As a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul had received God’s grace and favor to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake. To this end, the Apostle Paul was sent to the Gentiles to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:5-7 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; 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.
Paul had neither visited nor personally met the church in Rome.
What he knew about them was from reports of their faith that had spread throughout the whole world.
Why would he want to write people he had never met?
Look at verse 5. The purpose of His work is two fold. First, he had received grace and was living in obedience to the faith. Second, he wanted to persuade other believers to obey God’s commands.
Paul was not writing just because he thought he had something to say.
He was not just sharing his opinion with the Romans. He was writing because he could do nothing else. He was compelled by the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel with the whole world. He was enslaved by the Gospel and to Jesus Christ.
The church in Rome had a reputation or testimony that had spread throughout the whole world.
Romans 1:8 NKJV First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
This is a tremendous statement about any group of believers. Something must have happened in the church in Rome that distinguished them among believers. They had a faith that was highly spoken of.
During this time the church was spreading across the known world. (See map)
Asia, Macedonia, Greece and Spain were receiving the Gospel message. The believers in Rome had a great faith. Paul met Priscilla and Aquila around 50-52 a.d. in Corinth on his third missionary journey. The three of them made tents together in Corinth. They were among the Jews that Claudius had told to leave Rome, Acts 18. This couple and other Roman Christians were part of the reason behind Paul’s writing the Book of Romans. Everywhere Paul traveled, he heard about the faith of the people in Rome.
What made the church at Rome so strong?
Two significant things are disclosed in the Scripture.
First, the believers were living pure lives in the midst of an immoral, ungodly, and unjust society.
The Greco-Romans were known for extensive paganism. The temple to Jupiter was shared with their gods Mars, Quirinus, Juno and Minerva. Several Greco-Roman cults, gods and goddesses thrived in the myriad of temples in Rome. The Romans worshiped Isis, the Egyptian goddess of wisdom and magic. Rome was known for immorality, wild parties, promiscuity, indecent acts, and drunkenness. The Greco-Roman social life involved the worship of their many deities, extravagance, selfishness, and indulgence. They were greedy, materialistic and wicked.
In the midst of that environment, Roman believers were standing firm for Christ. Their faith was strong and they were living pure lives. They proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ and declared the need for morality and justice among men.
Second, believers served Christ faithfully and labored diligently for the Lord.
The Roman believers were constantly sharing Christ and ministering to people. Several of the Roman believers were known throughout the church world. (Romans 16) Phoebe, Pricilla and Aquila were among many who worked with Paul and risked their own lives for him. They were a living testimony of the Christian life for every church. No matter how immoral, polluted, and corrupt a society is, we are to stand firm for Christ. We should be a light in a dark world.
Paul encouraged them in their Christian stand.
Romans 12:2 NKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 John 2:15-16 NKJVDo not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Regardless of where we live, we are to be a living testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave this promise to the believers who witnessed His bodily ascension to heaven.
Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Being a witness of Christ is more than sharing the Gospel message. It involves living a godly and holy life in the midst of an ungodly world. We need the Holy Spirit’s power to equip us to have this kind of witness.
1 Peter 3:15 NIVBut in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…
We all should have a strong testimony for Jesus Christ. This testimony is how we live our daily lives before others. Every individual and church has a testimony. We must have a witness of the grace, favor, and power of God.
If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, there has been a true change in your life.
We have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible. We live in the hope of His glorious salvation. The Roman believers are an encouragement to all of us who must face a perverse and wicked environment. They had a strong testimony of faith and service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Consider the Apostle Paul’s prayer life.
Romans 1:9 NKJVFor God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
1 Thessalonians 3:10 NIVNight and day we pray most earnestly
I am sure that many of you pray. You have a prayer life. Listen to what Paul said: “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.” Many of you have that same testimony that we “make mention of others in our prayers.” Paul really took time to ask God to strengthen and help others. He even prayed for believers and churches he did not personally know. We should take up the challenge to pray for others. When the Holy Spirit has access to our hearts and minds, He will bring certain people and things before us. Whenever that happens, you should pray for them. You may casually think about someone, don’t just pass it off, take them to the Lord in prayer.
We should pray constantly with all kinds of prayer and thanksgiving.
Luke 18:1 NIV84 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
John 16:24 NKJV Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Ephesians 6:18 NKJV Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…
Colossians 4:2-3 NKJV Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJVpray without ceasing,
Why should we constantly pray?
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Much of the anxiety and trouble of mind and soul would be resolved if we learned to present our needs before God.
Paul had a great spiritual drive (longing) to see the Roman Christians so that he may accomplish three ministry goals.
He wanted to impart some spiritual gift to them.
Romans 1:11 NKJV For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Paul did not explain what “spiritual gift” he wanted to impart. In Romans 12:6-8, he spoke about prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and showing mercy. In 1 Corinthians 12, he said there are nine diversities of spiritual gifts. He specifically listed: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues, (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). Since Paul had received grace from God, he wanted to pass that grace to other believers. This “spiritual gift” may also be the deep truth of the Gospel that had been revealed to him. Take note that the spiritual gift has a result of establishing or strengthening believers.
Paul said the spiritual gift would establish them.
The word establish means to fix, set, make fast, strengthen.
He wanted them to be mutually encouraged.
Romans 1:12 … that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
This is an amazing part of ministry to one another. Every time ministry is received and shared it brings mutual encouragement. The body of Christ (the church) is always strengthened when members share and exercise spiritual gifts in the body of the church. Corporate worship and prayer has specific and general benefits for everyone.
He also wanted to have a harvest or some fruit among them.
Romans 1:13 NKJV Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
There are several ways to bear fruit.
- There is the fruit of converts – Paul wanted to win the Greek, barbarians, and Romans to Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:20 NLT My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.
- He wanted to bear the fruit of righteousness.
Romans 6:21-23 NKJV What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- He wanted to bear the fruit of the Spirit, Christian character.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Your fruit is the testimony of God’s grace and favor. It is a witness of the abiding presence of God’s Spirit in your life. This is more than religious rhetoric or supposed attributes shown in public worship. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ manifest as the fruit of Christian character. If we are going to be a light to a dark and sinful world, we must have a living manifestation of God’s fruit.
Romans 1:14-15 NKJV I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
Why would Paul be deeply indebted, obligated, or bound by duty to share this gospel to the whole world?
He had been rescued by the Lord from a self-destructive lifestyle and being lost and without hope in this world. He knew that he had the solution for the Greeks and Barbarians. He knew what it was like to be religious and not know the power of God that saves.
He was ready to preach the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit had put an urgent willingness to share the good news that Jesus Christ is the answer for your life.
Romans 1:16 NKJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
There are three reasons that Paul was ready to share the Gospel of Christ.
- I am a debtor to the Greeks and to barbarians, to the wise and unwise.
- I am ready to preach the gospel
- I am not ashamed of the gospel
These three things apply to all of our lives.
- We have a debt to the sinner. (If God graciously saved you and rescued you from eternity in hell, you have a debt to let others know they can also be saved.)
- We must be ready. (Keep yourselves in the Word and in a right relationship with God. Be ready to give an answer.)
- We must not be ashamed. (You have a relationship with the living and mighty God. You have no reason to be ashamed that you are a child of God.)
Everyone needs to hear the Good News about Jesus Christ.
