Romans – Verse by Verse 1:1-7
Romans 1:1-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news— 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness. 5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name, 6 including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling:
7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 1 – 1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news—
Slave = Doulos
In Biblical usage: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
1. a slave
2. metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will; those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
3. devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
4. a servant, attendant
Apostle – Apostolos - He that is sent, a sent one – commissioned by Christ. Certainly applied to the twelve, but Paul is not in the twelve, nor is Barnabus, Timothy or Silvanus. Nor do we have reason to believe, as many reformed scholars assert, that Apostleship is limited only to those who had physical contact with Jesus. Such scholars would include Paul because of his encounter on the road to Damascus, and possibly his later discipleship, in what he called the “third heaven.”
But they would not include others that the Bible does include.
Singled out – Aphoreedzho - marked off from others, separated, limited for some purpose.
I believe God has a unique, specific purpose, . . .a special calling for every believer who is willing to be singled out and yield to that call. And I know it's incredibly difficult, especially if you have a serious case of humility, to accept that you have a mission, but every Christian, like the “Blues Brothers,” is supposed to be on a “mission from God.”
You and I insult the grace of the One Who is calling us when we tell Him, “Surely not me. You've got the wrong person.”
But listen, if you think that's just my opinion, or an effort to puff you up or flatter you, in some way, you need only look at verse 6.
“including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling:”
How do we belong to Him? Called to do what? Sit? Soak? Or serve?
Paul says here, by way of introduction that he's singled out, for “God's good news,” which is one word in Koine Greek, Eugellian.
1. The glad tidings of salvation through Christ
2. the proclamation of the grace of God manifest (made possible and present) and pledged in Christ
3. the gospel
4. as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings.
Vs. 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures—
Watch the prepositions – sticking strictly with English.
Which – He promised long ago.
Through – His prophets
In – the Holy Scriptures
Now, one way of looking at this, is that Jesus is the proof that OT Prophets spoke for God. He is the proof of the nature and character of God and His life, death, burial and resurrection bear testimony to the veracity, truthfulness and trustworthiness of all of Scripture.
It's very frustrating, at times, to speak with skeptics who do not, either comprehend or understand that the Bible knows nothing of the “straw man” argumentation of modern skeptics and secularists who claim that faith and reason are polar opposites.
We are nowhere encouraged to take blind leaps of faith, or to exercise faith opposed to reason and critical thinking. In fact, the Bible writers repeatedly offered historical, philosophical, testimonial and testable evidence for the trustworthiness of the Lord Jesus and of the accounts they were providing.
Vs. 3 – 4
3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.
I love the writing of Max Lucado. He packs so much into each sentence – advancing his case, leading us forward and making his points with such poignancy and brilliance that it's a wonder to behold. But even Max Lucado's writing cannot pack so much into so little space as Paul does in these first several verses of his letter to the Romans.
The first few sentences, verses 2 – 4, after the brief introduction, establish, succinctly and clearly the authority and supremacy of Jesus, pointing out His obvious fulfillment of prophecies beyond His personal control, unless He's God, and the further convincing and unassailable proof of His resurrection from the dead.
Acts 26:26 - For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I am convinced that none of these things escape his notice, since this was not done in a corner. (another translation, “were not done in secret”)
Don't you know that they [singing] heard it through the grapevine?
A man doesn't rise from the dead everyday. In fact, this incident – the resurrection of the Lord Jesus - was known, far and wide, not just in Jerusalem, but throughout the middle east and spreading into the European continent.
Any time a claim as spectacular as a man resurrecting victoriously over death is made, there had better be some really convincing evidence to back it up.
Paul had no problem using this resurrection as his appeal because he knew that is could be, and can be substantiated as a fact.
1. First, the resurrection was preached in the same city where Jesus had been buried shortly before. Jesus' disciples did not go to some obscure place where no one had heard of Jesus to begin preaching about the resurrection, but instead began preaching in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus had died and been buried. They could not have done this if Jesus was still in his tomb--no one would have believed them. No one would be foolish enough to believe a man had raised from the dead when his body lay dead in the tomb for all to see.
2. Second, the earliest Jewish arguments against Christianity admit the empty tomb. In Matthew 28:11-15, there is a reference made to the Jew's attempt to refute Christianity by saying that the disciples stole the body. This is significant because it shows that the Jews did not deny the empty tomb. Instead, their "stolen body" theory admitted the significant truth that the tomb was in fact empty. The Toledoth Jesu, a compilation of early Jewish writings, is another source acknowledging this. It acknowledges that the tomb was empty, and attempts to explain it away. Further, we have a record of a second century debate between a Christian and a Jew, in which a reference is made to the fact that the Jews claim the body was stolen. So it is pretty well established that the early Jews admitted the empty tomb.
Why is this important? Remember that the Jewish leaders were opposed to Christianity. They were hostile witnesses. In acknowledging the empty tomb, they were admitting the reality of a fact that was certainly not in their favor.
Why did they have to admit it? Because everyone knew it. It was a well-established, universally acknowledged fact. It still is; by everyone who actually knows what they're doing when they research and study the evidence.
So, in verse 1, “Hello it's me,” but even that greeting turns quickly to a recitation of the facts regarding the good news about Jesus.
