September 4th

WE HAVE BEGUN OUR STUDY OF ROMANS:
Paul is telling us that there is "Good News to tell" and indeed there is!!! Paul's purpose seems quite clear - the good news was his purpose in life. Wes gave the background for this wonderful letter. Paul had never been to Rome but he had a deep desire to do so. He wanted to go as a preacher, but he would unltimately arrive as a prisoner!
Paul tells us WHY we are to tell in 1:1-7. First Paul presents his credentials: a servant of Jesus Christ...he enslaved himself to Christ, an apostle "one who is sent by authority with a commission." Paul had seen the risen Christ I Cor. 9:1-2..Road to Damacus Acts 9:1-9, preacher of the Gospel .. the Good News, a missionary "one who is sent". Note the use of the word CALLED!
Salvation is not something that we do for God; it is God who calls us in His grace.
Paul proceeds to make a 2nd link between himself and the believers in Rome (1:8-15)...He is concerned: *thankful for them, *prayed for them, *loved them, *was in debt to them, *eager to visit them! Often our plan and the Lord's plans are different. BUT He is faithful to bring us to line up with His plans if we are listening and obeying as Paul did.
Paul was eager to visit Rome that he might minister to the believers there. It was not the eagerness of a sighseer, but the eagerness of a soul-winner.
Paul knew that false teachers had probably been working fervently in Rome and he was eager to tell the Good News and correct the false teaching. Paul was confident of his/His message! (1:16-17) Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel because It is the Gospel of Christ. EXAMPLE: Hall monitors were chosen and the young man got the choice spot...right outside the principal's office...he could walk into any classroom and even interrupt a lesson...no teacher ever scholded him, because all of them knew I carried messages from the principal. The monitor/messenger never had to be afraid or ashamed, because he knew where his messages came from! JUST AS PAUL knew and we should know today!
Paul knew the operation of the Gospel - the power of God! The Romans understood power. Altho they were a military power, Rome was still a weak nation. Paul knew that he was taking to sinful Rome the one message that had power to change men's lives. He knew that it had changed his life! And had seen the power at work in MANY lives.
The outcome of the Gospel gave Paul confidence. It was the power of God unto SALVATION. The Gospel delivers sinners from the penalty and power of sin...it is the great need of the human race! The only way to be saved is through faith in Jesus Christ as proclaimed in the Gospel. Should you NOT share????
The outreach of the Gospel: "to everyone that believeth" Not an exclusive message - for ALL men! How marvelous it is to have a message of power that can be taken to ALL people. GOD DOES NOT ASK MEN TO BEHAVE, BUT TO BELIEVE!.
Romans 1:17 is the key verse. Paul announces the theme - THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. (the word is used over 60 times in this letter.
The question - How can a holy God ever forgive sinners and still be holy? Answer: Through the death and resurrection of Christ!
The Gospel reveals a righteousness that is BY FAITH. O.T. righteousness was BY WORKS, but sinners soon discovered they could not obey God's Law and meet His righteous demands. Hab. 2:4"The just shall live by his faith." The only way that a sinner can become just before God is BY FAITH!
Is Paul's testimony in Romans 1 enough to make us see that we are messengers, we are to be soulwinners!