A. Many years ago a minister was walking to church one Sunday morning when he passed by the home of one of his church members who was working in his flower garden.
1. The minister said to him: “Can’t you hear those bells calling you to church?”
2. “Eh, what’s that?” asked the church member.
3. The minister repeated himself: “Can’t you hear those bells calling you to church?”
4. “I’m afraid you’ll have to speak a little louder!” said the member.
5. So the minister shouted: “CAN’T YOU HEAR THOSE BELLS CALLING YOU TO CHURCH?!”
6. “I’m sorry,” said the member, “I can’t hear you because of those loud BELLS!”
B. You and I are here this morning because we all have heard God calling us to church.
1. Most, if not all of us, have felt God’s pull on our lives drawing us into a saving relationship with God.
2. And then, once that relationship with God began, many of us feel God calling us into service.
3. But, unfortunately, there are many people in the world and in the church who can’t hear God’s call because of the loud noise of the world and of self that drown out God’s voice.
C. In today’s sermon, we continue our new sermon series “Paul’s Letter to the Romans: Pursuing Righteousness from God.”
1. Last week, we talked about the powerful message of Paul’s letter to the Romans.
a. We talked about the great influence Paul’s letter has had over the years in the lives of famous Christians like St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Bunyan and John Wesley.
b. We also spent time last Sunday being introduced to the Roman Empire, the city of Rome, and the conflict in the church at Rome that necessitated Paul’s letter to them.
c. I mentioned last week that Paul’s letter to the Romans is like the Mount Everest of Paul’s letters, and that I’m both nervous and excited about the climb and the views of God and His righteousness that we will get from our assent of Romans.
2. In today’s sermon, we want to take a look at the calling of Paul and the Romans.
a. Let’s investigate the opening verses of Romans and see how Paul employs his own calling and the calling of the Romans for his purposes.
D. Paul opens the book of Romans with a very long sentence.
1. In the Greek language that Paul wrote in, the first seven verses are all one long sentence.
2. Some English versions have broken that long sentence into several shorter ones, but the ESV translation kept it as one long sentence.
E. Ancient letters typically began with a simple identification of the sender, the recipients, and a greeting.
1. Most New Testament letters follow this cultural pattern, but the New Testament authors often elaborate by adding distinctly Christian nuances and purposes.
2. None of Paul’s letters show more elaboration in the introduction as does Romans.
3. Perhaps this is the case because Paul was writing to a church he had never visited before and felt he needed to introduce himself and his mission more extensively.
F. Let’s look at the text, beginning with verse 1: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God…
1. In this verse, we see that Paul introduced himself to the Roman Christians by identifying his master, his office, and his purpose.
2. His master – Paul is a “servant of Christ Jesus” – the word servant is doulos which can also be translated as slave – this title also suggests his status – we all should view ourselves this way.
3. His office – he is “called to be an apostle” – this also speaks of his authority – Jesus personally appointed Paul to represent Him and to provide the foundation for His church – few people have this calling (that group includes the original 12 and Judas’ replacement – Matthias).
4. His purpose – Paul is “set apart for the gospel of God” – This setting apart began at his birth (Gal. 1:15) and was clarified on the Damascus Road and by Ananias in Damascus who told Paul than he was a “chosen instrument to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9) – Paul was the only one with this special mission.
5. And so as Paul introduced himself saying that he was a servant, an apostle, and a preacher of the gospel, he was revealing his humility, this authority and his mission.
6. Paul’s mention of the gospel in the opening verse points to it being the central and unifying motif of his mission and of this letter – he will mention the gospel 3 more times in his opening.
G. Continuing with his discussion of the gospel, verse 2 reads: which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures…
1. The first point that Paul makes about the gospel reflects another key theme in Romans and addresses the conflict between Jewish and Gentile Christians, and that is that the gospel of Jesus is rooted in the soil of the Old Testament.
2. In other words, the gospel is the fulfillment of Old Testament promises and prophesies.
3. Abraham looked forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises, as did Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.
4. How wonderful it is that God keeps His word!
5. And so, in many respects, Christianity is not a new religion, but is the fulfillment of the old religion – the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament – and what God was preparing and promising in the OT, He fulfilled in the coming of Jesus and the church.
H. Which leads to verses 3 and 4: 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…
1. So the first thing Paul said about the gospel is that God planned and predicted it long ago through the prophets, and the second thing he said about the gospel is it concerned God’s Son.
2. In vs. 3, Paul explained that Jesus was born of the seed of David – the human side of Jesus, but then in vs. 4, Paul explained the divine side of Jesus – that He is the Son of God.
3. The key event that demonstrated who Jesus really is was His resurrection from the dead.
4. The empty tomb is the watershed event that forever separates Jesus from all other religious leaders.
5. As long as Jesus remained dead, it appeared that he was nothing more than a good moral teacher, a good man who was crucified by those who misunderstood Him, but the resurrection changed all that.
6. Paul said that in the resurrection Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God” – this does not mean that Jesus became the Son of God at the time of the resurrection, He always was the Son.
