[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”“We Are Saved and Set Apart To Serve” Romans 1:1-7 Sermon Notes 8-12-18″ _builder_version=”3.11.1″]
(1) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Romans 1: 1- 7 (ESV)
“Paul Is A Model of “The Set Apart Servant”
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and 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, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2) (Yellow – Not In Your Notes)
Outline of The Book of Romans …Romans Is Written to Believers to teach them comprehensively what salvation encompasses.
Is Written to Believers to teach them comprehensively what salvation encompasses.
There are many ways to outline the book of Romans… Here is a model by J. Vernon. McGee:
- Rom 1:1-17 Salutation
- Rom 1:18—3:20 Sin
- Rom 3:21—5:11 Salvation
- Rom 5:12—6:23 Sanctification
- Rom 7 Struggle
- Rom 8:1-27 Spirit-filled living
- Rom 8:28-39 Security
- Rom 9—11 Segregation
- Rom 12, 13 Sacrifice & service
- Rom 14, 15 Separation
- Rom 16 Salutation
(3) Message map: Rom. 1: 1-7 “We Are Saved & Set Apart To Serve”
- God’s process is For us To Be Saved & Become servants, Who Receive A calling.
- The calling involves us being set apart for God’s gospel.
- God promised The gospel beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.
- The Gospel is: 3Jesus descended from David 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power Through the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.
- We have received grace thru Christ, 5and a calling To bring the nations to obedience of faith In Christ.
(4) What’s Not In Romans
Romans was written in early A.D. 57 or 58, determined by the mention of many people and events in the book.
- Paul greeted the believers in Rome, not the church (an institution) in Rome (Rom 1:7 & 16:3-16, he greets those in house churches).
- Paul appeals for us “to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine (established principles) that you have been taught; avoid them.
- Paul names more than two dozen people by name, 28 to be exact, who are individual believers, and not members of an organized, heretical church that calls itself the universal Roman Church.
- Paul never even mentions Peter’s name in the entire letter/book of Romans.
So there is no Scriptural evidence that Peter ever was the “Pastor or Pope” of the Christian believers in Rome.
(4) What’s Not In Romans
Romans was written in early A.D. 57 or 58, determined by the mention of many people and events in the book.
- Paul greeted the believers in Rome, not the church (an institution) in Rome (Rom 1:7 & 16:3-16, he greets those in house churches).
- Paul appeals for us “to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine (established principles) that you have been taught; avoid them.
- Paul names more than two dozen people by name, 28 to be exact, who are individual believers, and not members of an organized, heretical church that calls itself the universal Roman Church.
- Paul never even mentions Peter’s name in the entire letter/book of Romans.
So there is no Scriptural evidence that Peter ever was the “Pastor or Pope” of the Christian believers in Rome.
Colossians 4:16 indicates that these NT letters were to be shared with every church, and not just the one to whom it is addressed, and which received it first. Romans was written in Greek, as it was more generally known and spoken, and being more suitable for Biblical purposes than the Roman Latin tongue, which did not exists until perhaps the 7th Century, I think .
Colossians 4:16, says, “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”
(5) Romans 1: 1(5) Romans 1: 1 God Saves us By Convicting Us that we need to be Justified by Faith
Or… God Saves us By Convicting Us To Receive His Justification
Rom 1: 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
God’s process to set us apart begins with Him …
- saving us by …
- John 16:8 convicting us that we are sinners, who can have Christ’s righteousness imputed / counted / credited /reckoned to us, so we avoid judgement.
- God convicts us per Galatians 3:24 by using the law to be “our guardian (ESV&NIV) — Schoolmaster (KJV) — trainer (BLB) — tutor (NAS) until Christ came,
- in order that we understand we only can be justified by faith [in Him].
- Rom 5:3 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.
- James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
- Psalm 32;2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(6) Rom 1:1 — He Saves Us To Be Servants
Rom 1: 1 continued… God wants to grow us from being saved to being saved servants.
- God wants to grow us from being saved to being saved servants
- Servant = bond-slave who is one without any ownership
- Counter intuitively in the New Testament it denotes the highest dignity of believers who willingly live in submission under Christ’s authority as His devoted followers
(7) Rom 1:1 Salvation Transforms Our Self-Image So We See Ourselves As Servants Who Are Willing to Receive A Calling
- Being willing to see ourselves as servants positions us to receive our calling, which is …
- God’s invitation to us to participate in His plan for our lives.
- God’s summoning us, first to salvation and then to an office or to a vocation, which could be done as a hobby, part time, full time, etc…
- God’s primary invitations are in John 3;16 and Rev 3:20
John 3: 16 – 18 16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in he is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Rev 3:20 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
(8) Pauls’ Transition
In Acts 9: 1-9 and in Acts 13:2 We see God transitions Paul from being a suppressor of The Gospel to one who is “Set apart as a servant of The Gospel.
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Set Apart means the Holy Spirit has established a boundary or demarcation line that distinguishes between a previous condition or situation that you were focused on and doing before, or previously, to it, and what you are called to now.
(9) Rom 1: 1-3 Set Apart to Serve the Gospel 
We are called & set apart for God’s gospel, the good news of the coming of the messiah,
Good = having the legally firm, moral qualities which God’s law requires to accomplish its intended purpose.
The unique features of this gospel are
- God promised The gospel beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
- 3 Jesus descended from David 4and was declared (separated, marked off by boundaries; determined to be the Appointed One, designated)to be the Son of God in power (Divine Energy, Force & Works) Through the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.”
- Thus we see the Gospel was sanctioned by the trinity at work in unison, as God, the Father, declared that His descended Son, Jesus Christ was validated by the Holy Spirit’s power in His resurrection
- The Son Descended” to be 1) born of a of Christ’s virgin birth; 2) live a sinless life, 3) die a substitutionary death, 4) was bodily resurrected, and 5) is seated at the right hand of God. [bctt tweet=”Rom. 1: 6-7 We can Identify with Our Calling. Rom 1: 6 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, Our identity and Self-Image can be wrapped up in and intertwined with Christ’s, so we think His thoughts, feel His feelings. Having a Servant’s Self-Image or the self-image of a servant positions us to receive our calling.” username=”LibertyCF3″]
(10) Rom.1:5
Christ’s Grace Brings About Evangelism & Obedience
Rom 1:5 5through whom (Jesus) we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nation, 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
Christ’s grace motivates our obedience in righteousness and evangelism which we spread among the nations, who once converted also grow in obedience to God.
The Great Commission of Matt 28:19 is to make disciples (those who closely follow Christ by paying attention to the details and specifics in His Word.)
(11) Rom. 1: 6-7 We can Identify with Our Calling
Rom 1: 6 6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
Our identity and Self-Image can be wrapped up in and intertwined with Christ’s, so we think His thoughts, feel His feelings.
Having a Servant’s Self-Image or the self-image of a servant positions us to receive our calling.
A Calling is our …
occupation / position / profession / trade / vocation or state in life.
2 Peter 1:10 make your calling and election sure.
- ESV – Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
- NAS — Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
- KJV — Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Rom 1:7 – The Word of God applies 7”To All (believers), including those in Rome to whom Paul is writing, “who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(12) Let’s Pray:
God give us the mercy to discern Your Calling for our lives.
God give us grace to go about doing Your Will Your Way, so we become better disciples who You Can Use to reach others, and make them more and better disciples. [email-download-link namefield=”YES” id=”303″]
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]