Book of Romans
11-9-2011 Vol. 6 Part 2
Psalms 50:14-23 NKJV Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you? When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son. These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes. "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver: Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God." Father we praise your name, we give you all the glory. Father God I ask that you bless us and our loved ones this upcoming holiday season. Touch our hearts and turn our thoughts toward Jesus your son as we go about the business of the season. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Romans 1:1-7
Romans 1:1-7 NKJV Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 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.
The book of Romans is referred to by some as the Constitution of Christianity, and by the time we get done with this book of the bible I think you will have to agree. In the days when Paul was evangelizing, Rome was like a pot of burgoo. Every class of people were present from all countries. Over six hundred thousand of the 2 million people were slaves owned by citizens who were themselves ruled by an often corrupt class of military and political leaders. Nero was the Roman ruler and he was one of the cruelest persecutors of Christianity. He even had his own mother killed. So for someone to go to Rome to spread the news of the Gospel of Jesus, could and probably was sure death for that individual. In fact that is where Paul and Peter were martyred.
Paul’s opening verse establishes his credibility since he hadn’t been to Rome yet, but had a great yearning to get there. He uses three words to describe his relationship with God and his dedication to the ministry, bondservant, apostle, and separated.
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ: Knowing what Rome was like, then Paul’s opening statement in his book of himself being a bondservant of Jesus Christ, states the dedication Paul has to Jesus and the spreading of the Gospel. By using the term bondservant the people could relate to his calling since there were so many slaves in Rome and the people were slaves to the government. A bondservant, is translated from the Greek work “doulos”, it is defined as a slave; one who is subjected to the authority of another that will lay down their life for them or what they believe in. A slave in that time period was set free after seven years of service. Often if the slave had a better life with their master than what they would have out on their own, the slave could go to the master and ask to become a lifelong servant. The master would then pierce the lobe of the servant’s ear, identifying that person as his property. Paul makes a similar claim in Galatians 6:17 NKJV From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. If you know anything about Paul’s life after he became an Apostle, he was beaten many times and had the scares to prove his Christ-like life. He describes his scared body like Jesus scared body with lash marks, thorn marks, nail marks and spear marks. Many of the OT patriarchs are referred to as servants. Abraham in Genesis 26:24; Moses in Joshua 14:7; Joshua in Joshua 24:29; David in Psalms 89:3; Isaiah in Isaiah 20:3; and many more.
called to be an apostle: The next thing Paul identifies himself as is an “apostle”. Apostle is defined as a person chosen to execute some important business, such as the disciples of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel. The word called is very appropriate in Paul’s calling just like the other Apostles of Jesus since Jesus choose/called them and commissioned them to the spreading of the Gospel.
separated to the gospel of God: This phrase is used by Paul signifying that God had set him apart from mankind to be his servant right at birth, Galatians 1:15-16 NKJV But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles. Jesus tells Ananias that Paul is set apart. Acts 9:15 NKJV But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. In the church of Antioch the Holy Spirit reveals the setting apart of Paul. Acts 13:2 NKJV As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So using the term separated is most fitting for Paul to describe his servant role since the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all make the same claim for Paul. When a person has a spiritual birth, they are separated from the world and have the assurance from God they are adopted into his family.
which He promised (Jesus) before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures: This verse is stating the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, that was God’s plan before the beginning of time. God revealed his plan to the prophets of the OT, as did Jesus in his teachings to his disciples. Jesus and the authors of the NT frequently referred back to what the prophets of the OT preached. Jesus mentions many times to the Pharisees about the OT scripture and asks them if they have forgotten what is says. Luke 24:26-27 NKJV Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Titus 1:2 NKJV in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. We live by the NT, but the OT is hidden within the NT as is the NT is hidden in the OT.
concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Here again Paul gives the people of Rome assurance that he is authentic and that his teachings are of sound nature by referring again to the OT in the fact that the Messiah would come from the linage of David and in human form. Isaiah 11:1-2 NKJV There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
Paul goes on to say in verse four that Jesus was all powerful because He was the Son of God and possessed the Spirit of Holiness. He possessed the Spirit of Holiness being part of the Trinity. Jesus has the power over sins pull which He demonstrated during His 40 days in the wilderness where Satan tempted Him. He defeated sin when He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. By His power He has made it possible for all who desire, to have eternal life by putting their faith in Him. John 10:18 NKJV No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."
