ROMANS 1 // CALLED & SET APART

INTRODUCTION

Last week we looked at the Life of the Author of Romans

We gained some pretty crucial insight that sets the pace for the remainder of the Letter.

Feel free to check out iTunes, YouTube, VCLB.org to listen to the message once again.

BUT, BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED A REFRESHER, HERE IS A LITTLE RECAP

Who wrote this letter?

Paul the Apostle

Who was Paul

Paul, aka Saul of Tarsus, was a man who was zealous for the things of God

The God of the Old Testament and Paul were on good terms

Until the God of the OT sent his son

Paul didn’t want anything to do with this so-called Messiah

As he was on the way to Damascus, letters of permission on hand, Jesus confronts Saul, and there began his Journey as a Follower of Jesus.

This Paul, went on three Missionary Journeys, before arriving in Rome

On his second missionary journey, Paul wrote to the Church in Rome from Corinth.

A lot had happened with this church.

31-34 AD The Church was founded

Mixed group of people, led by Christian Jews

49 AD Emperor Claudius expells all of the Jews from Rome

54 AD Emperor Claudius dies, and the Jews begin to trickle back into Rome

By now, the Church was predominantly Gentile

Paul is writing, not only to set things in order

But to create a strong bond of unity between the two people groups.

In doing so, He is also laying down some very strong foundational statements

Truths that set into place the things we believe about the God of the Bible,

With this background in mind

NOW, LAST WEEK WE ASKED THE QUESTION

If you could be known for one thing what would it be?

For Paul, this letter was his prized piece

Though He probably didn’t know it, it has become known as His greatest work.

Let’s take a look at

LET’S TURN TO ROMANS 1

Romans 1 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

PRAY

SLIDE

Romans 1:1–7 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:

Romans 1:1 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

SLIDE IF YOU COULD BE A SELF PROCLAIMED ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

BEFORE JESUS, PAUL HAD A DIFFERENT IDENTITY.

HE WAS A SELF PROCLAIMED:

Pharisee of Pharisees

Tribe of Benjamin

Circumsized on the 8th day

According to the law, Blameless

AFTER HIS CONFRONTATION WITH JESUS

He switches from that prideful, elite, identity

To a very different identity

SLIDE VERSE: 1 PAUL A BONDSERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST

A Doulos

A Willing Slave of Jesus Christ

Why does Paul refer to himself with this specific word?

Could it be that he knew the what was happening in Rome?

Could it be that Paul knew that there were 6 Million slaves in Rome at the time he wrote this?

Could it be that Paul is trying to build a bridge with Roman Slaves who had heard the Gospel? People he wanted to minister to?

Or maybe he wanted to set precedence?

Maybe he wanted to let everyone know what he was about.

We must remember

Paul had never been to Rome

He may have known a few believers there, but not many.

AS PAUL IS TRYING TO BUILD CREDIBILITY WITH HIS AUDIENCE

HE NOT ONLY CALLS HIMSELF A SERVANT OF CHRIST

HE CALLS HIMSELF AN APOSTLE

This title is a little more aggressive

It shows us a little more of the relationship Paul had with Jesus

For Paul to call himself an apostle is to proclaim what Jesus had commissioned him to do.

It takes us back to his conversion in

Remember the fear that fell on Ananias

Right after Saul’s confrontation with Jesus,

The Lord confronts Ananias, and asks him to do something incredible.

Go and talk to Saul of Tarsus, he is in the house of Judas

He has seen a vision of a man named Ananias who is on his way to bring him sight.

Homeboy was scared to go talk to Paul and give him a word from the Lord

In his fear, the Lord comforted him.

