This morning we’re beginning a study of the book of Romans which we’re calling “Roaming Through Romans.”

On one hand Romans - with its mind boggling theology and doctrine - Romans can be a hard book to get.  But it is getable.  And well worth it.  Of the crucial books of Scripture - which they all are crucial - if there is a top 5 list - Romans makes the list.

Hold on to this:  What Paul writes here is foundational to everything we believe and live by.  Roaming through Romans is a life transforming adventure.  Exciting.

Most important.  God wants us to get this.  God desires for us to go deeper in our relationship with Him.  To experience the fullness and depth of what a relationship with the living God means for us.  We’re going to ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we go through Romans to see and understand and apply everything that God has for us here.

Let’s think together for moment about where Paul is going in Romans.

In the evangelical church - those of us who hold to salvation only in Jesus and the Bible as the inerrant word of God having the authority over how we do life - who are focused on sharing the gospel with others - in the evangelical church 719 youth leave the church every day - most of whom will not return.  719 youth today.  719 tomorrow.  And so on. (1)  

Why?

With the youth there are six main reasons.  Which are not just about youth.  There’s a number of somewhat older people - also leaving the church every day - somewhat older people that would agree with these reasons as well.  See if maybe you’re feeling some of this yourself.

#1 - Isolationism:  Youth say that the church demonizes everything outside the church - music, movies, culture, technology that defines their generation.  Which also touches how the church responds to the incredible busyness of where we live our lives - looking suspiciously at anything that keeps us away from here on Sunday mornings - or our total commitment to the cause.  Being guilted by others for not being here on Sunday or what we engage in.

#2 - The church is seen as out of step with scientific developments.  When we can put 10 trillion songs on our phone or watch endless videos instantly or twitter and post and communicate instantly face to face with anyone on the planet - with all that science offers in the way of explanations for how we got here - with all the advances in medicine - with our exploding knowledge of the world we live in - the church comes across as stuck in medieval mode.

#3 - One-fourth say faith and the Bible are irrelevant.  One-fifth say God is absent from what they experience in church.  Youth groups are holding tanks with pizza.  We can do all the church stuff but never personally connect with God.  Young people say the church is boring.

That’s not just the younger crowd.  Years ago someone said, “Why should I go to church.  I can stay at home and envision the whole thing from my barcalounger.”  That’ll date us.

We’re desperate to experience God not religion.  Too often “church” is about religion and not God.

#4 - When it comes to sex, the church is seen as simplistic and judgmental.  The whole “just say no” philosophy just doesn’t cut it in a techno-porno world.  Young Christian singles are as sexually active as their non-churched friends.  Somewhat older Christians aren’t living much different.

Live together.  Sure, why not?  That’s just the way things are today.

Why are we so stressed about gay marriage when hetero-Christian marriage is such a disaster?

#5 - The church is seen as too exclusive in a multi-cultural age of so-called “tolerance.”  The church is divided - racially - economically - socially - generationally.  The church is seen as too political - too old fashioned - too unconcerned with social justice - hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender people.  Choosing between my faith and my friends - my friends win.

#6 - One-fourth of young people say they have serious doubts about what they believe and the church is just not a safe place to express those doubts.  A whole lot of adults would say the same thing.  (2)

Maybe part of the reason for that - going out on a limb here - maybe part of the reason is because so many Christians today are Biblically - theologically - and doctrinally illiterate or we just have way too many questions ourselves.  Sometimes we default to “Don’t ask and I won’t need to try and explain it” mode. 

Processing all that:  Do you ever feel like there’s a gap between what we’re taught about our faith - what we’re suppose to believe - and what it means to live by faith?

There’s a - perhaps well deserved - perception that we have to choose between intellectual integrity and faith - between science and Christianity - between compassion and holiness - between church and how life is really lived.  That the only way the gospel is relevant is if we can pick and choose how it relates to our lives.

But the bottom line truth that transcends all of life - in all that we search for - long for - are desperate for - at the heart level - the essential deepest need of our lives can only be met by God.  

Right here.  Right now.  What does it mean to live by faith in God?  Not a faith that we grew up with or were handed by our parents or a faith that we’re suppose to have because we’ve made some decision or go to some church.  But, in the real world what does it mean to live by faith?  Why should we?  What does that look like?  How can that even be possible?

