Reflecting the Master

Introduction

This morning you can open your Bible’s to the book of Romans. It’s right after the book of Acts. Two book after Luke. You can also follow along on the Bible app with us and the passage and the sermon highlights will all be right there for your note taking.

We are starting what will be a 46 message series in the book of Romans. Where we will preach through all 433 verses of what many theologians call the jewel of Paul’s letters to the churches.

John Calvin said, “Romans is the passageway through which one finds an understanding of Scripture as a whole.”

Martin Luther said Romans is “the chief part of the New Testament and the purest Gospel.”

Why Romans? At Covenant Life Church we are studying the book of Romans on Sunday morning for 2 main reasons:

Romans is a gospel-saturated letter. As a church we just got done hearing the call from God for us to be a people who live on mission for the glory of God. And friends the gospel—and a deep understanding of the gospel is the fuel that we need for missional living.

Every signigicant movement of Christ’ church has been fueled by a deep understanding of the gospel. Romans will show us how the gospel applies to all of life.

2. Romans shows us that the gospel builds community. Paul writes to the church at Rome, not a church that he planted. Likely, some Jewish Romans came to believe during the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 and then took faith in Christ back to Rome where the church started as a predominantly Jewish church.

But the church didn’t stay Jewish—as the Roman church lived on mission—Gentile Romans became saved and joined the church.

Then all the Jews were expelled from Rome. 5 years later they were allowed back in. And when they come back to the church it is now a Gentile run church. Different customs. Different ways of doing things.

So Paul writes this letter to a church in flux. And what he says about Jews and Gentiles living on gospel mission together for the glory of Christ’ name is applicable to every single church until the Lord Jesus comes back.

This morning we’ll be in Romans 1:1-7 and we are going to see 8 reflections of Jesus in Paul.

Here’s our main takeaway. This is the goal of the sermon. Like Paul we want to reflect Jesus with our lives.

In all that we do, wherever we go, we want to be a people that reflect, to the world, our Lord Jesus. Amen?

Let’s read our passage and then we’ll jump in together.

Romans 1:1–7 ESV

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

Jesus Is Our Master (1a)

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus...”

Paul wastes no time coming out of the gate to let the church in Rome knew who he was. Paul says, “I am a servant...”

Paul was great in service to the Lord. He was so great in his service to King Jesus that one day when 7 sons of Sceva, a high priest, were trying to cast a demon out of a man.

They saw the apostles doing this and got jealous so like the magicians in Egypt with Moses and Pharoah they say, “We can do that.” And they try to cast the demon out of the man. And Acts 19:11-20 tells us what happened.

They say, “We adjure you by the Christ that Paul proclaims to come out”

And the demon says, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

Okay, Paul was big times—he was so effectively used by Jesus for kingdom work that the enemy knew who he was. That’s goals.

But Paul right here in the beginning of Romans—nips in the bud—any illusions that we might want to have that we should be hight and lifted up as followers of Jesus.

Paul, with the words of Christ ringing in his ears “The greatest among you will be a servant to all” says, “Hello, it’s Paul and first and foremost I want you to know that I am writing you as a servant to a master. And that master is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Friends, our application is simple here. If you are a follower of Jesus He is your master.

Friends, if you have not trusted in Christ for your salvation. If you are watching online or you are here with us in the building. You need to know that salvation in Christ is not just an addition to your life. It’s a total life change.

You are not the master of your life, but Jesus is. We are the servants and he is the master.

And this isn’t an unhappy relationship, we are not trading our freedom for salvation. But freedom is found in service to Christ. He is unlike any master the world has known, He is the master who gave up his life for his servants. He is the master whom the servants call blessed. He is the master whom we love.

I’m 1000% glad that Jesus has control of my life. Because I remember when I was acting like the master and I don’t ever want to go there again. If you’re saved you knwo what I’m talking about. Amen?

And if God is drawing you to Himself then you also know what I’m talking about. You are at the end of yourself and you know that life with you calling the shots, based of your knowledge and your justice and your power is miserable and full of trouble.

So this morning I want to encourage you to live your life in a way that reflects Jesus as the master and you as his servant. Agreed? Amen.

Jesus is Lord of the Church (1b)

Continuing in our passage Paul writes, “Paul, a servant of Chirst Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,”

If Jesus is our Master, then He is certainly Lord of the Church. The church is made up of all the called and baptized people of Jesus and so it is the most basic logic that Jesus our master is Lord of the church.

