Believer, Be Encouraged
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25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
What is Paul’s intention in writing this book?
Paul doesn’t really express his major intentions in writing to the Romans, but we do see some implications AND a major theme running throughout the book. Not only this, but we see some of the weightiest theological principles and doctrines in all of scripture condensed into one book.
He planned on bringing financial relief to the believers in Jerusalem.
He desired to promote unity among the Jewish and Gentile believers.
When and to whom did Paul write this book?
He wrote it on his third missionary journey. What are a couple things we can learn from Paul going on his 3rd missionary journey?
It is commonly dated in the mid-50’s AD.
It seems to be written to the church at large and scripture alludes to Paul having a relationship with the Roman citizen Gaius (; ).
We also know that Paul had not met these Christians yet as described in .
Another thing we know about Paul is that he is a Roman citizen. So what.
The “so what” is that as a Roman citizen, he would have been intimate with their customs, would have known their system of governance and law, understood the region’s religions and philosophies, and been fluent in Greek.
What is a doxology/benediction?
A doxology is defined as:
“Brief formula for expressing praise or glory to God.”
David W. Music, “Doxology,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 441.
A benediction can be defined as:
Notice in this doxology/benediction that the Apostle Paul says that God is “able to establish (strengthen) you.”
“Prayer for God’s blessing or an affirmation that God’s blessing is at hand.”
Chad Brand et al., eds., “Benediction,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 185.
Notice in this doxology/benediction that the Apostle Paul says that God is “able to establish (strengthen) you.”
Today’s goal is to study these verses in order to learn how we are able to be strengthened in order that He receives the glory He deserves.
We are encouraged (strengthened) due to
The Gospel and Gospel Preaching
The Gospel and Gospel Preaching
Believer, we are strengthened by the very gospel message itself.
The gospel is simply this:
God made everything perfect. Sin came into the world, touched everything, and ruined our relationship with Him. All of us are now separated from Him. God knowes this, and sent His only Son as a sacrifice to restore our relationship with Him.
When we admit we are wrong, receive His Son as our Savior, we are not only restored to Him, we are so grateful that we desire to learn more about Him, want to be with His people, and tell others what He has done for us.
We are reminded that the strength we receive from the gospel comes from our submission to it, rather than simple knowledge of it. Let me unpack that a little bit.
There is a huge difference between submission and simple knowledge.
Our submission to the gospel shows not only our subordination, but it shows that we’ve met the requirements for this very gospel to be a saving gospel rather than a cultural gospel.
Friends, listen to how Paul describes how the gospel has changed him from this very book.
He is:
Separated to do the work of the gospel.
Serving the Son.
Not ashamed.
Ministering the gospel.
Coming to them with the blessing of the gospel.
A cultural gospel according to Paul in Romans is:
One who believes salvation comes from Jesus AND good works.
Those who hear the gospel and do not obey it.
Making one an enemy of God.
Believing friends, are you encouraged by the glorious gospel that has the power to change?
We are also encouraged by the preaching of the gospel!
What a priviledge it is to preach the gospel.
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
We often relegate preaching to the one guy on the stage, because we have a faulty view of what the Bible teaches that our elders are supposed to be doing.
The word “preach” in 10:15 means: “to publicly announce biblical truths and principles while urging the hearer to receive these truths and live according to them.”
Friends, the preaching of the gospel is not only given to the elders and pastors, but to the believer that the world may hear the glorious saving news of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The
We are encouraged (strengthened) due to
The Manifest Mystery
The Manifest Mystery
Believers, this mystery made manifest strengthens and encourages us.
We love learning about mysteries and discovering new things don’t we?
Did you know the “L” in the word Staples is a half-opened staple?
Do you remember the first time you found out that your clock app on your iPhone is a working clock? That was cool!
How about this one: how old were you when you figured out that your tongue rests on the roof of your mouth and not the bottom? I was 42!
These things are certainly not mysteries, but there was a time when what may have been plain was now revealed to us.
This mystery of God has now been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
Be encouraged with how Paul, through his writer Tertius, mentions that this mystery was know by God from the beginning of time.
