Concerned, Committed, Convinced

OCTOBER 3, 2021 STUDY NOTES ROMANS 1:14-16 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES CONCERNED, COMMITTED, CONVINCED INTRODUCTION We find that Paul makes three personal statements which are identified by “I am” First, I am debtor, verse 14, Paul was CONCERNED about his debt to preach the Gospel Second, I am ready to preach, verse 15, Paul was COMMITTED to preach the Gospel Third, I am not ashamed, verse 16, Paul was CONVINCED of the power of the Gospel We have recently studied Hell, are we concerned about those who are lost and going to Hell? Do we really believe that the only way they can be saved from Hell is to receive the Gospel? If so, are we committed to sharing the Gospel with them, are we going to witness to the lost? Are we convinced that the Gospel is powerful, that the lost can be saved through the Gospel? Many of us can quote Matthew 28:19-20 by heart, which is known as the “Great Commission” But what has happened to our heart’s desire as followers of Christ to go make followers of Christ? In too many churches today the “Great Commission” is now the “Great Omission” (Hear Paul) I AM CONCERNED Rom 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. “I am” is in the present tense, what Paul says is true of his present life, he is concerned “I am debtor” means that he was under a strong moral obligation, he had a personal duty His debt is a spiritual debt, Paul knew that he had a spiritual debt to pay to all of society Because he recognized his spiritual debt, he was concerned about all who were lost and without Jesus His spiritual debt was to all that he would meet, he must tell all of them about Jesus He was concerned about all who are lost, his concern was without distinction or prejudice both to the Greeks, Greeks were the sophisticated elite of Paul’s day, considered to be the civilized, cultured people People considered the Greeks to be on a higher level of life than others, and the Greeks agreed The “Greeks” considered themselves to be educated, cultured, and civilized In Paul’s day, they were considered to be the wise compared to the Barbarians; The “Greeks” said that everyone else was a “Barbarian” They generally called the Romans and Jews Barbarians “Barbarian” referred to anyone who did not speak the Greek language “The Barbarians” were the less civilized class of people, the uncultured In the mind of the Greeks anyone who was not of the Greek culture was a nobody All others were-considered to be uneducated and therefore “foolish” The Romans were included within the “Greeks” or the “Gentiles” So, when Paul spoke of the Greeks and Barbarians, he was speaking of those who needed the Gospel His point was that the Gospel was for a world of sinners, and he must share the Gospel-both to the wise, (The “Greeks”) and to the unwise. (The Barbarians) When Paul speaks of the “wise” and “unwise,” he refers to all groups of people, all who have sinned In fact, he covers us all as individuals and our character before salvation, Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. The Jews believed that there were only two kinds of people, Jews, and heathens (Greeks, Gentiles) To the Jew, all non-Jews were Gentiles, and all Gentiles were heathens God says there are only two kinds of people, those who are saved and those who are lost Page 1 of 5 Those who are spiritually alive and those who are spiritually dead, 1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. The Gospel is the Gospel of grace, it is the “good news” for “all sinners” Every member of the human-race must hear the Gospel, today Christians must hear Jesus, Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Paul wanted to do all that he could for all people, that is why he was committed to the Gospel I AM COMMITTED Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. So, as much as in me is, Paul was committed to do his part for the cause of society I am ready is a strong statement in the original, Paul knew that he must put forth a strong effort Paul must be eager to share the gospel, if he did not give it his all, it would not be done at all Paul was eager to serve God to the fullness of his ability, which is not true of too many Christians today Too many of us are not ready to be all that we can be for Christ at all-times I know that I am not ready to be all that I can be all-of the time There are times that I want to be all that I can be for Christ But there are many times that I am not what I should be for Christ We talk about being ready, it is time to quit talking about it and start doing it, it is time to be committed Paul had a passion to preach the gospel, he had every reason to share the gospel with every person There was no reason why he should not “preach the gospel,” 1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! Hear Paul, I am ready to preach the gospel, to bring forth good news, bring glad tidings, to evangelize In scripture it refers to making known the good news of the Gospel of salvation Conservative churches want to be known as an “Evangelical Church” What is an evangelical church supposed to be? A church that faithfully proclaims the Gospel There is no greater future for America than for Christians to “preach the Gospel” Paul was spiritually able, Paul was spiritually willing, Paul was spiritually ready How can we be spiritually ready today? Prayer, Bible study, fellowship with other Christians Be faithful to church, understand why we should be faithful to church, Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: The word translated “provoke” means to stimulate or to stir up Christians have a ministry of stirring one another up for a good purpose It is time to get stirred up about sharing the gospel, it is time to excite one another, how do we do that? Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. We must encourage, excite, and motivate each other when we meet-together Our goal should be to excite each other, Christians have more to be excited about than anyone else There is nothing more exciting than being ready to preach the gospel As a preacher, “To preach the gospel” speaks to me personally As a pastor I have the responsibility of preaching every Sunday Years ago, I adopted a policy that I heard from an older preacher He said, as a preacher, do not get up on Sunday morning with the wrong attitude Do not say, “It’s Sunday, I have to preach a sermon,” but say, “It’s Sunday, I have a sermon to preach” Let me apply that policy to you as a Christian, don’t get up on Sunday morning with the wrong attitude Do not say, “It’s Sunday, I have to go listen to the preacher” But say, “It’s Sunday, I can go listen to the preacher” I can go listen to the gospel, I can learn the gospel, I can be motivated to share the gospel with the lost Paul explained “The gospel” in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Page 2 of 5 There is nothing more important than the Gospel, the Gospel must be declared, 1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; Because salvation is only through the Gospel, 1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. The truth of the Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, 1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; It is a living Gospel because Jesus arose from the grave and lives forever, 1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: According to scripture everyone must hear the Gospel and call upon Jesus in-order to be saved, Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The next verse tells us why Paul was eager to preach the gospel, Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Every Christian is to be a preacher of the Gospel) Paul said that the preaching of the Gospel was glad tidings of good news, Rom 10:15 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! That is why Paul said he was eager to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. “Rome” was the greatest city in the known world at that time “Rome” was the capital city of the greatest empire that the world has ever known Rome was also known to be a wicked and sinful city, and had been called, “a cesspool of iniquity” Like Babylon of the OT, Rome became a symbol of paganism and idolatry in the NT Rome needed Paul to come with the Gospel, Paul knew the danger he would face by going to Rome Paul would face danger, opposition, persecution, and even death, as he preached the Gospel in Rome But Paul was convinced, he must go to Rome and preach the gospel He knew that within the Gospel message was the power of God to save any lost sinner He had seen the life changing power of the Gospel work in Corinth and Ephesus, it would work in Rome I AM CONVINCED Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. “For” relates to the previous verse and explains why Paul is ready to preach to Rome Paul was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” The word “ashamed” not only speaks of “being ashamed,” but also of “being afraid” Having a feeling or fear which prevents a person from doing something Such as the reluctance to say or do something because of the fear of embarrassment or humiliation Which is a common excuse among Christians today for not presenting the Gospel to the lost There are many reasons why Paul could have been “ashamed” of the Gospel He was a Jew, and the Jews hated the Gospel of Jesus Christ Paul was an educated Jew, and the Jews considered the Gospel of Jesus as foolishness, 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Because of the Jews hatred of the Gospel, they severely persecuted the Christians, Act 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. Paul was a Pharisee and they considered Christians to be atheists But Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel and had no fear of preaching the Gospel—Why? Why was Paul not afraid to go to Rome and preach the Gospel? Because Paul was convinced that what he was presenting to the lost was the Gospel of Christ The “Gospel of Christ” is the message of the grace and mercy of a loving God There are many religions in our world today, religion is man’s search for God Page 3 of 5 There is only one Gospel, the Gospel is God’s search for man, God’s love reaching out to man The Gospel is the story of the one and only true God who gave His all, in love toward man It is the “Gospel of salvation” and there is no other Gospel to preach, Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. The Gospel of Christ is the Gospel of power, for it is the power of God Rome