01-C) Through the Son - Rom 1:5-7
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Turn with me to Paul’s greeting to the church in Rome. Romans chapter 1 verse 1.
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures—3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. 5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ. 7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today we are going to finish Paul’s greeting. If we look back to the last two weeks, Paul started his greeting by stating his name, that he is a bond-servant of Jesus and called as an apostle. This was his appointed position and willing submission to God. God has set him apart for a specific ministry, to take the Gospel, the good news of the saving work of God through the work of Jesus, to the Gentiles. To the people outside of the Jewish nation.
He then expounded on some of the foundational components of the Gospel. It was a gospel that has been promised to the forefathers, spoken beforehand through the prophets, and recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The gospel is a fulfillment of promise, a plan from iniquity. A Gospel that is concerned and focused on a single person, the son of God, the Christ, the anointed one, the messiah, the descendant of David, a man of flesh, Jesus. Who was appointed to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection of the dead.
The promise fulfilled, the good news made manifest in the history of man, at the right time, in a way that only God could create and in a way that only he could fulfill and in an event that only gives himself the glory.
Through this message of good news, through the gospel, Paul speaks of what is recieved and accomplished.
We Have Received
We Have Received
5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.
Paul claims that it is through the work of Jesus that God has bestowed grace and apostleship. Grace a word used 154 times. In the rank of most uses nouns in the NT is is number 30. This one of the major themes of the scriptures.
Grace, unmerited favor, undeserved love, demonstrated in the death of the Son.
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
This act of love was done so that those that would believe in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, those that would have faith in him would be saved.
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
This grace was planned to be bestowed on those with faith according to his purpose and will.
8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
John would tell us that grace comes through Jesus.
16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The author of Hebrews stated it was by God’s grace the Jesus would taste death for everyone.
9 But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death.
In the MacArthur Commentary he writes.
Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Provision of the Good News
Salvation does not come by baptism, by confirmation, by communion, by church membership, by church attendance, by keeping the Ten Commandments, by trying to live up to the Sermon on the Mount, by serving other people, or even by serving God. It does not come by being morally upright, respectable, and self-giving. Nor does it come by simply believing that there is a God or that Jesus Christ is His Son. Even the demons recognize such truths (see
It is through Jesus that we are saved and it is by the simple words of Jesus “Repent and Believe” that by faith the grace of salvation comes to a believer. Among with grace Paul also states that through him we have also recieved apostleship.
Received Apostleship
5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,
There were the specific apostles that were set apart by God to bring forth the apostolic ministry for the early church. These include the 11 of the 12 disciples minus Judas Matthias that replaced Judas and Paul. These thirteen men were appointed for this special ministry and are seen as a separate group in the early church.
4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
In revelation they are called out separately in
20 Rejoice over her, heaven, and you saints, apostles, and prophets, because God has pronounced on her the judgment she passed on you!
There is also a special recognition of them in heaven.
14 The city wall had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were on the foundations.
When we look at the apostles they were gifted with a special calling and God bestowed powers on them and he worked miracles through them. In the specific sense, there were a limited number of them.
Those that claim to have a special anointing or calling by God to the office of apostle find themselves with very little to support their claims. Though there were a specific number in a specific sense. There is also a general sense that all believers are part of the apostleship as Paul states here.
The basic meaning for apostle is a “sent one” or a messenger. It is through Jesus that all believers are sent into the world to proclaim the gospel. Just like there are those appointed to teach, all are teachers to their children and others. There are those that are were prophets the spoke the words of God as the Holy Spirit carried them along, we all speak God’s word when we read and point to the words of God in the scriptures. There are those like Paul sent on missions and then we all go into the world around us and tell people about Jesus.
There are many times that there are specific people called to different offices and positions in the community of God. but there is also a general sense that we participate in the same activities.
Here Paul is likely affirming that it is through Jesus that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
These were both given for a purpose. To produce something.
To Bring About
To Bring About
5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.
The gospel through Christ has given both grace and apostleship, to bring about something. The obedience of faith so that his name would be known among the Gentiles. The purpose of being given grace and being sent is that others, those that are outside would come to know the who can save them from their sins.
