“The Calling Of God” - ROMANS – Introduction, 1:1-7
INTRODUCTION: We are introducing a new study … the study of the Book of Romans.
1.- THE WRITER – The Apostle Paul. 1:1,7
Paul wrote this letter to the Christians at the church in Rome, in 57 AD, when he was in Corinth.
2.- THE READERS – The church in Rome.
Paul had never been to Rome. Who started the church in Rome? Actually, Paul did … by extension! It was founded by those whom Paul had led to the Lord … AND … by other Christians who had come to Rome and started the church.
Rome was the capital of the world. “All roads lead to Rome” … literally!
o On the Day of Pentecost, there were people from Rome (Acts 2:10). Perhaps they went back to Rome after hearing Peter preach. Acts 2:41 – “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
o Aquila & Priscilla were in Rome - Romans 16:3 – “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:” They had been with Paul in Corinth. Acts 18:1-3 – all turn.
Because of the persecution against Jews in Rome, they had to leave Rome, and they went to Corinth, where they met Paul. They eventually went back to Rome (when Nero came to power), and were there when Paul wrote this letter to the church.
o Paul had led many others to Christ … who eventually went to Rome. So … by extension … Paul had founded the Church in Rome, although he had never been there.
This letter was probably carried to the Christians in Rome by Phoebe, who had been with Paul in Corinth – Romans 16:1 – all turn. “Cenchrea” is a port, about 7 miles from Corinth.
o No other Apostle had been to Rome. Not even Peter, although the Roman Catholic Church holds to the opinion that the church in Rome was founded by the Apostle Peter. If Peter had started the church in Rome, Paul surely would have greeted him, too! Peter came later, after Paul finally came to Rome, as a Roman prisoner, in 60 AD … 3 years after this letter was written.
The Christians in Rome had a good reputation – Romans 1:8 – all turn. The Church in Rome was made up of both Jewish and Gentile Christians, although the Gentile Christians out-numbered the Jewish Christians.
3.- THE THEME – Romans deals with the “righteousness of God” – Romans 1:16-17 – all turn. It was the book of Romans that influenced Martin Luther to start the Protestant Reformation … that had an impact on the church that is felt even today. In the book of Romans, we find the great doctrines of the church.
1:1 – “servant” = literally, ‘a bond-slave’. Peter, James & Jude all refer to themselves as “servants, slaves” of Christ.
The Romans knew a lot about slavery. There were over 4 million inhabitants of Rome, and approximately half were slaves. The Romans didn’t want to do manual labor, so they imported slaves from around the world.
Paul considers himself a “slave” of Jesus Christ. We naturally cringe at the idea of being a “slave” to anyone. BUT … Paul was a WILLING slave to Christ.
What characteristics of a “slave” is Paul talking about?
o A “slave” was PURCHASED by his master. Paul had been PURCHASED by the blood of Jesus Christ … it was a high price that was paid for him. He had been BOUGHT from the slave-market of sin. Christ looked at Paul, saw that he was hopelessly enslaved to sin, and Christ purchased him because Christ loved him.
o A “slave” lived for his master. Paul had no other desire than to live for Christ. He gave up his personal will, for the will of his Master. Everything he did, was for his Master and Lord.
Jesus calls US to be His servant, His “slave”, if you please.
o John 12:26 – “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
o Ephes. 6:6-7 – “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; [7] With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:”
The best thing that could happen to a slave, was to have a good master. Sometimes the masters were cruel. In Rome, a master could have a slave killed for any reason … or for no reason. Some slave-master’s were cruel. Others were good to their slaves, and treated them as a part of their family, helping to raise their children.
Paul counts it a JOY to be the slave of Christ. When he was saved on the Road to Damascus, the first words of Paul are found in Acts 9:6 – “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” From that time on, Paul was a slave of Christ. He learned that what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29 was true – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Paul’s Master was in charge, in control … Paul just took his burdens and turned them over to Christ to take the control.
Do you think of yourself as a “slave” of Christ? That’s what it means to be a Christian. Being a Christian doesn’t mean “what can I get out of being a Christian” … BUT … “what can I give to my Master, by being a Christian”. Being saved is being a SLAVE to Christ. That’s what being a Christian is all about. Luke 9:23-25 – all turn. A slave doesn’t live for himself, he lives for his master.
