A Separated Life

Notes
Transcript
Intro; As we continue with our study on “The Abundant Life”, tonight I want us to look at the abundant life being “A Separated Life.”
Separate- detached from something, sanctify/set apart, different
Being separated from something does not always mean that you are isolated, it can also mean you are exclusive [selected/chosen].
Example; If you get in trouble at [school/home] you may be put in time out or sent to your room waiting for dad to come home. You are separated from everyone else because of your behavior.
And then there are times when you are separated from the others because you have been chosen for a specific task, or you excelled in something, or maybe to be rewarded
Separation has both it’s positive and negative and that’s what I want us to look at tonight.
Text; Rom. 1:1
Romans 1:1 NKJV
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
In every letter that Paul wrote that is now a Book of the Bible, he opens that letter identifying himself as one who belongs to Jesus for the purpose of the Gospel. The reason that Paul does this is because he wants his readers to know that he has been called and is devoted to “A Separated Life!”
As Christians we need to understand the importance of living a separated life that reflects our identity in Christ.

1. Bond-Servant;

Paul is writing to a group of believers/church in Rome where there were an estimated 60 million slaves and there are probably some in this congregation.
Slaves are people who are subject to the will and wholly at the disposal of his master. It would be unthinkable for Paul as a Roman citizen to place himself in this category.
Bond-servant is a word of “choice”
Exodus 21:2–6 NKJV
2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. 3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. 5 But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
Paul is saying I love my master and I will serve Him forever! It is not a forced service but a willing service out of love.
Acts 9:5–6 (NKJV)
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.
A Separated Life is a life of service out of love!

2. Called Apostle;

Paul then says he is a “called apostle” [to be is not in the original text]
Called- [kletos] to summon, appoint, invite, welcome
Apostle- [apos-to-los] a messenger, one who is sent by authority with a commission
Paul is saying that he was summoned by God and commissioned by the Lord. It was not his decision that made him an apostle. It was God’s decision, and God called him. Paul first made himself a bondslave of Christ, and now he is a called apostle, a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:1 NKJV
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
As Christians there are two distinct calls in our life. One is the call to salvation and the second is a call to be saints.
Call to salvation;
John 6:44 (NKJV)
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Call to be saints; holy, set apart, separated
Romans 1:6–7 NKJV
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Separated to the Gospel;

Paul’s call from the Lord, as well as all christians is for the purpose of being “separated to the gospel of God”.
Separated- define, sanctify/set apart, exclusive reason, unmistakeable path, sign, horizon
Gospel- good news concerning Jesus Christ [birth, cross, resurrection, second coming]
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NKJV
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Paul regarded the communication of the gospel as a special sign on his life, an exclusive role given to him that he had not earned but was privileged to carry out.
2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NKJV
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Colossians 1:25–26 NKJV
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
We must be like-minded
2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

4. Positive and Negative Separation;

Separate- exclusive, sanctify/set apart
Positive aspects of Separation;
The Word has power to separate one from sin
John 17:17 NKJV
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
God has the power to separate the believer for the Second Coming of Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus has the power to separate the believer to righteousness
Ephesians 5:26–27 NKJV
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
The Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer to service
Romans 1:9 NKJV
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
Negative aspects of Separation; A Christian who is separated from something, but not separated unto Christ will have an empty life. Standards and convictions without devotion and love for Jesus Christ will leave you in the same boat as the Pharisees who were very separated, but not devoted to Christ. Mattoon, R. (2004). Treasures from Romans (p. 8). Rod Mattoon.
Without separation from sin and to the Lord, you can have influence without gospel power, you can serve and not succeed, battle in spiritual war and never win, have a relationship with God but not enjoy fellowship.
Isaiah 59:1–2 NKJV
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
I just performed a wedding ceremony for a young lady who was one of the kids in the church we served. She married a fine young man. And in that ceremony there was a “Declaration of Consent”;
____________, will you take this woman to be your wife; to live together in the holy covenant of marriage. Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her so long as you both shall live?
If so, answer, “I do.”
That’s what a Separated Life is!
[Option] A little Chinese girl once said, “Christians are salt. Salt makes you thirsty.” Think it over, friend. Do you make anyone thirsty for Christ, the Water of Life?
Close;
The word separated is the Greek word [aphorizo], the same word from which we get our English word horizon. If you are to look out at the horizon from your porch it may be beautiful, but limited. If you were to look at the horizon from the porch of the cabin in the mountains we visit in Blueridge, the horizon gets a lot bigger. But if you were to look at the horizon as you take off in a plane, then the horizon continually grows and is enlarged beyond belief.
When we are totally separated to Christ he enlarges our horizons of beauty and service, abundantly!
1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
The Separated Life is truly the Abundant Life in Christ!
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