7. But the resurrection demonstrated that He was the “Son of God in power” – meaning that it validated his Messianic work of redemption giving Him the power to provide salvation.
I. Which lead us into verses 5 and 6: 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…
1. This gospel of God concerning His Son, who was raised from the dead now provides grace for those who have an obedient faith.
2. The Roman Christians are among those who have answered the call of the gospel and are now walking in the obedience of faith.
3. Notice Paul’s emphasis on the fact that the gospel is for all nations – both Jews and Gentiles.
4. Notice also Paul’s phrase “obedience of faith” – the NIV translates it “the obedience that comes from faith.”
a. In all of Paul’s writing, he is careful to communicate that faith and obedience go together – they cannot be separated.
b. A true commitment to Christ in faith leads to obedience in life.
c. By this phrase, Paul may also be trying to counter the Jewish “works of the law” approach to righteousness.
J. Now, after all that introduction of himself and his mission, Paul finally gets around to identifying the recipients of the letter: 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 (vs. 7).
1. Consider for a moment the powerful and meaningful titles Paul gives the Romans.
2. First of all, they are “loved by God.”
a. This is a reminder that salvation always begins with God and His love – God loved us before we knew Him and cared anything about Him.
b. But in the end, there is no better thing we can remind people about than God’s love.
c. God loves each and every one of you no matter what – and nothing any of us do that is good or bad changes God’s love for us – He will always love us.
3. Second, Paul mentions that they are called to be “saints.”
a. “Saints” is a translation of the Greek word hagioi that means “holy ones.”
b. We must understand that biblical sainthood is not a category reserved for a few “super-Christians” who work miracles on earth, rather a saint is what every Christian is.
c. Christians are not saints because they are so good and holy, rather we are saints because that’s what God calls us and makes us by His righteousness.
d. We, Christians, should be striving to live up to our name “saints” and “holy ones,” but in the end it is not our efforts that make us God’s “saints” only God can do that.
4. Paul concludes this introduction with his characteristic blessing of “grace and peace.”
a. Grace is a traditional Greek blessing, and peace (shalom) is a traditional Jewish blessing.
K. In vs. 8-15, we see how Paul continued to adapt the ancient letter form to accomplish his purposes.
1. Ancient letters often featured an expression of thanks in the second main part of a letter.
2. Paul expressed his thanks to God for the Roman Christians and assured them that he often prayed for them.
3. This section is marked by a certain hesitation and carefulness on Paul’s part as he seeks to avoid “lording it over” these Christians whom he did not convert and has never visited.
4. He writes in a diplomatic way in an effort to win a hearing for the rest of the letter.
L. Let’s look at his expressions of thanks and prayers: First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. (vs. 8-10)
1. The reason for Paul’s thanks is the wide and positive reputation of the Roman Christians.
a. The fact that their reputation is “reported all over the world” is the result that these Christians live in the capital and the goings on in the capital finds their way throughout the empire.
b. The fact that Paul begins with positive words of affirmation is no small point and is a good lesson for us – Always start with the positive!
c. It is often easier to criticize and to let people have it, but that doesn’t usually win a hearing nor serve our ultimate hope and goal of healthy relationship.
2. After expressing thanks for them, Paul called God as his witness that he always prays for them.
a. This is testimony to the importance and wide-ranging nature of Paul’s prayer life.
b. And it is all the more amazing when you consider the fact that he had never met them.
c. How do you think it made the Romans feel to know that Paul faithfully prayed for them?
d. I can tell you from personal experience that I am always so touched and encouraged when someone loves me enough to pray for me.
e. Prayer is also a wonderful way to bridge the gap between people, whether that gap is physical distance in miles, or emotional distance because of conflict or stress.
f. Paul was trying to bridge that gap with the Romans through his prayers.
3. One of Paul’s primary prayers about the Romans was asking God to allow him to make a visit.
M. Paul shared with them the reason he wanted to visit and how he had made many attempts to do so: For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (vs. 11-15)
1. Paul was apparently aware that some Christians in Rome may have been critical of him for “ignoring” them for so long.
a. So Paul wanted them to know that his failure to visit them was not because of a lack of will but because of a lack of opportunity.
b. Paul had often planned to visit them but was somehow prevented from doing so.
c. We don’t know for sure what kept him from Rome, but it was probably the pressing needs of the other churches in the regions where he had been working previously.
2. Paul wanted to go to them to impart some “spiritual gift to strengthen” them.
a. What Paul meant by spiritual gift is unclear, but I think he was referring to a general spiritual gift, ie. a “blessing” that would strengthen them and help them in their walk.
b. But then Paul hastily added that the spiritual benefit would not flow in one direction, from Paul to the Romans, but would also flow back to him. He anticipated a mutual edification.
c. This immediate qualifying of his purpose signals again his hesitancy to claim too much authority over a Christian community that does not know him personally.
d. In reality, ministry is never a one-way street, rather it’s always a two-way street with blessings and encouragement constantly being shared both ways.
e. So many times when I have gone to minster to someone I have walked away feeling like I received the greater blessing.
