Text Verse: Romans 1:14
(Romans 1:14) "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."
Introduction:
In this letter written by Paul to the Christians at Rome he begins by giving a description of himself.
(Romans 1:1) "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"
And then he tells them how that he became an apostle, and why.
(Romans 1:5-6) "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: {6} Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:"
And then after a few words of greeting he then moves into the meat of the letter. And that brings us to our text.
Notice the words of the apostle, "I am debtor." Who was it that Paul was indebted to?
1. I Am Debtor to the Lord
A Because of faith (Read Acts 9:1-6)
(Acts 9:1-6) "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, {2} And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. {3} And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: {4} And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? {5} And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. {6} And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."
B. Because of forgiveness
(1 Timothy 1:12-17) "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; {13} Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. {14} And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. {15} This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. {16} Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. {17} Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
C. Because of the future.
(2 Timothy 4:6-8) "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. {7} I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: {8} Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. {14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. {15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. {16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
2. I Am A Debtor To Lost
(Romans 1:14) "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."
(Romans 15:20) "Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:"
A. Compassion
(Colossians 1:28) "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"
(Acts 20:31) "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
1. Warning every man
2. Teaching every man
3. Presenting every man
B. Consistency
(Acts 20:31) "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
C. Caution
(Galatians 1:9-10) "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. {10} For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."
3 I Am Debtor To The Legacy
(Hebrews 12:1) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
1. Men have plowed the path
2. Men have paid the price
3. Men have preserved the pattern
A. Follow their procedure. (2 Tim 2:2)
(2 Tim 2:2 KJV) "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
B. Forget his past. (Phil 3:13)
(Phil 3:13 KJV) "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"
C. Finish his path. (2 Tim 4:7)
(2 Tim 4:7 KJV) "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"
