5.1.41 9.6.2020 When Grace Comes to Town...God’s Word Unites the Faithful Romans 1.1-17

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Entice: In a fragmenting world amidst national crisis the church should be united. In a world which is filled with loneliness and weakness the Church should be a place of belonging and strength. When so much in our world is bringing us down the Church should be where we turn to be lifted up.

Engage:

How do you feel about the ministry of the Gospel in 2020?

I hope that you have not become too discouraged.

Our gospel...is still true.

Our direction...is still forward.

Our Master...is still in charge.

AND

Our Jesus...is still alive.

However. Empire is still real. It is still present. It is not always a threat…but it is always a factor.

Expand: Paul understood empire. He also knew the Gospel. He was unafraid of the empire because he was completely sold out for the Gospel. In fact, to Paul, empire was not, at this time, a hindrance to the Gospel-but a help. Ease of communication, travel and cultural exchange allowed the Church to move rapidly across the empire. The gospel-even as persecution increased and conflict intensified-flourished.

Paul writes the Roman Church to expand and include them in his exploding evangelistic enterprise. Through his inspired words the same invitation is invited to us in the 21c.

Excite: God has chosen grace. Romans is Paul's fullest expression of gospel. The NT picture is fleshed out with Gospels, Apocalypse and Acts, and the remaining epistles. Romans is not easy...complete statements of anything rarely are.

The essence of Romans is this:

when grace comes to town

Everything Changes!

For the rest of the year we will pursue this fundamental truth. Today's focus is how Grace takes strangers; people of different languages, ethnicities, skin colors, origins and makes them a single unified CHURCH.

Explore:

When grace comes to town it unites God's people in common cause for the Gospel.

Explain: Paul brings the Church three gifts...

1. Relationship.

Romans 1:1–7 ESV

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 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, 5 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, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 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.

Who: Paul

What: Servant of Jesus, Called as apostle, set apart for the gospel;.

Where: To the Roman Church(s)

When: During a time of ministry transition…From the east to the west.

Why: To extend greetings, and encouragement and summarize his gospel.

How: A letter of instruction, encouragement, and enlistment.

2. Resources.

Romans 1:8–13 ESV

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 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.

Thankful Commendation. 8-10

Grateful Contribution 11-13

Paul can contribute to the universal and local church at Rome by...

Being present

Being encouraged.

Being fruitful

3. Responsibility

Romans 1:14–17 ESV

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Paul succinctly summarizes his message as fulfilling the

Obligation.

of

Proclamation.

leading to

Salvation .

Empowering

Sanctification.

Similarity above dissimilarity...

Paul did not found the Roman Church. No Apostle founded it. Apparently believers from Pentecost returned to Rome with their new faith and it flourished. The Church was racially mixed, socially stratified, urbane, sophisticated and already important. Paul did not approach them based on what made his ministry and their different. He approached them focusing on their similarities. He invited them onto common ground so that each could flourish.

I am tired of the church sharing the tactics of the world. I am tired of us exalting our differences rather than celebrating our similarities. I cannot help but think that Paul, would he around today-would be more shocked by the behaviour of the Church than the character of the fallen world. He expects us to act in concert, together, with unity of purpose and mind.

When grace comes to town...it's not just about you. You have a responsibility. You have resources to share. You can have enriching relationships that change the world. Let grace work! Let the Word enrich you! Let the Spirit fill you! Let God use you. When Grace comes to town...we're in this life together.