Notes For Romans Study - Worthy Christian Forums

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
(Romans 1:1)

Three Important Aspects of Paul’s Ministry

1. Wholly committed to Christ;
2. Special Calling;
3. Separated to a Specific task.

The name, “Paul” means “little,” and this is fitting as Paul calls himself the least of all the apostles in 1Cor. 15:9. Even in his name, we find an allusion to humility. This humility is further expressed in the following phrase, “a servant of Jesus Christ.” The word in Greek is “doulos” and answers to its Hebrew equivalent “eved” which essentially means “bondservant” or “slave.

Wholly Commited To Christ

The term bondservant is first used in Deut. 15:16:

And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise. (Deuteronomy 15:16-17)

Jesus also used the same term in Matt. 20:27:

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
(Matthew 20:25-27)

A bondservant is different from a hired servant in that a bondservant has no rights of his own, and in fact, has no rights to himself or his own life. His life belongs to his master for as long as the servant is alive. The bondservant cannot leave, cannot decide he no longer wishes to serve his master. The choice is not his to make.

So, we can see that Paul is choosing his words carefully to make the distinction as to exactly what kind of servant he is. He is wholly and completely the Lord’s property and that he is a willing bondservant or slave of the Lord Jesus Christ to consistently, cheerfully, and energetically fulfill the Lord’s will at all times.

How differently each of us would conduct our affairs, and how different our priorities would be if we would see ourselves as “bondservants” of Jesus Christ! Jesus is not interested in being “part” of our lives. He wants to be the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end in our lives. He wants us to give ourselves to Him without reservation and rightly so as He has given all of Himself for us. Our only right response would be to commit our lives to Him as His bondservants, given totally over to Him in full-time, loving, passionate obedience.

Religion can never manufacture true heartfelt obedience to God. There is no amount of knowledge or book learning, no degree of academic achievement that can make up for lack of passion for Christ. It’s not enough to go through the motions, mouth the right prayers, sing the songs and serve on a committee or two at Church. Every day should be a new adventure in Christ, a new opportunity to die a little deeper to self and live more passionately in and for Christ. Each day should be a chance for each of us as His bondservants to be a bold witness for Christ in the workplace, at school and yes, even at Church.

When we commit ourselves as bondservants of Jesus Christ, we are actually following Jesus example.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:4-8)

Notice in verse seven that Jesus became a bondservant (doulos) of His Father. Jesus submitted His Will to the Will of His Father. Jesus did not do or speak except what He was told to do or speak, by the Father.


The Christian life is all about serving. There is no instruction anywhere in the Bible about how to “get ahead” in life or to make a name for yourself, no “get rich” schemes. The Bible has as one of its consistent themes starting with Genesis chapter one, servant hood. God designed nature to teach us about serving (topic for another study). A bondservant finds that his master meets all of his needs. Since the servant cannot do for himself, it is up to the master to feed him, clothe and shelter him. The servant lives in complete dependence on the master for everything.


Special Calling

Paul’s calling was to an apostle. The word "apostle" in Greek answers to the Hebrew word “shliakh.” It refers to an immediate messenger sent for a special task or mission for the one who sent them. As an interesting aside, even Jesus is called an Apostle in Heb. 3:1 in the sense of “one who is sent forth.”

Paul’s calling was unique because Paul was not called in connection with the original apostles who were previously Jesus’ disciples during His earthly ministry. Paul had a post-ascension encounter with Jesus who commissioned Him directly. Paul based his calling and authority as an apostle on four things:

(1) He was a chosen by God (Acts 9:15);
(2) He was personally appointed by Jesus (Acts 9:6);
(3) He had actually seen Jesus after the resurrection/ascension (I Cor 9:1–2); and
(4) He was the recipient of divine revelation from Jesus Christ (Gal 1:10–12, 16–17).

It is necessary to point out that the word in Greek for calling means more than simply inviting or entreating one to God’s Will. Rather it was an appointment. Paul did not assume this office for himself. It was not based upon any assumption on Paul’s part that he was qualified for the task. To the contrary Paul refers to himself as the least of the apostles, and the chief of sinners. If anything, it was a service Paul performed with trepidation, but also with bold, stubborn, passionate tenacity. Paul, while ever mindful of his limitations, had an unswerving, tough as nails, Spirit-empowered grit that enabled Him to weather trials and testings that would make most people wilt away.

This, my friends, was one of true tests of Paul’s calling:

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
(2 Corinthians 11:23-30)

In this we find the proof of Paul’s calling. Would any man simply seeking vain glory for himself being willing to endure the humiliations, the physical abuses and deprivations in addition to the constant worry and cares for the churches he helped to establish? If his calling was self-imposed, it would not have lasted the first missionary journey he embarked upon. Only an encounter with living Christ could produce such tough minded, faithfulness and devotion on the part of Paul. It is a knowing beyond knowing.

Obviously, we cannot depend on the same face-to-face encounter with Christ that Paul had, though I know most of us would long for it, but we can have a real encounter with Jesus and that is the key to having the same kind of boldness and passion that Paul had. We won’t be apostles, but we can still possess that same spiritual grit that is one of the hallmarks of Paul’s ministry. Indeed the day is coming when such spiritual tenacity and passion may be a necessary aspect of our lives. If and when that day comes, can the Lord depend on you to stand faithfully as Paul did in the midst of the firey blast of persecution?

What is missing in the lives of so many Christians is that intimate and passionate fellowship with Jesus. Without that, no amount of religion will ever suffice to quench the thirst that only His love can satisfy. Religion is like salt water: The more you drink of it, the thirstier you get. Only a true life of fellowship with Christ can cure the “roller-coaster” Christianity that is so prevalent in our churches today. When our heart makes room for something other than Christ, when He ceases to be the love of our life, and the very polestar of our journey, when we cease making Him our first priority, we become double minded and instead of Jesus being our number one priority, he becomes just another item on our life’s “to do” list. In fact, he often becomes less important than our favorite TV shows, or whatever ungodly distraction we can find on the Internet.

The difference between those in ministry for “religious” reasons vs. those who have true calling is seen in their passion for Christ and their passion for those things that Christ is passionate for. Their lives are spent on what He has called them to do. Their focus is singular; their life is known and marked by that passion. As Christian, you will be known by three things: The company you keep, the character you practice, and the calling you fulfill.

Separated to a Specific task

Paul was called but he was also separated unto a specific task. The call was to be an apostle, one sent forth. Sent forth for… what? He was sent forth on a unique and singular mission: To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, and according to Paul he was separated unto that Gospel. Notice the narrowing of the focus. First he speaks of the general nature of his relationship with Christ as a bondservant, but then he becomes more particular with respect to exact nature of that his service as a slave is, and finally, the specific and unique task He is to perform.

Notice that Paul’s calling and the specific task, unto which He is separated to, are firmly rooted in His entire, unrelenting and undiluted commitment to Christ. Why do we have such a difficult time finding God’s will for our lives? Because we have not shown ourselves faithful in the most basic part of the Christian life: Putting Jesus first. We are afraid to share Christ in our workplace, or at school in situations where any resulting persecution would be minimal, but we wonder why God won’t trust us with a ministry. We act embarrassed for people to see us pray before a meal in public and refuse to do what is written in the Bible and put no wicked thing before our eyes, yet wonder why can’t seem to hear Jesus or experience His Presence. Honestly, when we treat our pets with more love than we give to Jesus, we shouldn’t have to ask why our lives end up as a spiritual train wreck.

Paul was not at all ambiguous about what he was called to do. There was not one question or second thought as to whether he had heard God right or not. Paul was separated unto the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The cross hairs of his life were fixed one thing: Christ and Him crucified. For Paul, that was all there was to His life. He said:

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)

This world’s system was crucified to Paul and Paul to it. Really, when you stop and think about how profound that is considering crucifixion meant in that day. What I mean is if you were crucified, you were someone to be scorned. You were an object of contempt. You were basically cursed. Nothing was worse than being crucified; there was no worse way to die. That was how this world’s system, it values, pleasures, enticements, rewards and splendors appeared to Paul. Everything that makes up “the world” was to Paul a crucified thing and thus completely undesirable, and indeed under a curse. Yet Paul realizes that the feeling is somewhat mutual. The value system of the world with its idolatry, immorality, selfishness, pride etc., stood in stark contrast to the message of the Gospel unto which Paul was separated. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Greeks (and most pagans in general).

Separation is an important concept. It speaks of no compromise. There is no tolerance for anything but what one is separated unto. To separate means to designate or to mark off. It speaks of making something special and unique.

When you marry, you are separated unto your spouse and from every other person in the world. Next to the Lord, your spouse is your number one priority and your life is arranged around them. That is one way in which marriage mirrors what our relationship to Christ should be like. It takes three people to make a successful marriage: You, your spouse and God. It requires separation.

Paul is speaking of the same level of commitment to the Gospel. He is as separated to the Gospel as a husband or wife is separated unto one another. I am not saying he was “married” to the Gospel, but simply using marriage to give some perspective as to the level of commitment Paul had to the Gospel he preached.

The Lord is looking for the same level of commitment from us. He is looking for bondservants he can place his call upon and separate unto the task He ordained them to fulfill.

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) (Romans 1:2)


Paul declares His separation unto the Gospel of God. Now, he makes known the person about whom the Gospel speaks.

“Which he had promised afore…”

Paul made clear that it was God’s Gospel in that it finds its origin with the Divine will and purpose of God from eternity past.

