Gospel Power

Introduction

What would it be like to be a part of a church that met right in the middle of downtown Tehran, Iran? What persecutions would you experience? What secrets would you try to keep? Could you have the boldness to stand for the Lord, no matter the cost? This is the situation the church in Rome found itself in and the heart of Paul’s letter to them. Never give in or give up.

Hear his cheer to them...

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (, ESV)

What is the gospel? What does its message contain?

It is a promise, passed down by the prophets through out the OT.

“which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,” (, ESV)

Son of Man in

Suffering servant in

Twofold witness of the prophets (prior to) and the apostles/church (now and after).

It involves a person, namely Jesus Christ.

“concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,” (, ESV)

Son of David (humanity): descended, kenosis, emptying, humiliation

Turn to

Emptied himself, took form of a servant, born like man, humbled himself, obedient even in death.

Son of God (deity)

Highly exalted, name above all names, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess Jesus is Lord.

It involves a call to service.

“through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,” (, ESV)

Grace and apostleship: the undeserved privilege of being an apostle/serving the Lord

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (, ESV)

Paul did not choose this life. It was the grace of God that initiated it. (Damascus Road)

Servant (doulos): means slave in the Greek (humility), not in control (Macedonian call)

Apostle: qualifications

Directly and personally called and commissioned by Jesus (Damascus Road)

Eyewitness to the historical Jesus, especially the resurrected Jesus (DR)

Sent out by Him to preach with His authority (HS)

“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,” (, ESV)

It demands obedience.

Obedience of the faith

The response which the gospel demands.

A total, unreserved commitment to Jesus Christ.

Is this works?

Or, to simplify these truths by the use of six prepositions, we can say that the good news is the gospel of God, about Christ, according to Scripture, for the nations, unto the obedience of faith, and for the sake of the Name.

How does Paul express his affection for the Romans?

“To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (, ESV)

What do we know about Rome?

Center of civilization

Pax-Romana: peace through force

Fount of law

Yet, home to every kind of idolatry and debauchery

Nevertheless, God had a remnant/church there.

Loved by God: His dear children

Called to be saints: God’s holy people (1 Pet. 2:9:10)

Recipients of God’s grace and peace

Grace = free-ness of God’s justification of sinners

Peace = reconciliation with God, no longer at war or odds with God

Paul’s affection for them (the heart of an apostle)

He thanked God for them

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

The church was making a difference and news had spread.

This made Paul very happy.

He prayed for them.

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.” (, ESV)

Desire, humbleness, tenacity, care, love

He longs to see them.

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—” (, ESV)

Meet their distinct spiritual needs.

Physician diagnoses problem by observing the symptoms and then recommending a remedy.

He longs to minister to them.

“that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (, ESV)

Reciprocal blessings of Christian fellowship.

Heart of the humble servant of God: anxious to receive as well as give, to learn as well as teach, to be encouraged as well as to encourage.

What prevented Paul from visiting Rome?

“I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.” (, ESV)

He seems so eager!

The heart of an Evangelist!

What prevented him? Possibly his unfinished work in Greece.

Paul went where he was called.

What does Paul reveal to us about the power of the gospel?

Three distinct declarations…I am obligated, I am eager, I am not ashamed...

Paul’s evangelistic zeal (Dale Griffith).

He was in debt to the gospel.

“I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” (, ESV)

Jesus Christ has entrusted Paul with the gospel.

“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” (, ESV)

Good news is meant to be shared. This is the best news.

He was not ashamed of the gospel.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (, ESV)

Paul has reason to be ashamed. He had suffered much persecution and ridicule.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,” (, ESV)

Yet, he knew the power which catalyst the gospel, the power of God (Damascus)

If it had saved him, it could save others.

He knew the urgency of the gospel.

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”” (, ESV)

It is the only way to be right with God.

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (, ESV)

Paul knew what awaited everyone who rejects God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.

And this knowledge broke his heart.

Closing

Do we have that same urgency in our own lives?

What can we do the express a similar enthusiasm for the gospel of Christ?