Download Study Materials
Paul’s greeting to the Romans… (3 things) vs. 1-7
- About Paul… vs. 1
- A bondservant of Jesus Christ…
- Bondservant – doulos – literally slave…
- Not someone who was made a slave – someone who choose to be a slave…
- Jesus does not demand that we give our lives to Him – it is our choice
- We can choose to live for ourselves – live for this world – in bondage to this world
- But the irony is when we give our lives to Jesus – that is when we are truly free!
- John 8:36 –“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
- Called to be an Apostle…
- Apostle – apostolo – one who is sent out…
- Paul was both had the position of an Apostle – and the calling of an apostle
- Paul was the 12th Apostle of Jesus Christ (the one who replaced Judas)
- Not by the disciples ‘lots’ – Acts 1:15-26 – but by Jesus – Acts 9:15
- He therefore had the authority of the position as one of the 12 Apostles
- Jesus also sent out (apostolo) Paul – for the purpose of preaching the Gospel!
- Paul saw himself as a servant (doulos) first – then a leader (apostolo)
- The greatest leaders – are the ones who serve others
- We do not equate that to “Greatness” – because we still have the world’s perspective
- Greatness to us is riches/ power / influence / having servants
- Not the person who empties the trash / cleans – being the servant!
- We would call that person “nothing special” – but God calls them “Great”
- The question is do we want to be “Great” in the World’s eye’s or God’s
- If you want to be 1st (greatest) – then be a slave (Doulos) – Matthew 10:26-28
- The church is not supposed to look like the world
- Leadership in the church should not look like the leadership in the world
- It should be the opposite! – Like an upside down pyramid…
- The “greater” you become in the Kingdom of God – the lower you go – servant
- A leader in the church is not someone who tells others what to do
- A great leader is the one shows others what to do by serving everyone else
- A bondservant of Jesus Christ…
- About Jesus… vs. 2-6
- There are many cults today who confuse – misrepresent – the person of Jesus Christ…
- They may use the name ‘Jesus’ – but it is not the Jesus of the Bible – the REAL Jesus!
- We need to be careful when someone says – Jesus – makes sure it is the right Jesus
- Paul clarifies exactly who Jesus is: The Jesus of the Bible – fully God and fully man!
- Jesus – whom the BIBLE promised would come…
- God had promised the hope of salvation – through the Christ – in His Word (prophets)
- There are over 300 prophecies in the Bible concerning the coming of Jesus Christ!
- Luke 24:27 – “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself… Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day…’”
- Jesus – who is fully God / Fully man…
- Son of David… Jesus was a man – born of the virgin Mary – in the line of King David –
- John 1:14 – “And the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us…”
- Son of God… Jesus was also God almighty! Proven through His resurrection of the dead
- There is only 1 God – who exists in 3 persons – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit
- Make no mistake – the Bible is VERY clear… Jesus is God – repeat – Jesus is God!
- The same Jesus – who gives us grace and apostleship…
- Grace for obedience…
- If you want to be obedient to God – do what God desires for you to do…
- Then you need the Grace of God – Jesus gives us grace to be obedient!
- How do you receive this grace – just ask – James 4:6 – grace is for the humble!
- Apostleship – apostole – those who are sent – among all the nations…
- The term literally means a ship that is sent out – like that of an ambassador…
- II Corinthians 5:20 – “We’re Christ’s ambassadors, God is using us to speak to you.”
- We are called to represent Jesus to a world that does not know about Him
- We are the ambassadors of Jesus Christ – for the good news of the Gospel!
- Grace for obedience…
- There are many cults today who confuse – misrepresent – the person of Jesus Christ…
- About the Romans… vs. 7
- Beloved of God – God loved the believers in Rome – always a good reminder
- Called to be saints…
- We get the impression ‘saints’ are dead believers who lived extraordinary lives
- But the Biblical meaning of saints – is you and I! (Saint David, Saint Dandan, Saint…)
- The word saints – hagios – means to be holy – set apart
- We are not to look like the world – we are to be a salt to the world – Matthew 5:13
- If we look just like the world – why would the world want Jesus – nothing different
- It is when we are separate from the world – we are salt to the world…
- Salt is a preserving agent in food – If you don’t want something to spoil you add salt
- The world around us is dying – God has us in this world to preserve it
- Salt is also a healing and purifying agent. It cleans wounds (though it is irritating)
- The Lord has given us the Gospel that we might heal and bring life to a dying world
- Salt is also what makes things tasty – makes you desire a certain food
- It is by living a Holy life we make the Gospel appealing – desirable to a lost world
- We are called to be saints – called to be salt – called to live for Jesus in a lost world!
