Saints in Rome! – Romans 1:5-7

Romans verse by verse: Lesson # 2 – The Apostle Paul explains his commission as an Apostle and addresses the believers at Rome.

Place & Date of writing: From Corinth on Paul’s 3^rd missionary journey around 56 A.D.

Theme & key verses

1. Central Theme: The Gospel (righteousness). The terms ‘righteous’, “righteousness” and “justify” are used at least 49 times
2. Key verses: 1:16-17

Purpose for writing: Summary by Richard Hester

• To prepare the Roman Christians for his planned visit to Rome and to Spain, a campaign of which he had dreamed for a long time (1:10-13; 15:23-29)
• To set down a systematic presentation of the Gospel of Christ from the foundations up, which would establish them and shield them against false doctrine which certainly would come. He would distil the very essence of the Christian faith into one theological treatise and send it to the center of the world. KEY REASON
• To explain the puzzling relationship between unbelieving Israel and the church, lest the Judaizers come and deceive them.
• To instruct the believers about their duties to one another in the church and to the state.

Paul’s Commission (Vs. 5)

It’s Power Source (5a)

1. ‘grace’ = two aspects to grace. Saving grace and serving grace. Reference here to grace God gives so we can serve Him.
2. 2 Corinthians 9:8 – Abundant grace available for “every good work”

It’s Objective (5b)

1. World-wide missions – “all nations”
   1. ‘for’ = unto, in order that (aim & goal).
   2. “obedience to the faith”
      1. Submission to the call of the Gospel: 2 Thess. 1:8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” God commands all men to repent (Acts 17:30)
      2. Life of obedience after salvation to the Word of God (“the faith”): Paul’s words immediately after his conversion were “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6
   3. “all nations” = universal scope. The Gospel is for all men (S. Vs. 14). Missions is one of the great themes of this Epistle.
      1. Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
      2. Matt 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
      3. Luke 24:46-47 “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
2. The Glory of God – “for his name”
   1. The highest incentive for Gospel service and ultimate purpose in the salvation of souls. Christ is worthy to receive the reward of His sufferings.
   2. The chief end of man is to glorify God, not to achieve human happiness.
   3. “Men are very unwilling to admit that God should have any end with respect to them greater than their happiness. But His own glory is everywhere in the Scriptures represented as the chief end of man’s existence.” (Haldane)

Paul’s Audience (Vs. 6-7)

Called of Christ (Vs. 6)

1. Called to Christ
2. Called by Christ

Located in Rome (7a)

1. Church at Rome not started by an Apostle.
2. Likely started by the converts from the Day of Pentecost. “strangers of Rome” (Acts 2:10)
3. Rome was the capital of the empire. It was a melting pot for every kind of nationality and religion with an estimated 420 temples. Manual labor was despised by the free citizens of Rome, the large majority living on public or private welfare. (Hester)
4. Paul, as the Apostle to the Gentiles, would naturally be concerned for this church which had not had the benefit of direct Apostolic ministry.

Beloved of God (7b)

1. “…Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer. 31:3
2. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” 1 John 3:1

Called to be Saints (7c)

1. ‘saints’ = set apart ones, holy ones. Key work in the N.T. – appears 61 times in 61 verses. Literally means “devoted to the gods”
2. Illustration: The Nation of Israel – Lev. 20:26 “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
3. Illustration: The Tabernacle & its vessels
4. The believer is set apart from the world for special purposes

Paul’s Blessing (Vs. 7)

1. Grace
   1. Grace for salvation: “Grace is God’s spontaneous, unmerited favor in action, his freely bestowed lovingkindness in operation, bestowing salvation upon guilt-laden sinners who turn to him for refuge. It is, as it were, the rainbow round about the very throne out of which proceed flashes of lightning, rumblings & peals of thunder.” (Hendriksen)
   2. Grace for living: E.g. trials, temptations, relationships, hurts
2. Peace
   1. Peace in position – “with God”
   2. Peace in practice – “of God” E.g. amidst stressful circumstances, fear, worry
   3. Daily application primarily in view. Paul is writing to saved people who already possess grace and peace in position.
3. The Source
   1. God the Father
   2. The Lord Jesus Christ
   3. Father and Son working together

Conclusion

1. Have you responded to the call of Christ for salvation?
2. Are you involved in doing something for world-wide missions?
3. Are we living lives of practical holiness? Are we living consistent with our position in Christ?

Sermon 2 of 42 in Romans Series

Sermon Audio Id: 422172243183