Listen to ; also known as the protoevangelium, (proto-first; evangelium-gospel) or the first declaration of the Gospel in scripture.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
We can be encouraged that from the very beginning God had a plan to redeem His people from their sin. Listen and follow along with me from .
Transition with how many in the congregation may have never heard, nor understood the Gospel until recently, or even today.
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
We are encouraged (strengthened) due to
The Scriptures being Preached to the Nations
The Scriptures being Preached to the Nations
Now Made Manifest (26)
Now Made Manifest (26)
all nations πάντα17 τὰ18 ἔθνη19 panta ta ethnē
We are encouraged (strengthened) due to
What does the Greek word ethne sound like?
It sounds like ethnic/ethnicities doesn’t it?
The mystery has not only been made know to the Jewish people, but also to those apart from Him.
Believing friends, this is indeed Good News!
Not only does it include people like you and I, but it gives us the encouragement we need to speak the mystery to those of other ethnicities.
I don’t like to use the word “race” because I don’t believe in different races of people. We all belong to the human race, but certainly have many different ethnic groups within our race.
Where else do we see the phrase, “panta ta ethne” or “all nations?”
How about ?
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Friends, how are you participating with your church to each the nations with the mystery of the Gospel?
How are you partnering to see a mission partnership on every continent?
How about your baptism goal of 1 per week? Have you been gossiping the gospel each week?
I’m learning through the numbers that our church planters turn in that for every 100 gospel conversations that they have, 5% of the people will come to Christ and around 1% will follow in baptism.
Friends, the last church I pastored had a goal of having 5,000 evangelistic encounters in 2018. They averaged 70 in attendance and exceeded the goal by several hundred.
You can do it!
You can do it! Set a goal personally, in your Bible study group, and as a church.
We are encouraged (strengthened) due to
Being Obedient to the Commandment of God
Being Obedient to the Commandment of God
Listen to Paul words this commandment… “for obedience to the faith.”
It’s interesting that Paul used the same phrase in the beginning of the book of Romans.
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
For Obedience to the Faith (26)
For Obedience to the Faith (26)
Please allow me a sidebar for a moment.
Isn’t is interesting that we have somewhere around 15 million members in the SBC and only 5 million in average attendance?
It’s not uncommon for our churches to have a membership roll of 1,000 members and only have 500 in average worship.
Or more normal, 200, 300, 400 members and 40, 50, or 60 in average attendance.
If you are here today and you are following Him as a disciple…you:
have been baptized.
are in some sort of Bible study group.
attend worship regularly and willingly.
share your faith.
are a joy to your pastor and staff.
an asset to the Kingdom in your workplace.
quick to repent.
Be encouraged, you are being obedient to the command of our everlasting God.
Be encouraged that you don’t have to worry about trying to find an evangelistic opportunity!!
Our churches are full of people who are on the roll and yet live like the world. Start with them!
Believing friends, be encouraged if you are obedient to the command of God and are following Him as a disciple.
Struggling friends, let me encourage you. Please don’t stop following Him if you are struggling in any area. The last thing you need to drop is your relationship with the very God did an amazing work in you.
Pretending friends, let me encourage you. You made a profession of faith, but failed to count the cost of following Jesus.
Jesus isn’t calling us to a decision for Him, but to a life of discipleship and following Him.
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
And finally, unbelieving friends; the gospel message is a simple one to understand. Paul explains it throughout his book to the Romans.
, we are all sinners. We’ve broken His commands and commandments. An easy place to look is at the Ten Commandments. If you’ve broken 1, you are a sinner and in need of salvation.
gives us a detailed account of our lives without Him.
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
tells us that the wages of sin is death. Because we sin, we deserve and will not only physically die, but will die spiritually as well.
The Good News begins in
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And tells us that if confess with our mouth and believe in our heart, we will be saved. This belief with our hearts cannot be likened to simply thinking it’s true with no action, but instead it’s where the Holy Spirit of God changes you and you can’t help but live for Him now.
gives us assurance of salvation through Jesus alone.
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Friend, do you need to call on the Lord today? Have you recognized that there is nothing you can do to earn your way to heaven; that it’s only through Him?