The Work of God
Notes
Transcript
Anytime we start into a new book, as we've done before...
...it's always going to be helpful for us to first establish a base.
With Biblical Theology being the examination of particular era, or of a particular writer...
...it's those introductory matters that are going to help point us in the right direction.
Authorship
Date
Audience
Purpose of the writing
All of these things are going to help us to begin walking in the right direction.
Authorship:
We know that the author of Romans is the apostle Paul.
We know this because Paul himself let's us know this in the initial greeting of the book.
Date:
The book itself was written anywhere from 54 AD to 58 AD.
So that's about 20-25 years after Christ's death and resurrection
During this time period, the reigning emperor of Rome was Nero...
...a guy who was really just evil at heart.
This kind of gives you a picture of what Paul was writing into at this time.
Audience:
We'll see in verse 7 of chapter 1 that the book was written: To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints
So....members of the church in the city of Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire
Purpose of the writing:
We'll definitely get into the purpose, but Paul had a desire to visit the Christian community in Rome, but with all he had going on - it was difficult.
There are other purposes that he walks thru...and many scholars debate as to the main purpose of Romans...
...and it's due to how Romans is structured.
..and we'll get into those as we go.
BUT - we start with v1 - and we’ll be lingering here all day!
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
NOW - at this point we have an idea of...
WHO Paul is speaking to...
the ENVIRONMENT into which he was writing...
And WHEN...
And yet - TODAY - I want us to see that these 18 words of v1 - really do apply to EACH of us - RIGHT NOW - if we belong to God - by faith.
So what do we see first?
Romans 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus...
So right off the bat, Paul begins to lay a case for the purpose of this letter...
...the reason of this letter.
The Greek word that Paul uses here is doulos (vuulose), and this word, although it's translated here as "servant"...
...it's actually more accurate to translate it as 'SLAVE'.
SLIDE: The Work of God: Claims Man as His Own
The Work of God
The Work of God
In the ancient world, a "servant" was a hired employee...
...someone who could come and go as they please.
They could resign from one job and go find another if they desired...
...and so this is actually not accurate in the context we see here.
In this context, Paul is more accurately....a slave
Why do we say that?
Because in verse 4 we see Christ referred to as "Lord".
The greek word for Lord is = kyrios
...which means - Master, Owner.
So here in verse 1...
Paul is establishing the fact that he is OWNED by Jesus Christ...he belongs to Christ
...a slave to Christ.
Paul being the slave - and Christ being the MASTER...
Later on in Romans - Paul will visit this idea again...
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
What is this saying?
This is saying - Whatever we OBEY - THAT is our master…!
See before we come to FAITH in CHRIST…we have a MASTER!
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
Before FAITH in Jesus - we were SLAVES to SIN...
But what does that MEAN?
Does it mean that before faith in Jesus - we always did BAD STUFF?
No - and YES - but it’s DEEPER than that!
Why?
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Before faith in JESUS - we were ENSLAVED to sin.
And THAT means - ALL that we did - was sin!
The BEST of human deeds - are SIN - apart from Faith in Jesus!
And SINCE THAT’S true - how does that render the unbeliever sitting at home right now…?
How does it render the unbeliever right now - WORKING DOWNTOWN to FEED the POOR?
The unbeliever working overtime to help his neighbor?
The unbeliever - ADOPTING a child?
While good things...
They are all - SINFUL - APART from FAITH in Jesus!
Why? -
Because BEFORE FAITH - WITHOUT faith in Jesus - ALL that we do - is SINFUL!
Without faith - We CAN’T HELP - but sin!
Let’s look at an analogy to help us...
JOHN PIPER:
Suppose you’re the father of a teenage son. You remind him to wash the car before he uses it to take his friends to the basketball game tonight. He had earlier agreed to do that.
He gets angry and says he doesn’t want to. You gently but firmly remind him of his promise, and say that’s what you expect. He resists. You say, “Well, if you are going to use the car tonight, that’s what you agreed to do.” He storms out of the room angry. Later you see him washing the car.
