For His Glory and Our Joy | Romans 1:5–6

Grace - A Call To Joy

The word grace is one of Paul’s favorite words. It is found 155 times in the New Testament but of that 100 times it is used by Paul. Paul also uses it 24 times in the book of Romans, the highest number of any other book.

The Greek word, Charis, is related to the word for joy and basically has the meaning of “that which causes joy.” We see this in our own english language when we call a dancer “graceful” by which we mean her movements are “joy-giving”.

As Leon Morris puts it:

"In a Christian context nothing brings joy like that great, inexplicable saving act of God in Christ in which he freely brings about our salvation without any contribution from our side."

This is the grace God gives Paul to live the Christian life. Paul was saved by the grace of God through Christ Jesus and he is sustained by grace.

This is His Ministry - His calling from God.

Paul was called to share the gospel with the gentiles. Like our salvation and Christian walk, our ministry, in Paul's case - apostleship, is given for us for the express purpose of our joy, but also according to his will, for his glory! "It is given in accordance with God's will to further God's purposes." (Ephesians 4:7)

Ephesians 4:7 ESV

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Paul was given a ministry because it was a gracious gift from God. Our ministry is not a hinderance. Sure there are things we have to do to accomplish our ministries that can be difficult, but our ministries, whether it be to serve our children, or to teach a small group, or to lead in praise, are not to be times of dull and dutiful service, but an expression of the joyous worship God has called us to.

Later in that sam chapter, listen to what Paul says:

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Paul tells us that GOd gives us the ministries of prophecy, and evangelism, and pastoring, and teaching and these aren’t merely duties but they are GRACES. They are reasons for joy

Pauls joy was wrapped up into his calling. Paul had joy because of his call to be an apostle. But not only that, his calling was a gracious gift from God

In the same way, you and I have been given a ministry and we should see it for what it is: A gracious gift from God.

The Gospel: For the Glory of His Name

So what is our calling, and what is our joy: It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ. Listen to what Paul states in these three participial phrases that follow this statement:

To bring about the obedience of faith

First we are given the gracious gift of ministry to bring about the obedience of faith in Christ. Being a Christian is about being salt and light.

Salt makes everything better. I remember years ago I was making homemade ice cream for the first time. I had never made it and I looked at my recipe I was shocked to see salt as an ingredient. I asked my mom why you would need salt in ice cream and she said, if you don’t have salt you can’t taste the sweet. Salt brings out the sweetness, without it your ice cream won’t taste as sweet.

Salt in helping other believers live godly lives. Encouraging one another, taking encouragement and correction, living life together. Christian fellowship, Christian discipleship, and Christian accountability are all a part of what makes life sweet, what makes it worth living.

We can think we can make it on our own in the Christian faith, but God designed us to reflect him, and God is always in communion with others, with God the Spirit, and with God the Son.

But not only that, we bring about the obedience of faith when proclaim the gospel to others and shine the light of the gospel into their lives. This is essential. e are called to proclaim Christ to all men.

Among all Nations

Not only are we called to share the gospel, there is a call in the Christian life to make that gospel known among the nations. We are saved to be a blessing to the nations. This is what God proclaimed to the Israelites, and it’s a huge part of what went wrong in Israel’s faith. God blessed them to be a blessing.

But we often go so caught up in our own lives that we fail to recognize that our faith is not just about us. God blesses us so that we can bless others.

Let me give you and example. Let’s say you have a life threatening disease, and I give you 100 vials of the cure for yourself and 100 others. I have given you that blessing and I expect you to bless others. This is true of the gospel. God saved us and commands us to lead others to him

We are saved to be a blessing.

Now how you are a blessing can be seen in your ministry. When you work in the nursery, you are to share the gospel with kids and their families by serving well, being joyful as you tend to the babies, friendly to parents, thankful for the opportunity to share even a small piece of the gospel in their lives.

At your work you are to work hard, have a great attitude, invite others to go to church, be joyful, share you faith in words and in deed.

As parents we are to share the good news with our children in family worship. We are to take our kids to church, not merely drop them off. Serve as leaders for trips, teachers for classes.

The list goes on and on.

We are called to share the gospel as we go!

Including the Called to belong to Jesus ones