April 29, 2001

Romans 1:1-7; 1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.. . .”

1. Paul was set apart BY the Gospel

Acts 9:4 “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,. . .”

2. Paul was set apart FOR the Gospel

Romans 1:1 “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God . . .” He had already stated; “ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” 1st Corinthians 9:16

There is a great need today for men and women to answer the call of God and carry the Good News to a lost world. Jesus instructed His disciples; Matthew 9:37,38; 37 . . . “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Romans 1:5 “ . . . through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles,

Set apart by God; Vs. 15 But when He who had set me apart,

Set apart from Birth; even from my mother’s womb,

Set apart by Grace; and called me through His grace,

Set apart for Christ; was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me,

Set apart to Preach; that I might preach Him

2. A Specific Call

Set apart for the Gentiles; that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, CF Acts 9:15 “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Set apart Individually; I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

Set apart Publicly; 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Vs. . 20-23 speak about how little he was known by the Judean churches.)

Set apart for God’s glory; 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.

 

Vs. 5 “ . . . to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name’s sake.”

God is calling out a people for His name, see Acts 15:^14, “Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” Paul’s motivation is to please Him by giving his life over to God for that purpose.

The believer is God’s inheritance. Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

We are privileged to be His Ambassadors. C 2nd Corinthians 5:20 “ . . . we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.