God sees the end from the beginning. All things in nature and grace are working out one grand scheme, which God before the creation of heaven and earth designed. The gospel was but a further and fuller development of God’s plans in Old Testament times. The stem is no afterthought; the leaves and buds are no afterthought; the flower is no afterthought; the fruit is no afterthought; for they were all wrapped up from the first in the seed, or cutting, or bulb. Or, to take another illustration, it is of no unfrequent occurrence that the architect designs a Gothic church which is not to be built all at once, but as sufficient funds are forthcoming, or as the congregation increases. At first the nave is constructed, then one aisle after another is added; and afterwards the chancel is built, and last of all is erected the spire — whose “silent finger points to heaven.” The pulling down of temporary walls and hoardings, and the additions from time to time made, are no afterthought, but only the carrying out of the original design. Thus the doing away with the ceremonial law and Jewish ritual, and the bringing life and immortality to light through Jesus, are no afterthought, but the forethought of God — the revealing of His glorious scheme of grace designed before the foundation of the world, and previously promised by His prophets. (C. Nell, M. A.)

Paul is of course imminently qualified to discuss the how that the Gospel had been promised beforehand. Paul was an expert on the Law and the Prophets, indeed the entirety of the Old Testament. Paul quotes or paraphrases the OT 84 times in the book of Romans. The book of Hebrews that many like myself believe Paul also authored has 83 direct references to the OT. In his other epistles, it breaks down like this:

· 1 Cor. 26
· 2 Cor. 18
· Gal. 14
· Eph. 12
· Phil. 6
· Col. 3
· 1 Thess. 1
· 2 Thess. 7
· 1 Tim. 4
· 2 Tim. 9

Not counting the book of Hebrews since we are not 100% certain of the author, we have at least 184 passages where Paul quotes from 16 different OT books. Three-fourths of Paul’s quotations come from the Torah (Gen-Deut), the book of Isaiah, and the Psalms.

Indeed, Paul was able to show that the Gospel was not his innovation, not his idea, but rather it was in the plan of God from the very beginning.

Aside from the writings of Paul we can see clearly see how well the OT makes God’s will known.

Christ and His salvation (Luke 24:27; Acts 3:18, 10:43) is made known:

1. By Moses as —
(1) The woman’s seed (Genesis 3:15).
(2) Abraham’s seed (Genesis 22:18).
(3) Shiloh (Genesis 49:10).
(4) The prophet like unto Himself (Deuteronomy 18:15).

2. By David as —
(1) His son (Psalm 132:11).
(2) His Lord (Psalm 110:1).
(3) The Anointed (Psalm 2:2; 84:9).
(4) The Priest-King (Psalm 110:1).
(5) The Pierced One (Psalm 22:16).

3. By Isaiah as —
(1) The Virgin’s Son (Isaiah 7:14).
(2) Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6).
(3) Rod out of the stem of Jesse. (Isaiah 11:1).
(4) Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3).
(5) Wounded and bruised Surety (Isaiah 53:5; 10-12).
(6) God’s righteous Servant (Isaiah 42:1; 52:13; 53:11).

4. By Jeremiah as —
(1) The righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5).
(2) The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6).

5. By Ezekiel as the true David, the Shepherd King (Ezekiel 37:24).

6. By Daniel as Messiah the Prince (Daniel 9:25, 26).

7. By Micah as the Judge of Israel (Micah 5:2).

8. By Haggai as the Desire of all nations (Haggai 2:7).

9. By Zechariah as —
(1) The Pierced One (Zechariah 12:10).
(2) The Man who was Jehovah’s Shepherd and Fellow (Zechariah 13:7).

10. By Malachi as —
(1) The Messenger of the Covenant (Malachi 3:1).
(2) The Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:3).

The prophets had foretold concerning the Messiah:

1. His Divine and human natures (Isaiah 9:6).
2. His descent (Genesis 3:15, 12:3, 49:10; Isaiah 11:1; 1Samuel 16:11).
3. The time of His appearing (Genesis 49:10; Daniel 9:24,25; Haggai 2:6-9).
4. The place of His birth (Micah 5:2).
5. The virginity of His mother (Isaiah 7:14).
6. The Forerunner who should prepare His way (Malachi 3:1).
7. The special scene of His ministry (Isaiah 9:1, 2).
8. The miracles that should accredit His mission (Isaiah 35:5,6).
9. His sufferings and death (Psalm 22:16, etc.; Zechariah13:7; Isaiah 53:28).
10. Jeremiah His resurrection (Psalm 16:10).
11. His ascension (Psalm 68:18).
12. His sitting down at the right hand of the Father (Psalm110:1).
13. His effusion of the Holy Ghost (Joel 2:28).
14. His second coming in judgment (Daniel 7:13). (T.D. Robinson)

“…afore by his prophets…”

This is affirmed by Peter as well:

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

This is an interesting statement made by Peter. Peter, in verses 17 and 18 is recounting the event we know as the Transfiguration:

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
(2 Peter 1:17-18)

Peter witnessed Jesus in His glory standing between Moses and Elijah. He heard the voice of God from Heaven declare, “This is my beloved Son; hear ye Him.” Peter is getting on in years, and the transfiguration is the one event in his life that stands out in his memory. Peter saw and heard things that would make most of us rather envious!

Yet, in spite of being an eyewitness to Jesus’ glory, in spite of seeing Moses and Elijah firsthand, in spite of audibly hearing the voice of God with his own human ears, Peter says we have a MORE sure word, the words of the prophets. So when Peter says that He is surer about the integrity and veracity of the words of the prophets after all HE had seen and heard, I think we would be well instructed to take His statements to heart. Peter put less faith in his own eyewitness account than in the words of the prophets of God.

Peter then goes on to say that no prophecy Scripture is of any private “interpretation.” This is not a statement against any private judgment on the part of a believer studying the Bible. This is not saying that you don’t have the right to draw conclusion about the meaning of Scripture in your own private study. The word for “interpretation” in English can be misleading. What Peter is talking specifically about is prophecy not about the Bible in general. His point is that the prophecy of Scripture is not the product of the private (better rendered: “personal) impetus of the prophet. No prophecy of Scripture came about as a result of the imagination, contrivance, impulse, or will of the prophets themselves, but they spoke as the Holy Spirit moved them.

I would also note something on a related note from the book of Hebrews:

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2)

While God spoke to us by His prophets in the past, His final Word to us is Jesus. John says that Jesus is the Word of God and was with God in the beginning. He is still the Word of God today. The “Logos” became flesh. Jesus was the embodiment of the will of God personified on earth. Jesus is the “Word of God” in the sense that He is personification of words of the prophets who spoke in power of the Holy Spirit.

“…in the holy scripture.”

To be Holy is to be set apart. That is its most basic meaning. For something to be holy, it presupposes a standard by which to make that determination. Holiness though speaks to something not only set apart, but also something peculiar or unique.

The Scriptures are Holy first and foremost because they originate from a Holy God. That should probably go without saying, but more than that. The Scriptures are unique. They are Holy or “set apart” not only on the basis of their origin, but on the basis of the claims that the Bible makes about man, God’s assessment of man’s spiritual condition, his helplessness to change his condition and the need for Savior.

Jesus’ claims about Himself as the only way to God, as well as the repeated NT assertion that there is no other way of salvation outside of Jesus Christ, defies the world’s attempts to relegate Jesus as just another member of a pantheon of religious figures.

The Bible is unique in that it flies in the face of moral relativism and a rejection of absolute truth.

Its most unique quality is found in its unshakable integrity, which comes from having been authored by a God who has unshakable integrity. The Bible is 100% reliable in all matters to which sets about to address.

Someone once said, “The Word of God is supernatural in origin, eternal in its duration, inexpressible in its value, infinite in its scope, regenerative in its power, infallible in its authority, universal in its interest, personal its application, and inspired in its totality. Read it through, write down, pray it in, work it out, and pass it on.”

The Bible is Holy because the Author of the Bible is holy. It is Holy because it reveals the Will of God, His thoughts, His words, as well as His character and operations. It is holy because its tendency to make us make us more holy (John 17:17; 2Tim. 3:17). Finally it is holiness that distinguishes the Bible from all other books and writings known to man.

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 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.
(Romans 1:3-7)

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

This is connected to the first verse concerning the Gospel. He is the one the Gospel is concerned with. He is the supreme theme of Scripture from beginning to end. The Bible begins with Jesus and ends with Jesus. All of the sacrifices, all of the Feasts everything in the Old Testament, even many of the events in the lives of the Old Testament saints find their substance and/or fullest expression in the person of Jesus Christ.

It cannot be over emphasized the importance of the fact that Paul and indeed the entire New Testament emphasizes the “sonship” of Jesus relative to the Father. The term Son of God is a phrase used in Hebraic thought to identify Jesus as God. It is a term denoting identification. In this case it is clearly identifying Jesus as being equal in essence with the Father.

Jesus declared to be the Son of God, The term son(s) of God is used in a general sense in a variety of ways.

(1) Angels (Job 38:7).
(2) Israel (Exodus 5:22).
(3) Mankind (Luke 3:38; Acts 17:29).
(4) Kings and rulers (Psalm 82:6).
(5) The godly (<Genesis 6:2; John 1:12;1 John 3:1).

But with Jesus, the usage of the term is very peculiar. Jesus is not “a” son of God. Jesus is THE Son of God.

(1) God’s own Son (Romans 8:32).
(2) Only begotten Son (John 3:16).
(3) Equal with God (Philippians 2:6; John 5:18).
(4) One with the Father (John 5:30).
(5) The brightness of His glory, and express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3).
(6) With God from eternity (John 1:1, 2; Proverbs 8:22, 23).
(7) God Himself (John 1:1; Romans 9:3).

He is not just the Son of God, but He is our Lord.

