Romans 1:1

Romans 1:1

In Romans 1:1 Paul wrote to the Christians who lived in the city of Rome and said to them, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God." Paul introduced himself and said three things. First he said that he was a servant of Jesus Christ. We should all remember that we are but servants of Jesus Christ. Whatever He orders, we perform; whatever He chooses to happen to us, we accept. The word that is translated servant, is also the word for “slave” in the New Testament. We regard ourselves as the slaves of Christ, because He purchased us and paid for us by His blood. As far as the Lord’s attitude toward us is concerned, we are His friends. He does not treat us as slaves. But as far as our attitude towards God is concerned, we consider ourselves just as Paul did, to be the servants and slaves of Jesus Christ. We hear a lot about freedom, and the rights of individuals to do what they want; but remember that in one sense you are not really free to do whatever you want, if you belong to God. You should regard yourself as His servant.

In the sense of being a servant of Jesus Christ, all of the Roman Christians could identify with Paul, just as we can. But the second thing that Paul said about himself was very unique. He said that he was called to be an apostle. There were only 12 apostles. Paul was evidently the twelfth and the replacement for Judas. To be an apostle was a gift and calling that was unique to the twelve. They had an authority, and a power to perform miracles that no one else has ever had, or will ever have. Some Christian groups make the mistake of searching for ways of being like the apostles, and claiming to have the same gift as the 12 apostles, and claiming to be able to do the same things that the apostles could do. But it will not happen, because Paul said that he was called to be an apostle. You are responsible for finding out what your calling is and then serving God in that capacity; and in that way being like Paul. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that you should have the same calling that he had.

So Paul presents himself to the Christians in Rome first as an equal, as a servant of Christ; and then he emphasizes his authority and the reason that they ought to be listening to him. He was called of God to be an apostle. Paul also said about himself in verse 1 that he was separated unto the gospel of God.

Paul was set apart unto the gospel of God. He was dedicated to the gospel. The gospel was of prime importance to him. Once Paul met Christ, Paul lived his life for the spread of the gospel. The main purpose for Paul in life was not to gain money, or power, or fame. And his main purpose was not to enjoy life by the entertainments and extravagances of this world because he was separated unto the gospel of God. Notice that it is the "gospel of God." The gospel belongs to God; but then God entrusts to us the opportunity to be laborers with Him in the spread of the gospel.

Evidently Paul had a unique calling in reference to the gospel of God. Paul understood the gospel probably better than anyone has ever understood it. He understood salvation and sanctification and redemption, and he understood the difference between law and grace. And he understood the condemnation of sin, and why all people need to be saved by Jesus Christ. And most of the details about the gospel of God are given here in the book of Romans. If you understand the book of Romans, you will understand your salvation, and will have a love and appreciation for the gospel that should last your entire lifetime. But if you are saved and do not understand the book of Romans, you probably will not understand much about what really happened to you when you were saved; and you will be subject to many inaccurate and harmful teachings about the doctrine of salvation and about the gospel of God. That is why the book of Romans is such an important book of the Bible. It is the great doctrinal book of the New Testament on one of the most important subjects for people to know: the doctrine of salvation.

In Romans chapter 1:2 Paul said, "Which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures." Paul was authorized to spread the gospel and to teach the details about the gospel; but the Christians at Rome were not to accept what he said on his authority alone. They also had the Old Testament scriptures to use to verify all that was said; because the gospel does not contradict the Jewish Old Testament. The gospel fulfills, complements, and clarifies the Jewish Old Testament. And the Old Testament substantiates and verifies the gospel.

Romans 1:3 says, "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." The gospel centers around the person of Jesus Christ. Notice the expression used when Jesus is mentioned in verse 3. He is called His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. His unique divine relationship to the Father is declared: the deity of Christ. The fact that he is Messiah is declared. Christ means Messiah. And our relationship to Jesus is also defined. He is called our Lord. Someone who is your Lord you will reverence and obey: you will honor and submit to Him.

His divine origin was mentioned, calling Him the Son of God. And now His human origin is also mentioned because verse 3 also says, "which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." The fact that Jesus came in the lineage of David was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies. Of course many people were descendants of King David. What proof is there that Jesus is the descendant that is the Messiah? Verse 4 addresses that issue and says, "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." The resurrection from the dead was the ultimate and final proof that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.

Of course, the resurrection from the dead was not a normal event. It could not be explained from natural causes. The explanation was that it was a miracle. Verse 4 says that He was "declared to be the Son of God by means of power." The word that is translated "power" is the Greek word “dunamos” from which we get our word “dynamite”. The dynamite from the spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead. And that same power is also made available to us, and becomes the explanation for the change in our lives when we become transformed through spiritual contact with Jesus Christ. We can know Christ today because unlike other historical figures, He rose from the dead and He is still alive. The believers in Jesus will also be given eternal resurrected bodies by the same Spirit and the same power. There is a spiritual fountain of youth, but it is not in Florida like Ponce de Leon was told. It is found in the person of the Lord Jesus.

Romans 1:5 talks about the result of Jesus having risen from the dead. It says, "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name." Notice the progression of how things flow in the design and work of God: first Jesus died and rose from the dead, then we receive grace and a calling to serve Him. And then the purpose of receiving grace and a calling to serve him is that there would be obedience to the faith among all nations, and then the result of all that is for His name. The purpose of all things in the providence of God is so that the name of Jesus be praised and honored.

