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July 12
Romans 1:1-17
Greeting
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 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, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
The Just Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Okay here’s my commentary
We have come to Paul’s letter written to the church at Rome commonly referred to as the book of Romans. Most Bible scholars agree that this is the deepest and most clear understanding of the doctrine or teaching about salvation in Jesus Christ. In the first eight chapters the apostle Paul outlines everything from the sinfulness of man to our being victorious heirs of eternal life through Christ!
In the introduction to the book of Romans we find many things that are very rich that Paul wrote. I could write a short book on just the first 17 versus alone! However, here are some highlights that I see:
Paul’s introduction:
Bondservant = Doulos in the Greek: (Blue letter Bible)
A slave, bondman, man of servile condition
Metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
Devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
A servant, attendant
This is how Paul understood his relationship with Jesus Christ. He was first and foremost a servant of God! This smack’s right in the face of so many preachers today they’re caught up with labels, titles and getting honor from men. Very few today actually approach their ministry in the way that Paul did but this is how Jesus said we were supposed to regard ourselves as his servants especially when God begins to really use us and manifest himself through us, we must guard all the more from taking glory to ourselves. Jesus said we should say this about ourselves:
Luke 17:10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
We must remember that if it was not for the grace of God none of us would be saved or be called, gifted, anointed and have any measure of success at all. I’m very aware that Jesus is the true Vine and I am only a branch. Without him I can do nothing!
Called to be an apostle = a sent one.
Paul was called by Jesus Christ to represent him and the message of the Gospel. Paul was a sent one with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the authority of God to preach the gospel and deliver humanity from the bondage of Satan and sin into the forgiveness and salvation of God through faith in Jesus Christ. This was his mission!
Paul reiterates the apostolic mission that the Lord Jesus Christ had commissioned him to fulfill in Acts 26:16-18
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Separated to the Gospel (Blue letter Bible)
Luke 9:62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts his hand to the plough and then looks behind him is useless for the kingdom of God.” J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
When the apostles we’re tempted to get sidetracked into all kinds of other ministry they appointed qualified leaders to take care of these needs while they jealously guarded their apostolic priorities declaring in Acts 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
I actually have this versus Scripture on the wall of my office in a picture frame to remind me of the priorities of someone called to preach the gospel. It’s so easy to get distracted with all kinds of business and other activities that try to squeeze out the fellowship and prayer with God. I have learned to make prayer a top priority in my life. Just try to make that commitment daily in an ever-increasing way drawing closer to God to hear his voice and follow his will for your life. Guess what? Seems like all hell will break loose to try to keep you from spending time with God but never give up!
I have found that all my problems Will be waiting for me after I pray and most of the time god shows me what I really need to be doing by just sitting at Jesus feet and hearing his word like Mary. The other thing I realized is that when I make prayer first the Lord seems to go ahead of me and my day and many times I find out then he solves a lot of my problems and issues before I even get there! Thank you Jesus! You absolutely have to make that kind of commitment to spend time with God to be able to have his perspective and prioritize your life around his purpose and call. This is how to get filled with the Holy Spirit and stay focused and fired up doing the will of God.
The gospel is the power of God to save
Paul writes that he’s not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it’s the power of God to save every person that believes. It’s the only way that a person can be made right with God. This is what it means when he says that in the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. You see, Jesus Christ, the son of the living God already came down from heaven and lived a perfect sinless life and offered himself up on the cross to pay for all of our sins. He took our place, our punishment, our shame, our blame, our condemnation, the judgment for every persons sins individually and collectively for the entire human race.
This is the good news! God has provided a way to forgive and save us through His Son Jesus Christ by him taking our place on the cross. Our sins are paid for!
Do you believe it?
Do you see what I mean?
You have to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and that God raised him from the dead the third day as our Savior. Not only do you need to believe this you have to repent, change your attitude about God and sin choosing to follow Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. There is so much more to the gospel than forgiveness which is the starting place. This is what we’re going to be studying in the book of Romans. All that the gospel means to us!
What's the bottom line?
1) The book of Romans is considered by most Bible scholars the deepest doctrinal or teaching Book about the Gospel in the entire Bible.
2) Paul saw himself as a servant of Christ with a humble attitude.
3) Paul says that he was separated to the Gospel. This was the top priority of his life.
4) The special calling on Paul’s life was to be an apostle, representing Jesus Christ with the authority to preach the gospel and deliver humanity from sin and Satan.
5) According to the word of God there is only one way to be made right with God and that’s by faith in Jesus Christ this is what it means to be made righteous and be born again by faith in Jesus Christ!
Romans 1:1-17
Greeting
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 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, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
The Just Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Okay here’s my commentary
We have come to Paul’s letter written to the church at Rome commonly referred to as the book of Romans. Most Bible scholars agree that this is the deepest and most clear understanding of the doctrine or teaching about salvation in Jesus Christ. In the first eight chapters the apostle Paul outlines everything from the sinfulness of man to our being victorious heirs of eternal life through Christ!
