Thankful for Others (Romans 1:8)

Main Point: Our worship of God is through Christ and with the help of others.

Romans 1:8 ESV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

“First”

1. Paul says “first” (GK. proton), but he gives no “second” or “third”—meaning this is not a list, but an establishment of priority.

a. As one commentator wrote, “The adverb (proton/first) probably has the force of “at the outset.”[1] (or.. of most importance; or primarily) This is an idiom.

b. Thus, it is safe to say that Paul wants the Roman church to understand his motives and priorities for ministry.

c. Let’s put it this way…Priorities Matter!

2. Before we look at Paul’s priorities, let’s take a moment and survey the competing priorities within our church (specifically what drives us):

a. The vision of the church (goals)

b. The mission of the church (requirements)

c. The strategic plan of the church (method)

d. The proclamation of the gospel

e. The quality of the music ministry

f. The programs offered by the church

g. The impact we have on the community

h. The size of our congregation

i. The message of church—especially that it is more appealing to society

j. The budget of the church

k. The building, the property, and the appearance of the church

In short, our priorities often revolve around our life, our success, and our glory—not God’s!

EVERY TIME WE GATHER AS A CHURCH, OUR PRIORITIES COME INTO PLAY—WE WILL EITHER DIVIDE OVER OR UNITE AROUND OUR PRIORITIES.

3. For Paul, his chief priority was the exaltation of God AND the advancement of God’s kingdom.

a. As the Kingdome advances, so does God’s glory in our midst.

i. As we obey God, through preaching the gospel, God is glorified

ii. Thus, for Paul, ANY advancement of the gospel prompted praise and thanksgiving because his priorities were correct.

b. The late Dr. Barnhouse stated Paul’s order of priorities as the following:

i. God first

ii. The church second

iii. The lost third

iv. And everything else in the ruck, far back in the field.

c. Paul could have begun His letter with, “Let me tell you what, you should do…”; instead, he began by rejoicing through Christ and to God because God’s glory and fame was spreading!

d. Paul had a lot to worry about over the Roman church:

i. The Galatian church walked into heresy with their understanding of the relationship between grace and works to the point that they were rejecting Paul and the faith.

ii. The Corinthian church was consumed with their physical appetites (especially sex), their pride (in the realm of gifts and freedom), and were tearing apart at the seams.

iii. The Judaizers followed Paul into every place he evangelized and tried to lead the people away from Christ.

iv. The Roman church was in the hub of political power and military strength because it was the capital of the empire—Paul was concerned they might be struggling with their understanding of the gospel.

v. YET, PAUL CHOSE TO PRAISE GOD BECAUSE JESUS WAS EXALTED THROUGH AND WORKING IN THE ROMAN CHURCH!

e. How, and where, do we measure up to Paul?

i. Are we motivated by our fame or God’s fame?

ii. Are we motivated by our success or God’s success?

iii. Are we motivated by our growth of fiefdoms or God’s kingdom?

iv. Are we motivated by our comfort or the good of others?

Now that we see Paul’s priorities, why does Paul ACTUALLY thank God for the Roman church?

“I thank God… for you all, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world”

1. First, “thank” (eucharisteo) means to express gratitude for benefits or blessings—‘to thank, thanksgiving, thankfulness.’[2]

2. With this in mind, there are two questions I want to ask that will form our understanding of Paul basis for praising God…

a. How has God blessed Paul because of the Roman church?

b. What benefits does Paul receive from the Roman church?

How did God bless Paul through the Roman church?

1. Paul is blessed by their faith:

a. This church did not begin with an apostle.

b. This church is seated in the basin of Roman power.

c. This church is two-decades old and still pressing into the Lord.

d. Though Paul worried over the extent and direction of their growth, he was blessed to know that they continued in the Lord

2. Paul is blessed by their witness:

a. How was their faith was proclaimed? What made them the “talk of the town”?

i. They had no building

ii. They had no presence in the government

iii. They had no celebrity membership

iv. They had no famous pastor

v. They had no activities, events, programs, or gimmicks

vi. They had no special music concerts

vii. They had no community initiatives, projects, or partnerships

viii. They had Jesus Christ and the work of His Spirit!

ix. They had faithfulness to Jesus and His work!

x. They had various brothers and sisters in Christ migrating in to strengthen and encourage them ()

xi. In short, they had what mattered most—and this is what they preached to everyone!

3. The basis of Paul’s gratitude was the advancement of the gospel and the maturation of the body of Christ.

a. Paul was blessed by the fact that his God was working within the church!

b. Paul was blessed by the fact that his God was spoken of in all the world!

c. Paul was blessed by the fact that God’s church is sustained by God!

What benefits did Paul receive from the Roman church? (or hope to?)

