Introduction
In light of Easter and the remembrance of this event, it would be only appropriate if we could better understand what it means to be a Christian.
I find that Paul best explains the Christian life in the book of Romans.
Paul covers it by taking us back to the beginning.
In the beginning of the book of Romans we find these four words… Which He promised before
What does this mean? It means that we are predestined. It does not mean that we need to do nothing, but that we have to make a chose in who we will serve, God or the world.
Both in the law and in the prophets God showed his purpose to introduce into the world a more perfect and glorious state of things.
God states that it would take place under the influence of the Messiah, who should bring life and immortality to light by his Gospel.
If you would please turn with me to our passage this morning and honor the Word of God by standing as I read from Romans 1:1-6.
Scripture
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; Romans 1:1-6 (NKJV)
Prayer
1. We must accept who and what we are.
Paul, states that he is a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God Romans 1:1 (NKJV)
For we are all predestined before the foundation of the world.
Separated to the gospel of God and called to be a servant unto the Lord and every Christian has been called to be a servant unto the Lord!
For God has said it is so and has recorded it in the Old Testament through the writings of the prophets. (MB)
God had a purpose in the life of Paul and chose Paul for this task, because Paul was the best Paul for this job.
God has a purpose for all that he has called, therefore we must accept who and what we are.
We hear some say; I have no gifts or talents that God can use.
I have so many things going on in my life, that I just do not have time right now.
I’m not good with people and so on and so on.
God has chosen you because you are the best you, you can be.
God knows what and who can do his calling for them.
Everyone is qualified to serve God!
When we back down from the calling of God, we are saying in so many words that God has made a mistake, that I am not qualified to do this work.
We limit the power of God.
God does not make mistakes!
He knows who is best for the job, so if you are not serving God, then you are in rebellion against God.
If you call yourself a Christian then there is a calling on your life and God expects you to serve!
2. We are all predestined
2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
For we are all predestined before the foundation of the world. I was called to be a servant unto the Lord. For God has said it is so and has recorded it in the Old Testament through the writings of the prophets. Romans 1:2 (MB)
Which he had promised before Both in the law and in the prophets God showed his purpose to introduce into the world a more perfect and glorious state of things.
God states that it would take place under the influence of the Messiah, who should bring life and immortality to light by his Gospel.
Paul goes on to confirm verse two in the next few verses by saying that Jesus Christ himself was predestined by the power of God, which was confirmed by the Holy Spirit and declared by the cross and the resurrection form the dead.
That He was and is the Son of God.
3. We are all called into the Servant-hood of Christ
3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
Let’s understand verse three, first;
Son = Huios, (hwee-os’) a child mature enough to take on adult family privileges and responsibilities, His Son, God’s Son.
Mary called Jesus Teknon (tek’-non) meaning to beget or bear, but God never referred to Jesus as His Teknon (tek’-non).
When the new birth comes, it does not mean He becomes our Father, but we become His again.
Jesus, = Iesous (ee-ay-sooce’) Jesus a name of our Lord and other Israelites. (Joshua)
Lord, = Kurious (koo’-ree-os) One supreme in authority
Christ, = Christos (khris-tos’) Messiah the anointed one
seed Sperma, (sper’-mah) The seed of God denotes God’s power working the divine life in believers who thence derive the divine nature, and thus it means the Holy Spirit working in the believers. (of David according to the flesh.)
The Gospel, (God’s good news) deals with everything concerning the conception, birth, preaching, miracles, the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord who is the royal seed, as far as humanity is concerned and rightful heir to the throne of David.
Paul identified the gospel’s theme, which is The Lord Jesus Christ, as being the center of it.
God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is both human and divine in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
It would probably be safe to say that the phrases according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and according to the Spirit (Romans 1:4) do not contrast the natures of Christ but His relationships.
He belongs to two realms. Looking at his human connection here on earth, His origin was the highest.
He was not just an Israelite or a Carpenter from Nazareth (Romans 9:5) but a son of David, which was a messianic qualification (Isaiah 11:1).
God has chosen you because you are the best you, you can be.
When we back down from the calling of God, we are saying in so many words that God has made a mistake, that I am not qualified to do this work.
We limit the power of God.
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
When we look at his realm above, He was higher than the angels (Hebrews 1:4) were, for he was the very Son of God (Romans 1:4).
The word power is probably referring the fact that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son full of power and might. Jesus has always been the Son of God, but God the Father declared Him the Son by resurrecting Him.
In essence, Jesus did not change, for our God never changes, but God appointed His Son to a new and more powerful position in the relationship to the world.
For he is now not only the Messiah but also the Lord of all.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
the spirit of holiness The reference to the Holy Spirit is referring to the spirit of Christ as the seat of the divine nature belonging to His person.
As God is spirit, the divine nature of Christ is spirit, and its characteristic quality is holiness.
4. There is a call upon your Life?
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
grace = The unmerited favor which God shows us. “God’s riches through Jesus Christ” Grace builds a bridge from us to God.
apostleship = Although the term “apostle” refers to the 12 (Romans 1:1) in a unique way in a broader and less official sense refers to all born again believers that we have been commission to be on mission. (Hebrews 3:1)
obedience to the faith = Genuine saving faith always produces obedience and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9-10; James 2:17-20)
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
called = Always in the New Testament epistles this refers to God’s effectual call of elect sinners to salvation, rather than the general call to all mankind to believe.
Which means that every Christian has been called to a work for the Lord Jesus Christ, you cannot just call yourself a Christian and do nothing!
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
If you are not serving Christ, if you are not faithful to his service, if you place other things in life ahead of Christ, then you might want to check out your salvation experience.
Why because if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