That’s where Paul is going in Romans.  Paul tackling the core issues of our relationship with God and others.  Living by faith in the real world.

Verses 1 to 7 are Paul’s Greeting.  First impressions being hugely important.  We never get a second chance to make a first impression.  How Paul introduces himself to the Romans is very purposeful. 

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s do some unpacking.

Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ Jesus.  The Greek word he uses for servant in “doulos” - meaning bondservant - or bond-slave.  Someone who against their will is forced to serve someone else.

The Jews used “doulos” to describe slavery in Egypt.  Or, Jacob serving Laban after Laban’s treachery.  The whole “behold it was Leah” bride swapping deception.  Jacob having to serve for another 7 years.

Paul’s emphasis is the high honor of being a servant of Jesus Christ - his commitment to Christ - the authority of Christ Who is master over his life.

Paul goes on.  He’s an apostle.  Meaning an ambassador of the gospel.  Called to be an apostle.  Meaning he’s been summoned by Jesus - set apart for this ministry.

Think the whole Damascus Road experience of Paul.

For the greater part of Paul’s young life he lived in strict obedience to Jewish law and custom.  In a sense - as a Pharisee he was “set apart” from others in his nation.  Zealous - righteous - strict in his observance of the law - maintaining a boundary between himself and others in order to maintain his total righteous dedication to God.  All of which is part of the meaning of being “set apart.”

Jesus revealing Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus changes all that.  Jesus - on the road to Damascus calls Paul - summons Paul to a radically different “set apart” calling.  Paul - with the same zealousness and dedication - with the same total commitment of his life - Jesus has set  Paul apart as His servant - as His ambassador of the gospel.

Point being - we need to grab on to the authority that Jesus has over Paul and what Jesus summons Paul to do with his life.

Paul goes on.  Paul giving us a thumbnail outline of the gospel and Jesus.

The gospel was “promised beforehand.”  The central focus of the Old Testament - going all the way back to Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden of Eden - every prophet since Moses wrote - looking forward to the hope of salvation that’s in the message that Paul is summoned to proclaim.

The content of that gospel is God’s Son - Jesus Christ.

Notice Paul’s description of Jesus - verse 3.  “Descended from David according to the flesh” - which is all about Jesus’ humanity.  Jesus being fully man - born of Mary - able to represent us in His death.  “Declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection” - which is all about Jesus’ divinity.  Conceived by a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus being of the very nature of God - meaning fully God Himself.  Resurrected - triumphant over death - giving us hope of eternal life. 

Verse 4 - “Jesus Christ our Lord”  Jesus Christ - meaning the Jewish Messiah.  Lord - meaning the Lord God Himself - Who is our Savior.

What is Paul getting at here?  Paul is systematically establishing his credentials.  He is summoned by Jesus.  His summons is all about Jesus.  He is to declare the same Jesus and gospel that the believers in Rome had trusted their lives to.  All of which looks really good on a résumé.  Yes?

Let’s make sure we’re together.

There are a number of people today who call themselves “Christians.”  But when it comes down to it what they believe is not what the Bible teaches - especially about the central figure of Scripture in relationship to the Trinity - Jesus.  Jesus being fully man and fully God.  And the gospel - that we’re saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Period.

Paul is in Corinth - in Greece - on his third missions trip.  He’s writing to the Romans in… Rome.  To date - meaning about 57 AD - to date Paul has never been to Rome.  While Paul has a reputation - meaning the Roman believers know about Paul - it’s important that - as Paul introduces himself - that he establishes who he is - what he believes - and why he does what he does.  Otherwise why should the Roman believers listen to him?  Why should they accept his teaching?  What cred does Paul have apart from Jesus.  (Acts 18:1-11; 20:2,3)

That’s also important in what comes next.  Notice where Paul goes in verse 5:  “Through whom - Jesus - we have received grace and apostleship.”  

This is not just a Paul being summoned and set apart thing.  “We” expands that “I” a bit.  Doesn’t it?  We all have been called - summoned by Jesus to take His gospel to the nations.

That “we” is who?  That “we” may be about Paul identifying himself with the other apostles.

But - look where Paul expands that “we” in verse 6:  “we is you.”  We - meaning believers in Rome - meaning us - those who believe in Jesus as Paul does.  We have been called to belong to Jesus Christ - we’re His - summoned to be His servants.  We - meaning us - are loved by God - so much so that Jesus went to the cross for each of us.  We - meaning us - are called to be saints - set apart - totally dedicated to Him.

