A Glorious Greeting Full of Good News and Grace

Mark A Green

Body Building with the Gospel • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Romans 1:1–7

Gospel

Grace and Union

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Notes

Transcript

Introduction

What if you were given a sure cure for cancer - what would you do with it?

What is the Hearer’s problem?

What is the Biblical Solution?

What do the hearers need to know?

Main Textual Idea:

Main Idea: A Glorious Greeting Full of Grace and Good News!

Interrogative:

Transition:

Body

1. Your Call from God (vs. 1)

Lead in...What is the tension here?

Romans 1:1 ESV

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Explanation - Paul, an extraordinary man with an exceptional resume could have used any number of titles as he addressed a congregation that knew of him, but never met him face to face. (As Church Swindoll points out…)

Scholar/ Renowned rabbi (Acts 22:3)

Roman citizen (Acts 22:28)

A witness to the resurrected Christ (Acts 22:6-11)

Someone who had been caught up into the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2-5)

Instead, he declares himself to be a servant/bond servant/ slave! And this in a culture where this title was looked on with distain.

This was no false humility. Paul reveled in the title servant!

Philippians 3:4–10 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Paul understood, as we just read in Philippians, that to be a servant of Christ is worth more than the highest, most noble titles this world has to offer.

“If God has called you to be His servant, why stoop to be a King?” - Spurgeon

But no only was Paul called to be a servant of Jesus Christ, he was also called to be His apostle.

ἀπόστολος - “apostle,” “sent one,” “official envoy”

And as an Apostle of Christ Paul was “set apart” for a very special work.

Paul was set apart for the sake of the gospel of God. The gospel, the “good news” that God Himself set forth a plan of rescue for His people.

Illustration - Call from God

Argumentation - So, do you think the Apostle Paul and the other apostles are the only ones set apart for the gospel?

Now, to be fair, not all of us are like Paul or Peter or the other apostles, nor do we need to be.

You are called to the ministry of the gospel of God. You are called to share the truth of the gospel. Each one of you have a wonderful responsibility to head God’s call to push the beautiful message of the gospel forward.

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Remember, God is the great missionary! We are privileged to participate with Him in His great endeavor. We are honored to reach people and see them saved from His eternal wrath!

Have you ever led someone to Christ? Have you ever shared the gospel? What’s stopping you? You, as a Christian have that call on your life! Today is a great day to commit to this.

My goal for studying Romans isn’t simply to gain knowledge. No! It is so we as a church will be motivated to not only appreciate the gospel, but to live it out!

Application - Two things I’d like to you do in light of this verse.

Thank the Lord for the apostle Paul!

Remember that you have the same call on your life.

Imagine if Paul shirked his responsibility to give his life to the proclamation of the gospel! Imagine if He refused God’s call on his life. He knew his place. He knew his role. He was a servant of Jesus. A servant of the King, not the king of his own life.

What steps are you taking to honor the call God has placed on your life. Yes, you are not Paul, but you do have a simular call. How is the gospel making its way from your heart and mind to your hands, feet, and most importantly your MOUTH?

Review - A Glorious Greeting Full of Grace and Good News!

Your Call from God

2. Your Promise from God (vs. 2-4)

Lead in...What is the tension here?

Romans 1:2 ESV

2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Explanation - The gospel Paul shared was not a new thing. In fact, the gospel is thoroughly rooted in the Old Testament.

Paul says here that this “good news” was “promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures...”

The gospel has no plan “B”! This has always been God’s main plan! The Good News to travel the globe that God’s glory and love motivates Him to rescue sinners from His deserved wrath!

God wasn’t one way in the Old Testament and something different in the New Testament. The Old Testament, if read and studied carefully, reveals clearly God’s plan for redemption.

I could give you example after example. Our Old Testament survey class does just that! It’s beautiful to see God’s plan of redemption clearly revealed before the redeemer ever even shows up in the gospels.

Isaiah 53 predicts the crucifixion some 700 years before it ever took place.

Have you ever heard of Ted Cooper Jr.?

