THE CALLED CHURCH
Text: Romans 1:1-7
INTRODUCTION
1. Illustration: One day on the warpath, Alexander and small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city and Alexander raised his voice and demanded to see the king. When the king arrived, Alexander ordered him to surrender the city and everyone inside.
The king laughed, "Why should I surrender to you? You can't do us any harm!"
But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a cliff. The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, his soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths!
After 10 soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to die at the command of this leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.
2. Today we are starting a new series on Paul's Letter To The Romans.
A. Many people believe that Romans is Paul's theological masterpiece.
B. Many of the great doctrines of the Bible are covered in this letter.
C. There are also some controversial concepts covered in this letter, and some of them are "hot button" topics of our day.
D. So we have much to learn from the letter written in the First Century.
3. Paul begins his letter by talking about calling.
A. Some of us have specific callings.
B. Some of us have more general callings.
C. All of us have a calling to be the Church.
4. Paul makes clear in this introduction the calling of the church...
A. We Are Called To Be Slaves
B. We Are Called To Be Partaker's Of The Good News
C. We Are Called To Be Proclaimer's Of The Good News
5. Let's stand together as we read Romans 1:1-7.
Proposition: We are all called to be totally committed to Jesus in every aspect of our lives.
Transition: First, we are...
I. CALLED TO BE SLAVES (1).
A. Slave Of Jesus Christ
1. When beginning a study of any book in the Bible it is essential to answer some very basic question about the book.
A. Who Wrote It: Paul (v. 1)
B. To Whom: Christians in Rome (v. 7). This was a predominantly Gentile church, and this is important, who were not Paul's converts.
C. When: AD 56. We won't necessarily find that in the text itself, but based on history and a record of Paul's life scholars believe this is the approximate date of the letter.
2. Paul's introduction in his letter to Romans is more extensive than in his other letters.
A. Many Scholars believe the reason for this is that his audience was not converts of his, and therefore, his authority with them is more in question than with other churches.
B. Furthermore, because this church was predominately Gentile, Paul stresses the Christians indebtedness to Jewish heritage both in the Scriptures and in the person of the Jewish Jesus (Witherington III, Paul's Letter To The Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary, 29).
3. Paul begins by saying, "This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, ..."
A. From the very beginning Paul refers to himself as a "slave of Christ Jesus."
B. A slave of someone in high position had more status, authority and freedom than a free commoner; the emperor’s slaves were some of the highest-ranking people in the empire, as the Roman Christians would know (Keener, New Testament, Under: "Romans 1:1-7 Introduction").
C. So for Paul and his audience the term does not have the same negative connotation that we put on it today.
D. Perhaps the reason for this is that Paul wants to set himself within the prophetic tradition.
E. Many OT figures, especially the prophets, who regularly identified themselves in this way.
F. So in a Scriptural sense to be referred to as a servant of the Lord is a term of honor.
G. Paul is, therefore, making it clear that his calling and authority comes from Jesus himself.
H. He is not his own person, and his calling and mission has been assigned to him. He has been called to be a missionary to the Gentiles (Witherington. 30-31).
4. Then Paul refers to himself in a different way. He says, "...chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News."
A. The term Apostle means someone who is "called out and set apart," and has it's background in the Jewish concept of shaliah, who was the legal agent of the one who sent him to undertake some task, and who carried with him the authority of the one who sent him.
B. The shaliah was sent on a mission with a very specific task, and Paul is making it clear what his mission is and who gave it to him.
C. He unmistakably unapologetic about being a slave of Jesus (Witherington III, 31).
B. Bought With A Price
1. Illustration: "All things are the slaves of Christ, and He is Lord of all. Therefore Paul calls himself a slave first of all, thereby encouraging the rest to do likewise" (Theodore Of Mopsuestia, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture NT, vol VI, 5).
2. We are bought and paid for slaves of Jesus Christ.
A. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT2)
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
B. When you were born into this world you were born a slave. You were born a slave of the devil, and as such, a slave of sin and death.
C. But God in, who is rich in love and mercy, sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to buy you back.
D. He did so by dying on the cross in your place, yes he bought you back with his own blood.
E. Now you are no longer slaves of the devil, but you are now slaves of Jesus.
F. You owe him your devotion.
G. You owe him your time.
H. You owe him gifts.
I. You owe him your possessions.
J. Above all you owe him your very life!
Transition: Second, we are...
II. CALLED TO BE PARTAKER'S OF THE GOOD NEWS (2-4).
A. God Promised This Good News
1. Paul now moves from talking about himself and his calling to the Good news.
A. This is a major theme for Paul in this letter as it appears some 17 times.
B. According to its Greek heritage, as well as its acquired Hebrew background via the Septuagint, euangelion describes a good report from the battlefield, a message of victory.
C. Moreover, this is its essential meaning in the New Testament. The gospel is the message of Christ’s victory over the enemy; the strong one has been conquered by the One who is stronger
(Thoralf Gilbrant, ed., “2077. e?a???????,” in Delta-Epsilon, Complete Biblical Library, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "2077).
