THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE

THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE

Passage: Romans 1:1~7   

Keyverse: 5

INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS (THE JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD'S KINGDOM)

'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes; first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed -- a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written; 'The righteous will live by faith.'' (1:16-17) Paul wrote Romans during his third mission journey (AD 57). He was staying at the house of Gaius in Corinth. He was on the way to Jerusalem to deliver the offerings to the impoverished Jewish Christians. He wanted to build a bridge between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile believers through this good wish offerings. He planned further to go to Rome then to Spain as the Lord had entrusted him. However, the Spirit revealed that there would be great danger in Jerusalem. He might not be able to go to Rome at all. Therefore, he wrote Romans to tell Roman believers who had never met him. Paul knew some were Jewish believers who might have claimed to obey the Old Testament commands besides believing in Jesus as the Gentiles believed. So Paul well explained theologically that we are justified not by law but by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection alone: ie, Justification (Ch1-5). He saw also the danger of Gentile believers to be carefree saying, 'We are saved by faith alone.' So he wrote, the believers should follow the Holy Spirit after being justified legally. They should not follow their old sinful desires: Sanctification (Ch6-8). In Ch 9-11 Paul wrote that God saved the Gentiles so that the Israelites may fall into envy and repent and come back to God as originally chosen by God. In Ch 12-16 Paul wrote about the practical life of the believers to build up their church community as well as to live in the world as salt and light. He revealed Jesus' world mission vision to go to the end of the world (Spain) through Rome. We can learn pure gospel faith, the necessity of sanctification every day, and practical life living as salt and light for world mission.

THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE

1. The gospel of God (1-4)

Paul identifies himself as a servant (slave) of Christ (King), called to be an apostle (sent out), and set apart for the gospel of God. What is the gospel (good news)? Jesus, the Son of God is the good news. God kept his promise to send the Messiah among the descendants of David. According to the Scriptures, God raised Jesus from the dead. Now whoever believes this gospel (Jesus' death for our sins and his resurrection to give us eternal life), God forgives his sins and raises him from the dead to have eternal life (Jn 3:16).

2. Grace and apostleship (5-7)

Paul shows that not only have we received the grace of Jesus through the forgiveness of sins, but also the apostleship to preach the gospel, that is Jesus' death and resurrection, to all nations. God saved us from being useless sinners to make us useful ambassadors of God. We can and should live now to call all the Gentiles not only to believe but also to obey Jesus Christ' great commission.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and apostleship.

One Word: For his name's sake!