Salvation: Why? and How?
or, SALVATION: ITS NEED AND PROVISION
Romans Chapters One to Five
Calvary Baptist Church
Series Begins Sunday, September 30, 2012
Paul's Conversion: Around A.D. 36 or 37. Romans written late A.D. 56 or early 57.
OPEN: As he sat in a large and busy city, he thought about how different his life had become in these 20 years since he came to know Christ. He thought about it over and over. He wanted to visit another large city that was fairly close by. But other business would keep him from going there. He had friends in the other city that were expecting him. He didn't want them to think that they were not important to him. If only he could find someone to take a message to them. He found the person, a travelling business woman. He put into her hands a letter, and she carried it to the church in Rome. They would be glad to hear from Paul.
INTRODUCTION:
Unlike many of the first Gentile churches, the church at Rome had not been founded by the apostle Paul. It would seem that no other apostle had visited the city, for in 15:20 Paul indicates that he wants to go where he will not be building on another man's foundation. Rome was a congregation that contained both Jews and Gentiles, though the Gentiles were the majority by far. As Paul writes, he does so to the saints in Rome, not the church. Certainly there was a church in Rome, for 16:4,5 tells us of a church that met in the home of Priscilla and Aquila. (cf. Also, 1 Cor. 16:19) It is possible that there were many churches in Rome.
As Paul writes to Rome, he is on his third missionary journey. This has been his most expansive journey by far! On this journey he has spent three years in Ephesus, and recently three months in Corinth. (Acts 20:3) In Romans 15:9, Paul tells the Roman church that he has travelled from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. This is the area also called Dalmatia. On modern maps, we would look for Croatia and Slovenia (formerly Yugoslavia). Many maps do not show this part of Paul's third journey because we do not know much about it. Many suggest that Paul went there while he had been in Macedonia waiting on news from his 2nd letter to the Corinthians. After this, he travelled to Corinth, and so Illyricum is fresh on his mind as he writes to Rome. BKC From the shore of Illyricum to the shore of Italy it was a journey of some 100 miles across the Adriatic Sea. So close! From there it would have been another 75 miles or so by land to the great city of Rome.
Wow, did Paul ever want to see Rome! But Paul, though geographically close, could not go on the Rome. How divided must have been his heart. But he had a job to do. He had to take the offerings for the saints in Jerusalem that had been given by the people of Macedonia and Achaia. (15:25,26) Paul tells the believers in Rome that, having delivered the relief money to Jerusalem, he will come to them and from their go on to Spain. (15:28) You can read some of the details that relate to this time in Paul's life in Acts 19 and 20.
Paul wanted to write for at least two reasons. (There are more of course.) First, he wanted to share with them his love and make sure that they understood that his delay in coming was providential. Secondly, he knew that a church that had been organized by laymen needed to be grounded in doctrine. The letter that he wrote to them has been called the charter of the Christian faith. Yes, Paul helped to ground the church at Rome in the faith, but in so doing he laid the foundation that would teach generations the greatest doctrine of all, justification by faith.
OUTLINE OF ROMANS
I do not know who first outlined Romans in this way, but it is the outline of the book that I have used for as long as I can remember.
I. Salutation (1:1-17)
II. Sin (1:18 - 3)
III. Salvation (4-5)
IV. Sanctification (6-8)
V. Sovereignty (9-11)
VI. Service (12-16)
In this first section, the Salutation, we will look at three division:
I. Salutaiton (1:1-17)
A. Paul and His Calling (1:1-7)
B. Paul and the Church (1:8-15)
C. Paul and His Commission (1:16-17)
APPLICATION FOR INTRODUCTION
How could there be a church at Rome when no apostle had visited? Paul in his letter asked the question, "How can they hear without a preacher?" Yet, so far as we can tell, no vocational minister had arrived in Rome. So, how did the church come about? How did Paul manage to have the letter delivered to them? The answer to these questions is that God uses ordinary believers!
1. The visitors from Rome (Acts 2:10)
Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
• On the day of Pentecost, there were travelers from Rome in Jerusalem.
• The Bible does not say that the ones from Rome were converted.
• But there is at least a good chance that someone from Rome came to know the Lord.
• And when they travelled home, they shared Christ in Rome.
2. Paul's Relatives (Rom. 16:7,11)
Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles [NOTE: Used in the broader sense like Barnabas and Silas], who also were in Christ before me.
Romans 16:11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
• It is likely that these kinsman are from Paul's tribal family (Benjamin).
• Perhaps they are closer relatives.
• But they have believed in Christ and they are active in the cause of Christ in Rome!
• APPLY!
3. Priscilla and Aquila
• Aquila and his wife Priscilla are always mentioned together.
• What a joy to see couples serving God.
• It was the providence of God that caused them to be forced from Italy.
Acts 18:1-3 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
• Having united with Paul in Corinth, they travelled with him to Syria and helped him.
• They were so grounded in the faith that they could take aside Apollos and instruct him. (Acts 18:26)
• In God's time, they return to Rome and evidently help in the founding of a church that met in their home. (Romans 16:4-5)
Romans 16:3-5a Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
• APPLY!
4. Phoebe
Romans 16:1-2 1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
• Cenchrea was the nearby port city to Corinth that served as her eastern harbor.
• Phoebe was a servant of the church there.
• She already had plans to go to Rome on business.
• God leads Paul to her.
• He asked if she would be willing to take along a letter to believers in Rome.
• In typical fashion, this servant said yes.
• Her name means "radiant, shining, bright."
• She was a light for Christ, not a pastor but a preacher!
• APPLY!
We may not all be called to be pastors or evangelists, but we are all preachers! And we can all shepherd others. We can all evangelize others. God can use each of us!