2. In v. 2 Paul says, "God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures."
A. It is interesting that Paul refers to the Good News as God's Good News and not the Good News of Jesus.
B. Since he is establishing his authority to a church that largely is unknown to him, it is probable that he refers to it this way to a gospel which comes from God.
C. In Paul's mind this salvation was promised through the prophets whose teachings were recorded in Scripture (Witherington, 31-32).
D. The Good News had been promised long ago by God and was not a new religion made up by Paul or anyone else.
E. It was rooted in God's promises in the Old Testament to his people through his prophets.
F. The gospel that Paul preached was in perfect continuity with God's earlier words in the Scriptures to his people, Israel.
G. Both the Jews and Gentiles in the church of Rome needed to be reminded that the gospel is an ancient message of God's plan for his creation.
H. This was on Paul’s mind and is a recurring theme throughout the letter.
(Barton, Life Application New Testament Commentary, 579).
3. Then in v. 3 Paul says, "The Good News is about his Son, Jesus. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line,"
A. In this verse Paul focuses on Jesus human lineage rather on his human nature.
B. He is referred to as being born into the Royal line of King David.
C. First, Paul identifies his pre-existence as the eternal Son of God, and also his earthly existence as the messianic royalty (Osborne, IVP NT Commentary: Romans, 30).
D. Jesus was born into King David’s royal family line, in Bethlehem, and of David's tribe (Judah).
E. King David was promised a kingdom without end
a. 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NLT2)
12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.
13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.
14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.
15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight.
16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
F. In the birth of Jesus Christ, the eternal King of kings, that promise was fulfilled.
G. In Christ's humanity we see his identification with us and his excellence as our example.
H. In Christ's divinity we see his worthiness to take our place in receiving the punishment for sin that is due us.
I. We separate Christ's human and divine natures for understanding and discussion, but in fact, they cannot be separated. Jesus is and will always be the God-man, our Lord and Savior (Barton, 579).
4. Paul then moves from Jesus lineage to his victory. In v. 4 he says, "and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord."
A. In verse 4, rather than concentrating on Jesus divine nature, he focuses on what happens to him on earth, more specifically on his resurrection (Witherington, 32).
B. Paul proclaims the resurrection shows, or proves, that Jesus was the Son of God.
C. It wasn't his teachings, healings, miracles, or even his sacrificial death on the cross, but his resurrection that proves who he really is. Therefore, the resurrection is the turning point in the existence of the Son of God. Before then he was the Son of God in weakness and lowliness.
D. Through the resurrection he becomes the Son of God in power.
E. However, we must recognize that it was not in Jesus own power that he was raised, but rather by the power of the Holy Spirit.
F. So the Holy Spirit is the turning point from Jesus earthly ministry to his eternal Lordship as Jesus the Son of God.
G. J.B. Phillips wrote, "for most Christians your Jesus is too small."
H. We need to see Jesus as our friend and helper but also as God and Lord of all (Osborne, 31-32).
B. At Just The Right Time
1. Our world is desperately in need of some good news. Suzanne Jennings wrote this song in 1999:
I woke up Monday morning, walked out on the lawn
My eyes were barely open, and my mouth began to yawn
Picked up the daily paper, every single headline said,
That this ole world is full of trouble, and I wished I'd stayed in bed.
Sometimes the bad that's goin' on's enough to bring you down.
Turned on my television and began to flip on thru
All 100 channels, On Demand, and Pay per view
Not one message had a meaning that was good in any way
Just before I wrote the whole world off, I heard the Father say,
"Don't forget what I have promised, you can overcome it all!"
Well my knees began to shake, and my heart began to beat,
And a funny new sensation worked its way into my feet
The Spirit of glad tidings came from somewhere deep inside,
And holdin' back the flood was just like holdin' back the tide.
I couldn't help but circulate to everyone I know.
I'll spread this talk all over town about the peace and joy I've found in You, good news!
This story is about to break and blessed are the feet that take the Truth, good news!
I'm slippin' on my gospel shoes--Cause I've got good, good news!
(Words: Suzanne Jennings, performed by Gaither Vocal Band, 1999).
2. The world is full of bad news, but Jesus brings us the Good News.
Titus 1:2-3 (NLT2)
2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
3 And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.
A. Just watch the news on TV, and I don't care if it's Fox, CNN, ABC, CBS or NBC, it's all bad.
B. People being murdered, committing suicide, wars, rumors of wars, drug addiction, mass shootings, children being abducted and sold into sexual slavery.
C. Look at Face Book, Twitter, Instagram, and people are arguing about politics, immigration, gun control, and the list goes on and on.
