Romans(2)
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ENSLAVEMENT TO THE GOSPEL
ENSLAVEMENT TO THE GOSPEL
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
For 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;
Aim: To understand what total commitment to the gospel means; to strive to live a life of total commitment.
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
INTRODUCTION: When is the last time you took a commitment test? This test is given every time you have to choose between one thing and another. Every day you must chose between such things as the following:
KEEPING OUR PROMISES
KEEPING OUR PROMISES
BREAKING OUR PROMISES
BREAKING OUR PROMISES
HONORING OUR FAMILY
HONORING OUR FAMILY
DISHONORING OUR FAMILY
DISHONORING OUR FAMILY
BEING HONEST AND HARDWORKING
BEING HONEST AND HARDWORKING
DOING AS LITTLE WORK AS YOU CAN
DOING AS LITTLE WORK AS YOU CAN
A Christian who has been transformed, truly changed by the power of the gospel, will make a passionate commitment to live for Christ.
He will also make an unswerving commitment to share the gospel. Like many others, the apostle Paul was required to take the commitment test, a test which he passed with flying colors!
Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established;
Romans 1:
Paul had never visited the Roman church, and he had never seen the believers at Rome; yet here he is writing to them. How could he best reach them and express his purpose for writing them?
How could he arouse their interest to such a peak that they would read what he was writing and heed it?
This is the subject of the present passage. Paul wanted the Roman believers to know his great interest in them; therefore, to the best of his ability he shared why he was writing to them.
Simply stated, he said he was writing because he could do nothing else; he was compelled to share the gospel with the whole world including the capital of the world, Rome itself. In fact he was enslaved by the gospel.
THE GOSPEL PRODUCED A GREAT CHURCH
THE GOSPEL PRODUCED A GREAT CHURCH
The church at Rome was a great church—so great that Paul thanked God for the church "always" ().
The word always shows that the church held a very special place in Paul's heart. This is significant, for Paul had never been to the church. He did not know the church personally; he only knew what he had heard about it.
But note: the church's testimony for Christ was so strong it was being talked about throughout the whole world. It had a phenomenal testimony, and wherever Paul traveled he heard about the strength of the church.
What made the church at Rome so strong?
Two significant things can be gleaned from Scripture.
1. The believers were living pure lives in the midst of an immoral, base, and unjust society.
1. The believers were living pure lives in the midst of an immoral, base, and unjust society.
The citizens of Rome were known for their... · immorality · fleshliness · drunkenness · partying · gluttony · extravagance · hoarding · materialism · greed · selfishness · license · indulgence · idolatry · pride · sin and wickedness
The citizens of Rome were known for their...
· immorality · fleshliness · drunkenness · partying · gluttony · extravagance · hoarding · materialism · greed · selfishness · license · indulgence · idolatry · pride · sin and wickedness.
Nevertheless, the believers were standing firm for Christ and living pure lives, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need for morality and justice among men.
2. The believers were serving Christ faithfully and laboring ever so diligently for the Lord.
2. The believers were serving Christ faithfully and laboring ever so diligently for the Lord.
Wherever they were, at home or away traveling, they were sharing Christ and ministering to people—so much so that some of them were known by name all around the world. Paul himself apparently had run across quite a few of them as they were traveling about and ministering.
APPLICATION 1: The Roman church stands as a testimony for every church.
1) No matter how immoral and base, polluted and corrupt a society is, we are to stand firm for Christ.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2) No matter where we are, at home or away, on business or pleasure, we are to be witnessing and ministering for Christ.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
APPLICATION 2: Every church and every believer should have a strong testimony, a testimony so strong that it is talked about everywhere.
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
ILLUSTRATION: When the gospel is lived out, it affects every member of the church. Instead of begging people to get involved in the mission of the church, members have a deep passion to do something for the Lord. If the gospel is not taken seriously, the results are obvious as noted in this story.
"There is a story about four people in the church whose names were Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. "The church had financial responsibilities and Everybody was asked to help. Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it. But you know who did it? Nobody. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. "Then the church grounds needed some work, and Somebody was asked to help. But Somebody got angry about that, because Anybody could have done it just as well and, after all, it was really Everybody's job. In the end the work was given to Nobody, and Nobody did a fine job. "On and on this went. Whenever work was to be done, Nobody could always be counted on. Nobody visited the sick. Nobody gave liberally. Nobody shared his faith. In short, Nobody was a faithful member. "Finally the day came when Somebody left the church and took Anybody and Everybody with him. Guess who was left. Nobody!"
Are you working to make your church great?
Or are you leaving it up to everybody else?