(Text Only)
Title: Living By Faith
I. Paul as an offering
v13 Paul explains that it’s long been his desire to visit the church in Rome, with a purpose: “so that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other gentiles.”
The NAS translates that passage as “that I may obtain some fruit among you.”
Paul wanted to work for them, with them, to see the Kingdom grow.
He wasn’t interested in what they could give him, but rather what he could offer them .
Do we think of churches the same way today? I would venture to guess that the three most prominent questions a family asks when considering a new church are:
1. What children’s programs do they have?
2. What kind of worship is it?
3. What’s the pastor like?
We all know that if you came into the doors of Heritage with this in mind, your liable to be disappointed because the three answers are:
1. Not many. 2. The best we can put together. 3. Ornery
However, if one were to come to Heritage with Paul’s attitude and say, “What can I offer this church for the Kingdom?” The answers are plenty:
1. Sunday School Teachers
2. Choir Members
3. Building and Grounds Volunteers
4. Nursery Workers
5. Sunday School Workers
6. Children’s Church Volunteers
7. Encouragers
8. Fellowshippers
9. Edifyiers
10. Good question askers
v13 “…just as among the other Gentiles.” This signifies that Paul viewed the Roman church as a predominantly Gentile congregation.
II. Paul’s appreciation
V14-15 (read) “barbarians” This simply meant those who didn’t speak Greek, not the wild warriors that we think of today. Paul is saying that he owes the Gentiles something, because it’s his mission to preach to them, and now, after too much time, Paul is anticipating his journey to Rome to be at hand.
Isn’t that an interesting concept, to know that you owe somebody a debt of gratitude who you don’t even know, what is really neat is that rare instance when you get a chance to thank and show your appreciation.
(Story of that old guy who retired from Hospice Volunteering who was a WWII vet.)
III. The Just Shall Live by Faith
v16/17 (read)
How beautiful is this language?
Let’s break it down phrase by phrase to hopefully come to a fuller understanding of what Paul is saying:
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ”
I am proud of this message I bear, I speak it with boldness, clarity, and without hesitation of reservation.
“For it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes”
The Gospel is God’s message that has the ability reconcile sinful man with righteous God, and that, is a very, very, very powerful thought.
Note: Have you ever really thought about what the Gospel really does? It has the power to change the course and history of not just a person’s life, but their eternal soul. There is not a more powerful thought in the universe than that!
“First for the Jew and also for the Greek…”
This is true on two fronts
1. History of redemption (see Romans 2:9, John 4:22_
2. Paul’s method of ministry (recall our Acts study)
“For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.”
This is a key for the entire book of Romans, and your entire theological understanding of your salvation. You can’t understand the righteousness of God apart from the Gospel. The only way to have any real clue who God is, is to have communion (relationship) with him. And the only way to do that is through accepting the Gospel by faith.
I can’t convince you, and if I could your faith would be in me, not God.
“As it is written; ‘The just shall live by faith.’”
Paul is quoting Habbakuk 2:4 and his understanding is that those who are just, those who are righteous, do not live in this life without blemish. They live in this life with the faith that when they are judged, they will be seen by God as covered in Christ’s blood, and, therefore, completely blameless before God. We believe this is the truth, our faith clings to the Gospel being accurate. So it makes sense that we too should not be ashamed of such a powerful thought. So why are we?
Close:
Why do we remain quiet about our co-worker’s sin, instead of finding out why they choose that path?
Why do we almost “apologize” for being Christian when a political conversation comes up?
Why do we shyly explain to our scholarly friends that Christ was fully man an fully God.
The confidence with which you speak of God speaks volumes of how strongly you believe it. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that’s exactly how I should live. By faith, unashamed.