Sermon Tone Analysis

THE GOD OF GRACE AND GLORY

You will recognize, of course, that these are the concluding words in Paul’s letter to the Roman believers.

The book of Romans is indeed the most profound statement of the Christian Gospel ever composed in human language.

When you come to the book of Romans you come to the Mt.

Everest of the New Testament.

You study the Gibraltar of the Christian faith.

If you want to know what the Bible is all about, if you want to know what the Christian faith is all about, if you want to know what we are preaching about as we stand in this pulpit Sunday after Sunday then you have to understand the book of Romans.

The book of Romans tells us the wonderful good news of how God can take a guilty, hell—deserving sinner and by His grace save him give him a brand new life, make him an effective person and then take him to heaven to experience in its fullness the glory of God.

What a wonderful message is the message of Romans and what a wonderful message is the message of the Bible.

You will notice in verse 26 he says “to make known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”

That’s the way Paul began the letter, that’s the way he concludes the letter.

The bottom line is obedience to the faith.

The bottom line is that people might understand that Jesus died on a cross for their sins and by faith obey this message of the gospel and be saved.

The Bible says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It is in this wonderful salvation experience that people can have a life that makes sense and has meaning, and it is in this experience of salvation that the deepest needs of the human heart and experience can be met.

So, in these closing verses of Romans he really gives a summary of everything he has talked about in the previous chapters.

First, he gives some words of greeting in verses 21—23.

I. GREETING.

At the beginning of the chapter, Paul said, hello, to some believers who were friends of his in the church at Rome.

Also, Paul had some people who were traveling with him in his evangelistic ministry and now they send greetings also to the believers in Rome.

He begins in verse 21 by saying, “Timothy, my work fellow.”

Timothy was the young man who Paul led to know Jesus as his Savior.

He became an associate of Paul’s, traveling with him in his journeys.

A young convert Paul took under his wings.

It’s a wonderful thing when you and I have the privilege to lead someone to faith in Christ.

Those people we win to faith in Christ, we then have a responsibility to disciple.

Teach them the things of the Lord.

Instruct them and show them how to live for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many of you in this service are soul winners.

You tell other people about the Lord.

Let me encourage you to take those you have won, lead them to follow the Lord in baptism and in church membership and then train them and teach them to be a soul winner themselves.

I look over our congregation and I see a lot of people who have been faithful for a lot of years in our fellowship.

Then I see some young Christians.

If the Lord tarries His coming there will be a time when the older saints of God pass off the scene into heaven and the younger believers will be the ones who will pick up the load.

The younger Christians will be the ones who will continue the work of the Lord.

Every church is one generation from paganism.

Every society is one generation from paganism- so; we must lead younger ones to the Lord.

Teach them the things of the Lord and prepare them for leadership in the future.

He mentions three other names —— Lucious who was one of the prophets or teachers in Antioch.

Jason who opened up his home to Paul and his party in the city of Thessalonica.

And Sosipater who was one of the delegates to the Jerusalem conference.

He says about all of them —- my kinsmen and they say hello also.

In other words, Paul is just simply recognizing the people who were working with him.

I was thinking about this week in the light of our fellowship here.

So many of the workers of the Lord in our fellowship —— our ushers -— God bless you ushers.

Our worship team — God bless you, musicians.

Our deacons —— God bless you.

Our Outreach Leaders, Sunday School teachers -- God bless all of you faithful people who make it possible for us to do what we need to do in the ministry of our First Baptist family.

Then in verse 22 here is the man who actually wrote the letter of Romans.

This man who actually wrote the letter of Romans as Paul dictated it now picks up the pen and says “I Tertius, who wrote this letter, salute you in the Lord.”

A man gifted to write.

When I saw that name, I thought about all of those who have been gifted to write Christian books.

Aren’t you thankful for people who write Christian books?

Can you think of a book that has recently been a blessing to you? Can you think of some writer who has written something that has helped you in your Christian faith?

Thank God for Christian writers.

He says in verse 23 — “Gaius mine host, and of the whole church.’

Gaius was a man who had the gift of hospitality.

He had opened up his house and allowed Paul to stay there during his days in Corinth.

It was from his house that Paul wrote the book of Romans.

There are some of you who have the gift of opening up your house.

We have an annual pastors conference here in the month of February.

Many of you, for a number of years, have opened up your home and made it possible for Christians and other servants of the Lord to stay during these days in our Bible Conference.

You have found some real friendships there.

Thank God for people who have the gift of hospitality and who use that gift to be a blessing to God’s people.

Erastus — who was the treasurer of the City of Corinth?

Quartus - a brother.

Here is a city official who is in one of the highest levels of power in the city and Quartus was evidently a slave.

I think he was a slave because of his name.

The name Quartus literally means four.

That’s where we get our name for our coin we call the quarter.

A quarter is a fourth of a dollar.

Quartus was just a number.

Evidently just a slave and in those days they many times just gave slaves numbers.

The devil just makes a number out of you.

The Lord Jesus makes something special out of you.

You have a name for Jesus.

You count for Jesus.

You are special to Jesus.

Aren’t you glad we have a salvation that lifts you into the family of God, that makes you God’s child?

So, here is Quartus who is a slave.

Watch the comparison here.

Here is Erastus who was a city official and on the other hand here was Quartus who was a converted slave.

Yet they are one in the household of faith.

When I read that I thought again about our church family here.

We have folks in our church family who occupy highest levels of authority and power in this city and even in this state.

Then we have others who have very commonplace, ordinary roles in this city.

I’m glad It’s that way.

I’m glad Jesus makes us all one in the Lord.

Nobody is no more important than anybody else in the family of faith - in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every body is welcome.

Doesn’t matter your social status in life.

Doesn’t matter the color of your skin.

Doesn’t matter what your culture or lack of culture may be.

It doesn’t matter how educated or uneducated you may be.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

So, he has here some concluding words of greeting.

II.

GRACE

Notice in verse 24 he has some concluding words of grace.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.