Ted Cooper Jr. founded the Bible in 90 Days ministry in 2002, following almost 20 years in the computer industry. A lifelong agnostic, in 1999 Ted read the Bible from cover to cover in three months. It was when He got to the book of Isaiah that he turned his life over to Christ.

Paul goes on in verse three to elaborate about the gospel. How is the good news possible? Only through the Son!

Romans 1:3 ESV

3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

Now, don’t miss what’s going in this verse and it all relates to the gospel.

Concerning his Son - Whose son? God’s son! the Second person of the Trinity.

Not only was He God’s Son, but He was also the Son of David, according to the flesh - So what?

He is Divine

He is Human

Galatians 4:4 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

He is the legal heir to the Davidic throne

Matthew 1:1 ESV

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Romans 1:4 ESV

4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

He is DECLARED to be God very God! Notice in verse 4 Paul doesn’t say He became the Son of God - NO! He has always been the Son of God and when He showed up in the flesh, He was still God!

How was He declared to be the Son of God? By what happened to Him - The single most important event to EVER take place in the HISTORY of humanity!

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 1

Jesus was declared by God the Father to be the Son of God in power when he was raised from the dead (see Matt. 28:6) and installed at God’s right hand as the messianic King. As the eternal Son of God, he has reigned forever with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But this verse refers to Jesus as the God-man reigning in messianic power (“Son of God” was a Jewish title for the Messiah), and this reign began (i.e., was declared or initiated) at a certain point in salvation history, i.e., when Jesus was raised from the dead through the Holy Spirit. according to the Spirit of holiness. Christ’s great power is always connected to the holiness of the Holy Spirit as he works in the new covenant age.

Since the beginning, you and I have been given a promise. A promise of rescue.

Genesis 3:15 NIV

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

That gruesome and solum Good Friday, Satan believed he struck the death blow and won the ancient battle between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.

Little did he realize that He was playing into the sovereign hand of God Himself.

Satan was but a pawn in God’s grand plan of redemption. He was used by God to put His Son to death. Jesus’ death was not the end, NO! It was the culmination of his plan for redemption!

What Satan thought he destroyed, was used to crush him instead!

And it wasn’t simply the cross that defeated Satan and our eternal death. It was the resurrection. That is what Paul makes abundantly clear in verse 4 when he mentions the resurrection!

No resurrection, no hope. But because He, by the power of God was raised, you and I have the same glorious promise!

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 ESV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

And because of this REALITY - He, the Son of God is DECLARED...

Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν (hemon)

“Jesus Christ our Lord”

Argumentation - Do you realize who has promised you eternal life? Jesus Christ our Lord

LORD! The Great I Am. The God who called this world into existence by the word of His mouth. The all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present Yahweh!

And He does not go back on anything He promises. In fact, because He is truth, everything He promises will come to fruition.

This is Paul’s guarantee in his second letter to Corinth...

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Paul is clear! The one who was promised promises to save you!

Application - 2020 has been a huge challenge on so many levels, but it is also a great time for us to realign our perspective with this powerful truth! No matter how difficult things are for you right now, God has promised to save you!

Have you lost your job? Jesus promises to save you from Hell!

Have you lost your friends? Jesus promises to save you from Hell!

Have did you have a fight with your spouse? Jesus promises to save you from Hell!

Did someone offend you on FaceBook? Get over it! Jesus promises to save you from ETERNAL HELL because of His death, burial and resurrection.

When you look through your life understanding what you truly deserve but knowing what you have truly recieved, the seemingly major trials and tribulations of this life begin to diminish exponentially!

“For all the promises of God find their yes in him!”

Review - A Glorious Greeting Full of Grace and Good News!

Your Call from God

Your Promise from God

3. Your Purpose from God (vs. 5-6)

Lead in...What is the tension here?

Romans 1:5–6 ESV

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Explanation - Paul understood something about himself that you need to understand about you. He had a purpose. So many of us meander through this life aimless and without purpose. Or worse, we have a purpose that doesn’t align with God’s purpose for us.

My job at Prince Corp - dream job! But I knew something...

But I knew God had called me to the full-time pastoral ministry and it was just a matter of time before He would make that call a reality.