1. Paul anticipates two future benefits from the Roman church?

a. Mutual encouragement in the faith ()

b. Funding for carrying the gospel to Spain ()

2. From the great apostle Paul, we see that EVERYONE has room to grow and requires the faith of others to grow.

a. There is a weird logic in the church that says I can go at it alone—but this is not the truth!

b. C.S. Lewis once said: “The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”

c. = Wisdom comes by receiving counsel.

d. = With many counselors our plans succeed.

e. = A wise person helps another comprehend the plans of the heart.

f. = Paul works to present others complete in Christ.

g. = We are to encourage each other so we are not hardened by sins lies!

h. = We are to carry each other’s burdens.

i. = God rewards those who help others to grow in Him.

j. = We are commanded to love one another

k. = We are to look to the interests of others and not just our own.

3. We grow by looking at God together.

a. I love what A.W. Tozer has to say on this subject:

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

b. Russell Moore insightfully comments:

“In the New Testament, we don't find our gift through self-examination and introspection and then find ways to express it. Instead, we love one another, serve one another, help one another, and in so doing we see how God has equipped us to do so.”

Lastly, how does Paul thank God?

“Through Jesus Christ”

1. Our worship is ALWAYS through Jesus Christ—I’m afraid many of us do not grasp this.

2. Let’s take a moment and look at the origin and direction of worship.

a. We are told that God looks for those who would worship Him

i.

ii.

b. The problem is that there are none who do good or worship God!

i.

c. Why did we ALL fail to worship the Lord?

i. Ignorance: Jesus said to the woman at the well, “you worship what you do not know.”

ii. Independence: Each of us has gone our own way.

iii. Idolatry: We think something else is worthy of our devotion instead of God.

iv. Rebellion: Each of us gives into our sinful lusts.

v. Aggression: We are enemies against God

vi. Deception: We suppress the truth through unrighteousness

d. Because of our sinfulness and helplessness, Jesus came seeking those who would be His own and He bought us:

i. Ez. 34:11 = God says He will search out His sheep

ii. = Jesus says He came to seek the lost

iii. = Christ died for us while we were still helpless

e. Lastly, Jesus filled us with His Holy Spirit so we could worship Him.

i. = The Holy Spirit teaches us in God’s word.

ii. = The Holy Spirit enables us to be witnesses for Christ.

iii. = The Holy Spirit causes us to be born again into the Lord.

iv. = The Holy Spirit gives us life and peace.

v. = The Holy Spirit gives us fruit (His nature) to live.

vi. and = The Holy Spirit helps us cry out to God as Father

vii. = The Holy Spirit helps us pray

IF WE ARE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE LORD, IT MUST BE THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE NAME OF CHRIST OR IT IS NOT FOR CHRIST—EVEN PRAISING GOD!

1. Why? Because God…

a. Sought us

b. Redeemed us

c. Made Peace with us

d. Gave us life

e. Sanctifies us

f. Empowers us

g. Equips us

h. Abides with us

i. Seals us in Him

j. And Sends us out as His holy people—we can do nothing without Him!

2. Jerry Bridges wonderfully point out the our salvation (and sanctification) are through the work of Christ and by Christ—not our independent efforts:

“Living by grace means you are free from having to earn God’s blessings by your own obedience or practice of spiritual disciplines. If you have trusted in Christ as your Savior, you are loved and accepted by God through the merit of Jesus, and you are blessed by God through the merit of Jesus. Nothing you ever do will cause Him to love you any more or any less. He loves you strictly by His grace given to you through Jesus.” (Jerry Bridges, Growing Your Faith)

3. This means, that we do not work to be accepted by God; rather, we live in God. Paul said (), “In Him (God) we live and move and have our being.”

a. Christ Jesus set us free—not be free from Him and live in our power and merit

b. Christ Jesus set us free so we could do ALL things through Him and His power!

4. When Paul says he thanks God through Jesus Christ, these are not careless words that tosses out; rather, he clearly indicates that EVERY act of worship must be done in Christ and through Christ.

In summary, this 8th verse of Romans chapter 1 shows us:

A Proper Arrangement of Our Priorities is Critical to Our Joy and Growth:

1. God’s glory

2. God’s church

3. The Lost

4. Everything else

The Basis of Thanksgiving is God’s Work:

1. God’s work in us (vs. 1-6, Paul’s salvation and commission)

2. God’s work in others (the Roman church)

3. God’s work within the world (a faith proclaimed)

We Have a Deep Need of Others in Our Christian Growth:

1. To complete our mission to the Lord

2. To grow in the Lord

Our Response:

We should repent of anything that opposes the teaching of God’s word within us.

1. Self-reliance

2. Self-preservation

3. Pride

We should actively engage and participate within the body of Christ (the church), for both our good and the good of others—in addition to the glory of God.

1. Look to encourage someone in the Lord

2. Look to share the gospel

3. Look to worship with others

4. Look to be what God calls us for the good of others and His glory.

We should evaluate and assess what drives us—the love of God or the love of self.

1. Ultimately, those in Christ want Christ and His church.

2. Those not in Christ want something else.

[1] Joseph A. Fitzmyer S.J., Romans: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, vol. 33, Anchor Yale Bible (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 243.

[2] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 427.