- Grace and Peace to you…
- The twins of the New Testament…
- I Corinthians 1:3, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2
- The order is always the same – Grace – then Peace…
- Everyone wants peace – but they miss the key to acquiring peace – God’s Grace!
- God’s grace – gives us forgiveness of sins – so we have peace with God…
- It is only when we have God’s Grace – that we will find we have God’s peace!
Paul’s desire for the Romans… (3 things) vs. 8-16
- Love for Rome… vs. 8-9
- Faith spoken of throughout the world…
- Rome was the center of the gentile world – the superpower of its day – VERY secular
- Immorality – homosexuality – divorce – human trafficking – corruption…
- Roman religion – revolved around the worship of 100’s of gods – the pantheon…
- The believers in Rome were bold to stand up in their VERY pagan/secular culture
- So much so their faith – belief in Jesus – was known in throughout the world!
- If you light a candle in daylight – no effect – in a pitch-black room – shines!
- The darker the world becomes around us – the brighter the light of Jesus shines
- The darker the world gets – the greater the need to be a light to the world
- Pray for you always…
- Knowing the trials & temptations – as well as opportunities – for believers in Rome…
- Paul constantly prayed for them – to stand strong/uncompromising in their faith…
- We live in a very dark world – pray for your brothers & sisters – that they will stand
- Pray they will be strong in Jesus – uncompromising in their faith towards God
- Paul also prayed God would open a door so he could go to Rome and see them…
- Faith spoken of throughout the world…
- Gift for Rome…
- Paul wanted to come meet the believers in Rome…
- He had planned to come to Rome many times – but was unable…
- God had told Paul he would one day go to Rome – Acts 23:11
- And Paul had the desire – but he waited for the will of God – God’s timing…
- Knowing what God has called us to do is not enough – the when is just as important
- Paul did eventually make it to Rome – as a prisoner…
- When God gives us His “will” it does not mean that it will happen right away
- It also rarely happens in the way that we would expect
- It always happens in a way that keeps us looking to and dependant on God!
- He had planned to come to Rome many times – but was unable…
- To establish them with a gift – encouragement in their faith
- Paul was a gifted teacher of the Word – desired to come encourage the church in Rome
- To establish them in the sound doctrine of the Word of God – Acts 20:27
- We teach the whole Bible so we learn the Bible in context – understand the Word
- We study the whole Bible – to learn all of the Word of God – Genesis ~ Revelation
- It is through the Word we learn God’s will for our life – grow closer to Jesus
- It is through the Word we find faith – Romans 10:17
- But Paul also wanted to be encouraged by them!
- Paul did not think he was above being blessed by the saints in Rome…
- I may desire to encourage you – but I also need to be encouraged by you…
- We are all equal in Jesus – there are no super Christians – no one has all the answers
- One may be gifted in one area – while another is gifted somewhere else
- Together we complement each other – the body of Christ – I Corinthians 12
- Paul wanted to come meet the believers in Rome…
With this last statement Paul set up the next 8 chapters – salvation by faith…
The Gospel for Rome…
Paul was the Apostle to the gentiles – Rome was the capitol of the Gentile world…
He wanted to preach the Gospel there as he had in the rest of the Gentile world
He felt a debt – he owed it to the world – to give them Jesus!
Greek and Barbarian (the division of the world from the Greek/Roman perspective)
The wise & the unwise – Paul wanted to preach the Gospel to absolutely everyone!
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel!
Power of salvation…
Power – dunamis – dynamite ~ explosive power of God to save sinners ~ Gospel!
I think often we do not share the Gospel because we think we lack the right words
Or we think that our lifestyle – actions – don’t line up with our message…
But it is not our words or actions that bring people to Jesus Christ
The power of salvation – is the message – the simple truth of the Gospel
Jesus/God – came as a man – lived a perfect life – died for our sins – and rose again!
To the Jew 1st – then to the gentile…
The Gospel had been promised in the Word (OT) to the Nation of Israel
Therefore the Gospel went first to the Jews
The just shall live by faith…
Leave a Reply