He was promised as such (Psalm 2:6, 9, 110:1, 2; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Micah 5:1, 2),
He assumes the title as is His right (John 13:13; 20:28).
He was made so by the Father (Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:11; Ephesians 1:22)

There can be no watering down of the importance of the Lordship of Jesus. The Bible teaches that Jesus as Lord:

I. IS THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE; men, angels, and devils, are subject to Him Ephesians 1:21).
II. IS HEAD OF HIS CHURCH AND KING OF SAINTS (Ephesians 1:22, 4:15; Revelation 15:3). All other headship is usurpation.
III. ABOLISHES THE OLD TESTAMENT ECONOMY (Matthew 11:6;John 4:21, 23; Hebrews 12:26, 27; Revelation 21:5).
IV. SENDS DOWN THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 2:33-36).
V. GATHERS MEN INTO HIS KINGDOM (John 10:2-4, 14-16; Isaiah55:4, 5).
VI. COMMISSIONS HIS APOSTLES TO PREACH WITH THAT OBJECT(Matthew 28:18, 19). VII. APPOINTS WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN HISCHURCH (1 Corinthians 9:14, 11:23; Matthew 28:19, 20).(T. Robinson, D. D.)


“…which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;”

Jesus was born into a particular family lineage to fulfill a particular purpose. Jesus is still of the family of King David. He is still the seed of David.

Having this title, “The seed of David” is very important. Being the seed of David gives Jesus rightful claim over the Jews as a descendent of their ancient Kings and thus member of the family to whom a royal future was promised: (Jer. 23:5)

Jesus was David’s seed by both Mary and Joseph. This is supported in both genealogies presented in both Matthew and Luke. Genealogies in biblical times were very, very important for the purpose of determining property ownership. If you could not prove that a certain plot of land upon which you lived was rightfully yours, you could be dispossessed and left homeless. An accurate family record was of paramount importance. I would not be surprised is several copies were not made and kept in safe locations.

The one piece of property that Jesus’ genealogies establish as rightfully his is the throne of David. There are three things that are true about Jesus that make Him the rightful heir of David’s throne:

1. The seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).
2. The seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18;Romans 15:8).
3. The seed of David (Psalm 89:29; Luke 23.3; John 1:49).

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

The word used here for “declared” in the Greek means to mark off or even better, “proven.”

The phrase with power is connected to “declare” and thus it reads, “and powerfully declared to be the Son of God…” I would like to point out that Jesus made the seed of David, but He was NOT made the Son of God. He was/is eternally the Son of God.

“According to the spirit of holiness (Holy Spirit)” seems to refer to all that the Holy Spirit had spoken of through the prophets, thus all that pertains to Jesus as the Son of God is in accordance with what was revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is proven powerfully to be the Son of God in accordance with Holy Spirit by means of the resurrection of the dead. Paul tells us that this, more than anything else, is the proof that Jesus is the Son of God.

The resurrection cannot be over emphasized, or over preached. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING stands or falls on this one event. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then there is nothing to live for. It is the resurrection of Jesus that sets Him off from the world’s pantheon of religious leaders. Jesus was not only resurrected, but made it clear that He, as God, was the one exercising personal power over death.

The world wants to reduce Him down to good religious teacher with nothing to offer but some eloquent, but impotent platitudes, or perhaps a champion of social justice, but they flatly refuse to accept Him on His terms and in the manner, which He revealed Himself.

People ask if we have any real evidence that the Bible is truly divine in origin and my answer is that one of the most convincing pieces of evidence in my opinion is the world’s obsession with trying to change the Bible or diminish its claims, particularly its claims about Jesus. The world does not invest anywhere near as much time attempting to discredit any other religion or any other book as it does with regard to Christianity and the Bible. When you stop and think about it, the obsession with trying to discredit Jesus as the Son of God and the only way of salvation is rather conspicuous.

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

The “we” refers to the apostles themselves. Grace and apostleship goes together in that it refers to ability to accomplish the task God sets before the one called. There are two kinds of grace:

1. Saving Grace: (Ro. 3:24; Ac. 15:11; 2 Co. 8:9; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9; 2 Th. 2:16; Tit. 2:11; 3:7; He. 2:9; 4:16).

2. Serving Grace: (Ac. 14:26; Ro. 12:3,6; 15:15; 1 Co. 1:4; 3:10; 15:10; 2 Co. 1:12; 9:8,14; 12:9; Ga. 2:9; Eph. 3:7,8; 4:7; He. 12:28).

It is the serving grace that is being referenced in this passage. In essence Paul could be understood as saying that they have received the grace FOR apostleship.

“for obedience to the faith among all nations” refers to their appointment to declare the faith among and to declare the need for all nations to believe and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“…for his Name” Or rather, for the glory of His Name. That is the ultimate purpose of obedience. It all comes back to His Glory. Every time a person receives Christ as Lord and Savior, He is glorified.

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Among whom (the nations/Gentiles) you are also called of Christ.

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.

Grace and peace to you in Hebrew is "Chesed v'shalom aleichem." That word Shalom is a powerful word. It means wholeness or completeness. It is everything that makes for your highest good. It is a word that denotes God's completeness on the inside and the outside.

Chesed refers to grace. Grace is mercy in action. David wrote in Psalm 23 "Surely the goodness and mercy of the Lord will follow me all the days of my life. The word in Heberew for "follow" means to pursue. God is the one who is proactive in looking for ways to bless us. He is not untouchable or aloof. He is in hot pursuit, looking for ways to bless us, and to be merciful to us.

There is more mercy and grace in God than there are sins to commit. God longs to be gracious to us. We are His creation and He loves us very much.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. (Romans 1:8-10)

I want to highlight 5 points in Paul’s remarks above that I believe are the hallmarks of Christian zeal with respect to how it is expressed toward God.


I. Thanksgiving “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all,”

Thanksgiving or thankfulness should be the cornerstone of our lives. There is something rejuvenating to me especially in my heart and mind when I begin just thanking God for everything He has done for me and given me. It is a vital part of our praise and worship.

Thanksgiving is important as it prevents the enemy from taking our focus off of Christ and placing it on self. The opposite of thankfulness is ingratitude and selfishness. The focus of ingratitude is what we don’t have.

It cannot be overemphasized the need for and the benefits of thanksgiving. There is more to this subject than can be covered in this study, but here is just a sampling what the Bible says we are to be thankful for:

For the gift of Christ
2Co_9:15

For Christ's power and reign
Rev_11:17

For the reception and effectual working of the word of God in others
1Th_2:13

For deliverance through Christ, from indwelling sin
Rom_7:23-25

For victory over death and the grave
1Co_15:57

For wisdom and might
Dan_2:23

For the triumph of the gospel
2Co_2:14

For the conversion of others
Rom_6:17

For faith exhibited by others
Rom_1:8; 2Th_1:3

For love exhibited by others
2Th_1:3

For the grace bestowed on others
1Co_1:4; Phi_1:3-5; Col_1:3-6

For the zeal exhibited by others
2Co_8:16

For nearness of God's presence
Psa_75:1

For appointment to the ministry
1Ti_1:12

For willingness to offer our property for God's service
1Ch_29:6-14

For the supply of our bodily wants
Rom_14:6-7; 1Ti_4:3-4

For all men
1Ti_2:1
(Taken from “Nave’s Topical Bible)

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Paul thanked God through Jesus Christ. Another way of saying this is “in the Name of Jesus Christ (John 14:14, Eph. 5:20; Heb. 13:15). Our thanksgiving should be to the Father in the Name of Jesus. Now that is not to say that if you pray to Jesus directly that your prayer will not be heard or go unanswered, nor will it be a detriment to getting a favorable response. We serve a loving Father who is not as concerned with form and style as He is the sincerity of your heart. There is no formula. At the same time, we do have a pattern set before us and it certainly couldn’t hurt us to follow that pattern.

II. Sincerity. “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit…”

Sincerity is another hallmark of Paul’s ministry and it should be a hallmark of our own lives as it relates to serving the Lord in all that we do. I like what this commentator has said:

Before he knew Christ his God was always the object of his fear and devotion. But how different was that God and his knowledge of Him — without his love in Christ, and His Triune essence. The service he offered was sincere, but ignorant and bigoted, a service which rejected Christ and persecuted His saints. But now in Christ all this had undergone a change. It had pleased God to reveal His Son in Him, and the Son had revealed the Father, and both revelations had been made perfect in the gift of the Holy Ghost. God in Christ became the Alpha and Omega of Divine things to Him. WB Pope, D.D.

Paul was nothing if not sincere. He says that He serves God with my spirit. This speaks of total devotion to Christ as the motivation. From the depths of Paul innermost being. He is not doing it for vainglory, for human accolades or to gain a sense of personal accomplishment. He would not have endured the persecutions that He did were those his motivations. There are much more painless ways of making a name for one’s self.

No, this was an all-consuming passion bordering on an obsession where Paul was concerned. Paul was all gospel, all the time. He was the type of person that could work the gospel into just about every conversation. He was completely sincere in his desire to see the world brought to Christ. That sincerity should be true about us. Do we do things just so that other people think we’re “spiritual?” Are we doing good works just to earn God’s favor, or thinking it will win us points in eternity? If so, we are not sincere. When we are sincere, Jesus’ heart, and His desires will be our own. Our passion will be to accomplish His purpose, instead of serving for a reward. The service will be its own reward. When our focus is taken off of self and place on Jesus and the furtherance of the Kingdom, then will we find ourselves to be serving in true sincerity from the heart.

III. Constant. “…that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;”

Christian zeal for the things of God should be always constant and unwavering. The Bible uses another word for “constant.” It is the word “patience.” Biblical “patience” does not mean putting up with something or someone that is an annoyance. Biblical “patience” is a fruit of the spirit and it is the quality of remaining the same in all situations. What I mean is that a patient Christian biblically speaking is just as thankful, joyful, faithful, etc. during the storms of life as they are when things are good. They remained disciplined. They are not godly when they feel like it. A patient Christian is consistent when their flesh would try to make them do otherwise. They keep their word to their own hurt, when it would have been easier to lie.

There are Christians, unfortunately, who can never introduce their friends at work to their friends at church, because they know they behave one way at Church and a different way during the week. They are not “patient” and allow the daily pressures and worldly influences to govern their walk. They cannot put a Bible on their desk at work because they know that their shoddy testimony would make it a reproach.