But he is not doing it out of love for you or out of a Christ-honoring desire to obey Scripture. He wants to go to the game with his friends. That is what compels his “obedience.” I put “obedience” in quotes because it is only external. His heart is wrong. This is what I mean when I say that all human “virtue” is depraved if it is not from a heart of love to the heavenly Father — even if the behavior conforms to biblical norms.
Primarily unto God
The terrible condition of man’s heart will
never be recognized by people who assess it only in relation to other people. Your son will drive his friends to the ballgame. That is a “kindness.” They will receive it as a “benefit.” So the evil of our actions can never be measured merely by the good or the harm they do to other humans.” CLOSE QUOTE
But with God - anything done OUTSIDE of faith in Jesus - is SIN.
WHICH AGAIN - is why - BEFORE - faith - we are enslaved to sin!
BUT Paul here - NOW - says he’s ENSLAVED - to Christ.
Christ - as his master.
Righteousness as his Master
QUESTION IS:
Was Paul speaking here - in a VACUUM?
NO - this ENSLAVEMENT wasn’t only reserved for PAUL! or the other apostles!
We’ll get to this MORE in chapter 6 of Romans - but Paul speaks more to it there...
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
NO LONGER be SLAVES to SIN...
So a CHANGE happens to - EVERYONE who BELIEVES...
What is it?
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
The CHANGE that Paul points to - HERE IN chapter 6 - and what he HIGHLIGHTS for us - VERSE 1 in chapter 1 today...
Is that - BY FAITH - we receive a NEW MASTER!
We go from being ENSLAVED to SIN...
to being ENSLAVED to God/Christ/Righteousness!
WOW - so the CHANGE we see in Paul’s LIFE - is the SAME CHANGE that HAPPENS to us...
That - HAS - happened - to you - if you belong to Christ by faith.
SLIDE:
The same exchange that took place in Paul’s life has taken place in your life if you belong to Christ by faith. The exchange of “sin as master” for “Christ as master”.
Now we think about Paul - and most likely we think - MAN - THAT guy was ALL ABOUT JESUS!
ON FIRE - for Jesus
But me… ehh.
Why is that?
Is it because we’re REALLY not convinced?
Maybe
Is it because we’re NOT AS SMART as Paul?
maybe
But WHEN did God start LOOKING for QUALIFIED people?
He NEVER HAS!!
God doesn’t LOOK for QUALIFIED people to use!
Most often - He looks for UNQUALIFIED people!
How awesome is that!
But that’s NOT ALL we see from Paul...
Romans 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle...
Paul was a SLAVE of Christ…and also...
SLIDE: The Work of God: Calls Man to be Sent Out
The Work of God
The Work of God
Back to v1
Romans 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle...
Paul tells the Roman church that he was CALLED by God to be an apostle...
Now - There are many types of "callings" in scripture.
God's external "call" to sinners...to repent.
This call is a command...not an invitation.
God calls people to repentance.
The Greek word for "church" in the NT is ekklesia...
...means - 'called out'
God's internal "call" - the effectual call of God
...that when He calls, He calls sovereignly and effectively thru this call that pierces the soul.
This is known as regeneration = the work of God in saving you.
This call does not return void.
This call is not found wanting.
And then 3rdly, there's this particular "call of God", as referenced by what Paul says here in v1
We should know that Paul introduces himself differently in the different books that he has written in scripture.
The introduction he chooses seems to reflect the types of problems or issues that he's going to address in that letter.
And so PAUL describes himself here - as SOMEONE SENT OUT…an apostle!
When Paul was initially converted on the road to Damascus - he became blind for 3 days and a man named ANANIAS came to him by orders from God.
Ananias was hesitant to GO to Paul - because Paul had a reputation...
But God responds and helps Ananias understand...
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
Paul was - CHOSEN to be SENT
And then we see the follow up to this in chapter 13
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Paul was CALLED - to be SENT!
And SENT - he went.
SLIDE: Paul’s Journey
It’s clear that Paul - answered the CALL.
And displayed that he was ENSLAVED to Christ.
CALLED to be - SENT
NOW - We ask the same question as before?
Was this CALL only reserved for PAUL?
ANSWER - NO! Of course not...
BUT - many of us live like it was.
Many of us don’t wake up thinking - OK - I’m ON MISSION today.
