Untitled Sermon

Salutaion 1:1-7

These first seven verses are one complicated sentence in Greek (Paul often uses such long, complicated sentences)

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 36). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Vs1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, acalled as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ro 1:1). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Paul introduces himself as a "Servant of Christ."

servant being a strong term meaning “slave” (used in similar fashion in ; ; ; ; ; ). As the Christians used it, the term conveys the idea of complete and utter devotion, not the abjectness which was the normal condition of the slave

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 36–37). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Called as an Apostle: Sent One

The Key Word in Romans "GOD"

God is the most important word in this epistle. Romans is a book about God. No topic is treated with anything like the frequency of God. Everything Paul touches in this letter he relates to God. In our concern to understand what the apostle is saying about righteousness, justification, and the like we ought not to overlook his tremendous concentration on God. There is nothing like it elsewhere.27

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 40). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Gospel

Gospel is a definitely Pauline word (60 times in Paul out of its 76 New Testament occurrences; nine times in Romans and Philippians is the most in any one book). It is found in every Pauline writing except Titus. The word basically means “good news”.23 In a Christian context there is no good news to compare with the news of what God has done in Christ for man’s salvation. It is this for which Paul is set apart. Some understand this to mean “set apart to preach the gospel”. It certainly includes this, but it is surely more. It means to be a gospel man, to live the gospel. Preaching is important, but then so is living. Paul’s call was to a way of life as well as to a task of preaching.

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 40). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Rom 1:2

which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ro 1:2). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Rom 1:3

concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ro 1:3). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

2 There is one Physician, who is both flesh and spirit, born and yet not born, who is God in man, true life in death, both of Mary and of God, first passible and then impassible, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Clement I, P., Ignatius, S., Bishop of Antioch, Polycarp, S., Bishop of Smyrna, & Lake, K. (1912–1913). The Apostolic fathers. (K. Lake, Ed.) (Vol. 1, p. 181). Cambridge MA; London: Harvard University Press.