Paul's Identity, What Is Yours? Series

Paul’s Identity, What is Your Identity?

Servant

Apostle

Set Apart

Missionary

DBF Sunday Sermon, 4/27/03, Romans 1:1-5

Today we will start a study in the Book of Romans.

The Apostle Paul wrote this book as led by God to show us the revelation of God’s righteousness, the vindication of God’s righteousness, and the application of God’s righteousness.

We will be looking at Paul’s identity this week.

If you were asked today what is your identity, what would be your response?

Are you Cajun, Filipino, Eskimo, Inupiat, Athabascan, or another race?

Are you male or female?

Are you brown haired, red haired, black or blond?

Are you brown eyed, blue eyed, green or gray?

I remember when I was a very young Cajun in Louisiana, my grandfather would always ask me who I was and would laugh continually when I responded “Bruce a Bert a toroutoroutourdof…”.

I had been told that I was Bruce, son of Bert (Wilbert), son of Rodolf Landry by my father, mother, grandfather and grandmother. I just had a little trouble saying it right at the age of about 3 or 4.

Many Natives in Alaska identify themselves by tribe or clan.

You see that we as people identify ourselves by many means, lets look at Paul’s example in the book of Romans.

Servant

Romans 1:1 (KJV)

Paul, a servant

Paul , a servant of Jesus Christ

Paul had many different things that could have identified him.

Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews, Pharisee, Roman Citizen yet of all things that showed his identity, he chose to identify himself in light of his relationship with Jesus Christ his Lord.

Paul identified himself as a slave or as doulos, doo’-los; from Greek (deo); a slave bond-servant.

You see Paul had not neglected himself into slavery, but had freely given himself into this position.

Can the same thing be said of you today? Have you fully given yourself into submission to Jesus Christ and HIS will in your life today?

The word deo, deh’-o, means to bind as in to bind, to be in bonds, to knit, to tie, or to wind.

Paul was bound to, bond to, closely knit and completed tied to whatever God laid before him in his life to complete God’s “good and perfect will” in Paul’s life and in the lives Paul touched.

Can the same be said of you today?

Who did Paul serve and whom should we serve?

Acts 16:17 (KJV) The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

Acts 27:23 (KJV) For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

John 12:26 (KJV) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Rev. 22:3 (KJV) And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

Let us serve the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.

Apostle

Romans 1:1 (KJV) Paul…called to be an apostle…

Next Paul tells us that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ.

A term generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom Jesus Christ entrusted the organization of HIS church and the dissemination of HIS gospel, “the twelve,” as they are called.

Our Lord gave them the “keys of the kingdom,” and by the gift of HIS Spirit fitted them to be the founders and governors of his church.

John 14:16-17 (KJV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:26 (KJV) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26-27 (KJV) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: [27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

To them, as representatives of HIS complete church, he gave the commission to “preach the gospel to every creature”.

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.