Paul And The Church Series

Salvation: Why? and How?

or, SALVATION: ITS NEED AND PROVISION

Romans Chapters One to Five

Calvary Baptist Church

Series Begins Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sermon 2: A Preacher and a Church

October 14, 2012

Romans 1:8-13

Romans 1:8-13 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

INTRODUCTION:

• We are in the section of Romans that I have called the salutation (1:1-17).

• Last week we looked at Paul and his calling (1:1-7).

• Today we turn our attention to Paul and the Church (1:8-13).

THEME: Paul's thankfulness to God for the genuine faith of the Roman believers and his love for them expressed.

OBJECTIVE: The listener will understand the deep love that Paul had for believers in Christ.

STATEMENT: A preacher and a church!

I. Paul Was Proud of the Church (1:8)

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

First - "Before anything else, I want to tell you that I thank God for you."

A. Thankful for Saving Faith (Cf., Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 1 Jn. 2:15-16)

"your faith"

QUOTE: (From P.O.S.B.) The citizens of Rome were known for their...

• Immorality

• License

• Hoarding

• Drunkenness

• Idolatry

• Greed

• Gluttony

• Sin and wickedness

• Extravagance

• Fleshliness

• Indulgence

• Materialism

• Partying

• Pride

• Selfishness

• Yet here is a group of people who are completely different!

• Why? Because of faith in Christ.

• And they began to talk about it all over the world!

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

B. Thankful to the Source of Their Faith

"Through Jesus Christ"

• In verse one we read of the "gospel of God."

• This means that God sent the good news.

• In verse 9 of our passage, we read of "the gospel of His Son."

• That is , good news about Jesus Christ.

• But Paul cannot forget that it was the Son Who made the sacrifice.

• So he thanks God through Jesus Christ!

• It is Jesus that made a difference in these Romans!

SONG: Jesus Paid it All

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe,

Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

C. Thankful for the Spreading of the Their Faith (Cf., Mt. 5:16)

"your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world"

"Spoken of" katangello. Being reported up and down the Roman Empire!

• The AV has this exactly right. The verb is passive. Your faith is being reported by others.

"The whole world" - the known world, primarily the Roman Empire along the roads which all led to Rome!

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

II. Paul Prayed for the Church (1:9,10A)

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve [NOTE: latreuo - worship, or serve, or worship by serving, or serve worshipfully] with my spirit in the gospel of his Son [i.e., the gospel that is about His Son], that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;