We could all learn a lot from the pen of Paul, about how to turn every conversation, discussion and discourse into a fruitful presentation of the good news about Jesus.
This he succinctly covers in the three verses following and then, I love where he goes in verse 5.
5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name,
Now, that says a mouthful whether you study it or not. It's great on the surface. It turns to establish and inform this church that what He's writing bears weight and importance and He has been called by God to share it. But when you look a little deeper it just gets better and better.
Now, maybe you remember that Paul writes about himself as an “Apostle to the Gentiles,” and further says he is a prisoner of Christ FOR the Gentiles.
This church at Rome is made up of Jews, certainly, but also Gentiles – mixing together as one body of Christ.
Let me give you a little helpful background:
Rome was the city at the hub of the Empire. It had a church there, in the form of Christians and some organization before the first Apostle even arrived. But by the time he arrived, there had already been some "interesting" activity, to say the least.
The church in the earliest phases was almost certainly Jewish-dominant, with precious few Gentiles--much like the church in Judea and other Jewish-dominant territories. Why? Because in a real sense, historically, the infant church was "simply" another Jewish sect. Paul wasn't yet on the move--or at least not far beyond Cyprus, Phrygia, and Galatia--when the church gets a foothold in Rome, with the likes of Priscilla and Aquilla. We'll find opportunity to teach more about them at some point during this study.
Now, what happens is that the Emporer, Claudius, notices a huge uprising among the Jews (including public disturbances) over some dude named "Chrestus," so, in the interest of public civility and unity, he tosses the whole Jewish population out of Rome. Scripture notes (in Act.18:2), that's when Priscilla and Aquilla end up in Corinth, in time to meet Paul, who's just arrived there.
So, the Jewish population began to filter back to Rome once Claudius was dead, but the church didn't die out while they were gone. It went from Jewish-majority to Gentile-majority practically over night. And then, the Jewish segment of the population began to reenter life in Rome.
So, the Roman church to which Paul writes is probably Jewish-minority by severe attrition of one group (without time for much redevelopment) and growth of the other (and we know there were Jews back in the synagogue in Rome at the end of Acts).
Now you may be saying, “Man this is too much. I do not care.” Or, “What does this have to do with verse 5?”
Here's what: Paul says, “I've been commissioned by God to “bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations.”
That word, which Paul uses that we translate “nations” is the Koine Greek word, “ethnos.” It means, not only here in this ethnically diverse hub of the city of Rome, but everywhere the gospel will be preached from now on, until Jesus returns, there is no more separation of people by race and ethnicity – once they are a part of the body of Christ. There are no races, only the human race.
And what is his main calling and message? Look at this. It's not to bring about mere obedience – stricter compliance – more self-discipline – greater effort. It's to bring about the “obedience of faith.”
Do you remember Jesus said, "This is the work of God--that you believe in the One He has sent.”? (John 6:29)
Which is not to say that there aren't other things we can and should do once we've done that, but the only thing necessary to do to find grace and favor with God is to trust Him for it.
Reformation theologists state that this way: It's grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Can you repeat that with me? Listen, anything other than that, especially some work you or I do, is adding to the gospel. What we DO is not able to save – only what He DID. It's grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Amen. Then, in this final verse this morning, verse 7, Paul ends the first part of his salutation. We'll look at the second part separately next week.
7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have you realized, lately, that every believer is a saint, that every person is loved by God, and that the grace of God (which is favor you did not earn and so cannot lose) and the peace of God – which is a direct byproduct of that grace, is yours? They are possessions for the redeemed.
Let me finish with a strong word of encouragement for you.
The word “saint,” from the Greek word hag'-ee-os; means sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint.
It means what the Roman Catholic church has always thought that it means, but where they've missed it is this: There are not a select, relative few, throughout history who qualify, by their performance for the status of sainthood.
According to Scripture, specifically this one and many others, we all qualify, because it's based on the performance of the One in whose blood we are spiritually washed.
One of the greatest, and most powerful things that happens when we really internalize how powerful grace is, is that we STOP judging and start loving in ways that become empowering for us and powerful for the Kingdom. When we realize that we have offended God, we are lawless and broken, but He accepts us freely – by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, then we can climb down off our high horse and accept, love and offer graciousness to others.
Kathryn Lawes was the wife of Lewis Lawes, warden at Sing Sing prison in the 1930s. Although he received credit for many humanitarian changes at the prison, he credited his wife for the changes. She treated the prisoners as human beings. She and her three children would sit with the gangsters and talk with them as they played baseball or basketball. She would find a blind prisoner and respond by teaching him Braille and bringing him books in Braille. To communicate with a deaf-mute prisoner, she learned sign language. By such loving efforts she communicated much more.
She was known, far and wide, as the “angel of Sing Sing.” Needless to say, Mrs. Lawes was much beloved by the inmates because of her dedication to their welfare. When she passed away, some two hundred of them were allowed to leave the prison and marched up to the Warden’s Residence on Spring Street where her body lay in state. They were accompanied only by one prison official and they all returned to their cells without incident.
People in spiritual bondage, throughout our region, are still waiting for “angels of Southeast Texas” to step beyond merely receiving mercy, grace and peace from God – into a state of embracing, loving and serving men and women, boys and girls and teenagers – no matter what they're involved in, or what they've done – who are also created in the image of God and in desperate need of His grace extended through us.