The word for obedience used comes from the a root that means to listen or to hear. We really don’t like the word obedience but the reality is that we do it all of the time. Who do you listen to, who do you hear, that causes you to act and obey. When you are on a sports team as an athlete, or in school as a student, at work as an employee, at home in front of the TV with the news on. Who do you listen to and then behave accordingly.
There is a level of faith in all obedience, there is a trust. I will stay and follow the instructions of the hardest coach if I believe that the coach will take me somewhere. I will listen to my parents if I believe and trust in them. I will follow their instruction if I believe that they are trustworthy.
The opposite is also true. Who listens to someone who is a hypocrite and untrustworthy. This is a truth that is affecting the christian community today. Why do so many Christians see church and unimportant and negotiable, why are congregations so leery of listening to any pastor, why do children disregard the teachings of their parents? Because they are not known or shown to be trustworthy. They don’t believe in them.
This is the same with our faith and trust in God, His promise, his son, and his sacrifice. Our faith leads us to hear and obey.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
The faith that saves is a faith the works. It is a faith the puts forth effort. It is a faith the listens and then does. See Abraham’s and Rahab’s faith was demonstrated in their actions and behaviors. As James would say, be does of the word not just hearers. The grace and apostle ship was recieved to bring forth obedience of faith.
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles—27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.
This is done for the sake of his name.
For Sake of His Name
For Sake of His Name
5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.
The work of the cross, the grace recieved, the message to share, the life to live, are all done to the sake of his name. That he would be known to all of the nations, not just the nation of Israel.
All of this is done by the work of God to fulfill his promise to Abraham.
2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
He would repeat it many times through the prophets to point his people back to the glory of God.
11 “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of Armies.
The life of a believer strives to point to Jesus. To exalt him as the most crucial and pivotal point in their lives. As they see their savior as the example to follow.
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We the work of God through those who are saved, live to bring glory to God. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, growing into his image, repenting of our sin, being temporary citizens of this world, longing for the next. As we are sanctified because we are justified, we shine as lights in a dark world.
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
The one who is light has given that light to men. To shine in the darkness. To be beacons on a hill. Drawing men and women not to themselves but to the one who is light Jesus. There are too many who live to bring honor to themselves. They write books, preach, work, parent, in order to exalt themselves. They live in a way that proclaims look at me. Look at what I have done. Look at what I am doing. Look at what we have accomplished. This is the temptation of the world we live in today.
With clicks, likes, followers, sermon clips. The emphasis is on what we can boast about. Instead, the true believer will spend their life working to not be the one getting the credit. They will side step and point to the one doing the work the one who is to get the glory. A person who lives for their name to decrease so that his may increase. This is a new life that is to be lived. It is a compulsion. A driving force in our lives.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.
It is by this life that God’s name is made known which includes the church in Rome and by extension us as well.
5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.
All of those called by Jesus. Saved by his grace, sent to share his message of redemption. All are called to the work of the ministry. Here he writes to this specific group of saints.
People of the Gospel
People of the Gospel
7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
To all who are in Rome and to all believers. These are those that are called saints. Who is a saint? all who have been called, who have been appointed or summoned.
2 To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.
Each and every person who is sanctified, made holy before the Lord, by Christ giving is perfect and righteous life to those that are undeserving and unworthy. Each and every person loved by God, cleansed from their sin, saved from their iniquity, these are the saints. We are the saints. All across the nation, the world, and throughout time. The saints are God’s holy ones.
Paul ends his greeting with a familiar benediction. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace given in salvation and grace continues each and every moment of our lives. We desire to live and be fueled by the continual grace that God bestows on us.
This grace bring peace. As positional peace as we are no longer enemies of God. That we have been brought into the household of God. As coheirs to the inheritance. And we get the blessing of continues peace as we live out the obedience of faith. This life that lives for Jesus brings with it peace from being in the will of God. Even in the trials of life there is a peace knowing that God has save you and that he is trustworthy to trust in. And so this it the peace from God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
How you live, what you do, does it bring Glory to his name?
Obedience of faith, life of hypocricy.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Blessing/Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