D. But if you look into the living and active Word of God we see the Good News.
E. At just the right time God sent his Son Jesus Christ to come to earth and be like one of us.
F. He came at just the right time to take our place on the cross.
G. He came and set us free from sin, death and the grave.
H. He came so that we would have a place in a new heaven and a new earth.
I. A place where there is no more war, crime, hatred or death.
J. A place where there is no more fear, tears or sadness.
K. The world's got nothing but bad news, but Jesus has nothing but the Good News!
Transition: Not only are we called to be partakers of the Good News, but we are also...
III. CALLED TO BE PROCLAIMERS OF THE GOOD NEWS (5-7).
A. To Tell The Gentiles Everywhere
1. How can we be partakers of a salvation so rich and free, and yet not openly and aggressively share it with others?
2. I believe that this is the question that would ask of us. As he says in v. 5, "Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name."
A. For Paul the gospel is all about mission. This both begins and ends with a prepositional phrase showing that the gospel is both the instrument (though Christ) and the recipient (for the glory of his name). The Lord is the means and focus of the proclamation of the gospel.
B. The Lord gave Paul two things authority and privilege, or grace, which indicates that Paul's commission to be the Apostle to the Gentiles was an undeserved gift from God.
C. He was always overwhelmed that God gave him, the worst of sinners, this great honor.
D. His purpose in this mission was to bring them to obedience that comes from faith.
E. Obedience is the natural result of a faith based relationship with Jesus, and faith always produces obedience.
F. These two concepts are both interchangeable and inseparable.
G. This concept would also define the mission of every true church today.
H. Evangelism and discipleship are inseparable aspects of every New Testament church.
I. To center on one aspect and neglect the other is to be unbalanced and unbiblical (Osborne, 32).
3. However, there is more to proclaiming the Good News with just our mouths, we also have to proclaim it with our lives. In vv. 6-7 Paul says, "And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace."
A. In verse 6 Paul is affirming to them that even though he did not start their church, they are still apart of his mission to the Gentiles.
B. Therefore, he can teach them with authority from God.
C. In addition, they, like Paul, are called by Jesus Christ to be a part of the Kingdom of God (Osborne, 33).
D. In verse 7 Paul reminds them of two things that every Christian should understand: they are loved by God and they are called to be holy.
E. The idea of holiness is based on the OT concept of "being set apart."
F. He doesn't mean in the modern sense of being perfect, which the rest of the letter indicates that we are far from perfect (Witherington, 37).
G. Paul is reminding them, and us, of our special allegiance to the God who loves us and to begin to act upon it as his special people (Osborne, 34).
4. Grace is the unmerited favor God gives to the believers; peace refers to the peace that Christ made between us and God through his death on the cross.
A. Only God can grant such wonderful gifts. Paul wants his readers to experience God's grace and peace in their daily living.
B. In these two words of greeting Paul is combining expressions from Jewish and Gentile customs.
C. Jews wished each other peace (eirene or the Hebrew shalom); Gentiles wished each other grace (charis).
D. Each of these common expressions gained considerable value in Christian use (Barton, 580).
B. Go Therefore
1. Illustration: It's amazing how many people try to share the good news with a sense of rage and hatred.
Example: ranting and raving about a particular social ill, polarizing people, and focusing more on judgment and God's wrath than on the hope that Christ offers.
People rant about rock music, dancing, gambling, long hair and tattoos, drinking and smoking, and whatever. They basically tell people that God’s gonna get em for that, because good Christians like us uptight people are God’s chosen. So repent and be like us, you heathen scum!
Are there things in our society that displease God? Yes. Is there rampant sin? Yes. Will there be a judgment at which God will punish sin? Absolutely.
But let me tell you something, judgment is not the theme of the gospel, nor of the Bible. The theme of the good news is rescue. The theme of the good news is that Jesus has rescued us from the judgment and wrath of God, and that rescue is available to anybody who looks to Christ, regardless of who they are, what they’ve done, in spite of their race, and their gender! It's not just Good News it's awesome news!!!
2. The most important phrase in both the Bible and the Good News can be summed up in two words: "But God!"
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT2)
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,
5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
A. We were dead because of our sins...but God!
B. We were lost in our selfishness and pride...but God!
C. We were blind and stumbling around in the darkness...but God!
D. Regardless of our past, regardless of our family, regardless of our neighborhood, we are saved by grace.
E. This is what we need to proclaim and live out.
F. People don't need to be reminded that they are sinners, because they already it!
G. What they need to be reminded of is "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that he sent Jesus to die for us!
H. They need to be reminded...But God!
CONCLUSION
1. Paul makes clear in this introduction the calling of the church...
1. We Are Called To Be Slaves
2. We Are Called To Be Partaker's Of The Good News
3. We Are Called To Be Proclaimer's Of The Good News
2. THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER...
1. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN WHAT YOU WANT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE. ALL THAT MATTERS IS WHAT GOD WANTS.
2. WHAT YOU DID BEFORE YOU CAME TO JESUS DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE. ALL THAT MATTERS IS WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU.
3. WE NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THOSE TWO HUGE WORD...BUT GOD!