We need rock solid consistency, not only for our spiritual well being, but for the good of the Kingdom of God. I will be first to say, however, that this is much easier said than done. So this brings us to the question. How specifically do we remain “constant” or “consistent” in our walk as Christians?

A. Cut off those things, which hinder our walk. Jesus said:

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30)

Jesus is obviously using figurative language. He does not mean that we are to mutilate ourselves. His point is that anything that is hindering our walk with the Lord needs to “cut off” with respect to its influence. Whatever you have in your life that is causing you to sin, and it probably is not the same for everyone, but whatever it is, it needs to be removed. Habits, influences and associations that are causing us to sin need to be removed.

We are not to be snobs or aloof to sinners. Jesus wasn’t that way. However, sinners were not part of His inner circle of friends, either. Our primary associations, the people we go to for advice and for daily companionship should be fellow believers. That goes a very long way towards being able to maintain a healthy testimony and will also give us strength and encouragement we need to be a bold witness for Christ.

B. Five things that will keep you on the right path:

(1) Maintain a healthy prayer life.
(2) Stay in the Word of God, study and meditate on it.
(3) Keep your sins confessed. This keeps out things like guilt, condemnation
(4) Be active in your local church. Christian fellowship and being a vital part of the life of your church is important to your growth. Every major Christian leader had their skills honed in church in their early years. When you are a part of a church your arms are longer and stronger, you have more impact for Christ when you are linked up with fellow believers.
(5) Witness your faith to others. There is a right and wrong way to do this. Learn how to give answers to why you believe. I am not talking being able to debate evolution. That is really a distraction of the enemy to take the focus off of Christ and gives the unbeliever control of the conversation. Your job is to point to Christ and the difference He has made in your life. Your job as a witness is not to argue. God does not need you to be His lawyer. It is one thing to be an apologist for Christian faith, but that is not witnessing. Witnessing simply means, giving testimony. That is all that God is asking us to do. God is not holding us responsible for the results. We are each individually responsible for the truth. It is up to the sinner what they will do with the message and God will hold them accountable for that.

Those five items are the absolute basic requirements for living successfully as a Christian. I have never met ANYONE in a backslidden condition who maintained those five things in their lives. Those five items will also prevent the “roller coaster” pattern so many often deal with. If you want your ministry to grow and for God to expand it, make sure you those five items are operating in your life. God rewards constant, patient obedience. Those five things make the difference between those who are a flash in the pan, and those who have a long and consistent track record of faithfulness. God expects to be faithful in the little things first. Then He entrusts us with the larger responsibilities in the Kingdom.

IV. Prayerfulness. “…I make mention of you always in my prayers;”

The Christian life is a life that should be defined by and built upon prayer. Prayer is our spiritual oxygen. Jesus’ life was a like of prayer. Jesus was such a man of prayer that the disciples wanted to learn how to pray. “Lord, teach us to pray…” I am not going to go into a long treatise on how to pray. There are many good books and studies available on the subject, and so I see no need to reinvent the wheel.

Prayer is not an “event.” It is a lifestyle. Prayer is something you can do anywhere anytime you have a mental break work or from driving your vehicle. As a side note, you can have an attitude of prayer even when you cannot actually pray per se such as when you are driving in rush hour traffic or are in a meeting at work. Prayer needs to be something you do all of the time, not just 5-15 minutes in the morning. It is good to have a time set aside for prayer, but we need to maintain an attitude of prayer all day long. That is a hallmark of a zealous Christian. They are always talking to the Father about anything and everything.

5. Dependent “Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.”

Finally, our lives should be marked by a complete dependence on the Father. This is also another hallmark of Jesus’ life. Do you realize that Jesus NEVER performed a miracle for Himself? Jesus never fed Himself by means of a miracle. He never used His power to manipulate people into doing Him favors. Jesus could have lived like royalty if He had chosen. On a practical level, Jesus didn’t do anything that we cannot do. When Jesus confronted the devil He did not use His power to defeat Satan. He showed us how to defeat the devil by the Word of God.

Jesus lived in complete dependence on the Father and His Will. Jesus made a clear distinction between His will and the will of the Father, but at the same time, Jesus always kept His Will in line with the Father’s. Jesus was not a rebel. He did not do things “His way” so to speak (John 5:19, 30, 6:38, 8:28, 11:42, 12:49-50). Jesus always lived dependent on His Father and always glorifying Him.

Dependency on God means that He is our source. He is the one who blesses us with a job, food, shelter, transportation, clean air, clean water, etc. The path to blessing begins with us being dependant on Him and in order to do that, it means that He must come first. When we put Him first, He promises that everything else will fall into place.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:24-33)

All of these things, thankfulness, sincerity, being constant, prayerfulness and dependence on God, are not only part of Paul’s ministry, but were also the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry. It is impossible to live a victorious Christian life if Jesus is not the pattern we follow.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also (Romans 1:11-15)

Last week we discussed Christian zeal as it relates to God, but this week we are going to discuss how it is expressed relative to our relationships with one another. I believe this two-part discussion is vital to better understanding what our Christian walk should look like. This is just one slant on that discussion. When it comes to something has broad as “living the Christian life,” there’s virtually no end to the different angles we can study on that subject alone. It is truly the manifold (many-sided) wisdom of God we are dealing with here.

As it relates to man, based on Paul’s words above, Christian zeal and passion is:

1. Earnest.
2. Communicative.
3. Loving.
4. Unquenched by difficulties.
5. Expansive.
6. Humble
7. Self-sacrificing.

I want to deal with the first three at the same time. We are to be both earnest and communicative. I believe they go together. “Communicative” defines what we are to earnest about. Love defines what we are to “communicate” or “impart.” Paul said he was longing to see the Christians in Rome in order that he could pass on to them some spiritual gift.

Do we have the same attitude towards others in our Christian walk? Do we seek out opportunities to a blessing? Christian love, biblical love is proactive. It is always doing. Love, like faith is operative in nature. It is not emotional, but is very deed oriented. Love not only withholds doing evil, but is actively seeking to do good, seeking to bless, seeking to make someone’s life better. Biblical love is earnest. It does not wait for someone to mention they need prayer. Rather it says, do you have a prayer request? Do you have a need? Love is always looking for ways to express itself in ways that bless and enrich others’ lives.

Biblical love, “ahavah” in Hebrew, or “agapeo” in Greek, is always looking to bless others while at the same time it is not intrusive or pushy. It is not always in the context of a need, but sometimes just to make someone’s day better or to strengthen and encourage them in their walk with Christ. Love says, “I want to bless you, just because…” You never know how much a friendly word, a simple act of kindness can impact another person.

When Paul refers to “spiritual gift,” there is some debate over whether he is referring to the supernatural “spiritual gifts” mentioned in 1 Corinthians or later in Romans 12, or if he is simply referring to his desire to communicate to them a blessing of a spiritual nature such as comfort, peace, encouragement, etc. Either way, what Paul was eager to do is bless them in a way that would mean something to them, which would contribute positively to their walk with Christ and build them up. We should seek to do the same with one another. We should seek to contribute to one another those things make for each other’s good. In strengthening and building one another up, we only serve ultimately to contribute to the Kingdom of God and we glorify God in the process.

Next we find that we as Christians should have a passion that is not quenched by difficulties. Even when life throws us lemons and crab apples, even when we are not emotionally well, we can still have joy. Joy is not to be confused with happiness. Happiness is circumstantial. Joy is spiritual and is based on our relationship with God and is supplied by the Holy Spirit. It is not tied to how things are going in our life. It is especially in those times when things look the worst that we need to tap into His joy. As Christians, we are not to be defined by the circumstances we face, be they good or bad.

Paul’s desire was to preach to them personally at Rome but he says that he was hindered from doing so. No doubt, his various imprisonments and other hardships played a part in why he was unable to come to Rome to see them face-to-face. In Romans 15:22, we also see that God had work for him to do elsewhere, and that also played a part in hindering him from visiting Rome during his missionary journeys. To our knowledge, Paul never did personally visit the Christians in Rome. At least there is no biblical record of it. Paul’s hardships and difficulties did not dampen his love for the Christians in Rome and did not discourage him from wanting to visit them at some point in the future.

In the same way, we should not allow our own difficulties and bad circumstances stymie us in doing well. We can still be a blessing to others even when we are facing difficult and testing times. That is when the true level of your commitment to Christ becomes evident. Can you continue to bless others and live for Christ in the bad times, as you can in the good times?

Next we see that Christian zeal is “expansive.” Paul says in v. 14, that he is a “debtor both to the Greeks and the Barbarians. Okay, now bear with me ‘cause I need to unpack this just a bit, as the wording can be misleading. Being a “debtor” is referring to Paul’s obligation before God to preach to the Greeks and the Barbarians. It is not saying that Paul is “indebted” to the people he is preaching to.

“The language is commercial, and yet the obligation is not precisely that which a merchant commonly understands. Debt is that which a man owes to another for something received. But Paul was not in any such way indebted to the Gentiles, He owed no one a penny. Neither did he owe the Gentiles any gratitude, for in almost every city he had suffered wrong. It was not, therefore, on this ground that Paul acknowledged himself to be a debtor, but solely on the ground that he had received something for them. “The glorious gospel of the blessed God” had been “committed” to his “trust”; he had been “allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel.” This, therefore, he could not honestly hold back.” (W. M. Taylor, D. D.)

Every Christian owes the gospel to the pagan —

1. Because of’ the deep interest which Christ takes in the pagan. In the account of the last judgment we are taught that all neglect of human welfare is neglect of Christ, and that anything that is done for human salvation, in any nation or age, is done for Him.

2. Because of his own personal indebtedness to Christ. Language fails to express the absoluteness of the right which the Redeemer has to the service of His redeemed people. The right to man’s service which He has by virtue of His relation as a Creator is immeasurable; but this claim which God as Redeemer possesses upon a human being who He has saved from eternal death is even greater. This it was that made Paul say, “I am debtor,” etc. — “I owe the knowledge of this great atonement which my Redeemer has made for the sin of the whole world to every creature.” (G. T. Shedd, D. D.)