Notice that the first thing that is mentioned as a result of the resurrection of Christ is grace. Grace is a wonderful word. It refers to the giving and generosity of God. God gives to us freely because of what Christ did for us. The most important thing that God gives to us freely by grace is salvation. This concept that salvation is given freely by grace through faith will be expounded upon in much detail here in the book of Romans.

Paul said that we receive both grace and apostleship. The word apostle comes from the word that means to be sent. Someone who is an apostle is someone who as been sent and sent with a purpose. In one sense there were only 12 apostles who had a special authority and power. But in another sense we are all apostles because we have all been sent. Once we receive the grace of God, then we join the company of those who are sent out with a purpose. If you are a believer, your life is very important, because you are involved in a mission that God has sent you on. Each of us is sent to a different place and to a different group of people as far as specific details go, but in regards to the grand design, we are all involved in the same ministry: "obedience to the faith among all nations."

God commands everyone to repent. Therefore, responding to the gospel is an act of obedience. The ultimate and final reason that someone will not believe on Jesus is because of rebellion. Someone may say, "I want to obey God. I do not want to be in rebellion, but in obedience." How would such a person know what to do in order to obey God? There are many commandments in the Bible. But what are the commandments that would bring a person into this condition of obedience? Which are the works of God for you to do in order to assure that you are in this condition of obedience? Jesus gave the answer. Jesus said in John 6:29, "This is the work of God; that ye believe on Him whom He has sent." And Paul said here in Romans that "obedience to the faith" is what is important.

Notice also that the obedience of faith is offered to all nations. God is not a respecter of persons. If He loves one, then He loves all. The gospel is meant for everyone. Everyone was created in the image of God. Jesus died for all. These facts should change our attitudes to all the people who cross our paths. No matter what is someone’s condition, and no matter what they do or how they act; God loves them, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is for them as well as for you.

One of the purposes of the gospel being offered to all nations is just as Romans 1:5 says: "for his name". Jesus is the greatest hero and the greatest leader that the world has ever known; and one day He will get the credit and the honor and the praise that He deserves for what He did to save humanity and to give us eternal life. Those who claim to serve God should remember that one of the purposes in what they are doing is supposed to be so that the name of Christ is glorified. Because of the number of times that some people mention themselves and put their own name up in lights, one would have to ask who they are trying to glorify. Jesus said in John 7:18, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory, but he that seeketh the glory that sent him, the same is true.”

Here in the beginning of the book of Romans Paul introduced himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, and he spoke about the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the theme of this book of the Bible. Now in verse 6 Paul begins to address and to speak of the Christians in Rome to whom he is writing. Romans 1:6 says; "Among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ." Paul puts the other believers on an equal plane with himself. In spite of the fact that he established his own authority as an apostle, he treated other believers as equals; which they were because God makes us all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul addressed these believers as the "called of Jesus Christ." The only way to become a believer is to be called by Jesus Christ. Jesus called the disciples. He said to them, "Follow me." They could not follow Jesus until He invited them to follow Him. Jesus still speaks to the hearts of people; but no one can follow Him until Jesus visits them and invites them. That is one of the things that can go wrong with invitations that are given in some churches. Unless God speaks to the heart, the person is not saved. Maybe God is not ready to speak to them yet. Sometimes God is working in someone’s life in order to prepare them for the day when He will speak to them and invite them to truly believe in Jesus.

But if you are one of the called, and God has touched your heart, and you have responded by putting faith in Jesus to save you, then you are included in the same group that these Romans are a part of. It is an exclusive group and a wonderful group to be in: the called of God. That means that God has reached out and touched you and blessed you with salvation that will last throughout eternity. It can be a tremendous thought: this truth that Jesus does the calling. If He calls you, surely you will say, "Here I am, Lord." The first line of an old gospel hymn says, "Surely Lord we have heard thee calling, "Come, follow me."

Paul wrote in Romans 1:7, "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul addressed this letter to all the Christians in Rome. Notice that among the first churches there were no denominations. You were either a Christian or a heathen. We should attempt to have the same attitude to our fellow Christians today. We should try to not characterize believers based upon their denominational backgrounds. We should accept them as equals based upon their faith in Jesus as their Savior.

Paul wrote to all the Christians in Rome. Therefore, he was not addressing just one local congregation. Rome was a very large city and all the Christians of Rome could not have gathered on a regular basis in one place. We also know that all of the local churches of the New Testament were very small because they often met in the homes of believers. The church of Jesus Christ is made up of all who have been touched and called by Him. Just like in Rome, the church of Jesus Christ in the town where you live is made up of all the true believers in Jesus, even though they meet in separate congregations on Sundays.

Paul also said in Romans 1:7 that the believers are "beloved of God". Everyone needs to be loved. One of the great basic needs of human life is to be loved. And there is nothing and no one that can fill your need for love the way that God can. How great is the love of God! If only we knew more about the love of God, and if only we believed more in the love of God for us, then we would be more the kind of people that we ought to be. Bernard of Clairveau wrote, "The love of Jesus what it is; only His loved ones know." If you feel lonely or unloved, remember that Jesus can fill the void better than anything else. Never forget that you are beloved of God, and never let anything take that thought away from you. Jesus loves you.

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