Introduction:

Text: Romans 1:1-7

Proposition: The daily testimony of Christians must place God at the center.

Interrogative: How can we place God in the center?

Transitional Sentence: Paul provides through his epistles glimpses of his testimony; we, as fellow believers, should pay close attention to how Paul proclaims and promotes God in everything he says and does.

I. We must proclaims the truth of the Gospel v. 3-4

1. Jesus was fully man

The gospels themselves attest to the fact that Christ was born…
Jesus actually lived breathed and walked…
App. Do not speak of Jesus as a mythical person but as an actual physical person who was the Son of God; He “was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”

2. Jesus is fully God

This phrase should be on our lips 24/7: “Christ was resurrected from the dead.”
For this miraculous feat is what proved to the world beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is in fact God.

Christ was resurrected, this is the gospel…
I Cor 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

Anticipatory: Man and God!?  How…

II. We must promote the glory of God in our life v. 5

1. God’s grace

When Paul speaks of the grace of God, he can only be referring to nothing other than his salvation…
Illus. Personal (Christy/Michelle/Northland)
App. Our daily testimonies must speak of God’s abundant grace in our lives.  If you don’t see the grace of God in your life then you really are not looking hard enough; for salvation alone is enough.

2. The obedience of faith among all nations

This is Paul’s missionary focus, to bring others into the obedience which is nessecitated by—but no less an inherent cascade of—faith.  For an obedient life is a faithful and fruitful life.
App. Promote the life of a Christian; change occurs in a believer’s life, it is nessecitated by faith.  To properly bring others into a salvation relationship with Christ the world must see us as changed.

Conclusion:

We see a progression with what Paul states

1. First Paul notes direct unavoidable facts concerning God

2. Then he focuses directly on what God has done for him.  This grace of God is apparent to all around him.

3. We must show the world that we are different

4. Matt 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

5. Anticipatory: Now I know that you are thinking, “this is what Paul was supposed to do, not us.” App. Notice v. 6…  His calling is our calling.