Romans Series #2
On the last Lord's Supper Sunday our concern was to study Paul's introduction to the book of Romans, (Romans 1:1-7). Before getting into the great teachings which make up the body of the letter, Paul, in his introductory comments, makes it very clear just who is writing this letter. He lists his credentials to show why they should receive his letter as the word of God.
First, Paul was a bond servant of Christ Jesus. This means that he was not his own man and didn't want to be. Rather, he lived to do the will of God, to serve Jesus Christ. When Paul calls himself a bond servant he lets the Romans know that he serves the Lord God out of love, not compulsion.
Second, he was a called Apostle. He was set apart, declares the scriptures, from his mothers womb. He was called by the Savior on the Damascus road. In that moment Jesus saved and ordained Paul as an Apostle to the Gentiles.
Third, Paul was commissioned by Jesus to preach the Gospel of God.
These are his credentials. He was a dedicated servant of Jesus of Nazareth. He was a called Apostle. He was a preacher of the Gospel, God's Good News to sinners.
The good news which Paul preached had to do with Jesus Christ. The Man, God, Savior, of everyone He calls to Himself. This Gospel is one which tells of God's love toward men dead in trespasses and sins. The Gospel reveals that while we were yet His enemies, Christ died for the ungodly in order to save them from eternal damnation. It is a message that includes a call to repentance. In the book of Acts we find these words, Acts 17:30-31 NASB.
"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that ALL EVERYWHERE SHOULD REPENT, {31} BECAUSE He has fixed a day in which HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
So, the Gospel of God is good news which follows bad news. The BAD NEWS is that all men, women, and children, have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Unless they repent and believe in Jesus for salvation they will be judged and cast into hell.
The GOOD NEWS is this. Jesus came, lived thirty three years, was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead, and, will save, to the uttermost, ALL who come to Him by FAITH. This is the message Paul preached to all who would listen. He did so by letters, such as we study today, and in person when given opportunity.
In the text we deal with in this lesson Paul endeavors to show his genuine, heartfelt, concern, and love, for the Christians in Rome.
(Rom 1:8-15 NASB) "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. {9} For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, {10} always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. {11} For I LONG TO SEE YOU in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; {12} that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine. {13} And I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented thus far) in order that I might obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. {14} I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. {15} Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome."
Surely, by these words, the Roman Church could see into the Apostles heart. He is concerned for them, he is their friend, he loves the Brothers and Sisters in Rome, even though he has not met the majority of them.
He is thankful for them, verse eight.He prays for them, verses nine thorough ten. He longs to see them face to face, verses eleven though twelve.He is in debt to them, verses thirteen through fourteen. He was eager to visit them, verse fifteen.
This, along with the introduction, would prepare the true Saints to receive Paul's instruction and his person, should he be allowed to come to them in the future. Let's look more closely at these eight verses.
(Rom 1:8 NASB) "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, BECAUSE YOUR FAITH IS BEING PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD."
Here Paul offers thanksgiving to God in reference to the Roman Saints. His gratitude is TO GOD, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, on behalf of the Roman Church. The thanksgiving is focused on the Church's REPUTATION known, "throughout the world", meaning the Roman Empire.
The first thing we learn from this is that it is quite appropriate for us to rejoice when we see or hear about the success or faithfulness of another Christian Church. We also see that we must give God the glory and credit for that success. Paul says, "I THANK MY GOD", for you all, that is, for your faith and reputation. Brothers and Sisters, this is a very important principal to get hold of. If you, or, I , or, any other Christian experience success of any kind, spiritual, or physical we MUST offer thanks and praise TO GOD. We do this because all that we have has been GIVEN to us by God for His glory. God has GIVEN us life, and breath, indeed, all things pertaining to life and Godliness. Therefore, WE GET NO CREDIT at all. Paul does not say to the Romans, "You guys have really got it together", or, "That's some will power you exercised", or, "You sure are smart". No, he says, "I THANK MY GOD!" It is as though he has one eye set on the Romans, which sees their faithful obedience, while the other eye is set on God, the SOURCE AND CAUSE of their faithful obedience.
