Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Romans

August 28, 2005

THE GOSPEL THAT PAUL PREACHED

Romans 1:1-7

Part one

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, caled as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirt of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we begin our study in the Book of Romans I want to examine the first seven verses in this chapter very carefully. They contain Paul’s Relation to the Gospel, God’s Revelation of the Gospel and the immediate Recipients of the Gospel. We learn in verse one that Paul has a three-fold relation to the Gospel ministry:

1. He is a SERVANT. Before Paul was anything else he was first of all a servant of God. His first words following his conversion to Christ were “Lord what do you want me to do?” - instant complete surrender (Acts 9:6 in the NKJV). The word servant used here is doulos which is the most menial type of servant or a bond-slave. In the Old Testament a bondslave was (1) born into slavery (2) recognized only his master’s will (3) served out of love. Newell writes, “This is the service of perfect freedom. The deepest of all devotions”.

The same is true of us today. When God saved us we were first and foremost a servant. In fact we knew nothing of His plan for us. So we place ourselves before Him asking, “Lord what do you want me to do?” Have you done that yet?

2. He is a SENT ONE - The word apostle means “one sent forth from another with a message.” Paul was not one of the twelve but he was chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ, trained in the backside of the desert and sent forth with the message of salvation – mainly to the Gentiles. He is called in Romans 11:13 “The apostle to the Gentiles.” He preached the Gospel to any and all with whom he came into contact but primarily he was sent to Gentiles. He was appointed as an apostle by Jesus Christ, Himself.

While not apostles in the technical sense, we also have been sent forth

with the message of forgiveness and the message we preach is just as authoritative as the message preached by Paul. So like Paul, We are SERVANTS and we are SENT.

3. He is a SEPARATED ONE – “separated unto the Gospel of God.” The Greek word used here means “to mark off by boundaries.” God has placed certain boundaries around Paul and it was within these boundaries that he was to live and move and have his being. Those boundaries were “The Gospel of God”. This man was set apart unto the Gospel. Everything he said and did, his entire life from his conversion on, was to be lived to the end that Jesus Christ and His gospel might be glorified (Philippians 1:12, 27; I Thessalonians 1:5; Ephesians 6:15).

Beloved, you and I are SERVANTS, we have been SENT and we are SEPARATED unto the boundaries of the Gospel of God. Our lives should be touching the world around us for Him. Convicting isn’t it? Well, lets work on it! God bless and we love you in Christ.

SUGGESTED ASSIGNMENT: Continue to read Romans chapter one and as you read ask questions of the chapter.