Description

Romans 1:1-7

Senior Pastor Alex Kennedy

Romans was written by Paul. This is the same man who was Saul, a Pharisee and a persecutor of Christians. On a road to Damascus, he was temporarily blinded and was changed from the inside out. From that moment on, his life was about the gospel. His letters have made up over half of the New Testament, and he is a champion for Christ!

In the year 57AD, during his 3rd missionary journey, Paul was writing to the church in Rome. He did not set up this church and he had never visited there. That said, his reputation preceded him, and he would have been known, at least by the Jews in Rome.

During the early time of this church, the Jews were ordered to leave town, and when they came back, Gentiles were in the church. This was a very "new" development for the early church because Jews and Gentiles did not associate with each other.

Paul chooses to introduce himself at the beginning of this letter, and he didn't start by telling them that he was a Pharisee, a scholar of Gamiliel, or even a Roman citizen. He starts by telling the people that he is a doulos (slave) to Christ, and an apostle set apart for the gospel of God. The word Pharisee means separated, so Paul had lived his early life as an "other" to the people (Phil 3:5). Pharisees prided themselves in being unlike everybody else, but here Paul doesn't say that he is separated from something. He says that he is separated to/for something...the gospel.

6 Markers of the Gospel

1. The Gospel is from God (v2 - which He promised)
2. The OT bears witness about the gospel ( v2 -beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures)
3. The Gospel is about Jesus (v3-4 - concerning His Son)
4. The purpose of the Gospel is obedience (v5 - the obedience of faith)
5. The reach of the Gospel is the nations (v5 - among all the nations)
6. The 'end game' of the Gospel is His glory (v5 - for the sake of His name)

We can say that the good news

is the gospel of God,

about Christ,

according to the Scripture,

for the nations,

unto obedience and

for the sake of the Name.

-John Stott

He finishes his greeting by saying this is "to all 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."

Questions to Consider:

1. Why is it so unique that Paul introduces himself the way he does?
2. As a follower of Christ, what do you separate yourself from? Why?
3. As a follower of Christ, what do you separate yourself to/for? How?
4. How might Paul’s introduction prepare his readers for the difficult theological discussions later in Romans?
5. Read the book of Romans this week as you prepare for this sermon series.

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