Let’s be clear about this.

When God calls us - us here - to salvation - to life in Jesus - whatever that Damascus Road moment of choice may have been - some hugely dramatic - some a quiet moment of prayer.  (We’re agreed?  This isn’t a contest to see who has the most amazing testimony.)  When God calls us to life in Jesus - we’re all saved as a result of God - by His grace not our merit - God summoning us to life in Jesus.  Every one of us being saved is a miraculous work of God.

When God calls us to life in Jesus - He summons all of us to a radically different life - a life of service which - if we are to live - as Paul describes it - if we are to live the life of obedience of faith - is a life of living and proclaiming His gospel to the nations.

How God chooses to use us in His service - how God summons us to live all that out - is a God thing.

Very few of us are put in the role of a Paul - writing Scripture and all that.  But however God chooses to use us we need to latch onto where Paul is going here.  Paul was summoned.  We are summoned.  We are bond servants of Jesus - same faith - same Lord - with the privileged calling of sharing His gospel with the nations.

Are we together?  Romans is about us - God’s work in and through us.  The life of faith that God has called us to for His purposes.

Going on.  Verses 8 to 15 are Paul’s Obligation.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.  For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.  I want you to know brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.  I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

The first word in verse 8 is… “first.”  Which in Greek means… “first.”  First meaning that this is really really important - of first importance.  Before Paul goes on with this letter the Romans need to hear this... first.

Paul is in…  Corinth.  It is 57 AD.  Paul is on his third missionary journey.  Which means he’s covered a lot real estate.  Visited a lot cities.  Met and ministered to a whole lot of people.  Planted a number of churches.  And, as he writes in verse 8 - the gospel - what he and the Romans believe - that faith has been proclaimed in all the world - at least the Roman world.  Paul knows that because he’s been there.

But Paul has yet to go to... Rome.  There was a rumor floating around that Paul didn’t want to go to Rome.  Otherwise Paul would have been there already.  “Paul is deliberately avoiding us.” 

First - before I go any further - with God as my witness.  If I’m lying may God strike me dead.  Surgical lightening strike.  ZAP.  I am praying for you.  Without ceasing.  Constantly.

Praying what?  Verse 10 - that somehow I might - God willing - I might come to you.

“I long to see you.”  “My deepest desire is to see you.”  To see you face-to-face.  Epistle writing has its limitations.  Texting, tweeting, Facemail and email - even Skype has its limitations.  Paul has been in ministry long enough to know the value of face to face being with people.

We miss out on so much of what God has for us when we allow ourselves to be distracted or allow other things to keep us away from our physically coming together as Creekside. 

Whether it’s Potlucking or Lake Day or Beach Day or Family Fall Camp Retreat - just hanging out together.  Or praying or serving or sharing Jesus with others together - VBS - AWANA.  Or worshipping God together.  Sharing communion together.  There is a powerful importance to our being the Body of Christ - being physically together as Creekside - living by faith together here in Merced - a being together that God powerfully uses.  Physically being together for what God desires to do in us a through us as He grows us closer to each other and Jesus - matures us - heals us - uses us together for His glory. 

Paul writes I long to see you - to strengthen you - to help you in your relationship with Jesus.  I long to be with you so that we can encourage each other in our faith.

In verse 13 Paul calls them brothers.  That’s a tight - because of the blood of Jesus - relationship.  Different mothers - same Father.  Brothers and sisters - you need to know how often I’ve wanted to come.  But so far God has prevented me.  So far it hasn’t been God’s timing for me to come.

I pray for you.  I long to see you.  I want to grow with you in our relationship with Jesus.  Why - verse 13 - “In order that I may reap a harvest among you.”  For us to serve together - to do together what God has summoned “us” to do - growing together and sharing the gospel in Rome.  Reaching others with the gospel of Jesus - especially the Gentiles.

Verse 14:  “I am under obligation to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

Let’s do some unpacking.

An obligation is something we owe - a debt to be paid.  The Greek verb is “opheilo.”  Think:  Oh, I owe.   “Opheilo, Opheilo, so its off to work I go.”

If we borrow money from the bank to buy a house or car or something the bank usually wants to get paid back.  Right?  We’re indebted to the bank.  That’s one kind of debt.