Next, the word “Barbarian” or the Greek word barbaros, refers to someone who speaks a foreign language. It does not mean, in this context, someone lacking in manners or refinement. Basically Paul is referring to the whole world, not just to places where the Greek language was spoken, but to all those of every tongue. Paul was not going to let a little thing like foreign languages stand in the way of the gospel.

Paul’s passion was for the world. Paul’s desire was to see everyone, no matter the color of their skin, or their mother tongue, or their nationality, come to a saving knowledge and relationship with Christ. Jesus is not the white man’s God. In the words of Billy Graham, “Jesus belongs to all people. He belongs to the whole world.” As Christians, our love is not to be fickle or preferential. We need to have a love for the whole world, as there is no person living today who is beyond the God’s love, as long as there is breath and a pulse and the ability to understand and respond to the gospel. Not everyone will receive Him, but the door is open and He will not turn away anyone who comes to Him by faith, receiving His free gift of eternal life.

“…to the wise and the unwise…” refers to those who esteemed themselves learned and expert in all matters of life, science, philosophy talent and academic accomplishment and those who were considered the unlearned, ignorant. Paul was not ashamed to preach the gospel to either group. He was not ashamed to instruct the learned, nor enlighten the unlearned as it relates to Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We also find that this obligation speaks of Paul’s humility. He was not preaching to make a name for himself. He was after all, God’s bondservant, and under sole obligation to God for this service. The worst thing we can do is serve God with a selfish motive. Too often, false shepherds arise who preach for their own glory, who regularly fleece the flock under false pretenses making empty promises and exploiting those who truly want to do a good work for the Lord.

This leads us to the seventh and final point, and that is, “self-sacrifice.” This is the one of the best definitions of true, biblical love. Love, is by nature selfless. I hit on this earlier, but one cannot define love outside of self-sacrifice. Love is always extroverted, always giving. For those who walk in love, the sacrifices they make are also the reward they receive. When Godly love becomes an end unto itself, selflessness is the end result. It should be the supreme hallmark of our lives as Christians. This should be true irregardless of our own personal circumstances.

Last week we talk about being constant and I believe that it definitely overlaps with this study. Love is consistent. It has the quality of patience we mentioned last week where you always stay the same regardless of external conditions. Selflessness finds its greatest value when it operates in times of personal adversity when it would be easier and more natural to draw in and focus only on ourselves.

As always, NONE of this can be done in our own strength. We as humans, do not have the inclination, much less the capacity for such things. It is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It requires complete surrender to the operation of the Lord in our lives so that He can live His life through us.

Only in this way, can we truly be the kind of bold witness for Christ that we should be. It is when these elements are true of our lives that our faith is justified in the sight of men and they can see that our testimony is accompanies by corresponding actions that stem from supernatural motives.

Good deeds done in human strength in times when there are no challenges or trials, is not as much of a witness to the world as when they see us go through the same problems they do, but unlike them, we are able to live above and to some degree, disconnected from those circumstances. It does not mean we are not emotionally affected by what is happening in our lives, it does not mean we don’t grieve or cry out to the Lord, but that we are not dragged down into the same pit of despair.

No matter what obstacles, challenges and trials we face, we always start with the Answer. God’s Word has all of the answers to every need of the human heart. It also has God’s promises that no matter where we are, what we are facing He is with us and He will never leave us or forsake us.

No matter what, we always start from a place of victory. We always start with the Answer. We as Christians, start from the point at where most folks are trying end up. It is when the power of God is seen in our lives, when all of those above-listed elements are in operation regardless of what we are facing, that the world takes notice. When they see we are the only boat afloat, they will interested in knowing what it is we have and they will want whatever it is that keeps us from going belly up every time adversity strikes.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17)

Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Did he have reason to be? The epistle to Rome is first among Paul’s epistles because of the length, not because it was the first one he wrote. In fact all of Paul’s epistles are arranged by length from longest to shortest, ending with the epistle to Philemon. The point is that Paul, by the time he gets around to writing this epistle, has been in ministry for sometime and has already faced significant persecution for the gospel. Paul has suffered disgrace and indignity for years. He has faced imprisonment, scorn, and ridicule to say the least. He was the off scouring of the earth as far as His own rabbinical colleagues were concerned and blithering fool to many in the pagan world. He was denigrated as cult leader and a madman. Yet for all the disgraces and disparagements he faced, he was unflinching and unwavering in his commitment to the preaching of the Gospel. He was never ashamed of the message.

We also should never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus.

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ —

I. Because of the heroic character of its witnesses.

The apostles were men transformed from being scared for their very lives to men willing face down the most gruesome death machines human depravity could devise for nothing more than the preaching of the Gospel. No one dies for they know to be a lie. They were witnesses of God’s glory and power in the resurrected Christ and they were filled with the Spirit and with such burning conviction and boldness so that nothing their enemies devised hindered them or discouraged them from the calling on their lives.

II. Because of the influence it has had on civilization.

In places where the gospel has flourished, literacy and education flourish. The laws of the United States are rooted in the morality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Civilization
without Christ is impossible. It is fire without warmth; it is motion without progress; it is existence, but it is not life. It becomes in time the very apotheosis of immorality.

III. Because of its adaptability to human necessities.

It gives rest to the weary, and comfort to the sad; it cheers the mourning and raises the dead to life. Today, its methods are the same. Every need of the human heart is found in Christ and His gospel.

IV. Because of the promise it gives of eternal life.

It is not a reward; it is a promise of a gift. And even if it were only a reward, I am too
human to disregard its value as an element in the teaching of Jesus Christ. A gospel which provides for this world only is no gospel at all.

V. Because of its prophetic fulfillment.

The gospel was fulfilled in such a manner that it could not have been manufactured by human ingenuity. There is no way a man or group of people could have studied the prophecies concerning the Messiah and engineered a fulfillment of the prophecies. In fact, the Messiah came at a time when no one who even believed in the prophecies would have ability or even the desire to do such a thing, being under brutal Roman occupation. No one dared risk his life for such a venture.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our most precious truth for 5 reasons:

I. Its efficacy: “It is…power.”

The word for “power” in the Greek as used here, is the word “dunamis” and is where we get the English word for “dynamite.” However, explosives such as dynamite were not known, at least no in Paul’s part of the world, and so the concept of “explosive” power would not have entered into His mind. Rather, at is used here it is give the idea of ability or might to move or produce an intended outcome. It is the power to affect change, especially as it relates to the heart of man.

1. It can overcome prejudice and this is seen in the life of Paul, a man full prejudice at when we first encounter him in the book of Acts.
2. It can overcome the cruelty of persecution as we can see in the life of Paul who persevered in the face of years of merciless persecution.
3. It can overcome idolatry. During Paul’s ministry the cult of Diana of Ephesus, an idolatrous cult that had a worldwide following for centuries lost its adherents when the gospel is preached. Even today, many are still turning from Islam, Buddhism, and other false religions to Christ.
4. It has incredible influence of the lives of men. Vile and evil men who could not be changed by all of the laws, punishments of civil authorities have been transformed by the power of the gospel of Christ.

II. Its Divinity: “It is the power of God.”

1. Its origin is with God. The word of is a genitive term meaning that the power originates from God. The Gospel gets its power from God. God is the initiator in all of His dealings with man. It was God who came looking for Adam when Adam sinned. It was God who came to Noah with the plan for the ark. It was God who approached Abraham with a covenant. It was God who approached Moses to be the deliverer of the children of Israel. It was God who wanted to a place to dwell among His people. It was God who became flesh and who devised the plan of salvation and took the place of both the offender and the offended and satisfied His own justice on our behalf.
2. God is Himself the success of the gospel. It is a work of God from start to finish. God always waits for man to be completely helpless to come to the end of himself before acting on our behalf. God waited until Abraham and Sarah were hopelessly beyond childbearing when there was no hope of conception. Sarah was both barren and nearly 60 years too old to have a child when God finally acted and she gave birth to Isaac. God always made sure that when He acted there was no way human strength, will or ingenuity were able to provide any solution. God never shares his glory with anyone. He is the source and success of the gospel.

III. Its Object: “It is the power of God unto salvation.” The Gospel saves from:

1. Present sinfulness. We have salvation today. Salvation is Jesus Himself. While we often refer to salvation as an “it,” the truth is that salvation is Jesus Himself. Jesus is eternal life. His real Hebrew name is “Yeshua” which is the Hebrew word for Salvation. Salvation in the “now” is deliverance from the bondage of sin

CI Scofield observes the following:

“Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is in three tenses:

a. The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin (Luk. 7:50;
1Co.1:18; 2Co. 2:15; Eph. 2:5; Eph. 2:8; 2Ti. 1:9) and is safe.

b. the believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin (Rom. 6:14; Phi. 1:19; Phi. 2:12; Phi. 2:13; 2Th. 2:13; Rom. 8:2; Gal. 2:19; Gal. 2:20; 2Co.3:18).

c. The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ.
(Rom. 13:11; Heb. 10:36; 1Pe. 1:5; 1Jo. 3:2.)”

2. Into the Kingdom of God.

Salvation is twofold in that we are saved from sin (separation from God, spiritual death), and into Eternal Life. We are taken out of Adam and place into Christ. In theological terms, it is what we call “Positional Justification.” We are no longer under the law but under grace. When Paul uses the term “under the law,” he is describing how an unsaved person appears to God. That is how they stand. An unsaved person is “in Adam,” “a slave to sin,” and “under the law.” A “saved person is “in Christ, “a slave to righteousness,” and “under grace.”