Paul says, “I am an apostle, for the gospel of God.”

But only because I’ve been “called and set apart”.

And not by my own doing but my the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus loves the church. Jesus died for the church. Jesus prayed for the church. Jesus is the great shepherd of the church. We are his bride. We are bought with his blood.

And being God Jesus has the best plan for the church. Does anybody think they have a better plan than the all seeing, all knowing, all mighty God of the universe?

We say, “No, nobody thinks that.”

Friends, but I’d have to disagree—the fruit on a lot of churches trees would say otherwise. We know the right speak, but we aren’t doing the right actions. And our actions betray our speak and reveal for side speak, double speak.

When the church questions the Holy Word of God they proclaim themselves to be the Lord of the church. When we reject God’s plan for families, for sexuality, for life, for church structure, for church mission we say to God— “Our plan is better!”

So how do we reflect with our lives that Jesus is Lord of the church? How do we, Covenant Life reflect that Jesus is Lord of this church?

We unapologetically, with much patience and grace stand on the word of God and do not budge. We want to be the house built on the rock—not the house built on the sand. Amen?

We don’t move in the face of culture, we don’t move in to the sway of our own desires, we don’t budge in order to gain comfort—we stand and say with our lives and our church that Jesus is Lord of this church, his word is our guide, and we must do this because we love Jesus and we want to see our neighbors saved—to know this love that we have.

You can’t be a church living on gospel mission, seeking to reflect Jesus, if you reject Him as Lord of all.

This morning will you commit with me to aggresively bow to Jesus as Lord of the church? If we are going to reach out goal of seeing peole radically transformed in Christ and leveraging their lives for God’s glory then we must.

Jesus is the Subject/Fulfiller of Prophecy (2-3)

Verse 2 says, “which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh”

Jesus did not just appear on the scene. By the pharisee’s and scribes confusion—we might think that there was little evidence of the messiah in holy Scripture, but that’s not the case.

Jesus fulfilled 324 prophecies in the OT about the coming messiah. 324.

The holy Scriptures were not silent about the coming messiah! The OT Scriptures shout about the messiah all over the place. From the first mention of the coming one who would rescue humanity in Genesis 3:15 to the prophecies of John the Baptist, God has been proclaiming his coming Son.

We won’t go over all 324 prophecies—and the church said (amen)—but let me just hightlight a few.

The Scriptures say that the messiah would be a descendant of the great King David. Matthew’s gospel shows us Jesus’ genaology and reveals that his is of the line of King David. He is the royal heir.

The Scriptures say the messiah is to be born in Bethlehem. Even though Jesus was from Nazareth he was born in Bethlehem.

The Scritpures say that the messiah is to be preceded by a messenger. John the Baptist was a reed calling out in the wilderness, “make the pathways straight for the Lord for he is coming. I’m unworthy to untie his sandals.”

The Scriptures say the messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus, amid shouts of ‘Hosana in the highest’ rides into Jerusalem like a reigning king on a donkey.

The Scriptures say that the messiah would be betrayed by a friend. Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot—one of his 12 disciples—his friend.

The Scritpures says that the messiah would be sold for 30 pieces of sliver. 30 pieces of silver is exactly what Judas was payed to betray Jesus into the hands of the scribes and Pharisees.

The Scriptures say that the messiah is to be executed by crucifixion haveing his hands and feet pierced, the messiah is to be executed without a bone being broken, the messiah is to be laid to rest in the tomb of a rich man. Jesus was crucified, without any bones being broken, and was laid to rest in Joseph of Arimithea’s tomb, he was a rich man.

I could keep going and going and going, but the Scriptures clearly prophesy about the coming messiah and Jesus is clearly the one that Holy Scripture prophesied about.

Dolores Smyth echoes what many church fathers and Biblical scholars has said when she writes,

The Old Testament prophets went to great lengths to describe the Messiah’s life, death, and victorious resurrection. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these prophecies in such accurate detail a millennium later that there can be no doubt that He was that promised Messiah.

Paul reflects the validity of his master Jesus. Paul represents the trustworthiness of his savior.

Acts 17:1–3 tell us that proving Jesus was the messiah from the Scriptures was Paul’s regular practice.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

In Acts 7, Stephen, before he is stoned to death proves Jesus to be the messiah and then calls the leaders to repent for killing him.

