What Is Your Calling Ro. 1:1-7

Intro.

How many of us remember when your parents called you for something? cleanup, help out, cut grass, help cook etc.

Ninety percent of the time we were already occupied in doing something else. And our reply was yes ma’am or yes sir.

Because we were obligated to obey our parents or else.

In todays world we do not see that same kind of obligation or willingness to serve. It usually just sounds like this. Why? Why do I have to? No sense of service to, or obligation to the family unit.

Read Romans 1:1-7

Romans 1:1–7 ESV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE CALLING TO BE A SERVANT

v.1 Paul did not look at himself in any other way but than a servant. Probably the greatest of the apostles considered himself nothing but a servant.

What is a servant- (doulos) GK someone who is the property of another or one who is subjected to the will and wholly at the disposal of another.

Paul said I no longer belong to myself. I belong to Christ. The price he paid on the cross of Calvary has redeemed me and purchased me from the debt I owed and could not pay!!!!

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Deuteronomy 15:12–17 ““If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you, then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. And to your female slave you shall do the same.”

What have we been pierced with that says I belong to Christ? Do we serve the LORD in the since of love and care for knowing even in hardship our life is better off with Christ instead of without.

Why does Paul lend his life to Christ as a servant?

v.4 by the power of His resurrection from the dead. (to bring the dead back to life) In which we were dead in our trespasses and sins and brought back to life.

Paul understood that his sins brought death. Do we let that sink in for us. My sin and your sin brings us only one thing death. Jesus Christ died for our sin and has rose from the grave so that we can be delivered from our appointment of death and has giving us a new life in Christ Jesus.

If I am going to lend my life to self or others it will be difficult to serve Christ. If I am going to serve Christ then it will be difficult to please others.

2. THE CALLING TO BE SET APART

set apart- to be selected and assigned for a specific purpose.

Not only are we a servant, but we are a servant with a purpose.

Jesus Christ, God the Father has giving us a purpose. Not just to live life, but a purpose in life. Are we as christians just surviving or are we thriving with our purpose in Jesus.

Paul said we have a purpose and Paul understood his purpose. Once a persecutor of the church of Christ and now a partner with Christ.

That focus was a single minded focus. Paul did not list a whole bunch of things that God has set him apart for, just one thing.

THE GOSPEL Where it is here, another county, another state, or another country we have been set apart for the gospel.

We must remember for every soul hinges on the gospel.

Matthew 28:19–20 “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

We have inherited this set apart for the gospel.

What are we losing our focus on instead of our purpose in the gospel.

It is easy for churches to lose our focus on the gospel.

We become a motel 6 (we will keep the light on for you) many times that is what churches are trying to do just keep the lights on and the doors open. The gospel light is supposed to penetrate the darkness, be mobile and on mission with the gospel.

Matt. 28:19-20 Not only are we make converts (disciples), but we are to teach them (discipleship) to love God’s word and to obey it.

John 14:23 “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Our only focus should be the gospel and how God wants us to get the gospel to the whole world.

I want to encourage you this morning to lay aside those things that weigh you down and focus on your family first with the gospel, then friends and neighbors, co-workers and then everyone you run across.

We have not been set apart for worldly events, but for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything in this world hinges on the gospel.

We need to know our purpose and what gives a believer in Christ purpose.

3. CALLED TO BE CONCERNED

We have received grace- Paul emphasis we have been freely given grace- which is God’s freewill favor and kindness to us that we do not deserve.

v.5 Paul was concerned about the church at Rome. Paul was concerned about the people of the church and for their obedience to their faith.

Paul shows a concern to speak the truth of the gospel so that those in the church and those outside of the church will become obedient to the faith.

When is the last time we had enough concern for someone that we spoke the truth of the gospel to someone.

Many times we hear them talk and we walk away thinking how lost they are and have not shared with them the only saving grace of the gospel.

What if everyone here this morning was to pick out someone that you are concerned about. (If you can think of someone God is working) What if you were to pour into that persons life with the gospel and with the truth of God’s word.

In that you will find purpose as a believer to pray for them, and lead them to know the truth.

WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SERVE

WE HAVE BEEN SET APART TO PROCLAIM

WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BE CONCERNED

For the sake of His name.

Philippians 2:10–11 “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Paul had a love for that name. THE NAME OF JESUS. The one who paid it all.

Closing: Will you stand with heads bowed and eyes closed.

Have you this morning confessed Jesus as Lord. (share the gospel)

For the rest of us, have we been a faithful servant, have we kept our focus on the purpose of sharing the gospel. Have we been concerned for our fellow believers and the non believers in our community.