To be saved is, therefore, a two-fold concept. It means to be saved out of sin and into a relationship with God. More to the point, to be saved means:

• To be forgiven of your sins. (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 26:18, Eph. 1:7, Colossians 1:14)
• To be justified by God through faith in Jesus (declared righteous, not guilty). (Rom. 3:26-28; 4:5, 24-25; 5:1)
• To receive the free gift of eternal life offered to us through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-17, Rom. 6:23)
• To experience the new birth John 3: 3-8, 1Peter 1: 23-25 )
• To be saved/delivered the from penalty of sin (which is death, eternal separation from God). (Galatians 3:13. The curse of the law is spiritual death, separation)
• To be taken out the kingdom of darkness and put into the kingdom of His light. (Eph. 5:8-11, Col. 1: 13, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 1 Peter. 2:9)
• To have a hope that goes beyond death and the grave. 1 Corinthians 1:20-22, 51-58, 1 Thessalonians 4: 14-17)

Even more than all of that, to be saved means to have a full assurance of faith right now, today (Hebrews 10: 22). I am not hoping I am saved, I know that I am saved. I have a "know-so" salvation.

I have eternal life now. 1 John 5: 11-13 and John 5:24 both tell me that if I have Christ I have eternal life today.

Keep in mind that Jesus IS eternal life. Jesus said:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)

The word for "life" in the Greek is "eternal life." Eternal life is what makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God. Eternal life is not a length of time; Eternal life is a person. When we receive eternal life, we are receiving Jesus Himself. Jesus comes to live in our hearts in the person of the Holy Spirit and He is the one who fulfill the righteousness of God's law in us. The law we cannot keep well enough to save us, is the law fulfilled within us by the Holy Spirit.

IV. Its Impartiality: “It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone.”

In Paul’s day, slavery and class privilege were very strong in nearly all pagan cultures. Women were treated has chattel and property, second-class citizens. The gospel shows no such partiality. Ethnic pedigree, gender and social status gave no one any advantage or placed anyone at a disadvantage where the gospel is concerned. God sees all men and women equally as sinners. The ground is level at the cross.

There is no one too vile or sinful that God cannot save. There is no one that is so good or so meritorious in his or her own right that doesn’t need salvation. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The door is open and salvation is available to all no matter race, nationality, gender social status or any other condition you can think of. Jesus died for the world, but Jesus also died for me and He died for you, personally. He is the savior of the world, but He is also your personal savior. God is able to deal with us as corporate humanity, and can be as personal as if you are the only person on earth. No one is beyond His reach. No one has ever been able to out sin God’s ability forgive. There is more grace in God than there are sins to be committed. You can never sin to the point the God will not love you anymore, that He will not reach out His mercy to you when you need it the most. When you sin, don’t run from God, run to Him.

V. Its Conditionality: “It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”

Salvation is available to all, but not all will receive it. There is a condition to being saved, and that is this:

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
(Acts 16:31)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Romans 10:9-10)

Salvation is available to all who will call upon the Lord, but it is not automatic. One must first put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I cannot emphasize the importance of making sure you are saved.

Let me say this as an aside. God does NOT "send" anyone to hell. Hell is not God's vengeance on man. Hell is a consequence of choosing continued separation from God. God does not send anyone to hell, those who reject Christ elect on his or her own to go there.

Hell is not the will of God for anyone, but man is born into sin (spiritual death and separation from God) and it is this spiritual condition that ends up being the factor that leads many people into hell.

Hell is a gruesome existence; a place of horrors not the most depraved human imagination has yet conceived. There is no earthly frame of reference from which to draw from. Hell is as indescribably terrible as heaven is indescribably beautiful. For those who choose continued separation from God Hell is the consequence of that choice. Hell is a consequence of rejecting the gospel. It is not a punishment from God.

Anyone who is reading this, make SURE you know you are saved. I cannot emphasize that enough. If you don't know for sure, you need to make sure. You need to know that if you were to die tonight and were to step out into eternity, that you would do so IN CHRIST. If you want to know how, PM me and ask me. I will be glad to share!

“To the Jew first and also to the Greek”

Paul was very serious about reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel. He never gave up on them, even when his ministry was primarily to the Gentiles. Following the pattern Jesus established, Paul continued to preach to the Jewish people, and always went to the local synagogue first in every city he went to.

I stated before that Paul’s letter to the Romans is really an appeal to the Gentiles to be a blessing to the Jewish people. We will see this more and more as we get into the letter to the Romans.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)

We now come to the thesis of Paul’s letter to the Romans. This is also the start of the doctrinal portion of the letter, which continues on until near the end of the chapter.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed…”

“For therein” refers to the aforementioned Gospel. Paul explains why he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. In it the righteousness of God is revealed. It is not talking about God’s essential attribute of righteousness, but rather, God’s plan to justify or make right those who obey it.

It is God’s plan to acquit man of sin and its penalty and to bring Him into favor and right standing with Him. The way this is done is revealed in the Gospel. What does the Gospel reveal?

• Jesus Christ, God's Son, is a perfect Savior for sinners, even the worst. (Jn. 6:37-44; Heb. 7:25)
  
• Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
  
• It is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. (Romans 1:16)
  
• Salvation comes only through Jesus. (Acts 4:12)
  
• Salvation is the gift of God by His grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and not by any works you do. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7
  
• Salvation comes through the blood of Christ, which makes the sinner righteous before God and brings reconciliation with Him. (Romans 3:25, 5:9)
  
• Salvation comes at the moment the sinner believes the gospel. (Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)
  
• Salvation is granted by God and secured by God. (John 10:27-30)
  
• Jesus perfectly accomplished and completed all the works necessary to save sinners just like you. (John 19:30)
  
• Salvation is completely of God and not of man in any way, and it is to the glory of God alone. (Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9; Ephesians 1) (Retrieved from www.gospeloutreach.net)

Actually, though the above list references many parts of the Bible, all of the points it makes can be found in the book of Romans.

Returning to the issue of justification, I am not going to give a complete run down of this doctrine at this time, as we are going to cover it in depth and systematically later on in chapters 3-6. I do want to hit on few points. Keep in mind that justification is not the act of making someone innocent or even declaring them innocent, but rather “justification” is a legal term that simply treats the guilty as if they are innocent.

What I mean is that when God justifies us, He is not declaring that we have not sinned, he is not saying we are innocent (because we are not innocent), and He is not overlooking our sin. Rather it is an act of pardon and forgiveness. Justification is God’s final and eternal verdict pronounced upon a man that turns to Jesus Christ for salvation. Albert Barnes makes the following observation about what justification is not:

In regard to this plan it may be observed;

(1) That it is not to declare that people are innocent and pure. That would not be true. The truth is just the reverse; and God does not esteem men to be different from what they are.
(2) It is not to take part with the sinner, and to mitigate his offences. It admits them to their full extent; and makes him feel them also.
(3) It is not that we become partakers of the essential righteousness of God. That is impossible.
(4) It is not that his righteousness becomes ours. This is not true; and there is no intelligible sense in which that can be understood.

(It is true indeed that the righteousness of Christ cannot be called ours in the sense of our having actually accomplished it in our own persons. This is a view of imputation easily held up to ridicule, yet there is a sense in which the righteousness of Christ may be ours.

Though we have not achieved it, yet it may be so placed to our account that we shall be held righteous, and treated as such. I have said, first, we shall be held righteous, and then treated as such; for God treats none as righteous who in some sense or other are not really so."

The Greek word for “righteousness” and “justification” is the same word. Keep in mind it is a legal term. We are not “made” constitutionally righteous. We are reckoned or declared as such, and it is imputed (credited to our account). We will experience the full manifestation of being made righteous until we receive our new, immortal bodies at our resurrection. All of this is in the book of Romans as we shall see in future studies.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)

Paul is now beginning his argument. The first thing Paul sets about to establish in Romans is the universal guilt of mankind. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness. Now, “wrath” here is not referring to God’s rage. Rather it refers to His disposition, what one commentator calls His “wrath of reason.” It is not an emotion that Paul is referencing here. It denotes His essential holiness, His antagonism to sin, to which punishment is due.

Ungodliness refers to irreverence toward God. Barnes writes:

"This word properly means “impiety” toward God, or neglect of the worship and honor due to him. ἀσέβειαν asebeian. It refers to the fact that people had failed to honor the true God, and had paid to idols the homage which was due to him. Multitudes also in every age refuse to honor him, and neglect his worship, though they are not idolaters. Many people suppose that if they do not neglect their duty to their fellow-men, if they are honest and upright in their dealings, they are not guilty, even though they are not righteous, or do not do their duty to God; as though it were a less crime to dishonor God than man; and as though it were innocence to neglect and disobey our Maker and Redeemer. The apostle here shows that the wrath of God is as really revealed against the neglect of God as it is against positive iniquity; and that this is an offence of so much consequence as to be placed “first,” and as deserving the divine indignation more than the neglect of our duties toward people"

“and unrighteousness of men” refers to our misdeeds against our neighbors. This calls us into rememberance of the two greatest commandments. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul and strength AND we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.

“who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” The word “hold” in Greek actually means to keep back or to restrain. The idea is that the wickedness of man keeps the truth from taking hold of his heart and governing his behavior.

I think there is much to ponder here even for us. How often do we cause the truth of God, the truth of who He is, His love for mankind to be kept back because of our behavior? Are we truly living in godliness and are we truly reflecting His holiness our lives? Are we a conduit for God’s love to be revealed or do we mute His character and operations by tinting windows with the darkness of pride, selfishness, dishonesty, immorality, and pretense?

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:19-20)

Going back to our previous verse, Paul says that these ungodly men hold the truth in unrighteousness. Now in verse 19 we find that their rejection of truth on the apparent manifestation of what which is known of God. Paul is making an incredible statement here that really needs our utmost attention.