We are all a “slave” to something … or someone. The LOST are a slave of Satan. Some are a slave to their passions … to a habit … to a lifestyle … to an addiction. Paul was proud to be a “slave” to Christ!
1:1 – “called to be an apostle”. What is an “apostle”? It means “one who is sent”. It was a term that was used for one who was sent with a message as an ambassador from a King. Paul had been sent by the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords … with a message to proclaim.
Paul is called the “13th Apostle”. One of the requirements of being an Apostle, was to have seen the resurrected Christ (1 Cor. 9:1-2). Paul saw the resurrected Jesus on the Road to Damascus, at his conversion. He didn’t DECIDE to become an Apostle, because he thought it was a good idea … or a good vocation … or a good career move. As a matter of fact, he had PERSECUTED the Apostles, and hated everything they believed in and stood for. 1 Cor. 15:8-9 – “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. [9] For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
This was a CALLING of God. Galatians 1:1 – “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)”
As an Apostle, God gave Paul certain APOSTOLIC GIFTS … “sign gifts”. Paul could speak in tongues, that is, in other foreign languages that he hadn’t studied. This proved beneficial as he traveled to areas where many languages were spoken. Paul had the gift of healing. Paul even raised people from the dead. Paul was called to b an Apostle. His calling was to the Gentiles.
You and I are also “called” … BUT … we aren’t called to be “apostles”. There were only 13 of them, and there are no more Apostles. HOWEVER … WE are “called” to be something else. 1:6-7 – all turn.
1:6-7 - “saints” = ‘separated to holiness’. God has to “call” you to be a “saint” … because we were slaves to sin. Just like it wasn’t Paul’s idea to become an Apostle when he was lost … SO … we aren’t “called” as “saints” because it was our idea. It was GOD’S idea … it is GOD’S “calling” of grace to lost sinners.
Why did God call you to be a “saint”? Because you were so good? Because you were more “righteous” than somebody else? Because you were raised in a Christian home? Because you desired to be a Christian? NO … because you were “beloved of God”. It is because of His GRACE, that He loved you, and called you to be a part of His family. God “called” you … you didn’t “call” Him.
Just like Paul didn’t CHOOSE to be an Apostle … God CHOSE him. John 15:16 – “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” God “called” you to be a “saint”, not because you loved Him so much … BUT … because He loved you so much. … and you responded to His call.
J. Vernon McGee says that there are 2 groups of people in this world … the “saints” and the “aint’s”.
1:1 – “separated unto the gospel of Christ” – There are 2 ways to think of “separation” … separated FROM … or separated TO.
A Christian is separated FROM:
o Eternal death - “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), and the Christian has been separated from an eternity in Hell.
o Old Things – “Old things are passed away” (2 Cor. 5:17), and those things which we did before salvation aren’t to enslave us any longer. We are no longer to take a part of the world that we once were enslaved to.
A Christian is separated TO:
Eternal life – “The wages of sin is death … BUT … the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
New things – “Old things are passed away … BEHOLD … all things are become new.”
If all you are is separated FROM … and not separated TO … then you aren’t living for Christ. If you are a Christian, God has “separated you TO” something. Here, Paul gives his PERSONAL calling and ministry as a called Apostle … “separated to the gospel of God”. Paul was “separated” out from all the others who were “called” of God, to be a missionary of the “gospel of God” to the Gentiles.
God has “separated” you with a definite “calling” … just like God has “called” me to be a pastor. Don’t think that the only “calling” that God gives, is the “call to preach”. God “calls” some to be Christian teachers, Christian Doctors, Christian farmers, Christian bricklayers, Christian mothers/wives, Christian fathers/husbands, Christian Sunday School Teachers, etc.
EVERY Christian has a MINISTRY that God has “called” you to. Some people miss it altogether. Some people are active in their “calling”. That’s why God gave you the spiritual gifts that He did … so you can minister in the “calling” that He has “called” you to, and “separated” you to. It is a “calling” that no one else can do … BECAUSE … he has “separated” you from all the others that He has “called”.
Whatever the “calling”, we are to “separated unto the gospel of God”. God calls each Christian to share the news of the “gospel” … the ‘good news’. See 1:16.
