[Romans Study 3-3]
Paul And The Gospel [Romans 1:1-7]
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 1:1-7
I Am ‘Set Apart’ For ‘the Gospel Of God’
Paul had been a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5). The very word Pharisee in Hebrew means ‘a separated one’, one set apart. He had felt himself separated in such a way as to have nothing but contempt for all ordinary men.
But after opening his eyes to the love of God, he is yet again separated, set apart by God Himself. The false separation, and the true separation! Man’s separation, God’s separation!
“Why was I separated? Why did He call me in the first place?”
For “the Gospel of God,” answers Paul in the utmost conviction, without a second thought.
He is separated not for privilege, or self-glory, or pride. Now he is set apart for service, and humility, and love for all men, that is, in one word, to preach the Gospel of God. It was not the gospel of Paul, or of the disciples. It was “the Gospel of God.”
In other words, it is what God has done for man, and about his salvation. And that is why, of course, it is quite unique and new. I am not going to write to you, says the Apostle, about human philosophy. I am not going to give you my own ideas about how life should be lived. I am not going to tell you what man has got to do. I am going to tell you what God has done. That’s it! The good news from God!
The gospel (evangelium) means, as the young Christian learns, the ‘good news.’ It is an account regarding God’s Son. It is ‘news of victory’, His victory over the powers of sin that all men are liberated from the bondage of sin.
This gospel was prophesied in the Holy Scriptures. The prophets in the Old Testament had issued promises regarding Jesus. And the gospel was personified in Jesus Christ. The promise became a person. The prophecy became a personality. The scripture became a character.
The world is asking anew in these crucial days, what is Christianity? Scholars try to define it but Scripture says “ecce Homo”—“behold the man”—for Christianity is Christ, a person.
Paul testifies that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. He died and lived again. Therefore, He became the Christ. Simply speaking, His death is the Cross and His living again is resurrection. The Cross and the resurrection, love and life—this is the Gospel in essence. His sacrifice, His love gave birth to life. That is the message of the Gospel. We gain life by His Cross, the greatest sacrifice and love that mankind has ever seen.
Jesus Christ is not in the past tense. All other people are put in the past tense when they die, but not Christ. He still breathes life into us. The Gospel is of this loving Jesus Christ for us.
“When God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” (Galatians 1:15-16)
Paul is a preacher, and when he asks himself why he preaches, the answer is: ‘The love of Christ constrained me’. “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16) He must preach because ‘I am bound to.’
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints, Paul now gives a salute, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1:7)
Surely, grace comes first in all things. Grace is the fount and the source that leads to this ocean of peace. Only by the grace of God can we rest in peace.
[Questions]
1. We can say that Romans 1:1 is one of the most beautiful confessions of Paul’s faith, testifying to the love of Jesus Christ. Paul testified that he, as his bond-slave, was totally captivated and lost in Jesus. Before this confession, Martyn Lloyd-Jones challenges us to answer these questions: “Has He captivated us like that, my friends? Do we know something of this love? Is He the Master of our lives, of our thinking, of all our activities?”How do you answer this?
2. For Paul, every Christian is a slave of Christ. Based on today’s message share your reflection on the following Bible verses: “For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.”(2 Corinthians 7:22-24)
3. In ancient Israel to call a man ‘God’s slave’ was to accord him a title of honor. The title was used of Moses, Joshua, David and the prophets. Paul was proud of identifying himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. How would you relate yourself to being a slave of Jesus?
4. Suppose you are writing a letter to a group of important people who are deeply relevant to your future prospects but the majority of them do not know you. How would you introduce yourself?
5. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shares: “The gospel! Oh! How easily we use this term! How glibly we repeat it! I am as guilty as anybody else. It ought to be impossible for us to use the word ‘gospel’ without bursting forth, as it were, into a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. Good news from God, that is the gospel. And that brings me to the most important thing of all – it is the gospel of God.” Share your reflection on the gospel, based on today’s study.
6. Share your reflection on this statement based on today’s study: “If you establish the character of the person (Jesus), you have established the character of Christianity.”
[Prayer]
Lord, we have realized that each word that Paul uttered out was truly the word of the Holy Spirit. Each word bears such profound and life-breathing messages to our souls. We discover life in this letter, and it revives our slumbering souls. We wish to know more of the truths testified in this tremendous letter.
Paul says the Lord Himself called him, and chose him, and authorized him to be His apostle. Though he was a persecuting, blaspheming Pharisee, who was going to slaughter your people, you still called him and set him up as an apostle, with your full authority, to be your mouth, to preach the Gospel to the whole world. We see ever more clearly that Paul is devoted to Christ!
This great apostle opens this letter with such a mighty testimony of his faith. Paul is servant of Christ Jesus; Paul is called apostle. Paul is set apart for the gospel of God. It is such a deep and beautiful confession that deeply touches our hearts. His faith is already shining out through the opening of this letter. Just as a precious pearl is formed after a long struggle in the shell of an oyster, Paul formed this precious gem. His powerful testimony was birthed out of his long lasted trials and hardships. Lord, we too wish to resemble Paul and give this kind of beautiful testimony of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Republished with permission from Dr. Christy Tran, the author of “The Epistle to the Romans: Paul’s Love Letter from God.”