Paul is saying that man’s rejection of God’s existence and/or His essential character and operations is NOT made out of ignorance. God has manifested Himself to the world and has shown Himself to all mankind. Paul’s assertion here is that mankind has rebelled against God on the grounds that God has revealed Himself. What we see here is that it is not a lack of evidence that keeps men from accepting the basic knowledge of the existence of God. Man, without Christ is at enmity with God. Man’s rejection of God is always spiritual, never intellectual. There are many who attempt to cloak their rejection of God in intellectualism, but the truth is that when man is faced with the truth and his confronted with his own sinfulness in the light of the truth of the Word of God, then something has to go. Man has to make choice.

Human nature is one of the main arguments against the assertions made by unbelievers who claim that the Bible was just a human concoction. Given what we know about human nature, and given what the Bible says which is so offensive to basic universal humanistic values, the Bible, as we have it today could not have been written by man and in fact, humanity would never have produced the Bible, even if it possessed the capability.

The Bible is too offensive to human nature for it to be human origin. Human nature is selfish and entirely centered on pride. Human nature is a god unto itself. It holds up mankind as the measure of all things. It rejects the universal guilt of mankind before God and also rejects as both moral lawgiver and judge.

The Bible teaches that mankind is utterly and completely sinful, both corporately and individually. The Bible further teaches that mankind is helpless to change his condition and is impotent before God in terms of satisfying God’s justice and affecting reconciliation for himself before God. The Bible strikes at the heart of man’s pride. It shows that far from being the measure of all things, mankind is wallowing of a delusional, inaccurate assessment himself, and is blinded by his own foolish stubborn pride. This is not based in ignorance of the truth, but of a wholesale rejection of the truth.

Having said all of that, I want you to notice the peculiar wording here: “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them…” Paul is not merely talking about the existence of God being made known. He says that what may be known or as it says in other versions “that which is known of God…” He is referring to God attributes. In verse 20, Paul refers to his “eternal power and Godhead.” Paul says this is, “manifest in them” or as it is better rendered, “manifested among them” or “in their midst.”

One of my favorite commentators, Charles Hodge writes the following about this verse:

It is not of a mere external revelation of which the apostle is speaking, but of that evidence of the being and perfections of God which every man has in the constitution of his own nature, and in virtue of which he is competent to apprehend the manifestations of God in his works. ~ Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans

God has showed it to them. God has never left us without a witness as we shall see in verse 20.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made…”

The invisible things of God, His attributes, His goodness and wisdom, etc. are clearly seen. Paul tells us there is no ambiguity on God’s part. He can be seen clearly in the things He has made.

You have a Bible. You can see the cover, the pages, the ink, the letters, etc. You cannot see the binder, the printer, the page maker, the ink maker, and the cover maker. You cannot see them and you will never see them, yet your Bible is the testimony to their existence. It is a testimony to their skill, artistry, contrivance, design, etc. You would never be so absurd as to suggest your Bible simply came into being out of thin air without the use of any external craft. A painting is proof of its painter, a song is proof of its composer, a book is proof of its author, and a sculpture is proof of its sculptor. In the same way, creation is proof its Creator.

“… even his eternal power and Godhead…”

Eternal references His preexistence. Both His power and the Godhead are eternal. In both Greek and Hebrew “eternal” means without beginning and without end. Godhead refers to His Divinity and all those qualities that comprise it. How exactly does creation testify of this?

It is impossible to be both creator and creature. Creation testifies of a creator who is both outside creation and existed before He created it. Its complexity testifies of His infinite knowledge, its order testifies of His wisdom.

The fact that the earth does not spin out of control, the fact that spring doesn’t suddenly follow summer testifies of the fact that God while separate from creation guides it. It testifies of His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence in that God only a creator of infinite power, unlimited presence and infinite knowledge could construct such a grand universe AND be able to maintain it at once. He is able to guide each of the trillions upon trillions of stars (which He knows by name) and other heavenly bodies while holding every molecule and atom on earth in place and STILL has time to hear you when you pray and treats you as intimately as if you were the only person on the planet. He is truly and “awesome” God in the truest sense of the term.

“…so that they are without excuse”

Now we come to the unpleasant part of this verse. This clause depends on the preceding clause. All has been made known clearly. Hodge writes:

“The perfections of God, being understood by his works, are seen, so that men are without excuse.’ Paul does not here teach that it is the design of God, in revealing himself to men, to render their opposition inexcusable, but rather, since this revelation has been made, they have in fact no apology for their ignorance and neglect of God.”

This brings us to the question about those who die without hearing the gospel. Is God just in allowing those who have never heard about Jesus or have even seen a Bible, is God just in allowing them to go to hell? The answer to that question is, “Yes.”

God would have been perfectly just in never providing a plan of salvation to start with. God was not under any moral obligation to provide salvation. Salvation is the product of His mercy, not the product of something He HAD to do for us. God’s justice demanded our death for sin. That is the penalty and it was penalty we rightly owed and God would have been well within His rights and would have been completely righteous if He had destroyed Adam and Eve on the day they ate of the fruit.

There are two types of revelation given by God to man: General and Special.


General Revelation is a revelation of Law. It is God's revelation or manifestation of Himself as God and as the creator and the righteous judge, and of man as sinner and standing under God's divine judgment. The problem is that fallen man even perverts the clear message of general revelation and what is derived from it. (e.g., Rom. 1 and 2).

General revelation is universally available to everyone in the world. The three areas of general revelation are through nature, human history, and human nature (conscience).

Special Revelation is God's revelation of Himself through the Gospel and in the Scriptures. Special revelvation always pertains to salvation. It is communicated in both words (Scripture) and acts or actions (miracles of Christ). It must be revealed/initiated by GOD alone. Christ and the Scriptures are the primary types of special revelation.

In closing, Norman Geisler as this to say:

"Is It Fair to Condemn Those Who Have Not Heard? Yes, it is just to condemn those who have never received God’s special revelation. First, through general revelation they know about his “eternal power and Godhead” (Rom. 1:20). They are aware that he “made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them” (Acts 14:15). They are aware that God “has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons (Acts 14:17). Although they do not have the Law of Moses, “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law.... Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law [of Moses], since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts” (Rom. 2:12-15).

Even though God has revealed himself to the heathen in creation and in conscience, fallen humanity has universally rejected that light. Hence, God is not obligated to give them any more light, since they have turned from the light they have. In fact, although they have the truth, “the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who sup-press the truth by their wickedness” (Rom. 1:18). Someone lost in the darkness of a dense jungle who sees one speck of light should go toward it. If that person turns away from the little light and becomes forever lost in darkness, there is only one person to blame. The Scriptures say, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). If any unbeliever truly sought God through the general revelation, God would provide the special revelation sufficient for salvation. After God led Peter to the Gentile Cornelius, Peter
declared: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts menfrom every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:35). The writer of Hebrews tells us that those who seek, find. “He rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb. 11:6)."

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:21-23)

“Because that, when they knew God they glorified him not as God, …”

Many people believe there is a God, but they do not reverence Him. They do not acknowledge Him for even the basic needs He supplies them. They may even attend church and mentally assent to the “Christian religion,” but they have not made a heart felt commitment to Christ. They come to church to give a nod in God’s direction once a week, but they do not glorify God in their lives.

They do not serve Him, as they too busy serving themselves and consumed in their own agendas. There is no boss who is more tyrannical and demanding that man’s own unsatisfied self. Self can become an idol.

“…neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

The heathen, in order to add injury to insult are not thankful to God for the things He has allowed them to have.

The KJV Commentary makes this observation:

“In order to suppress the witness of the ordered structure of the universe, and the innate testimony of the conscience, fallen man had to develop a reasoning process of imagination. This reasoning is described by God as vain because the whole structure of man-made philosophy is devoid of divine truth and therefore invalid. Thus, by suppressing the truth of God and believing their man-made falsehood, they plunged their foolish heart deeper into darkness. When they exalted their human reasoning and paraded their wisdom before their peers, they acted as fools. The foolish heart is not one deficient in intelligence but one deficient in the moral understanding of who God is.”

The theory of Evolution is a modern manifestation of this same attitude that has been prevalent in mankind for thousands of years.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,"

This is a serious indictment against those who are esteemed as wise among those who are unbelievers. God does not mince words about it. He has one word for those who reject Him: Fools. God is not name-calling. There is a difference between identifying someone for who and what they are and the immature act of name calling and insulting. If a man goes out and drinks himself under the table 5 nights a week and I say he is a drunkard, I am not calling him names; that is what he is. If a woman sells her body on the street corner, and I say she is a harlot, I am not calling her names; that is what she is. If two people engage in a same sex relationship and I say they are sodomites, I am not name-calling; that is what they are.

The word for fools carries a much more broad connotation than does the English word. In English the word is used to denote someone of low intelligence, but that is not the biblical definition. The biblical concept of a fool is moral, not intellectual as can be seen in the following verses: (Psa 14:1; Pro 26:4; Pro 1:17, Pro 1:22; Pro 14:8-9). The biblical fool is a person who is vain, immoral, idolatrous and void of understanding, and wicked (lawless).

In much of that sense, all of humanity, without God, is a community of fools. Scripture always represents the human race as a fallen race and degraded; not as having risen gradually to any intelligent conceptions of God at all. A good question would be whether modern anthropological science has really discovered anything to discredit the scriptural view of the original condition and capacity of man.

Human wisdom sees mankind as evolving, becoming more wise and moral, but the Bible paints a radically different picture of humanity. Humanity is born in sin, at enmity with God and left to its own vices, will continue to decline with each successive generation further and further into the depths of depravity. From the very beginning the Bible shows us what man really looks like to God.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)

Without form – “Tohu ,” “Void” – Bohu, “Darkness” - Khoshek

We see here the three-fold state of man without God. "Tohu" literally means confusion, unreality, or chaos. "Bohu" for void, means empty, without purpose. The word "Khoshek" literally means twisted. Another appropriate word might be perverted.

