ROMANS // INTRODUCTION

Hector Mora

Hope for the City | The Book of Romans • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Before we begin the Book of Romans, what should we know about the audience, the author, and the reason for which this letter was written? How does Rome's history effect the way we see the narrative. Check out this weeks sermon in our new series entitled "Hope for the City" through the Book of Romans.

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INTRODUCTION

SLIDE: IF YOU HAD ONE THING YOU WERE MOST KNOWN FOR WHAT WOULD IT BE?

FOR THE APOSTLE PAUL, BESIDES KNOWING JESUS, IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

THE AUTHORSHIP OF THIS BOOK IS UNEQUIVOCALLY THE APOSTLE PAUL

I BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE TEXT, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE AUTHOR

I BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE TEXT, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE AUTHOR.

SLIDE: WHO WAS PAUL?

Paul was a distant witness to everything that happened with Jesus

He would have probably been in the conversations that the High Priests were having concerning Jesus

AD 30-33 The Church is birthed at Pentecost

Paul begins to Persecute the Church

While he is persecuting the Church, He is confronted with the reality of whom He is persecuting

SLIDE: ACTS 9

Acts 9:1–9 NKJV

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

After his encounter with jesus

Instead of going to Jerusalem and hanging out with all the Christians

He is moved in his spirit to go to Arabia

Which is on the East Side of the Jordan

SLIDE: TIMELINE

Meanwhile, in AD 31-34 The Church in Rome is founded

AD 46-47 PAUL GOES ON 1ST MISSIONARY JOURNEY THROUGH SYRIA, CYPRUS, & GALATIA

AD 49 Jews are expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius

From what I understand, they were expelled for inviting Jews from everywhere to join them in Rome

Claudius didn’t approve of Jewish immigrants invading Rome

And in 49 AD, he kicked them all out

So how did the Church continue?

Well, the Roman Church mostly met in homes

It was a very diverse church made up of Jews and Gentiles

Upon Jewish expulsion, Gentiles were handed over these churches and asked to continue the work

AD 49-51 PAUL GOES ON 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY THROUGH GALATIA, MACEDONIA, PALESTINE

Visits the Churches of

Phillippi

Thessalonica

Corinth

Ephesus

Caesarea

AD 53-57 PAUL BEINGS 3RD MISSIONARY JOURNEY THROUGH ANTIOCH, EPHESUS, CORINTH, AND THROUGHOUT ASIA MINOR.

IN 54 AD, Emperor Claudius dies, and Jews begin their journey back to Rome

SLIDE: ROMAN CHURCH POPULATION

AD 57 PAUL WRITES ROMANS FROM CORINTH

BY THIS TIME, THE ROMAN CHURCH HAD SHIFTED FROM PREDOMINANTLY JEWISH TO OVERWHELMINGLY GENTILE.

IMPRISONED FROM 57-59 AD IN CAESAREA

SLIDE: ROMAN CHURCH POST CLAUDIUS

AD 59-60 PAUL IS TRANSFERRED TO ROME

AD 60-62 HE IS IMPRISONED IN ROME

AD 62-64 PAUL IS FREED

As Jews trickle in, the dynamic has changed, the culture has changed, and they are now the minority

JULY AD 64 ROME IS DESTROYED BY A FIRE

AD 64-65 NERO BLAMES CHRISTIANS FOR ROME’S DESTRUCTION AND HE BEGINS TO PERSECUTE THEM

So how do those from which Christianity Birthed, adapt to a Diverse Christian Culture?

How does the Old School Co-Exist with the New School?

PAUL IS IMPRISONED AND KILLED FOR HIS FAITH IN ROME

How does Homogenous Judeo Christian beliefs mix with Ex Pagan Gentiles who are now following Jesus?

Who better to speak to this subject than Paul

What do I mean.

Check this out.

SLIDE PHILIPPIANS 3:4-6

IN DESCRIBING HIMSELF TO THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH, THIS IS WHAT HE SAID:

Philippians 3:4–6 NKJV

4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

IF THERE WAS ANYONE WHO HAD THE QUALIFICATIONS TO SPEAK LIFE INTO A SITUATION THAT HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED, IT WAS PAUL

The man who was a Pharisee of Pharisees

A man who was blameless according to the law

A man who was probably going to be the next High Priest

A man zealous for Holiness and Righteousness

A man who consented to the death of Stephen, our faith’s first martyr

A man who persecuted the people that followed Jesus

SLIDE: HOW COULD A CHURCH EVER WELCOME SUCH A MAN?

Has no place in the Church

Has no reason to come to Church

Shouldn’t dare step into Church

right?