God has called me TODAY - to GO to my neighbor.
to GO to the poor.
to GO and share the gospel with my co-workers.
And yet - God REALLY HAS called us - in order to SEND us.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
And this makes sense based on what Jesus told these men when He first met them...
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Paul’s CALLING - to GO...
Is OUR calling - TO GO!
We just looked at Paul’s RESUME...
His spiritual resume - the PLACES he went!
How about you?
What does your resume look like?
it’s good to take INVENTORY of ourselves...
We need to KNOW this - and really TRUST this...
SLIDE:
What Paul did in his life is not beyond us in ours.
Paul clearly EMBRACED the call of God on his life...
Do you think Paul was ever scared?
Of course.
Do you think he ever doubted?
Of course!
We look at Paul and we put him on a pedestal, yet he would absolutely DENOUNCE that idea.
He would say - NO - you have the SAME CALL - LET’S GO!
But that’s not all we see - One last credential...
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Paul was a SERVANT of Jesus - CLAIMED by Christ
CALLED to be SENT OUT...
But for WHAT purpose?
SLIDE: The Work of God: Commissions Man to Proclaim the Gospel
The Work of God
The Work of God
The apostle Paul didn’t continue to espouse the same rhetoric that he did PRE-CONVERSION...
he now had a NEW message!
to the DEGREE - that PAUL the BELIEVER would have CONFRONTED and SPOKE AGAINST … PRE-CONVERSION Paul.
Pre-Conversion - Paul terrorized FOLLOWERS of the WAY...
He STALKED them…to have them KILLED.
Why?
Because his RELIGION told him he was doing a good thing.
5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
Paul received permission from the religious leaders - to bring Followers of Jesus back to Jerusalem - for Punishment!
Paul’s MESSAGE - at that time was - Jesus is the enemy of God!
BUT NOW - Paul had a NEW message!
And he didn’t SHY AWAY from proclaiming that new message!
23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
a NEW MESSAGE!
PROCLAIMED in the face NOW - of it’s OWN persecution!
We started out hearing who the Emperor of Rome was at the time of Paul’s writing - - Nero… an evil man.
Paul wasn’t SHYING away from that danger.
He EMBRACED that God had set him apart - FOR the GOSPEL!
And wouldn’t PAUL had been a perfect candidate to DISPLAY the GOSPEL?
What is the Gospel?
It’s the GOOD NEWS of JESUS - - AGAINST the backdrop of BAD news of MAN!
And so God - CALLS Paul - Paul himself an EVIL BACKDROP (a man persecuting the message of Christ) - NOW SHINING BRIGHT for Christ…!
THAT’S the message of the Gospel!
And - IT’s NO DIFFERENT for us!
[WE] have been set apart for the GOSPEL - the message of Christ that RECONCILES MAN to God!
And so it’s no wonder the Bible speaks of us - this WAY...
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
WE NOW - COMMISSIONED by God - SET APART - for the gospel.
to DISPLAY the gospel
to SPEAK the gospel
EACH ONE - necessary!
And with EACH of us- IF we are saved - each of us having been pulled from the grave by Christ...
WE SHOULD WANT to be the instruments that God uses to save those around us.
But what will it TAKE? (summary - read below)
SUMMARY
The Work of God
Claims Man as His Own
Calls Man to be Sent Out
Commissions Man to Proclaim the Gospel
TRUST!
We need to TRUST GOD at His word.
He TELLS US that we - by faith - HAVE BEEN CLAIMED by Him!
He is our MASTER...
We need to trust that!
God TELLS US - that we have been CALLED - to BE SENT OUT...
to GO and make disciples!!
HOW?
We’ve been COMMISSIONED by God - to PROCLAIM the Gospel!
We need to TRUST that my PURPOSE - TODAY - is to PROCLAIM the Gospel!
But I think we more often than not - try to MANAGE our righteous behavior...
Try to REGULATE it - so we don’t OVERDO it.
And so to close - I wanna actually play for you the video that I poorly described for you 2 weeks ago.
VIDEO: Chan
_ i feel like the apostle Paul would have watched that and thought - I have NO TIME for that mindset.
There’s WORK to do!
There’s a CALLING to LIVE OUT.
Let’s pray