Regardless of what a sinner's life may look like on the outside, these things describe what God sees when He looks on their heart. The spiritual condition of a person without God cannot be interpreted in the light of experience, or appearance. They may appear to prosper and have the world by the tail, but to God they are poor, miserable, confused, perverted, and empty.

“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. “

Mankind is not, generally speaking, opposed to the concept of a deity or “higher power.” Man is opposed to a god or deity he cannot define and/or control. Idolatry is appeals to human nature because man can fashion it and ascribe to the idol the parameters of its authority and power. Paul also provides this as proof of his previous assertion concerning mankind’s foolishness. Commentator Robert Haldane writes:

“It is impossible to conceive of anything more deplorably absurd, further removed from every semblance of wisdom, or more degrading in itself and dishonoring to God, than the idolatrous worship of the heathens; yet among them it was universal. The debasing images to which the Apostle here refers, were worshipped and feared by the whole body of the people, and not even one among all their philosophers, orators, magistrates, sages, statesmen, or poets, had discernment sufficient to detect the enormity of this wickedness, or honesty enough to reclaim against it. On the contrary, every one of them conformed to what the Apostle Peter calls 'abominable idolatries.” —Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans

The God of Scripture presents Himself as being beyond the reach of man’s intellect to fully comprehend. He operates in a plane of reality that for mankind appears to be full of contradictions and paradoxes to great for man to make sense of. He presents Himself as both the Creator of man as well as man’s moral Lawgiver and Judge. He defies explanation, comprehension and He certainly defies man’s ability to control or define. Human nature, unable to accept this affront to his own arrogance rejects God and opts for idols and gods he CAN control. In ancient times, this amount to among other things, human images, as well as animals and birds, and any other creature man’s imagination could devise.

The word in verse 23 for “changed” in the Greek means to decay or to degrade. The idea Paul is expressing is not that mankind can actually degrade God’s glory in the absolute sense, but that man in his mind has degraded or corrupted the image of God that God Himself placed there. Hence, man’s rejection of God is actually testimony of God’s existence but also of man’s continued state of moral decay.

“Idolatry, according to Paul is not a progressive stage reached in the religious thought of mankind starting from primeval fetishism. Far from being a first step towards the goal of Monotheism. Polytheism is, on the contrary, the result of degeneracy, an apostasy from the original Monotheism, a darkening of the understanding and heart which has terminated in the grossest fetishism. The history of religions, thoroughly studied nowadays, fully justifies Paul’s view. It shows that the present heathen peoples of India and Africa, far from rising of themselves to a higher religious state, have only sunk, age after age, and become more and more degraded. It proves that at the root of all pagan religions and mythologies there lies an original Monotheism, which is the historical starting point in religion for all mankind.” Biblical Illustrator.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:24-27)

“Wherefore…”

Because they have chosen to reject God to not retain Him in their knowledge…

“…God also gave them up to uncleanness…”

Meaning that God ceased to restrain them, but rather He abandoned them over to their wicked sentiments and desires after they had proven themselves irretrievably wicked and unrepentant.

It does not mean that God in any positive way caused them to sin to any degree. It is really no different than when a parent strives with a headstrong adolescent and after advising this person to no avail, leaves him/her to live out their propensities to their own ruin.

I want to be very clear on this point. Those who resist God will not resist Him forever. There is a point at which God will cease to call, cease to convict. Those who resist God do so to their own peril.

I am reminded of the story of Jesus’ trials when He was taken before Caiaphas, Herod and Pilate. Jesus spoke to Pilate, and He spoke to Caiaphas. But Jesus would not speak to Herod. In my mind’s eye, I don’t think Jesus even looked at Herod. That did not bode well for Herod. Of course, at the time, Herod didn’t know that. Let me tell you this, and you mark it down: If you EVER get to the place where God will not talk to you, you have crossed the line. We have in this story a good example of man whom God had given over to his sin and to his complete and all consuming wickedness.

“…through the lusts of their own hearts…”

This is speaks of their depravity. God has given them up to do whatever the depravity of the human mind can conceive.

You know, I encounter unbelievers all of the time and they have the same question. If God is so good, why does He allow people to suffer? The world really burns the candle at both ends on this issue. They want God out of our schools, out of our government, out of our entertainment, out of every facet of our lives. They have demanded complete freedom from God and His law. Yet, after man in his complete moral depravity has made a mess of the world through hate in all of its forms, bigotry, poverty, wars, oppression, lying, immorality, mankind still has the nerve to argue that if God were a good God, these things would not have happened. Mankind wants his freedom, but in the end refuses to take responsibility for that freedom.

“…to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:”

Here we have an allusion to what is further expressed in vv. 26 and 27.

“Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.”

A better rending of the first phrase is that they “exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” They did this knowingly and bear the entire guilt of that decision. They having the truth about the true, one and only Living God, preferred the lie, namely the sin of idolatry.

The truth in the general revelation, which has made clear the presence and continuous involvement of the Creator, was perverted into a doctrine of idolatry where that which was meant to demonstrate God, in effect, replaced God in the depraved hearts of wicked men who began worshipping the creation as “God.” Idolatry seems to be the gate through which all other manners of depravity enter. If you are a student of history, you will always find the most morally repulsive behavior is always associated with idolatry.

Yet, when we speak of idolatry, we cannot simply leave it at the doorstep of the ancient pagans who worshipped various and sundry gods and made idols for most them. Idolatry is a sin that has the power to recreate itself in every generation and culture and it takes on other forms. Even Christians can unfortunately unwittingly participate in idolatry. An idol is not something simply made of metal, wood or stone. Ultimately an idol is a lie.

I. AN IDOL IS A LIE FOR TWO REASONS:

A. It pretends to be something it is not.

Idols always come with pretence. They pretend to have all the solutions all the answers that will make us whole and fulfilled. They pretend to be able to bring us prosperity freedom and happiness, only to ensnare us into an endless servitude. Religion is one of the biggest idols in our day today. By “religion” I mean the endless, grind of legalism and performance based acceptance, that constant struggle to maintain the image or “feeling” of piety. I know some people who get upset if they aren’t able to pray three hours a day. It is not the communion with God they miss, but the act of praying itself. Anything we do, no matter how good it is, be it Bible study, prayer, praise and worship, whatever, when those things become an end unto themselves, all you are left with is religion. I know people who hop from church to church trying to see who has the best praise and worship. It may sound weird, but there are people who worship the act of worship. Worship is not an event. It is not something that happens for an hour on Sunday morning. Worship is what we do on a daily basis. Worship involves not listening to dirty jokes around the water cooler at work. It involves being kind to the new neighbors, helping someone fix a flat tire. Worship is ultimately how you live your Christian faith. Worship is far more concrete than simply raising your hands and singing the same chorus seven times over. I am not down on praise and worship services at all, but we need to keep things in perspective and remember that it is not about how it makes us feel. Praise and worship is a sacrifice we offer up to God in gratitude for the salvation He has freely provided at great, immeasurable cost to Himself.

B. It deceives and ultimately betrays those who put their trust in it.

Nothing in the world is worthy of your absolute trust. God is the only person in the universe who cannot fail. Failure is not part of his constitution. Jesus said:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Look back in history and you will see that every civilization that trusted in idols lies in ruins. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Greeks, Minoans etc., they all trusted in what could help them and they were deceived and let down by their false gods.

Even today in this turbulent US economy, people who put their faith in the stock portfolio in their career, in their retirement pension/savings, are watching their money and their future and security sifting between their fingers like sand.

Only faith in Jesus can bring lasting peace, security and satisfaction. God’s Word needs to be the first word and the last word in our lives. It must be the foundation upon which our lives built. The world’s promises are always circumstantial based on countless variables. One day the market is up the next it is down. Yet God’s Word is based on the integrity of an unchanging God.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
(Numbers 23:19)

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
(Malachi 3:6)

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
(Hebrews 6:18)

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)

It doesn’t matter what happens in our world. The economy could tank tomorrow, but He is still God, and His promises are still true. He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Unlike idols which either demand grinding servitude with no reward, or promise what they cannot deliver, Jesus said that His yoke is easy, His burden is light and we know that all of His promises are yes and Amen.

II. EVERYTHING OPPOSED TO GOD IS A LIE.

Every religion, every “ism,” every theory or movement, all of them which oppose the God of the Bible are a lies and ultimately they are idols in every sense of the word.

III THAT LIFE IS A LIE, WHICH IS NOT:

A. According to God’s will.

God’s Will is a corporate thing. God’s plan is personal. God’s will for everyone is the same. Yet He has a plan for your individual life, which is designed to ultimately work His Will in your life as well. God Word IS the Will of God for your life. People spend lots of money and time on books, tapes, seminars, retreats, CDs on how to find God’s Will and it sits right there in their lap every Sunday Morning. Any life not built and fashioned according to God’s Word is a life built on lies.

B. Directed to His glory.

This is ultimately what we are designed to do. We are to be vessels for His Glory. Whenever our lives reflect His character and operations, we are vessels of/for His Glory.

C. The realization of His enjoyment.

When we do the first two things, when we pattern our lives according to His Word, and when we live our lives to His Glory, then we come to a realization of His enjoyment. Then and only then are able to enjoy the sweet fellowship with God that we need, that our hearts crave and long for. We were made to need God, just like we were made to need water and air. We were made to enjoy Him.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

I am combining these two verses because their subject matter is identical more or less, and it would be redundant to examine them both individually.

God gave them up.

He says it again. Nothing is more condemnatory. Nothing is more tragic, and certainly more needless.

Paul is addressing the issue of homosexuality as one of the most notable outgrowths of idolatry. So sexually depraved were the pagan cultures of the ancient world, that it would not be proper to discuss what they did. What is known is that disease was rampant among many ancient cultures that even the animals and the crops were infected. That is why God had the children of Israel burn everything to the ground and kill even the animals and destroy the crops as they encountered the Canaanites in the Promised Land.

Our time is running short, so we will continue this discussion more in depth next week, as we conclude chapter 1.