Romans Introduction

Text

Romans 1:1–6 KJV 1900

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Introduction to Romans

Paul desired to travel to Rome many times but was lead by God to other places first. He didn't actually get to Rome until the end of his life and even then he was in bonds as a prisoner.

He wrote this letter from Corinth on his third and final missionary journey in the three months referred to in Acts 20:3 before his final visit to Jerusalem.

Acts 20:3 KJV 1900

And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

Rome was the center of the civilized world and the primary hub for commerce and power - Paul knew that a gospel witness in this city was of significant importance

Pauls letter is considered the most thorough theological presentation of the gospel In all the Bible. The letter reads like a courtroom defense attorney skillfully laying out his case and overwhelming evidence to convince the mind of the jury of the certainty of the gospel message.

Transition

In Paul’s introduction he points to his position as a called servant of Christ based on the foundational truth of Christ’s promised coming and his Powerful resurrection from the dead. He ends the section by reminding us that these same truths that govern Paul’s life should guide ours as well. We will look this morning at

The Position of Paul

The Prophecy of Christ

The Proof of Christ

The Personal Application

Notice first …the position of Paul

I. The Position of Paul

Romans 1:1 KJV 1900

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Paul is giving his credentials as he often does - we normally sign letters at the end of our letters but in the 1st century the common approach was to put it at the beginning. In order to establish the credibility of the author.

He was a man of many facets but here he highlights three

A. Humble Position - “a servant of Jesus Christ”

Paul was not just a servant he was a servant of Christ.

This is how Paul viewed himself in this new relationship - he viewed himself as a servant.

“Servant" in our English New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos (bondslave). Sometimes it means diakonos (deacon or minister); this is strictly accurate, for doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words denote a man who is not at his own disposal, but is his master's purchased property. Bought to serve his master's needs, to be at his beck and call every moment, the slave's sole business is to do as he is told. Christian service therefore means, first and foremost, living out a slave relationship to one's Savior (1 Corinthians. 6:19-20).

B. Honorable Position - “called to be an Apostle”

this was a unique calling and one that carried with it special responsibilities.

It means one who is sent

Illustration - When we think of someone representing our country we think of that as an honorable and important responsibility. There are (at least there were at one time) certain characteristics that define who we are and the one who is sent carries with him a message and is a representation of who we are as a country. This is what an ambassador is and in a very similar sense this is what an apostle is.

2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV 1900

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We represent Christ to the world around us

C. Haromanized Position “separated unto the gospel of God”

It matters what we are connected to - what we associate with - here Paul tells us what he is “separated unto” - he is separated unto the gospel

Paul’s position was important but it was built on the foundation of the truth and significance of the gospel. This gospel was not a new truth and he helps us see this by drawing our attention to the prophecy of Christ...

II. The Prophecy of Christ

Romans 1:2–3 KJV 1900

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

God had promised to send a redeemer

There is no explanation for the fulfilled specific prophecies about Christ except that God wrote them for man to believe

Quote:

Prophesies Concerning

His Birth

His Ministry

His Death & Resurrection

His Role in the Church

Luke 24:25–27 KJV 1900

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Of course the promises of God are always reliable and we can be assured of this by going back to the resurrection.

III. The Proof of Christ

Romans 1:4 KJV 1900

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

The Gospel was declared and prophesied in the Old Testament by the prophets of old and that prophecy was born out in the actual life of Christ and in his resurrection from the dead.

No other event in human history can reach its pinnacle of importance

Since it happened Christ has been preached with power throughout the world

This world can promise us many things but none of them compare with the power of the resurrection

Acts 1:1–3 KJV 1900

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Finally we will conclude with...

IV. The Personal Application of Christ

Romans 1:5–6 KJV 1900

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

A. Our Reception - “we have received”

Grace - the outpouring of God’s love as demonstrated in Christ - the forgiveness of sins and adoption into his loving family - forever!

Apostleship - we are not Apostles in the strictest sense of the word but in a general sense we are “sent ones”

B. Our Resposability - “for obedience to the faith”

Luke 12:48 KJV 1900

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Conclusion