God MUST always get the credit. Consider the words of, James 1:17 NASB. "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow." Then there is 1 Cor 4:7 NASB. "For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" Brothers and Sisters, everything we have and are is from God. This is why Paul says, "I thank my God, not the Romans, but God for the good report that has fallen on his ears.
Second, in verse eight, we see that this thanksgiving goes to God THROUGH Jesus Christ. Why? Because man has no direct access to God, he must go through the appointed mediator. Every aspect of our faith from salvation to glorification is mediated through Christ. We worship God through Christ. We come to salvation by God through Christ. We are sons of God through Christ. When we pray we offer up our prayers to God through the blood and righteousness of Christ. Christ is before the throne of God interceding on our behalf. It is through Christ that we have access to God. Otherwise, the way to God is closed. Take note of these scriptures.
(Heb 13:15 NASB) "THROUGH Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise TO God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name."
(Heb 7:23-25 NASB) "And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, {24} but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently. {25} Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God THROUGH Him, since He always lives to make INTERCESSION for them." The Christian faith is a mediated faith from beginning to end. To get to god one must go through the mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
Third, in verse eight, we see that Paul's thanksgiving concerned these Christians' witness, their REPUTATION OF FAITH. Paul had heard reports on the Roman Church from every part of the Empire and all of them were good, reporting on their GREAT FAITH.
Faith, as we learned in the last lesson is made visible by works of obedience. In other words, all who came in contact with the Roman Christians could tell they were men and women who regarded Jesus as both Savior and Lord. They not only professed faith but lived it out as well. These early Christians lived out the instruction set forth by our Lord in Mat 5:16 NASB. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." The rumors circulated about the Church in Rome Glorified our Father who is in Heaven. Sadly, most rumors circulated about most churches today do not glorify God. Rather, they are reports of fighting, and bickering, sin, and heresy.
As Christians our lives do not belong to us. Our lives belong to God and to each other. Our behavior reflects on all our Brothers and Sisters and especially on God and His Christ. Therefore, it matters, I can't tell you how much it matters, how we carry ourselves in public. It matters to the whole church what we are, and, what we do here at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church. We must make certain that if there are bad rumors circulating about this Church that they are lies and not the truth. When we leave this building we are still the church, therefore, we must ask the question corperately and individually, "What is our Reputation of Faith?" We must heed the warning and instruction of 1 Pet 2:12 NASB.
"Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they SLANDER you as evildoers, they may ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR GOOD DEEDS, AS THEY OBSERVE THEM, GLORIFY GOD in the day of visitation." Let us pray for strength and grace to keep our behavior excellent at all times and in every place.
Notice how these good reports encouraged the Apostle. So it is today. Joy wells up in a Christians heart when the report of a faithful Brother, Sister, or Church falls upon his ear. May we all be careful to live obediently before the Lord, for the world is watching, and, they are talking.
Not only does Paul offer thanksgiving, he prays for the Romans as well. This man, who elsewhere is said to be safe to follow as he follows Christ, gives us an example as to how serious and persistent our prayers must be on behalf of the Brethren. He prayed unceasingly, that is, never forgetting them in his prayers. Though he had never met them he lifted up their case and cause before God. This should be true with us as well. We must be praying for ourselves, but we must also remember to pray, always, for all the Saints, everywhere.
(Eph 6:18 NASB) "With ALL prayer and petition pray at ALL times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for ALL THE SAINTS,"
The content of verse ten will be covered when we get to verse thirteen. So, lets look at verse eleven and twelve.
(Rom 1:11-12 NASB) "For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; {12} that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine."
Here are the reasons Paul longed to visit the Church in Rome. One, he wanted to preach to them truth sufficient to strengthen and establish them. Then, second, Paul wanted to be strengthened and fed by the Romans in return. He needed to be ministered to even as the Romans did. The Minster can't put out forever without taking in just like you do. He needs you to minister to him. Use your gifts to feed his soul as he seeks to feed yours. Be a comfort to him in time of trouble, be a friend. For in doing so you'll enable him to serve you more effectively. This giving and receiving is the goal of Christian Fellowship.
In a worship service we should seek to give to the Brethren as well as receive. At the cooperate dinner we should seek to edify our Brother as well as be edified. When we fellowship in our homes it should not be mindless frivolous madness all the time. Rather, in the midst of our fun we should be seeking to give something to our Brother or Sister in the Lord. The goal of Christian fellowship is to be encouraged together in the Lord.
