The Need to Say Hello

Lesson 2 - Romans 1:1-7

Sunday, January 06, 2019

4:11 PM

The Introduction of Romans (1:1-17) - {The Need To Say Hello} - This is the longest of all of the Apostle Paul's salutations. It takes him six verses just to identify himself - this is probably due to the fact that Paul did not start the church at Rome, and wants to get a good start with them in the reading of the letter. Notice also he does not mention anyone else - this indicates a real personal touch and approach. The Apostolic Greeting (1:1-7) Paul's métier as an apostle (1:1) /ˈmāˌt-e-ā/ {occupation/ calling} A servant or love slave of Jesus Christ A called apostle Separated unto the Gospel of God - This was Paul's message When Paul uses the word Separated he is using the language of Jeremiah the prophet who was "separated from his mother's womb"

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Paul may have been separated at birth, but he was most definitely set apart by God to preach the Gospel.

Acts 9:15 (KJV)

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

What is this "Gospel" message Paul preached? lets look at this - Paul defines or lays out what he means by this phrase "The Gospel of God" Paul's Message as an Apostle (1:2-4) - THE GOSPEL - We often use the term "The Gospel" to refer to the "evangelistic" message. The plan of salvation. But what Paul is talking about is so much broader than that.

Lets look at this a little closer. The terms for "GOSPEL" used by Apostle Paul The word "Gospel" is translated from the Greek word -

Greek Word: εὐαγγέλιον

Transliteration: euangelion

Phonetic Pronunciation: u-ong-gel-ee-on

yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on

James Strong, Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary, (Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2007), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "2098".

It is found 76 times in the New Testament. 60 of those 76 times is by the hand of the Apostle Paul. 9 times in Romans and Philippians - the most in any one book. Found in all of the Pauline epistles except Titus. Simply defined it means "good news" Paul sometimes phrases it a little differently: Seven references to "the gospel of God" and Ten to "the gospel of Christ" (or "his Son, the Lord Jesus"). In three contexts mention of "the gospel of God" (Rom 1:1; 15:16; 1 Thess 2:9) is followed closely by "the gospel of Christ" (Rom 1:9; 15:19; 1 Thess 3:2). However, that order is reversed in 2 Corinthians 10:14; 11:7. The Corinthian correspondence contains five instances of "the gospel of Christ" and only one of "the gospel of God" (2 Cor 11:7). On the other hand, 1 Thessalonians includes "the gospel of God" three times and "the gospel of Christ" just once (1 Thess 3:2). There is no clear pattern of Pauline usage of these phrases. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, Daniel G. Reid, ed., Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Gospel".

Paul's message promised in the Old Testament (1:2) It is interesting that we say Paul helped to free us from the bondage of the Law, but we need to recognize that he never put away the Old Testament. This is where he draws his "Gospel" from . Possibly thinking especially of

Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Romans 10:15 (KJV)

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Not only is the Gospel revealed in the Old Testament the Prophets and others. But it is…

Paul's message is revealed in Jesus Christ (1;3 –4) - But even more than just the aesthetics of the feet of the Gospel preachers, is the content of the Gospel Message. Paul is very clear on this - in many other places he will use the word "Gospel" in some form and assume everyone knows what he means, but here he explains a little further what he means. The Gospel Concerns God's Son - Jesus Christ our Lord- Then Paul expounds deeper what he means. Made of the seed of David according to the flesh - Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection form the dead. Paul is revealing this Gospel through Jesus Christ our Lord in a few ways The two natures of Jesus HumanityDivinity Heir of the Throne of David

The parallelism in 3-4Made - Declared - some translations use the word "appointed" here in fact the NIV words it like this:

Romans 1:4 (NIV)

4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

While the NIV is not my favorite translation - I think they got it right with this one. I love the "Declaration at the end."

I think what all of this means is the Gospel is so much more than just the plan of salvation it is "Jesus Christ" himself. Paul's mission as an apostle (1:5-6) - spread this universal "Gospel" I love that Paul uses the word "WE" It is this Gospel that brings Grace and Apostleship Obedience to the faith - I think we have to be careful in our approach to salvation. We are not saved by works We are saved by a faith in Christ alone But it is a faith that produces works / an obedience. The Apostolic Greeting (1:7)