Romans Introduction

This morning we are going to start a new series looking at the New Testament book of Romans. As I like to do when we start a new series on a Book of the Scriptures, the first sermon will serve as an introduction.

Often these sort of sermons are not as exciting. But htey are importnat in understanding what follows. A poor understanding of the context of a Book of Scripture often translates into bad application.

Ills: Consider when a person goes to build a house. The first step is making sure the foundation is correct, that hte pipes for water, electric and gas are all in the right place, and that the material used is of high quality. Most people will never see the foundation of a house, they are focused on the layout of rooms, the paint on the wall or window coverings. But none of this matters if the foundation is wrong. Likewise you can change the color of a room and the furniture but you can not change the foundation (or at least not without great cost and effort)

In the Book of Romans Paul (the author) diligently lays out the foundation of the Christian faith. In a very systematic way he allows one to understand why the Christian faith by reveling to us the character of God and His plan of salvation.

There is a number of reasons why this is important, and I will get to that in a moment. But first lets do some background by anwering … questions.

Who was the author?

This seems like a fairly easy answer. The author was Paul. Paul was a learned Jewish man who was a part of the group known as the Pharisees. Pharisees get a bad rap. But they were for the most part very devote men who took serious the Jewish Law and practices. Paul not only was a member of the Pharisees, but also an educated man and a Roman citizen through his father.

Devotion to his Jewish faith lead him to persecute the Christian faith. Actts 9 tells the miraciouls conversion.

Paul would go on to become a major missionary and church planter. This letter was written sometime around 51-52 AD from Corinth. (Acts 18) We will learn more about that in the later part of Romans.

Who were the readers?

As the book title suggest, there is every reason to believe that the intended readers were the church in Rome. Paul had never visited Rome and we do not know who first brought the Gospel to the city of Rome.

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and the seat of the Roman Emperior. It is estimated that the population of Rome at the time was around a million people. The church was made up on Jewish converts and non-Jewish converts, rich and slaves. A variety of individuals brought together by their faith in Jesus Christ.

Not that they were without struggles. But their foundation and their unity lied in Jesus Christ.

What was the reason for the writing?

What was the resaon Paul was writting to a church he had not planted or he had never visitied. The understand the reason is to understand Paul’s calling:

verse Acts 9:15

Paul intended t ravel to Spain and share the Gospel there and he wanted to the church in Rome to be a part of that mission.

It made sense. Jerusalem had served as the first location for sending missionaries (Particularly to Judeah and Samaria). Antioch next became the hub of missionary activity sending out missionaries along the Mediterian sea. It made sense that Rome would be the next place to launch a missionary activity to the rest of the Roman empire (the ends of the earth.) and in many ways Rome does for a time fill that role.

Some see in Romans a sort of early Systematic theology of the Christian faith, but I think it is something far more. It is the laying of a clear and strong foundation upon which the Kingdom of God will spread through the sharing of the Gospel and the creation of churches.

It is foundational in its thinking, and that it is why if focus on big picture understandings of the faith and not more minor issues. But a good and right foundation is essential.

A few key verses:

The Book of Romans can divided into trhee parts: Chapters 1-11 lay down the foundation understand God’s plan of salvation. Chapters 12-15 show the application of salvation in our lives. Chapter 16 ends with personal notes.

Before we leave on what to look at one particular passage of Romans. We will look at it later in our study but i want to view it now because I think it it helps in setting our minds in studying this important book.

Romans 12

THese two verse come after Paul’s indepth discusssion of the God’s plan of salvation.

IN those chapters he had revealed the unrighteousness of Humanity, the righteousness of God and how through Christ we are made righteous. In light of that state of righteousness Paul says:

New International Version (2011) Chapter 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

There is a saying that goes: The problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar”

Lets break this down:

New International Version (2011) Chapter 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

First, we are urged. This means this is something we need to be doing. We being “Christians” need to be doing a certain activity.

Why are we to do this activity? “in view of God’s mercy” God’s Mercy is a summation of the previous Eleven chapters. Elven chapters summed up n two words is quite a summation, unless those two words are God (of which there is m nothing greater) and Mercy (which is the most humbling, self sacrificing, of actions). When that that which is the greatest thing demonstrates Mercy it is no small matter. It is an earth shaking (no universe shaking 0 event.

Ills: Let me explain. When I was younger I would wrestle in the yard with my friends. When a person had you pinned, often with an arm or leg going in the wrong direction, you would yell mercy and even though they were in control they let you go. They showed you mercy. They did this because it was just fun and the next time it might be them and they needed mercy. It was self survival to show mercy because you needed mercy. But as you grow older you become aware of power and ranking in life, and you learn that mercy is in short quantity. That you do not need to give mercy to those below you nor will you recieve it from those above.

So when God gives us mercy, that is God provides a means of salvation through His son Jesus Christ to us who do not deserve, it is the most powerful of actions.

It is light of this incredible act of Mercy from God, revealed in te work of Jesus Christ, that we as Christians are urged to do what?

New International Version (2011) Chapter 12

to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,

This passage has always bothered me by the imagry of sacrifice. The common concept of a sacrifice is to destroy something, often by burning it up. And the concept of human sacrifice was an aboniation often associated with the very worst of human religions.

And even though is says living I a i am still bothered by it. anyways, wasn’t Jesus the final sacrifice. What is the need for anymore? isn’t this just a works theology.?

But then I think Paul intentionally uses this imagry of sacrifice, something familiar to both Jewish and Greek culture, to allow them to understand the seriousness of what he is urging them.

That th eresponse to God’s act of Mercy is a giving of our entire selves to God.

Phil 3:20

Col 3:2

Matt 5:13-14

Take captive every thought

What is great about this giving of ourselves to God is it holy and it is pleasing. To be Holy is to be set aside for a purpose, to be perfect, with out blemish, the thing acceptable to a Holy God. When the Scriptures call you holy it means that through Jesus Christ you are see as righteous, fee of sin.

Like wise thsi act of giving ourselves is pleasing to God. It is something that God wants. God wants you to give yourself because it pleases Him to be in relationship with you.

And this applies to all Christians

New International Version (2011) Chapter 12

—this is your true and proper worship.

Christians sometimes misunderstand preference for proper. Preference is what you like or is familiar. Preferences change between people and groups. Prefereces change over time and in situations. We often fight over preferences instead of appreciating preferences.

Proper is what defines the attitude behind the preference.

Style of music is a preference. Sing in community is Proper. Instruments, no instruments, lots of instruments is a preference. Doing so to give praise to God is proper.

What is proper is that we are giving ourselves to God. What is true is that we understand God’s great mercy to us. If you do not have those two things: understanding His mercy and giving yourself, then you will not ever be able to worship God.

...............

There is an old saying “The problem with a living sacrifice is it keeps geeting off the altar.” And indeed that is the problem we so often find ourselve. We are prone to wander and in doing so lose sight of God’s gret mercy and losing sight of that mercy we forget how to live.

Thus our study on Romans ans why we will spend time understanding this great Mercy of God. It will not alwas be comfortable, particularly at the start but if you will see it through you will find great treasure in these words not only in knowledge but in how you live.

Thus this study of Romans

Keep getting off the altar.

The acceptance of god’s mercy has a supreme impact on our existence.

The only real thing you can give God is yourself. We give money talents, time but all of that is already His. He gave it and He can take it away.

But what is your is your right to yourself (Chambers)

only when i give myself am i capable of fully appreciating and enjoying what God has done in saving me, and only then am i capable of being a part of the great work He is doing in building up the Kingdom of God, and only then can I participate in the body of believers.