was a powerful city, the Roman Empire was a military power, sin was powerful in the city of Rome But Paul came to the powerful city of Rome with a powerful Gospel The inherent power of the Gospel is the omnipotence of God The Gospel has miraculous power, it is a miracle working Gospel It is like spiritual dynamite, it is packed with God’s omnipotence Within the very nature of the Gospel there “is the power of God unto salvation” It has the power to change a life of sin to a life of righteousness before God It will sober a drunk, deliver a drug addict, and wash away any sin, 1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Salvation is presented as a past-experience, Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Salvation is presented as a better present life, Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. Salvation is presented as having more to come, Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Future salvation) Salvation is a past, present, and future experience We will sing of our salvation in Heaven, Rev 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: Salvation is what the Gospel can do and will do, it will save a lost sinner from Hell The result of the power of the Gospel is an eternal salvation in Heaven Salvation is the great need of man, man must be rescued from the penalty of sin Salvation is Justification, I have been saved, Salvation is Sanctification, I am being saved Salvation is Preservation, I will always be saved, Salvation is glorification, Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. But who will be saved through the power of the Gospel? Regardless of who it is that believes, salvation is to everyone that believeth; There is no racial restriction, there is no sinful restriction Every sinner and evil person in Rome could be saved through the Gospel if they would believe The Gospel is a “whosoever will” gospel, any sinner can be saved, Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Belief is putting your faith in Jesus, who He is, what He has done, what He will do Believing is confidence, trust, and commitment to the Gospel of Christ God did not say behave, He said believe, believe first and then you will behave It is not, I will try to do better and then I will be saved, there is no salvation by works Nothing but the Gospel has that power of conviction, the gospel was to the Jew first, “First” does indicate a priority of the Jews but does not put a limitation on the Gentiles “First” indicates a historical or chronological priority, the Jews were privileged to be “first” They are the chosen nation of God, set aside by God for His purpose, to be a witness to all other nations Page 4 of 5 Through God’s chosen nation came the Word of God, Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. Through God’s chosen nation came the “Promised Messiah,” Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Salvation is of the Jews, Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. The Jews were God’s first choice to receive the Messiah, Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel was to begin at Jerusalem But from Jerusalem the Gospel was to be preached throughout the world, Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The Gospel must be preached also to the Greek. The name Greek was often used to identify all those who were not Jews, also known as Gentiles Since Jesus died for the sins of the world, the Gospel must also be preached to the Gentiles And Paul was the chosen Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15) That is why Paul was willing, ready, and eager to preach the Gospel anywhere He knew that anyone could be saved through the preaching of the Gospel Salvation is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ Salvation is a personal acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Salvation is for the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Greeks, 1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Through Christ, all believers become the new people of God, Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. All believers have been baptized of the Spirit into one body, 1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. CONCLUSION Paul was concerned about those who were lost Paul was committed, he was ready to preach the Gospel to the lost Paul was convinced, the Gospel was the power of God unto salvation It is time for Christians in America to be concerned, committed, and convinced America has been a great nation in the past with the blessings of God upon us But America is rapidly becoming a symbol of paganism and idolatry, just like Rome was Consider the people of today, what they rally for (sin) and protest-against (God’s Word) America needs every Christian to come forth with the Gospel and say with Paul: I owe a spiritual debt, I am ready to preach the Gospel, I am not ashamed of the Gospel There is nothing more important than the preaching of the Gospel of God There is nothing more powerful than the “Good News” of Jesus Christ No one can receive eternal life through any other way than believing in the Gospel, Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Christian, now is the time to do what the song is telling us to do, listen to it Page 5 of 5