Now we look at verse thirteen. (Rom 1:13 NASB) "And I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented thus far) in order that I might obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles."
Here is another reason Paul wanted to visit Rome. He wants to, "OBTAIN SOME FRUIT". This fruit would be the conversion of sinners and the building up of believers in grace and good works. Paul, by his ministry, wants to see the Roman Church grow in every way, he wants to see in everyone, "the obedience of faith", (Romans 1:5).
The thing I want to focus on in verse thirteen is what Paul says about DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
(Rom 1:13 NASB) "And I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and HAVE BEEN PREVENTED thus far) in order that I might obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles."
Some people might look at this and think that things, up to now, just have not worked out. They might hear Paul saying, "I'd have been there but my chariot broke down". Or, "I planned to come but sickness prevented me from doing so". Well, the chariot might have broken, things obviously had not worked out, and Paul may have gotten sick, BUT, he knew, as we must come to know, why he had not yet come to Rome. The reason is that God prevented him from going to Rome. Friend, it was not time for Paul to be in Rome. God and Paul did not agree on this so, Paul prays in verse ten.
(Rom 1:10 NASB) "{10} always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you." He prayed for the privilege of going to Rome over and over again but to date God had prevented him from doing so. It was not yet the will of God that Paul visit Rome. Paul understood this.
Consider the following texts of scripture.
(Prov 16:9 NASB) "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."
(Prov 19:21 NASB) "Many are the plans in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD, IT WILL STAND."
(Prov 20:24 NASB) "Man's steps are ORDAINED BY THE LORD, How then can man understand his way?"
Paul did eventually get to Rome, but not when or how he had planned to go. Rather, he was delivered by God to Rome by way of shipwreck, chains, beatings, and imprisonment. All of which were pieces of God's eternal plan for Paul.
We ask today what Paul certainly ask when these things were happening to him. Why? What purpose could these hard trials possibly serve? Let us consider some of the obvious good that came out of Paul's hardships and from God preventing him from visiting the Roman Church.
In the first place the Divine delays served to produce for the Roman Church, and for Christians of all ages, the LETTER TO THE ROMANS that we study today. As a result of Paul's imprisonment we have the PRISON EPISTLES, inspired letters written while Paul was incarcerated. These inspired writings have been used of God to save millions of hell bound sinners now added to the church of Jesus Christ.
Interrupted plans, ship wrecks, snake bites, beatings, and imprisonment's, all these were from the hand of God! All these things MUST have taken place if the intended result was to come to pass. Each and every event was a vital piece of an eternal puzzle.
(Rom 8:28 NASB) "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Ladies and Gentlemen, "MAN'S STEPS ARE ORDAINED BY GOD!" This is why Paul did not just blunder ahead against all opposition but rather prayed that God would OPEN UP THE WAY in His time. He prayed and waited for the will of God to be made plain to him.
There are many occasions when our plans contradict what God has planned for us. Does this mean we should not make plans? Of course not, we MUST make plans but we MUST do so as Paul did, and, as James tells us too. (James 4:13-17 NASB) "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." {14} Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. {15} Instead, you ought to say, "IF THE LORD WILLS, we shall live and also do this or that." {16} But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; ALL SUCH BOASTING IS EVIL. {17} Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin."
As Christians we must remember that this universe does not revolve around us. Rather, all events and circumstances fall out according to the plan and will of God. The scriptures declare that, "His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts". Therefore, let us be much in prayer for guidance, and may we learn to see interruptions in our plans as GRACIOUS AND LOVING ROADBLOCKS from our Father who, in wisdom, keeps us from the desire of our flesh and guides into paths of righteousness for His names sake.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I submit to you that Divine Providence has brought you to this place today for the Bible declares that, "GOD HAS ORDAINED MANS PATH'S". You have heard the preaching of the Gospel and you have been called, by God's word, to repentance and faith in Christ for salvation. I urge you with all that I am to flee from the wrath to come. Leave your rebellion, turn in faith to Jesus, beg Him for forgiveness and salvation. HE WILL NOT TURN YOU AWAY.