SET APART FOR THE GOSPEL OF GOD

Passage: Romans 1:1-7

Key verse: 6

NIV

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

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

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

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 1:3 Or who according to the flesh
  2. Romans 1:4 Or was declared with power to be the Son of God
  3. Romans 1:5 Or that is
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 Paul, (A)a servant[a] of Christ Jesus, (B)called to be an apostle, (C)set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which (D)he promised beforehand (E)through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, (F)who was descended from David[b] (G)according to the flesh 4 and (H)was declared to be the Son of God (I)in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom (J)we have received grace and (K)apostleship (L)to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name (M)among all the nations, 6 including you who are (N)called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

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

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  2. Romans 1:3 Or who came from the offspring of David
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS

Paul wrote Romans during his third missionary journey (AD 57). He was in Corinth, on his way to Jerusalem to deliver offerings to impoverished Jewish Christians. He wanted to build a bridge between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile believers through this goodwill offering. He then planned to go to Rome and then to Spain as the Lord had entrusted him. However, the Spirit revealed that there would be great danger in Jerusalem. He might not make it to Rome at all. Therefore, he wrote Romans to tell Roman believers who had never met him about the gospel. Paul knew some Jewish believers were preaching the necessity of obeying the Old Testament commands in addition to believing in Jesus as the way to righteousness. So in chapters 1-8, Paul explained that we are justified not by law but by faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection alone. He also challenged Gentiles who thought they could live any way they chose, saying, “We are saved by faith alone.” So he wrote that the believers should follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. They should not follow their old sinful desires (sanctification in chapter 8). In chapters 9-11, Paul explained that God saved the Gentiles so that the Israelites may become envious, repent and come back to God. In chapters 12-16 Paul wrote of the practical life of the believers in terms of building up their church community as well as how to live as salt and light (Mt 5:13-16). He revealed Jesus’ world mission vision to go to the ends of the world (at the time, Spain) through Rome. We can learn pure gospel faith, the necessity of sanctification every day, and practical Christian living through Romans.

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.

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.

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