Romans 1:8-18 Paul Under Obligation And Those Who Suppress The Truth – Romans Message 2 Series

Romans 1:8-18 PAUL UNDER OBLIGATION AND THOSE WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH – Romans Message 2

[1]. FAITH THAT IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED

{{Romans 1 v 8 “Firstly, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because YOUR FAITH is being proclaimed throughout the whole world,”}}

We are continuing the study into Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. He begins with a “Firstly, but there does not seem to be a “Secondly” so understand it as meaning “Now at the start . . .” and he tells them that their faith is such that all over the Christian world it is held up to honour. What a great example that was. Because they were so honourable in their faith, Paul thanks God for them and he says “all” including each individual.

It is individuals who make up a church, or the better word is “assembly” because the word means “the called out ones,” that is, called out to Jesus Christ. The Greek is ekklesia. It is individuals who can ruin a church as well, and that places a great responsibility on everyone there to be obedient to the Lord and preserve the unity and love. In this letter, I can not find even one note of criticism or displeasure, unlike the Corinthians.

Who could have known what lay in store for the church at Rome as over the next few centuries it took ownership of the Christian world and then became so satanically corrupt that in the next 19 centuries, it murdered more than one million true Christians, burning so many of them at the stake and in torture. God’s judgement on this church will lay in Revelation 17 and 18.

What about the reputation of this fellowship here, and your fellowship? Would it be known for the care and concern given one to the other, that each loves one another as the bible commands? Would it be known as a church that is hospitable to strangers? Would it be known as a fellowship that values the bible, and people desire to know the word and the will of God? Those are questions we must work on.

[2]. PAUL AND THE CHURCH

Now we come to the section where the Apostle shares his concern for the church at Rome, and his own desires for that church. It is found from verse 9 to 17. We will look at each verse separately but they all belong to that section.

{{Romans 1:9 “for God whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how I MAKE MENTION of you UNCEASINGLY”}}

This testifies to Paul’s commendation of the church. He is happy to share the good standing of this church with others, I would think, as an encouragement, and it is not vain flattery to say that to the church as some might do, but he calls on God to be his witness that he does that genuinely. If Rome was a church that was racked by division and heresy then he would not be saying that to them but would address them the way he did when he wrote elsewhere, “O foolish Galatians.” I hate the idea that you tell people what you think they want to hear. It is dishonest. I would rather have a person to be blunt and to the fore than the one who pretends and lies. Tell it as it is.

[3]. HOPE OF A VISIT IN GOD’S WILL

{{Romans 1:10 “always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God, I MAY SUCCEED in coming to you”}}

Paul expresses now his desire to go to Rome to meet the saints. Unfortunately, when he did go to Rome it was in chains. He prayed always that he would be blessed by the will of God to go to Rome. Our desires do not always line up with God’s desires and will, and things we really hope for may not happen. I heard a speaker say once our walk with God should be so close in the leading of the Holy Spirit that what we desire matches God’s desire for us. That seems like a very godly walk to me and I wonder how many do achieve that. George Mueller with his orphan homes comes to mind.

[4]. THE SHEPHERD’S HEART FOR THEIR ESTABLISHMENT

{{Romans 1:11 “for I long to see you in order that I may impart SOME SPIRITUAL GIFT to you that you may be established”}}

This is quite intriguing as we would not say that today to a church we might go to, in doing ministry. We would say we go to share the word of God, or to encourage them, or to assist in their ministry, but I do not think at all we would say we go to impart some spiritual gift. Paul could because he was in the apostolic ministry, especially chosen by God for that purpose. I am not going to try to explore what is meant by “some spiritual gift to you” as none of us knows the certainty of that. God has gifted each one of us in various ways so that we can work together, and we must use His gifting.