Promise of the Gospel in the Old Testament

The Gospel is not a new message it has been promised (OT)

The Task

Paul was called as an apostle to take the gospel to the gentiles

We are called saints (those who believe in the Gospel)

Minster the Gospel

These next verses Paul continues his introduction but now through the lens of commending the Romans on their basic christian virtue of faith.

Pauls Pastoral Heart-what his readers meant to him- The Bible is so much more than we can ever imagine

Encourage people to read it- it is alive after all these years

Romans 1:8-15: The Gospel Exalted PT 2

Today we will see…

The Big Idea

The Gospel is exalted through faith

Romans 1:8-15

Personal faith- living Joyfully

(To Live Joyfully)

To live by faith is to live joyfully, to live with assurance, untroubled by doubts and with complete confidence in all we have to do and suffer at each moment by the will of God. We must realize that it is in order to stimulate and sustain this faith that God allows the soul to be buffeted and swept away by the raging torrent of so much distress, so many troubles, so much embarrassment and weakness, and so many setbacks. For it is essential to have faith to find God behind all this.

Jean-Pierre de Caussade, 1675–1751, in Discipleship Journal, issue 40

To live Joyfully is worth commending for the Roman believers.

From this continual introduction from Paul that we will find

Three results when the Gospel is exalted through faith

The Romans personal faith is seen Eph.1:15-16; Col.1:3-4; 1 Th 1:3

The first result is…

Known by others (vs 8-9)

How..

Because of the Mediator of the Gospel (Christ)

John 17:22–26““The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.””

God will accomplish His will- it is not the how it is the faithful- Lets reflect on this… your have been prayed for…

Who…

The world (vs 8)- speaking of the Roman world (at this time it was the center of the world for those living in the mediterranean area) hyperbolic exaggeration (pastor) - his excitement

Their Testimony was being told throughout the Roman empire- word was spreading

Is being proclaimed- καταγγέλλω (katangellō) Ka-tan-Gel-low- To be announced broadly, and with wide distribution

Not only the world but also Paul (vs 9) - What would draw a man to pray for people he has never met?

Paul’s joy in hearing led to prayer that can only be credited by the Holy Spirit didn’t cease praying- because of their light shine before men, he did not cease praying for them. would seem impossible to us- even them (if the Gospel has changed their live let us think unified not doubtful- trust the mighty works of God)

It is one thing to tell others to share the Gospel and put all the responsibility on them, but my hope is that today you will see the prayer that we read in John 17:22 will point to the fact that we are to be unified and it is a joint responsibility, there is no fractions, one Gospel

Hebrews 4:16 “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The Gospel had impacted Pauls prayer life- it should do the same to us…

Charles Spurgeon- “My prayer is a poor, vain, defiled thing unless Jesus perfumes it”

Personal faith will be known by others

The second result is…

2. Brings Encouragement  (VS 10-12)

How…

1. By the will of God (vs 10)

- Do you know you should be encouraged to pray when there is a longing- pleading but submit to the will of God

Paul planned many times to visit them but was unable to get a clear break to Rome-

This was a good thing but God had called Him… in God’s timing- Its God’s call.. what can we learn from this… though we are eager it must be in God’s timing

What…

A spiritual gift (vs 11)

Why…

May be established - στηρίζω stērizō fix firmly, strengthen (vs 11)

To strengthen- help the saints spiritually. Not to impart a spiritual gift but Paul believed their meeting was necessary for the dual encouragement

Through the Gospel- Paul would bring the news of the word of God and the Gospel

Why are you here saint? I sometimes remember sitting where you are- ask for a fresh revival-

The word will strengthen you-

Luke 8:21 “But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.””

Hear and Do- its fresh

Who…

Mutual encouragement through faith (vs 12)

Ephesians 4:13–17 “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,”

Believers will encourage one another by their faith

Faith stories

We were once all sinners saved by grace let us always remember what we have been saved from!

Let me take a second to address what sometimes can happen in Christianity.. we loose sight of grace and humility…we think we are somehow greater than one another. We are given a great call by our personal faith to be encouraged by one another.. if you believe yourself to be greater stop it if you think you have nothing to offer stop it. If you have been saved by the grace of God remember this is the great gift… He has given us that we now are unified!

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”

The fruit that would come from this encouragement would be reaching the lost-

Isn't this the goal- This is why God called us here- He is faithful! Reach the lost-

Lunch with a fellow Pastor

Personal Faith will bring be known by others, bring encouragement and…

The third result is

3. Marked by Zeal (Vs 13-15)

How…

Paul’s Zeal is to be around those whose fruit is a result of the Gospel

Fruit of the Gospel

There is fruit that reflects a life changed by the Gospel. (vs 13)

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

The conundrum of knowing something is good and yet submitting to the will of God

You are in the will of God and though you long to be somewhere follow God and He will produce the fruit of the Gospel.

It is never about us, that is why we can embrace change confidently. Yes we all want to be somewhere or do something

Purpose…

Paul had a Zeal for the Gospel reaching the lost- this is also the fruit of the Gospel ( vs 14-15)

Eager- πρόθυμος (prothymos) pro-the-mos- eager, willing

Greeks and Barbarians any one who was not educated was considered a Barbarian- a term of the time

Paul also hints to those who are both wise and foolish

1 Corinthians 1:18–31 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not…”

Application:

Closing

The Book of Romans

Righteous Living

Begins with personal faith.

Personal faith and righteous living are seen not in a instant but over time

Character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us into the next. The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation; the truth you believe determines your character.

• Reputation is what you are supposed to be; Character is what you are.

• Reputation is what you have when you come to a new community; Character is what you have when you go away.

• Reputation is made in a moment; Character is built in a lifetime.

• Reputation grows like a mushroom; Character grows like an oak.

• Your reputation is learned in an hour; Your character is does not come to light for a year.

• A single newspaper report gives your reputation; a life of toil gives you your character.

• Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor; Character makes you happy or makes you miserable.

• Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; Character is what angels say about you before the throne of God.

• Your character is what God knows you to be. Your reputation is what men think you are.

William Hershey Davis

Today saint make a commitment that your personal faith can no longer remain quiet… God had prayed for us.. our personal faith is only the beginning to living righteously

If you do not know Jesus…