Paul also points out Jesus humanity and deity in verses 3 & 4. Often times scripture does this, but we just gloss over it not making the connection, for example.
| Christ’s Humanity | Christ’s Diety |
| Verse 3 “born” | Verse 4 “declared to be” |
| Verse 3 “according to the flesh” | Verse 4 “according to the Spirit of holiness” |
| Verse 3 “the seed of David” | Verse 4 “the Resurrection from the dead” |
| Isaiah 9:6 “a Child is born” | Isaiah 9:6 “a Son is given” |
| Galatians 4:4 “born under the law” | Galatians 4:4 “God sent forth His Son” |
Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name: What Paul is conveying here in his opening statements is that we can’t do anything without the Grace of God Almighty. Take Paul’s previous life, he was a sinner, a persecutor, and a murderer of Jesus followers, and Paul admits this in this statement, “1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” But by the saving power of Jesus Christ, Paul was converted into a believer, an apostle, an obedient servant to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into all nations. Acts 9:15 NKJV But the Lord said to him (Ananias), “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”
among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 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: Starting verse 6 Paul is addressing the recipients of his letter by telling them that they, and he, are of one accord, called, beloved, saints, believers of Jesus Christ. What does verse six mean? Who is Paul referring to? In the NT epistles it is referring to anyone that is saved; Born Again. In verse seven the phrase, “beloved of God”, is also referring to fellow believers. Beloved, what a grand expression of love, it means loved, greatly loved, dear to the heart. That is what believers are in God’s eyes, dear to His heart. Let the words, “Beloved of God” sink into your spirit. If those three words don’t give you comfort and peace of mind nothing will.
Called to be saints is referring also to Born Again believers. The two words “to be” was not in the original script of Paul’s. The Bible is referring to believers that come to Christ and they give their life of service to Jesus. That is what a saint is in the Bible. Saint refers to “to be set apart or holy.” The word never refers to a spiritual condition, but always to a spiritual position. One is a saint not because of extraordinary behavior, but because of God’s love and call. Due to our human nature we do not act saintly all the time, but in God’s eyes we are saints, provided we have had a Spiritual Birth.
Paul has gone into a great amount of detail in his opening statements to the Romans. If he, or any of the other apostles hadn’t been to Rome yet, then how did it happen that there were believers in Rome? Did Jesus come down there and appear or what? Here is what I think happened. Rome and Jerusalem were hubs and people came and went all the time. It makes a statement in Acts at Pentecost time there were visitor there for the Feast of Pentecost. I think people were saved at that time and then went back home to Rome and spread the news of the Gospel. Acts 2:5 NKJV And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. Acts 2:10 NKJV Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes. So I think this is why Paul was so eager to go to Rome, to make sure those that believed could get deeply rooted in the New Covenant and get started out in the right beliefs.
In these seven verses Paul has made claim that Jesus has captured his heart, he is a bondservant being totally committed to God and God’s people, that Jesus is Holy, scripture is holy, and believers are holy, he is dedicated to the great commission, and that he is captivated by God’s grace.
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.
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth,
Unless you are Born Again, you cannot enter into Heaven, the Kingdom of God."
Bill
Last Week’s Trivia: Why did Judas betray Jesus?
Answer: John 12:4-6 NKJV But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Jesus tells us we cannot worship God and mammon. Matthew 6:24 NKJV "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Judas love for Jesus left him at some point of time and greed set in, causing him to love money instead of his Creator. Are we guilty of this?
This week’s Trivia: Why did Paul call himself the least of the Apostles?
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