In the introduction to the book of Romans we find many things that are very rich that Paul wrote. I could write a short book on just the first 17 versus alone! However, here are some highlights that I see:
Paul’s introduction:
Bondservant = Doulos in the Greek: (Blue letter Bible)
A slave, bondman, man of servile condition
Metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
Devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
A servant, attendant
This is how Paul understood his relationship with Jesus Christ. He was first and foremost a servant of God! This smack’s right in the face of so many preachers today they’re caught up with labels, titles and getting honor from men. Very few today actually approach their ministry in the way that Paul did but this is how Jesus said we were supposed to regard ourselves as his servants especially when God begins to really use us and manifest himself through us, we must guard all the more from taking glory to ourselves. Jesus said we should say this about ourselves:
Luke 17:10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
We must remember that if it was not for the grace of God none of us would be saved or be called, gifted, anointed and have any measure of success at all. I’m very aware that Jesus is the true Vine and I am only a branch. Without him I can do nothing!
Called to be an apostle = a sent one.
Paul was called by Jesus Christ to represent him and the message of the Gospel. Paul was a sent one with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the authority of God to preach the gospel and deliver humanity from the bondage of Satan and sin into the forgiveness and salvation of God through faith in Jesus Christ. This was his mission!
Paul reiterates the apostolic mission that the Lord Jesus Christ had commissioned him to fulfill in Acts 26:16-18
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Separated to the Gospel (Blue letter Bible)
- to mark off from others by boundaries, to limit, to separate
- in a bad sense: to exclude as disreputable
- in a good sense: to appoint, set apart for some purpose
Luke 9:62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts his hand to the plough and then looks behind him is useless for the kingdom of God.” J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
When the apostles we’re tempted to get sidetracked into all kinds of other ministry they appointed qualified leaders to take care of these needs while they jealously guarded their apostolic priorities declaring in Acts 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
I actually have this versus Scripture on the wall of my office in a picture frame to remind me of the priorities of someone called to preach the gospel. It’s so easy to get distracted with all kinds of business and other activities that try to squeeze out the fellowship and prayer with God. I have learned to make prayer a top priority in my life. Just try to make that commitment daily in an ever-increasing way drawing closer to God to hear his voice and follow his will for your life. Guess what? Seems like all hell will break loose to try to keep you from spending time with God but never give up!
I have found that all my problems Will be waiting for me after I pray and most of the time god shows me what I really need to be doing by just sitting at Jesus feet and hearing his word like Mary. The other thing I realized is that when I make prayer first the Lord seems to go ahead of me and my day and many times I find out then he solves a lot of my problems and issues before I even get there! Thank you Jesus! You absolutely have to make that kind of commitment to spend time with God to be able to have his perspective and prioritize your life around his purpose and call. This is how to get filled with the Holy Spirit and stay focused and fired up doing the will of God.
The gospel is the power of God to save
Paul writes that he’s not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it’s the power of God to save every person that believes. It’s the only way that a person can be made right with God. This is what it means when he says that in the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. You see, Jesus Christ, the son of the living God already came down from heaven and lived a perfect sinless life and offered himself up on the cross to pay for all of our sins. He took our place, our punishment, our shame, our blame, our condemnation, the judgment for every persons sins individually and collectively for the entire human race.
This is the good news! God has provided a way to forgive and save us through His Son Jesus Christ by him taking our place on the cross. Our sins are paid for!
Do you believe it?
Do you see what I mean?
You have to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and that God raised him from the dead the third day as our Savior. Not only do you need to believe this you have to repent, change your attitude about God and sin choosing to follow Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. There is so much more to the gospel than forgiveness which is the starting place. This is what we’re going to be studying in the book of Romans. All that the gospel means to us!
What's the bottom line?
1) The book of Romans is considered by most Bible scholars the deepest doctrinal or teaching Book about the Gospel in the entire Bible.
2) Paul saw himself as a servant of Christ with a humble attitude.
3) Paul says that he was separated to the Gospel. This was the top priority of his life.
4) The special calling on Paul’s life was to be an apostle, representing Jesus Christ with the authority to preach the gospel and deliver humanity from sin and Satan.
5) According to the word of God there is only one way to be made right with God and that’s by faith in Jesus Christ this is what it means to be made righteous and be born again by faith in Jesus Christ!
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This is your brother in Christ, Nick Boork. Thanks for listening to the One Year Bible.
I invite you to partner with us through your prayers and financial donations to expand this ministry into all the world! God bless you abundantly! |
Nick & Yngris Boork are available to preach and minister at your Church.
We serve all Christians in the Body of Christ: Let us know how we can serve you!
We serve all Christians in the Body of Christ: Let us know how we can serve you!
- Phone: 248-535-2380
- Email: nickboorkministries@gmail.com
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