God Keeps His Promise! Series

Bible Reading: Romans chapter 1 verses 1-7

SERMON AUDIO:

https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=nHg09lBuN7qREjI3Mi3MLJWUH5J0gnXt

SERMON VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/FR9SqycqP1k

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Paul was a servant (vs 1a).

(2). Paul was an apostle (vs 1b).

(3). Paul was a preacher (vs 1c-4).

(4). Paul was a missionary (vs 5-7).

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Sir Winston Churchill (British statesman, soldier, writer and of course Prime Minister).

• On his 80th birthday was given a compliment that he dismissed.

• The compliment said that,

• He was the “lion” who had defeated Nazi Germany in World War Two.

• He told the Houses of Parliament that,

“It was a nation and race dwelling all around the globe that had a lion’s heart.

I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar.”

• TRANSITION: I hope you hear the roar in the book of Romans!

• It is like all Bible books inspired of God,

• But the apostle Paul had the luck/blessing to write it and therefore give the roar!

The book of Romans has been called the apostle Paul’s theological treatise.

• Theological: means relating to the study of God or religion.

• Treatise: a written work that is formal and systematic.

• The book of Romans is doctrinal in nature, it explains what we believe as Christians.

• It is not a biography, poetry or a history book,

• But doctrinal!

• If I am honest, it is a hard read in places,

• Most preachers (if they are honest) want to avoid chapters 9 to 11.

• It is a book difficult in places and reads more like a lecture than a letter.

Ill:

You might know the humours definition of a lecture.

“An art of transferring information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through the minds of either.”

• TRANSITION: Well, this letter may be a challenging read in places,

• In fact, the apostle Paul knew that and to liven up this letter by heckling himself!

• He does that by throwing in a number of questions to liven up his monologue.

• So, the book can be difficult in places,

• e.g., Think of a gold mine, lots of digging through the rock to get to the gold nuggets!

• In this letter the apostle Paul brings together all the great themes of the Bible.

• And he explains in one book so much important Christian doctrine.

The book of Romans can be divided up under three headings:

• Doctrinal: How the gospel saves people.

• (Chapters 1-8).

• National: How the gospel relates to Israel.

• (Chapters 9-11).

• Practical: How the gospel impacts on our lives.

• (Chapters 12-16).

Ill:

• One of my heroes of the Christian faith is William Tyndale.

• William Tyndale could speak seven languages,

• He was a 16th century English theologian and linguist,

• He became the first person to translate and print a version of the New Testament in English.

• In his prologue to Romans in his 1534 English New Testament he wrote,

• “The more it is studied, the easier it is; the more it is chewed, the pleasanter it is.”

• He believed every Christian should learn this letter by heart.

• We might find that a little too difficult to do!

• But we could all read it through once a week.

• It will take on average 60 minutes,

• I would suggest that is a very good investment of our time!

Note:

• The letter to the Romans is different than any of Paul's other church letters.

• It is different in the two ways:

• FIRST: Paul had absolutely nothing to do with the founding of the church at Rome.

• He had at this point, never been to Rome.

• This is a big contrast to his other letters i.e., Ephesus, Corinth, and Thessalonica.

• Where he had spent time in each of those cities

• He does one day hope to visit Rome on his way to Spain,

• In chapter 15 verse 24 he hopes one day to, “enjoy their company for a while.”

• And to be, “helped on his way” by these Christians.

Ill:

• We know that he did eventually get to Rome (Acts chapter 28 verses 11-31),

• But sadly, he would be a prisoner under house arrest.

• SECOND: Since he did not know them or their situation,

• He deals with this Church differently to all his other letters.

• In this letter he established doctrine, the why and what of what we believe.

Note:

• The key word in this letter is ‘the gospel’ or ‘the good news.’

• And this good news is much more than a set of beliefs.

• It is a gospel about a person (vs 2-3a).