April 26, 1998

Introduction: Are you a person who likes to tell your children or grandchildren how they became a part of the family? Our historical witness often influences future generations. My adopted parents didn’t talk much about my origins. When they did, it was usually quite uncomplimentary. Yet, it might have been that part of my life that makes the letter to the Romans so valuable and interesting to me. Romans presents the Gospel, the good news of salvation of sinners. It does this with simple yet profound clarity. In other words, it helps us know our heritage in the Christian family. It is a most profound witness to Jesus Christ.

Consider Dostoyevski who once wrote: “The ant knows the formula for the anthill. The bee knows the formula for the beehive. Only man does not know his formula.” What a sad outlook on humanity. Maybe Dostoyevski could have gained something from the book of Romans. It gives us God’s formula, His doctrine, His teaching for salvation and life. Romans is His provision so that we might indeed know His teaching, confess it, and live it.

Over the next several weeks our meditations will focus on the book of Romans. Each will take another section as outlined in the Wednesday night Bible study. This week we focus on Chapter 1:1-17.

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 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. 5 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

In the first 17 verses Paul offers the formula for salvation as the starting point of faith. It is the Gospel. He then challenges us to consider who we are (saints) and what the Holy Spirit calls us to become (witnesses).

The Gospel When it comes to being and acting like Christ’s Saints and witnesses we fall short and recognize our unworthiness. Even so, Paul might suggest, “That’s okay! What a great place to begin!” It is a great place to begin because the Gospel has power to save and to transform us into God’s saints as witnesses. Knowing what the Gospel is and what it means is the starting point for all that follows in the walk of faith.

God’s Gospel First of all, the Gospel Paul speaks of belongs to God. It is not just any good news, as we might typically think. It is specifically God’s Good News “regarding His Son.” That identifies and sets apart the Gospel which saves. The formula for this Gospel is revealed by God in this text:

2 he reveals that the gospel was promised beforehand through the words of his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, not through the imagination or inclination of men.

3 He reveals that Jesus, as to his human nature, was a descendant of David, a real live human being.

4 He reveals through the Spirit of holiness, and power that Jesus is The Son of God, not a son of God as we believers are called.

4b God reveals Jesus as Lord by his resurrection from the dead: As Lord He is the author and provider of all things.

5 God then reveals His grace to us through Jesus, and for his name’s sake. This is God’s formula for the Gospel, the Good News; his formula of power.

God’s Power: This is why Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. It was like dynamite to him, I’m sure! This dynamite has Power to blow away the old way of thinking. It has Power to blow away ingrained self-righteousness. It has Power to blow away even sin, death and the devil. It has Power to give us a whole new perspective on life. This is God’s Power that enabled Paul to say, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” And to also say, “For me to live is Christ.”

The Gospel Calls Us to Be Saints From Paul’s recognition of himself we can see ourselves as God’s called saints with more accuracy. The first thing Paul says of himself is that he is a “servant of the Lord Jesus” A servant as Paul saw himself is better explained by the word slave. Paul implies that he is owned, body and soul, to be used as his Master wishes. God’s ownership suggests a chosenness like that of Israel to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” With grace, God called His people to be saints and witnesses.

Do you consider yourself called? Are you a saint? Being a called saint of God suggests a status of which we are all unworthy. Yet by God’s grace we are given the status of being saints. Yes, we are sinners, but we are also people washed in the blood of the Lamb, and freed by Christ’s death and resurrection to be His servants just like Paul. As His servants …

The Gospel Calls Us to Be Witnesses: Paul makes it clear that Jesus’ name is to be shared with all people. Paul is excited because the faith of the Romans is being proclaimed throughout the world. He is anxious to be with them because their childlike faith needed pastoral and prayer support. To live out their faith in Christ as His saints, these people must have their doctrine and priorities straight. They must be able to recognize what is true and what is false with respect to God. The only way to discern this is to have a firm foundation in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Power of God.

The proclamation of God’s power has been given to us to open the eyes of our hearts so that we also might know God better. The more we know God and how He has gifted us, the more we will be better equipped to serve Him. Paul accepted God’s power as his own. Because of that Power, He was looking for a harvest, the fruit of the Gospel and the results of faith.

What might he see if he came here among us? Would he see servants who just love to tell God’s story of salvation? I hope so, because that is what being a witness for Jesus is all about.

Someone once said, “Christians are like porcupines; they have a lot of fine points, but you can’t get near them.” Fellow saints and witnesses of God, how many people are getting near you and the Christ who is in you? The whole point of being a saint is to share the joy that resides within us, the joy of our salvation in Jesus Christ.

Sadly, we tend to be like the college student who took a job among what was called a “pretty rough lot of people.” When he returned a friend asked: “Well how did you, a Christian, make out with that crowd?” “Oh,” said the college student, “I didn’t really have any trouble. They never caught on!” Is anybody catching on to you, that you are a saint as witness to Jesus Christ?

Conclusion: My fellow saints loved by God, we can confess our faith and acknowledge Jesus Christ. His Good News empowers us with Jesus Christ. We are more than forgiven sinners. We are saints of God; let us praise Him for it! Let us pray for courage to share our faith in thought, word and deed. God’s power is with us whereby we pass on our heritage saying, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. For me to live is Christ” Amen.