Hi and welcome back to Perspective For Today.
Last week we started our study of Romans and we opened with Paul’s calling card or his mission statement in Romans 1:1. So we’re just going to pick up where we left off and continue on with Paul’s introduction to the gospel. Again Romans 1:1 said,
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Once Paul introduces himself and emphasizes his credentials he starts to give clarification as to what that gospel is.
It is the gospel of God.
In other words the God of the Old testament is the God of the New testament. They are one and the same. Taking that a step further we would have to say that Jesus and God are one. They are not two separate entities or two separate Bibles.
Romans 1:2-3 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
The Old testament lays the foundation for the coming of Christ.
God’s plan was in place since the beginning of time and God used the prophets to foretell of the coming Messiah. In 2nd Samuel the prophet Nathan speaks with King David and tells him that God will use his lineage for the coming Messiah and his eternal Kingdom.
2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
2 Samuel 7:13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
For whatever reason,some Christians are New Testament Christians and don’t give the Old testament the attention it deserves.
The Old testament lays the groundwork for the coming of Christ. The prophecies speak of Jesus’s birth,His ministry, His death and resurrection and His role in the church. These prophetic messages should serve to bolster our faith. The Old testament gives us a foundation and an affirmation of what we believe. As Christians we should give the Old testament more of our time and rejoice in it’s proclamation of the coming of Christ.
Now that Paul’s got his credentials out of the way he jumps right into the gospel. The good news.
Romans 1:4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
So not only is Jesus of the lineage of David but he is declared to be the Son of God.
He is co-equal with God. He was fully human and he was fully God. And it is through the mighty power of God’s Spirit that Jesus arose from the dead. And lastly but not least he is proclaimed to be our Lord.
Is he truly the Lord of your life?
Many proclaim him to be their Savior, but how many have truly made Him Lord of their lives? If we are holding anything back from Him, He is not our Lord. It is only through complete surrender that we can come to know him as Lord.
We all have something we want to hang on to, whether it’s our finances, pride, or worrying about what tomorrow will bring. We need to let go and let God. Or as Charles Spurgeon said, “when your will is God’s will, you will have your will.”
Jesus’ example as he prayed at the Mount of Olives is the ultimate example of complete surrender.
Luke 22:41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.
It is only through complete surrender of all that you are that you can come to know him as Lord.
For some people the image of Jesus is limited to his time here on Earth.
They think of him in earthly terms, making him equal to themselves. In so doing they have brought him down to their level and will never completely surrender to him. We must put Christ in his rightful place.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
If we have surrendered our lives to Christ our hearts will be open to Him, and our outward expression of reverence toward him will be evident.
We will give him the respect he deserves and we will have a desire to share the gospel with others. Paul’s desire to share the gospel is because of his complete surrender and obedience to the one who called him. As we read on in Romans versus five and six.
Romans 1:5-6 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
When Paul says to bring about the obedience of faith what he means is to obey the message of the Gospel by repenting and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
In verse 6 Paul says including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
It is God who calls us.
If we are called to belong to Christ what does that really mean?
1 Peter 1:15-16 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,1 Peter 1:16 since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.
If we are holy or set apart from the things of this world then we will continue to be ready to answer the call.
We are going to stop here for today. If you have any comments or suggestions concerning this study please feel free to contact me at perspectivefortoday.com/contact.
Thank you for listening and it is my desire that you may be ready to answer God’s call for your life.