How could the Church accept such a man?

How could the Church receive from such a man?

How could the Church be led by such a man?

How could the Church accept his writings?

How could God allow most of the New Testament to be written by such a man?

SLIDE: JESUS

IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF JESUS, THAT THIS MAN COULD EVER BE WELCOMED INTO THE FOLD OF GOD

Who most likely approved of the death of Jesus

Who persecuted the Church

IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF JESUS, THAT THIS MAN COULD EVER BE WELCOMED INTO THE FOLD OF GOD

A man who was confronted by Jesus himself

A man who was radically changed by the Good News of Jesus Christ

That Jesus Saves

That He is both Lord and Savior

That He is coming again.

CHURCH WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE OF JESUS.

VISION LONG BEACH DIDN’T SAVE YOU

HECTOR MORA DIDN’T SAVE YOU

THE PERSON WHO INVITED YOU HERE DIDN’T SAVE YOU

WHAT WE DO IN JESUS NAME DOESN’T SAVE US

WE ARE SAVED BY WHAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS

OUR HOPE IS STRENGTHENED WHEN WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE EMPTY GRAVE

PAUL WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THAT HE DID BECAUSE OF JESUS

HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK INTO THE ROMAN CULTURE BECAUSE OF JESUS

PAUL HAD ONE OF THE GREATEST PARADIGM SHIFT’S EVER

From Villain to Ally

From Antagonist to Beneficiary

From Enemy to Friend

17 Years of living out your faith within a culture you once persecuted will do something to you.

FOR PAUL, HIS MOTTO WAS EASY TO SAY, HARD TO LIVE OUT:

SLIDE: PHILIPPIANS 3:7-11

Philippians 3:7–11 NKJV

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

IN YOUR OWN WORLD

THINK ABOUT THE THINGS WERE ONCE GAIN TO YOU?

BEFORE JESUS, WHAT THINGS MATTERED MOST TO YOU?

DID THEY GET IN THE WAY OF KNOWING CHRIST?

IS KNOWING CHRIST THE MOST EXCELLENT THING IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

ARE WE WILLING TO PUT THINGS ASIDE IN ORDER THAT WE MAY GAIN CHRIST?

For Paul, the way he worshipped

The way he lived out his faith

Prior to Jesus

Hurting others

Persecuting other faiths

Drawing a deeper line in the sand

Became the very thing He foresook

His reputation

His spiritual resume

His zeal

Though it meant a ton to him

He didn’t let these things get in the way of knowing Christ

WHAT HAVE WE COUNTED AS RUBBISH IN ORDER THAT WE MAY GAIN CHRIST?

In order for us to gain something, we have to measure the cost.

Some Christians want to grow in Christ, but they are not willing to pay the price of growth.

We are willing to make commitments and promises

But are we willing to keep them

Now, for those who have never walked with Jesus

It is not expected of you to make such commitments

In fact the only thing that should be pressing

Is taking that first step of faith and believing what Jesus has done for you.

SLIDE: JESUS SAID IN

John 5:24 NKJV

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

TODAY YOU HAVE HEARD THE GOOD NEW OF JESUS CHRIST

YOU HAVE HEARD WHAT IT DOES TO INDIVIDUALS

HOW IT TRANSFERS THEM FROM ENEMY TO ALLY, FROM DEATH TO LIFE,

THE GOSPEL CHANGES PEOPLE.

THE GOSPEL IS THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS

IF YOU BELIEVE ON HIM, YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER.

THATS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH

FROM THERE, FROM THOSE TRUTHS, WE CAN BUILD A FRUITFUL LIFE

THE QUESTION IS:

SLIDE: ARE WE WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK TO SEE GROWTH?

Paul desired the Church of Rome to grow

Paul desired a greater unity in the Roman Church

Paul did something about it

Not only did he write out those desires

He knew what awaited him in Rome and he embraced it.

Acts 20:22–24 NKJV

22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

THREE CHAPTERS LATER

Acts 23:11 NKJV

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

THERE HE WOULD BE IN JAIL

MADE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE FOR JESUS

IMPRISONED FOR THE FAITH

KILLED FOR HIS DEVOTION TO CHRIST

THIS IS WHAT SPOKE TO THE ROMAN CHURCH.

COME WHAT MAY COME, NOTHING CHANGES BETWEEN HIM AND JESUS

Paul was a witness to everything that happened with Jesus

He would have probably been in the conversations that the High Priests were having

AD 30-33 The Church is birth at Pentecost

He came to faith by a physical encounter with the risen Christ.