SLIDE

Acts 9:15–16 NKJV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

SLIDE ROMANS 1:2-6

Romans 1:2-

When Paul was blind, hadn’t eaten in days

Still pondering everything that Jesus had told him on the road to Damascus

God Himself, sends someone who is scared, to confirm to Paul the reason for His Salvation

Notice how, God tells Ananias that Paul is a:

Chosen Vessel

Name Bearer

You are a

One who will minister to Gentiles, Kings, and Israelites

One who will suffer for the name of Jesus

It is a complete paradigm shift for Paul

Had Paul prayed the sinners prayer?

Had Paul recieved the Holy Spirit?

Had Paul memorized ?

But God saw him with Divine Potential

Potential to change the World

Known by God where the works that Paul would do even when Paul was fighting against the Lord

SLIDE: WHO IN YOUR LIFE IS JUST LIKE SAUL?

THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND:

Someone who is actively persecuting Christians

Someone who is actively against the Will of God

Someone who may know it all

Someone who is zealous for the things of God, but whose practice is Jesus deprived.

HERE IS A QUESTION FOR YOU:

Someone

Who may even have some spiritual things going for them.

HERE IS A QUESTION FOR YOU:

SLIDE: ARE YOU WILLING TO BE THEIR ANANIAS?

Are you willing to go share what God thinks about them?

Are you willing to go speak life into them

When everyone else is counting them out

Will you invest in them

Will you reiterate the truths of the Bible to them

Will you do what everyone else is scared to do?

THIS WAS MY WIFE AND MY BUDDY JEREMIAH

These two never gave up on me

Constantly reshared the Gospel with me

Answered every one of my questions

I believe I was 19 when I started working at Red Robin

I remember training Jeremiah

I remember when Carol and her friend came in and asked for an application

I also remember being dead in my sins

After working with them

Realizing they were different

Wondering why they relentlessly invited me to Church

Seeing the potential I had in following Jesus

3 years later, at age 22, I surrendered my life to the Lord

They were my Ananias

I AM WILLING TO PUT MONEY ON THE FACT THAT GOD IS REMINDING YOU OF SOMEONE RIGHT NOW.

SOMEONE WHO THE WORLD HAS COUNTED OUT

SOMEONE WHO NOBODY BELIEVES IN

SOMEONE WHO MAY SEEM LIKE YOUR ENEMY

SOMEONE YOU MAY BE SCARED TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH

SOMEONE WHO IS JUST LIKE SAUL OF TARSUS

BUT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE PAUL, A BONDSERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST.

PAUL WAS CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE, SEPARATED TO THE GODPEL OF GOD

You want to know something crazy

The word Pharisee has the same root of Separated

The Pharisees were called the “Set Apart”

Prior to Paul was Set Apart to the Law

Now Paul was Set Apart to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

WHEN GOD CALLS YOU TO SOMETHING, HE SOMETIMES CALLS YOU TO LEAVE ANOTHER

FOR PAUL IT WAS A DEPARTURE FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE LAW, TO THE IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS FOUND IN JESUS.

Some of us need to make this change

Some of us need to shift our idenity

We need to go from priding ourselves in what we do for God

To boasting on all that God has done for us.

IF GOD HAS DONE ANYTHING, IT IS THIS

He has kept His Promise to provide a Savior for His people.

SLIDE ROMANS 1:2-6

Romans 1:2–6 NKJV

2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

THROUGHOUT ALL OF SCRIPTURE AND THE PROPHETS

GOD HAS KEPT HIS PROMISE CONCERNING HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

HE WAS PROPHECIED TO BE FROM THE SEED OF DAVID

He was

You can look at and see the literal lineage of Mary the Mother of God.

HE WAS DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD BY THE POWER ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS DEMONSTRATED IN THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD

Because of the Spirit of Holiness that was in Him

Because of the Power demonstrated in rising from the Dead

He has earned the title of Son of God

THROUGH HIM WE HAVE RECEIVED GRACE

WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED APOSTLESHIP

A NEW IDENTITY THAT IS MARKED WITH OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH AMONG ALL NATIONS FOR HIS NAME

AMONG WHOM, YOU ALSO ARE CALLED OF JESUS CHRIST.