Jesus himself in Luke 24:27, teaches two disciples on the road to Emmaus, “beginning with Moses and the prophets all the Scritpures had to say concerning himself.”

And in this we get the application for our lives. How are we to relfect the validity of Jesus like Paul?

We are to know our Scritpures—we are to study them—to apply them to all of life—to be able to speak to them.

Friends, do you know how to defend your faith? Are you ready with an answer for the hope you have in Jesus?

I’m not tell you tha tyou have to be a biblical scholar—I’m not saying you can’t be either.

What I’m saying is that if we want to reflect that Jesus is the wise conclusion of history we must commit to knowing redemptive history and being able to speak to it.

Don’t be afraid of study—as we dwell deeply in the Lord and his Word we will reflect Jesus in the pools of our lives, Amen.

Jesus is the Author of Salvation (4a)

Our text continues in Romans 1:1-4 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, ...”

There is a dichotomy in Paul’s opening to the Roman church. Jesus is the victorious Son of God who is in power proven by His resurrection from the dead.

In Philippians 2:7-8 we see Jesus

emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

In Mark 10:45 Jesus says,

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The prophet Isaiah prophesied about Jesus as the suffering servant.

And so he was—he came from splendor and glory to be trampled on by the very ones that he came to save.

The resplendant glory of God—the exact imprint of Holy God’s nature—the one who spoke the world into existence—was a homeless, poor, wandering, servant who poured out his life as a ransom for many.

He ended his life as a criminal, naked, bloodied, and discarded.

But friends, I’m excited to say that he didn’t stay that way!

There’s a song we sing here fairly often, In Christ Alone, and one of the verses says,

'Til on that cross, as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin, on him, was laid Here, in the death of Christ, I live There in the ground, his body lay Light of the world, by darkness, slain Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave, he rose again

Jesus came as a servant, but he rose in power and victory. He is no longer the suffering servant, but he is the victorious King who lives in power and this is evidence by the resurrection.

If Jesus had stayed dead he would have been a very interesting person of historical interest, but he would not be the messiah—he would not be the Lord of Glory—He would not be King Jesus ruling in power.

And friends, we would not be saved. Our hope of freedom from the guilt and death of sin rises and falls as Jesus falls in death and rises in life!

In this he is the author of salvation. Are you reading the book?

Have you been saved? Are you ready to trust God to save you from yourself?

If you’ve never trusted Jesus—today is the day to do so—will you be saved today?

Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

How can we like Paul reflect that Jesus is the author of salvation? Trust the gospel and share the gospel.

When we do this it is evident to all that this is important and should not be ignored.

Charles Spurgeon famously said,

If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.

In this way we reflect not only that Jesus is the our Master, the Lord of the church, the subject and fulfillment of prophecy, but also the author of salvation.

Jesus is our Mediator (4b-5a)

Romans 1:1-5 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 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, through whom we have received grace...”

Jesus is Master. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is hight and lifted up.

But we make a mistake if we think that means he is distant and unfamiliar.

He is our gracious mediator. It is through him that we receive grace.

His obedience won our freedom—his blood covered our stains—these are not the acts of an unfeeling, distant God--

God has always taken special care—and great joy in his people.

To Abraham he says “I will be your God and you will be my people.”

Jesus says in John 17:11-12 “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”

This is the tender prayer of our mediator—his blood forever mediates for our sin.

The accuser can try to acuse the saints of God, but it swill always be fruitless because the blood of Jesus—the love of God for his people will never dim, but will only shine for all eternity as a proclamation and testimony that God has saved his people just like he said he would.

How can you and I reflect that Jesus is the great mediator and show what that means?

This one is easy to talke about and difficult to do.

When you sin, when you offend, when you come face to face with a wrong that Jesus has paid for you make it right. You seek forgiveness. You reconcile. You pour out your life as an example that you are a new creation. And when you do this speak to the gospel as the reason why you must.

Let your example of repentance and your explanation of the gospel reflect the glory of Jesus as the God who mediates for his people.

Though your sin cry out against you overcome the noise with a louder gospel.

Jesus is our Mission Leader (5b)

Romans 1:1-5 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 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, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith...”

Paul says that he has been called and set apart for the work of an apostle to bring about the obedience of faith. This was the ministry of Paul amongst the Gentiles. He was called to be on mission by Jesus himself.