Paul’s debt is slightly different.

Say someone gives you money to give to someone else.  Now you’re the middle man.  In one sense you’re indebted to the person who gave you the money.  And in another sense you’re indebted to the person the money is intended for.  As a middle man you’re indebted to both.

That’s Paul.  Indebted to Jesus who saved Him.  Called Him.  Gave Paul the responsibility - a debt to pay forward - to be the messenger of God’s gospel to someone else.

Greeks are… Greeks.  Barbarians are... not wild crazy brutal uncivilized savages.  But - in the way thinking of the day - barbarians are those who were not yet part of Roman culture.  Those living on the frontier.  Think - taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.  The wise are those who are living wise in their own eyes.  The foolish are those who are living by the world’s wisdom - Wikipedia being the trusted source of all knowledge. 

Meaning people heading through life on a trajectory that ultimately leads to eternity away from God forever - perishing and punishment.  Hell. 

Because of what Jesus has called Paul to - Paul has a debt that must be paid - a duty that must be carried out.  An obligation to both Greeks and barbarians.  Jews, Greeks, Romans - oh my - and everyone else - to the ends of the earth.  People who need the gospel delivered to them.

Let’s be clear.  We’re not end users of all that God has blessed us with.  What we experience here as Creekside - hanging together - serving together - worshiping together.  Everything that God blesses us with - His grace and our relationship with Him in Jesus.  God’s purpose in all that isn’t for us to soak all that in and feel good about ourselves.  Which is all good.  But its not the ultimate purpose. 

We are called - obligated - to proclaim the gospel.  To take what God blesses us with and engage in serving Him.  Live and proclaim the gospel.  Not because our salvation depends on it.  That’s a paid by Jesus debt.  But because that’s what those called by God - those who live by faith - do.

Are we tracking with Paul’s heart?  God has called me to preach the Gospel.  That’s what my life is all about.  That’s what God has called you to.  Grab the importance of that.  I am not avoiding you.  I’m praying for you.  I long to see you.  I’m eager to be with you -  so that I can preach the gospel to those in Rome.  So that we together can encourage and support each other in doing what God has called “us” to do as His servants.

Are we together?  What God has called us to?  The importance of being Creekside?

Verses 16 and 17 are the core of what Paul is getting at - not only in what we’re looking at this morning - but verses 16 and 17 are the theme of the whole letter to the Romans.  On your outline you’ll see verse 16 and 17 described as Paul’s Presumption. 

Let’s read together:  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Paul begins:  “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”

Seems the Romans thought Paul was avoiding Rome because he was ashamed of the gospel.  Maybe Paul didn’t want to come to Rome and preach the gospel because Paul really didn’t think the gospel would hold up.  Maybe in the real time of when the chariot wheels hit the real life paving stones of the road to Rome - maybe Paul’s faith was a tad shaky.

We say, “No way.  This is Paul.”  But they didn’t know Paul.  They hadn’t read Romans yet - or seen the full scope of Paul’s life.  We have that advantage.  They only knew his reputation - the outward celebrity of Paul.

Sometimes what’s outside doesn’t really match what’s inside.  How many celebrities live public one way and private totally different.  Or any of us - lest we be too judgmental.  Does our image really match our reality at the heart level?  Sunday morning reputation verses out there real life living which demonstrates what we really believe.  Do we really believe the gospel or not.  The reality of that comes out in how we live when we’re not on stage.

The “in Paul’s day understanding” of all that has to do with accusing Paul of acting shamefully - without honor.  Living a two-faced lie.  To grab the hugeness of the accusation of that we need to grab some backfill on Rome.

According to legend - back in the 700’s BC - Rome was founded by two twin brothers - Romulus and Remus.  Apparently Romulus defeated Remus and so Rome is named Rome with an “o” and not Reme with and “e.”  It’s a Star Trek moment.  Paul writing to the Romulans.

Romulus knocking off his brother Remus is a good thing - worthy of honor.  Point being - in the Roman mindset - earning honor - being well thought of - earning the esteem of others - is woven into the fabric of Roman society.

In Roman society a person could buy a position of  honor and respect.  Or a person could seize it through some brutal act or conquest.  Even if a person is born into a position of nobility - of honor and respect - they still needed to prove themselves worthy of the position they’ve been called to or that they’ve attained to.  To earn that position of honor either by conquest or by virtuous deeds.