What is this “good news” that God “calls” us to share? Paul tells us:
1:2 – It is TIMELESS. It isn’t something new … you even find it in the Old Testament. Paul is identifying with the Jewish Christians in Rome. They have a heritage of the gospel, found in their Old Testament. The Old Testament prophesies … WHEN Christ would be born, WHERE, HOW He would be born … His rejection by the Jews … His triumphant entry … His betrayal by Judas … His crucifixion … His resurrection … His ascension. The Old Testament is FULL of the “gospel, good news”.
1:3 – The Scriptures tell of the HUMANITY of Christ … from the seed of David. He was fully human … when He was born of virgin Mary … though without sin. He can identify with us, as we live our human life here on earth. He understands your temptations … your pain … your hurt … your sorrow … your joys.
1:4 – The Scriptures tell us that He is also fully God. “He is not any more man, because He is God … He is not any less God, because He is man.” He is God-man.
The resurrection didn’t make Jesus the Son of God … it “declared” that He IS the Son of God.
1:5 – What does this “gospel” mean?
o It is the means by which God imparts His “grace” to us. We aren’t worthy of being saved. BUT … because of His “grace” and mercy, we are saved. See 10:14-17.
o It is the means of our CALLING. To Paul, this meant his apostleship.
o It is the means of “obedience” … not just to the “call” of the gospel to salvation … but to LIVING our Christian life in “obedience” as a “slave” of Christ. This means SHARING the gospel with others.
1:6 –It was through the gospel that was shared to you, that you came to know the Lord. You heard the gospel … God called you … you answered His call in obedience.
1:7 – To those who answered His call, God will give “grace” and “peace”. They only come from God, through Christ. “Peace” comes through His “grace”. We have not only “peace with God”, but the “peace of God”.
CONCLUSION:
Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:10 – “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:”
Because of God’s grace, He has called us, not only for salvation, but for ministry. We need to be faithful to His “calling”.
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
Romans 1:1-7 – “The Calling Of God”
1.- The Writer – The Apostle Paul – 1:1,7
2.- The Readers – Who started the church in Rome?
o Christians from the Day of Pentecost – Acts 2:41
o Aquila & Priscilla – Romans 16:3, Acts 18:1-3
o Others Paul led to Christ – Phoebe – Romans 16:1
- They had a good reputation – 1:8
3.- The Theme – The righteousness of God – 1:16-17
1:1 – “servant” = a ‘bond-slave’.
- A slave was purchased by his master … Jesus paid a high price for Paul when He bought him from the slave market of sin.
- A slave lived for his master … everything Paul did was for his Lord and Master, Jesus – John 12:26, Ephesians 6:6-7.
- Paul counted it joy to be the slave of Christ – Acts 9:6, Matthew 11:28-29.
- Being saved means being a slave to Christ – Luke 9:23-25
1:1 – “apostle” = ‘one who is sent’
- Paul was “called” to be an Apostle … it wasn’t his idea – 1 Corinthians 15:8-9, Galatians 1:1
- What is YOUR calling? 1:6-7 – “saints” = ‘separated to holiness’.
- God “called” you because you were “beloved of God” – John 15:16 – You responded to His call of grace of love.
1:1 – “separated” – A Christian is separated FROM:
o Eternal Death – the wages of sin is death – Rom. 6:23
o Old Things – old things are passed away – 2 Cor. 5:17
- A Christian is separated TO:
o Eternal Life – the gift of God is eternal life.
o New Things – all things are become new.
- God separates every Christian TO a “calling”, a ministry.
- Every Christian is called to share the gospel – 1:16
1:1 – “gospel” = ‘good news’
1:2 – the gospel is timeless … it’s found in the O.T.
1:3 – It speaks of the HUMANITY of Christ.
1:4 – It speaks of the DIVINITY of Christ.
- “He is not any more man, because He is God … He is not any less God,because He is man.”
1:5 – It speaks of the “grace” that God imparts – 10:14-17
- It speaks of “obedience” in sharing the gospel.
1:6 – You heard the gospel … God called you … you answered His call in obedience.
1:7 – God gives “grace” and “peace” through Christ.
CONCLUSION: 2 Peter 1:10 – Be faithful to His calling.