Friends, Jesus calls us to this very same mission. Right? After the last three weeks we now that right?

If you are new to Covenant Life, you can check out the last three weeks of our messages on our website or youtube page, itll give you a good idea of what the mission of Covenant LIfe is.

We are determined to be a people on mission.

How can you reflect that Jesus has a mission in the world?

By being on mission in the world? Are you being obedient to the calling of Christ in your life to be on mission with the glorious good news of the gospel?

This call is for all of God’s people. Gods younger people. God’s older people. Gods healthy people. Gods sick people. Gods rich people. Gods poor people. Gods republican people. Gods democratic people. Gods people who like The Office. People who don’t like The Office need Jesus—and so we gotta be about the work right?

You are called to the mission of speading the gospel of Jesus. What are you doing to make it happen?

Jesus is Glorious (5c)

Romans 1:1-5 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 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, 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,”

Paul tells the Romans and us that the mission we have been called to is to call the nations to be obedient to the pleading of the gospel—which is to place your trust in the sacrifiace of Jesus on your behalf—and this is for the sake of his name.

Jesus name is glorious—because Jesus is glorious God—and his gospel, his good news is glorious.

This is news worthy of the worlds attention. This is news the nations desperately need to hear.

The whole world, for the last two years, has been plagued by Corona Virus. It has disrupted our lives. It has brought death and sickness to the world.

Now imagine with me that you have the cure. You 100% know how to end the nightmare. To stop the death. To bring back a better world. Would you share it? Yes! Would the world listen? Yes!

Why? Because Covid is a problem that the world knows it has—it is looking for a solution. And that would be glorious news.

Friends, before Covid ever came the world was already plagued by death and sickness. Ever since Adam and Eve rejected God’s love for them. The world has been dying and getting worse. Sin has killed the whole world adn they don’t even know it. We have so many people in the world that are blind to their great need for salvation.

The need is so great and the news of the gospel is so glorious—the name of Jesus is so glorious because of the truth that it represents.

I think many followers of Jesus would quickly and enthusiastically share the cure for Covid.

Why are you not sharing the cure for spiritual death that leads to an eternity in Hell?

If we are to relfect the glorious nature of our Lord Jesus then we must tell people.

I told you this letter was gospel saturated.

Jesus is for the World (6-7)

Romans1:1-7 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 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, 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, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 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.”

Paul writes to a Roman church filled with Jews and Gentiles—people who were at odds for thousands of years.

Paul says “to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints”

Why make the emphasis? Paul is pointing out to the church that the message of the gospel is for all people., i

And as God saves all kinds of people the church will be fantastically diverse.

This has been God’s plan for all along. His plan was secured in the Jews, but it was meant for the world.

In several place the OT speaks about God bringing the Gentiles—that is every non-Jew into his people. (Isa. 56:6-8, Isa. 49:6)

The gospel is for all people? Are you committed to all people hearing it?

In the OT God calls Jonah to go to the Assyrian capital of Ninevah to deliver a warning to the people. And Jonah is angry at God and doesn’t want to do it because he knows that if he warns the people they may repent and if they do—God will forgive them and not destroy them.

Isn’t that awful?

Friends, when we decide to reject the gospel on behalf of other people we are just like Jonah. How do we reject the gospel on behalf of other people?

We do this by not sharing it with people. Who in your life do you not want to share the gospel with?

Someone who hurt you? Someone who believes something that you think is horrible?

The gospel is for every person. It is an offer for everyone. And if you have it you ar obligated by God himself to share it with them. They might reject it, but don’t you reject it for them.

You ahve proof in your house right now that God can save anyone. Just go find a mirror.

Friends, you are proof tha tGod can save anyone. Your sins cost just as much as anyone elses.

How can you reflect that Jesus is for the world? Resolve that there be no person you won’t share the gospel with.

Conclusion

7 verses down and 426 to go.

My prayer this week has been that this opening message in Romans would get you excited for all that we have before us as God leads us through Romans.

Friends, like Paul we want to reflect Jesus with our lives. Through our lives let the world see the glory of Jesus. This morning let’s be resolute to be those Christians. Amen? Let’s Pray.

Discussion Question: What aspects of Jesus do you relfect well? What aspects of Jesus do you need to reflect better?