3. Paul then expressed the sense of obligation he felt to minister to everyone in Rome.
a. He mentioned “Greeks” and “barbarians,” and then the “wise” and the “foolish.”
b. The educated Greeks saw the uneducated Greeks as barbarians, but they also considered every non-Greek as a barbarian.
c. I think Paul’s intention here is to express his sense of obligation to all people, Jew and Gentile, wise and foolish – he had a burden for the whole world.
N. Let’s finish our examination of the text with the final two verses for today: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (vs. 16-17)
1. These two verses are transitional – they connect Paul’s desire to preach the gospel in Rome with the theme of the whole letter that he will develop in the following chapters.
2. Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel? Stated positively: why was he proud of the gospel?
3. Because Paul knew that the gospel he preached was from God and brought salvation to all.
4. Paul also knows that there are likely some there in Rome, mostly Jewish Christians, who may disagree with the gospel Paul preaches and think he should be ashamed of himself and the gospel he preaches.
5. But Paul boldly declared that he is not ashamed of the gospel and that it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who puts their faith in Jesus – first for the Jew and then for the Greek.
6. So Paul insists that the gospel is for everyone – all people.
7. Why was it the Jew first and also the Greek?
a. Some think it was the Jew first because the first Christians were Jewish.
b. Others conclude that it was the Jew first because God worked through the Jews to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.
c. Either way we understand it, it started with the Jews but now it is for everyone.
8. And most importantly, Paul declares that the righteousness that comes from God is by faith, and not by works – which will be a theme we will return to again and again in this series.
O. So what are the important lessons that we need to take from today’s verses and apply to our lives?
1. First, we learn: The Importance of Identity
a. Paul knew who he was and he wanted the Romans to know who they were.
b. Paul’s identity included servant, apostle and ambassador of the gospel.
c. The Roman Christians’ identity included being loved by God and being saints.
d. We need to know who we are – we are loved by God and we are His saints – don’t you think that should make a difference in how we view ourselves and how we behave?
e. We also need to know what we are called to be about – we are to be servants of God and ambassadors of the gospel – when we have those identities in place and the missions associated with them clearly understood, then our lives will have the purpose God intends.
2. Second, we learn: The Place of Prayer
a. Paul is a great example of someone who was a prayer warrior.
b. Paul was faithful in prayer for all the churches, including churches he had never met.
c. Paul was committed to prayer because he understood the spiritual war and the place of prayer in it.
d. Prayer is powerful because God is powerful and because God hears and answers prayer.
e. Have we learned the place of prayer? How often do we pray? For whom do we pray regularly – our family, friends, spiritual leaders, the lost?
f. Which churches do we hold up in prayer? Our church? Other NY churches? Churches in other parts of our country? Churches in other parts of the world? Our missionaries.
g. Prayer is so needed – Paul was convinced of that – hopefully we will be also.
3. Third, we learn: The Role of Faith and Obedience
a. Both Paul and the Romans had embraced the call of obedient faith.
b. Faith is more than something we think or feel – faith is something we do.
c. Obedience without faith is empty and faith without obedience is incomplete.
d. The righteous will live by faith.
4. Fourth, we learn: The Power of the Gospel
a. Paul declared: the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
b. Why? Because in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed.
c. No one can be saved by their own righteousness, but can only be saved by the righteousness that comes from God.
d. In the gospel we learn the good news that Jesus the perfectly, righteous, sinless one, died on the cross and was raised from the dead, to take away our sins and cover us with His righteousness – How’s that for good news?
5. Finally, we learn: Our Obligation to Share the Gospel
a. Paul is such a good example of someone who had the right sense of obligation to the lost.
b. Someone defined evangelism as “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
c. Paul had discovered where to find the bread that would satisfy his hungry soul, so how could he not share what he had found with others?
d. It would be like finding the cure for cancer and keeping it for himself only.
e. We followers of Jesus have found the way to eternal life and abundant life – how can we keep that good news to ourselves? We have an obligation to share it with others!
P. One day, Queen Victoria of England asked to meet with General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army.
1. After hearing so many wonderful things about his work in the slums, she asked him for the secret of his success.
2. Booth replied, “Your Majesty, some men have a passion for money, some have a passion for material things, but I have a passion for people.”
3. So let me end with these questions: What is the passion of your life? What are you living for? What or whom are you indebted or obligated to? What are you eager to do?
4. I hope that all of us have a passion to be God’s people – God’s holy people, loved by God - people of prayer, people of faithful obedience, people devoted to being ambassadors of the powerful gospel.
5. Like Paul and the Romans, we have a great calling.
6. I hope that all of us have heard God’s calling, have answered God’s call, and are living in faithful obedience to God’s call.
Resources:
Romans: Be Right, The Bible Exposition Commentary, by Warren Wiersbe
Romans, The NIV Application Commentary, by Douglas Moo
Romans, Interpretation – A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, Paul Achtemeier
“A Heart to Heart Ministry,” Sermon by Ray Pritchard