And He did! No matter how good I was at my job or how much money I was making, I knew God had a different purpose for my life.

“Failure is being successful at something that doesn’t matter.”

Paul knew his purpose! From the time he was knocked to the ground. God was clear on his purpose for Paul...

Acts 9:1–20 ESV

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Paul understood clearly, that although he would suffer for Christ, he was a blessed recipient of the grace of Christ.

Grace - unmerited favor. God didn’t owe Paul anything but His wrath. Instead he lavished him with His grace. And do you realize that the light and momentary afflictions that Paul endured in this life were nothing in comparison to the glory he received when he entered into the presence of Jesus Christ!

And think about this. Paul is still enjoying the glory and presence of Jesus at this very moment!

But he not only received grace, but also a glorious purpose!

Romans 1:5 ESV

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

You want to talk about an amazing, inspiring, glorious purpose for one’s life? I love how the NLT puts it...

Romans 1:5 NLT

5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

I am in awe of Paul’s bold mindset.

How do you view sharing the gospel? Are you fearful? Worried? Anxious? Apathetic? Not Paul!

Paul viewed it as a privilege! A glorious honor! Paul recognized that he had authority as an apostle to let everyone know what God had done for them! He didn’t care if he suffered for it (and he did).

Paul had a single minded purpose - to have as many people see, hear, and understand the gospel as possible.

By the way, it wasn’t that he just wanted people to “get saved”. Nope. Look at verse 6...

Romans 1:6 ESV

6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

He wanted those believers in Rome to grow in the faith - understanding Jesus more and more and more.

Paul was the quintessential disciple maker!

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Illustration - When you are born into the family of God, you are enlisted into the army of God.

Argumentation - We are not to sit back and simply admire the apostle Paul! No, we are to emulate him!

Paul is clear...

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

What is God’s purpose for you life? Maybe it is full-time ministry. Maybe the Lord wants you to be a pastor? Maybe he wants you to serve as an elder in this church? Maybe he wants you to be a deacon or work on the sound team or be a greeter or volunteer at a local mission or become a missionary to another country. Whatever it is, God has a purpose for your life and within that purpose is another purpose that is true for each believer here - He purposes you so share His glorious truth with other humans!

Application - Finding the truth card...

Review - A Glorious Greeting Full of Grace and Good News!

Your Call from God

Your Promise from God

Your Purpose from God

4. Your Position with God (vs. 7)

Lead in...What is the tension here?

Romans 1:7 ESV

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Explanation - Paul finishes his gospel-filled greeting with tremendously encouraging words. He wanted them to know two things...

To ALL those in Rome - both Jewish Christian and Gentile Christian...

They are ALL loved by God -

They are ALL called to be saints -

This is their position! This is who they are. This is who you are, if you are in Christ.

Illustration - People say a lot of mean and nasty things to other people. And those words can stick with you for a very long time.

But do you know what God says about you Christian? You are ALL loved by God and you are ALL saints of God!

That is affirming for us as individuals.

But I think there is another reason Paul makes this point. The Jewish Christians were getting irritated with the Gentile Christians and vice versa.

He wanted them to know that God loved them ALL and God considered them ALL saints. One of the themes of this letter is unity! You’ll see this as we work our way through it!

When you are irritated by your brother or sister in Christ, can I remind you that God loves them every bit as much as He loves you. And He considers them to be every bit as much a saint as he considers you.

And Paul finishes his greeting with another final reminder of the gospel. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Why do I say this is a reminder of the gospel and not simply a well wish? Because, in order for you to have peace with God, you must experience the Grace of God. And God’s grace originates with God the Father and is delivered by the Son of God.

Review - A Glorious Greeting Full of Grace and Good News!

A Call from God

A Promise from God

A Purpose from God

Our Position with God

Conclusion

Review opening illustration (if appropriate)

Review Main Idea

Give final application

Land the Plane.

Connection Group Reflection Questions

1. What do these verses teach me about our character?

2. What do these verses teach me about God and his character?

3. Because these words are from God, they are TRUTH! What truth is he asking me to believe?