Reputation is earned by what you.

Something else about Rome.  We’ve heard this:  All roads lead to…  Rome.  Rome at its height included about a fourth of Europe, much of the Middle East, the entire north coast of Africa.  Its millions of people spoke different languages and worshiped many gods.  But at the center of the Empire was... Rome.

Rome is the center of culture and business and architecture and learning and scholarship and politics and military might and the arts and architecture and philosophy and intellect and enlightenment and wisdom and religion and we could go on and on and on.

Point is Rome is it.  The greatness of Rome - imperial capital of the world - is to be respected - honored - even today.

In contrast - the gospel says that we can never earn our standing before God.  Its given to us by grace.  We receive it by faith - period.  What Paul claims to believe - is called to proclaim - is totally contrary to the mindset of the Roman Empire.  A challenge to just about everything Rome stands for.  A challenge to a lot around us today.

Who is Paul?  A Jew from Judea.  What is the gospel compared to all that Rome is?  What relevancy?  How presumptuous of Paul.  How arrogant to make this kind of bold statement.

Yet Paul says, he’s not ashamed.

We know this.  The Apostle Paul - as he traveled and shared the Gospel - was imprisoned on several occasions - beaten - whipped - stoned - presumed dead - shipwrecked - often hungry - thirsty - cold.  And still he wasn’t ashamed.

Ultimately Paul made two trips to Rome - in chains - as a prisoner of the Empire.  Even when Nero had him beheaded he died proclaiming the gospel.  Still he wasn’t ashamed.  His life demonstrated completely his heart level commitment - belief - faith in the reality of what he was called to proclaim.

Why?  Paul writes - verse 16 -  because “the gospel is the power of God for salvation.”  Not a power but THE power - singular - exclusive.

This is... Pastor Richard Wurmbrand.  Died in 2001.  Was imprisoned for 14 years in communist Romania because of his faith in Jesus Christ.  Prison meaning isolation - torture - beatings - drugging.  What this brother went through - and what our brothers and sisters are going through today - in places like North Korea and Somalia and Iraq and Syria and Iran and Eritrea and Nigeria - is almost unreadable.

Pastor Wurmbrand writes in His book, “Tortured for Christ,” “The life, the self-sacrifice, the blood which they - the believers - are ready to shed for their faith, is the greatest argument for Christianity presented by the Underground Church.”  (2)

Do you hear “I am not ashamed” in that?

It’s not something that the secular press spent a whole lot of time reporting.  But the reality was there if one looked for it.  The collapse of the great Soviet Communist empire was fueled by the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Its not something that’s out in the public.  There are potential repercussions.  But there are significant numbers of people coming to Christ even in places of great persecution today - many people who’s lives are being changed in the midst of hugely difficult circumstances -  because of the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul writes that the power of God for salvation is for everyone who believes.  Who’s excluded from that?  No one.  No where.  At no time.  Everyone.

Verse 17 - For in it - the gospel - the righteousness of God - what it means to live at peace with God - is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Paul quoting Habakkuk - who lived in horrendous times:  “The righteous shall live by faith.”  (Habakkuk 2:4)

That one quote has two meanings.  Meaning number one:  The righteous shall live by faith - which is about how we live with God today.  Each day trusting Him - learning to follow God through life.

Meaning number two:  The righteous by faith shall live - which is about salvation.  Meaning trusting God with our lives and God giving to us a restored eternal life with Him.

The essential bottom line of both of those is the gospel.

The gospel is the power - God’s unique power which nothing in the world can rival.  God’s power which can transform the life of a man or woman - forever.  Not communism - not capitalism - not man’s philosophy or religious spirituality - not man’s wisdom or intellect.  Even in the worst of life the Gospel has power to change lives.  Even in the worst of what goes on around us - at home - at work - wherever - the Gospel has life changing - life enabling - power.

Paul may sound presumptuous.  And he is.  With good reason.

Processing all that…

Question:  What will God powerfully do in and through you?

_________________________

1. John Dickerson, The Great Evangelical Recession, Baker Books, 2013

2. David Kinnaman, Six Reasons Young People Leave the Church, 2012, christianitytoday.com

3. Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ, Voice of the Martyrs, 1967 

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.