Romans, Part 1, The Gospel and God’s Righteousness
The Book of Romans is one of the Apostle Paul’s 13 Epistles.
It is his longest letter to the church. In the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit put an urgency upon Paul to go to Jerusalem. He was warned that he would be bound and sent to prison. The Holy Spirit had ordained that Paul would visit and give witness of Christ in Rome itself. His life-long desire was to evangelize the cities along the route from Jerusalem to Rome, but he had not been able to go to Rome. At the time of the writing of this Epistle, Rome was the capital and center of the world. If Rome was conquered for Christ, it could impact the world. The Book of Acts tells us he was bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem, (Acts 20:22). Several prophets had warned him that he would be bound in chains, face imprisonment and persecutions in Jerusalem, (Acts 20:19). From the word of the prophecies, it was possible that he might be killed in Jerusalem.
Paul was writing a church that had already been established.
He had ministered to Asia, Macedonia and Greece. He desired to go into Spain, (Romans 15:24). This letter to the Roman saints was prepared so that he may impart some spiritual gift to them. The Book of Romans is a clear presentation of God’s plan of salvation. As with his other letters to the early church, Romans stresses the necessity for all believers to be unified. Both Jews and Gentiles were all sinners and shared the same grace that was offered by the one and only God.
He began the letter by introducing himself and the message he was going to present to them.
Romans 1:1 AMP FROM PAUL, a bond servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God,
Paul identified himself as a bondservant of Jesus Christ.
What does it mean to be a bondservant of Jesus Christ?
The word for “bondservant or slave” (δοῦλοσ — doulos) means far more than just a servant. A slave was totally owned and possessed by the master. A bond-servant was bound by law to a master. The slave market of that day reveals what he was indicating when he said he was a “slave of Jesus Christ.”
1. The slave was owned by his master.
A slave was totally possessed by his master and was given up wholly to another’s will and service. Paul was purchased and possessed by Christ.
2. A slave existed only for his master.
A slave had no personal rights whatsoever. His own interests and needs were disregarded. The Apostle Paul existed only for Christ. His rights, goals and ambitions were Christ’s only.
3. The slave served his master, and existed only for the purpose of service.
The slave was at their master’s command all day and night and existed only for the pleasure of their master. Paul lived only to serve Christ. For him to live was Christ.
4. The slave’s will belonged to his master.
A slave was allowed no will or ambition other than the will and ambition of their master. Paul belonged to Christ. He fought to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Paul considered his calling and apostleship to be the highest and most honored position and profession in all the world.
God’s people have often been called “the servants of God.” Our service to Jesus Christ is the highest honor. It bestows the highest privileges and responsibilities of serving the King of kings and Lord of lords. Moses, Joshua, David, Amos, Jeremiah, Paul, Simon Peter, James and Jude said they were servants or bondservants of the Lord. In Acts 2:18,God promises to pour out His Spirit on your sons and daughters, young and old men and on His servants, both men and women. 1 Corinthians 7:22, everyone is called Christ’s slave. Ephesians 6:6 says, “As bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
John 12:26 NIV Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Deuteronomy 10:12 NIV Serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Psalm 2:11 NIV Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
Psalm 100:2 NKJV Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
Why does God want us to serve Him like this?
God wants us to be so committed to Him that we recognize His Lordship over us. Also, being His bondservants brings us under His complete care and promise.
Being a bondservant of God, Paul was sent out as an apostle of God.
The word “apostle” means either a person who is sent out or a delegated messenger sent with a specific message. An apostle is a representative or ambassador of Christ, a person who is sent out to represent another person.
Three things are true of an apostle:
- He belongs to the One who has sent him out.
- He is commissioned to be sent out.
- He possesses all the authority and power of the One who sends him out.
Paul said he was “called” to be an apostle.
He was not in this ministry because he chose to be or had the ability and education to be an apostle. He was an apostle, because God had called him.
Acts 26:16 NKJV But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
Paul was not the only one with a divine call.
God told Moses: “Come now, therefore, and I will send you… to bring My people… out of Egypt.” To Gideon, God said: “Go in your might, and you will save Israel from the hand of Midian, Have I not sent you?” Isaiah heard God say: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Paul heard and answered God’s call.
At first it was difficult for Paul to hear and obey the Lord. When the Lord appeared to him on the Damascus road, He asked, “Why are you persecuting Me?” The Lord wanted Paul in the ministry, so He called him. As soon as he saw the Lord, Paul asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Paul was separated to the Gospel of God.
He was set apart, or marked to declare the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the message that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord to save sinners.
Romans 1:2-3 AMP Which He promised in advance [long ago] through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures— [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David,
God’s promised Good News was the provision of a Savior.
Hebrews 2:14 NLT Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
Hebrews 2:17-18 NLT Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested.
God’s Son became a human just like us, with the nature and trials of life that we all have. As a result, He has become a sympathetic Savior Who is touched with the feeling of our needs.
This is the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:3-4 NKJV Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Regarding His human nature, Jesus was descended from David. As to His divine nature, according to the Spirit of holiness, was openly declared and designated by His resurrection in power from the dead. The Holy Spirit validated His claims of deity by raising Him from the dead. The people around Jesus accepted His words, miracles, signs, wonders, and power, but missed His deity.
Paul was given a revelation of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
On the Damascus road he saw the holy, righteous and resurrected Christ in His glory. By personal assignment, he became a witness of the Good News of a Holy High Priest who became the Sacrifice Lamb, Who died and rose again.
The Resurrection declares the Deity of Jesus the Son of God.
When our loved ones die, we bury their body in the grave. They will remain there until that glorious day when the conquering Savior Jesus Christ our Lord calls out the dead. Jesus died, but He arose again with the power over hell, death and the grave. He lives forever in the presence of God. Death could not hold him for the Holy Spirit moved upon His dead body and raised Him to life.
Romans 1:5-6 NKJV Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
By this grace we are saved. The grace Paul received is the same grace that has called us to Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
This is the Gospel of God’s grace for you.
This is the provision of God’s daily care and favor. By this favor God has made provision to supply your need.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:6-7 NKJV Among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
You are called to be saints
How did they become saints? They are “beloved of God and called to be saints.” Grace is the vehicle by which God saves and cleanses. God called them to be saints by grace.
The word ἅγιος — hagios — saints is given in the present tense.
This indicates they were presently saints. They were not to become saints later, but were called to be saints. The word saint means a most holy thing, a holy one.
A “saint” is a “living believer” in Jesus Christ.
They have been called out of darkness to be the saints of God in light. They had lived in the wicked and pagan city of Rome, but now they were called by Jesus Christ to be saints. The things around them were profane and wicked, but they were called to be holy. In a wicked world they shine as lights. They are called out to be holy.
Ephesians 5:27 NCV He died so that He could give the church to Himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be pure and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other wrong thing in it.
