SET APART FOR THE GOSPEL OF GOD

Romans 1:1-7 / Keywords 1:6

And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

 

1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[c] faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Footnotes

a. Romans 1:3 Or who according to the flesh

b. Romans 1:4 Or was declared with power to be the Son of God

c. Romans 1:5 Or that is

1. Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome. He introduced himself as a servant of Christ Jesus. To call himself a servant, at the time, meant he was a slave to Christ Jesus. Yet he was also an apostle, one who is sent by God. He was a lowly servant, set apart by God for service to the gospel of God.

2. What is this gospel Paul was set apart for? The gospel is the good news about Jesus, the Son of God. In the Old Testament, God promised to send the Messiah through King David’s descendants. Jesus fulfills God’s promises: he was not only a descendant of King David, but he was the Son of God and was raised from the dead. Thus, Jesus is Christ our Lord.

3. What did the gospel do for us? First, we, along with Paul, have received grace and apostleship to call people to come to Jesus. We received this apostleship for his name’s sake. Second, we are called to belong to Jesus. Like Paul, we are sinners, unworthy of God’s call. But also, like Paul, we are called to be both servants and apostles. What grace!

Prayer Father, thank you that you have called us and set us apart for your gospel. Thank you for your grace and your apostleship.

One Word We are set apart for the gospel of God