Here’s what I’m all about. I want to turn you on to reading and studying the Bible, applying it to your life and falling in love with God in the process. I pray that a God revolution will start around you while you love for God and engage in the plans that he has for you.
For years I have wanted to take the time to read, study and journal my way through the book of Romans.
I have preached through this book, studied it in College but this is different. Previously, I have studied Romans with the objective of delivery; whether for a professor or a congregation. This time I am going through Romans and seeking what God has to say to me. It’s personal.
I visualize Paul as a man that is showing the marks of an apostle. You can see the marks of one having survived being stoned and beaten. He has walked months and years in the hot sun. He may show the effects of arthritis and other infirmities.
Yet today he is full of strength, pacing the floor, overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit, the words that become the great book of Romans flow from him. Paul’s penman writing with the greatest of care these powerful words.
Did Paul have any idea the power this letter would have for the centuries to follow? Martin Luther's heart was revolutionized as he became acquainted with the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and then reintroduced it to the world. It ignited the mind of Jonathan Edwards, strangely warmed the heart of John Wesley and then fueled the revival fire with George Whitfield.
Here’s my point: I want to invite you to journey with me. Read the selected passages of Romans and study with me. Each day I plan to pen the story, truth and application as I read through Romans. Here's the Journal Link
Romans 1:1-17
The movie, "Fly Away Home," is the story of a man who is concerned because geese have neglected to migrate. The next generation of Geese didn't know that they should. He raises a flock of Geese virtually from the egg. At the time of migration, gets in an ultra-light aircraft and leads them on their migration route. He believes if he shows one generation, they will in turn teach the next. It works.
Many young people of our generation are growing up with a tremendous void in their lives. We have not walked & lived how we ought. In turn, we have not taken the young person and invested our lives in them. In our guilt, we've sought to replace our neglect with programs and money. We need to be showing and directing our children a solid point of reference.
When a Sailor would mark his course in the days before radar, he would choose a fixed point of reference...land or star. He would not choose a cloud, or the popular opinion of the crew. In life, we must make a decision to set their lives on course, to be directed by a fixed object. While they're in the process of going, take a young person with you.
Since the time the Apostle Paul penned this epistle, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it has been a leading fixed object upon which we can, with confidence, set our course. It's theme is Righteousness. How do we live right? How do we live in order to find acceptance with God? How do we find salvation? When does God get angry? What are God expectations from man? What is Holy & what's not? How do we worship? What ought to be the vision & passion of the Christian & Church?
This book is responsible for Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was a law student. Hit by lightning, it so frightened him that he vowed to become a monk. Within one month, out of Law School & into a Monastery. However, he remained filled with guilt. He sought every which way to please God, struggling for acceptance. He drove the Priests crazy at confession. One day, while teaching through Romans,as though hit a 2nd time with lightning, he discovered that his acceptance with God was based upon the Grace of God and initiated by his faith in God. 95 Thesis on the Church Door & Protestantism.
As a Christian, Paul considered himself "bound to some duty, action."
"To Greeks and non-Greeks." Those cultured & uncultured.
"To the wise and the foolish." Those educated & uneducated.
Look around you. You are obligated. Who is your neighbour? You are obligated. Christians need to be the conscience for government. Paul's words can be taken personal.
(15) To preach the gospel.
Not only to preach it, but do it with eagerness. ("let me at it!...you want to stop me, go ahead, make my day!" It was #1 on his passion list.) Neither was there any shame in expressing it. Boldness. (In Vancouver Airport on the 10th, watched Buddhist Monk express his faith without shame.)
1. He Understood His Calling (1:1)
"a servant" (douloV) one who gives himself up to another's will. You give up the Lordship of your life. Off the throne. This business of receiving Jesus as Saviour but still living how you please is not salvation. Interesting that a synonym to this word is deacon. The root idea of a deacon is a servant. A servant describes his will.
He was a surrendered person. "called to be an apostle" (apostoloV) - a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. This is your calling. What is your calling? What is it that God wants you to do, be? Brian Ferguson said last week that he sensed God wanted him to be more than just a Grade 5 teacher. Right! His calling is not to be a Grade 5 teacher. Called to be an apostle. "You shall be my witnesses" "Go into all the world..."
"set apart for the gospel of God" (to mark off from others by boundaries) The arena in which he will practice his calling. In Paul's case it was 24 hours a day. "Set apart at Line Creek."
Why did Paul sense his obligation to the Gospel. He understood his calling. He had a surrendered will to God. He accepted his calling to be a messenger for Jesus Christ. He knew his parameters, field.
2. He Understood The Need of the World.
The real need of this world is to make peace with God. Until then, the vacuum of a life without meaning will only continue to burn a crater of emptiness. Christians are obligated to show others how to make peace. The gospel of today is much different. Let's briefly observe two of the most prominent.
There are basically 3 different view of God:
These belief systems fallow the same pattern as Satan introduced in his first conversation with man. "You will not die" (reincarnation) "You will know good and evil"(relativism)"You will be as gods"(Pantheism). The same Satan is the mastermind to the religious systems today that oppose God.
3. The Power of The Gospel
We must rise up with the Gospel of God. The Gospel (good news) is the only message that tells the truth about finding peace with God. To embrace this message is the need of every living being. The message of the Gospel reveals how to become righteous before God.
Why sweat it? I mean, after all, I have interests too. There are things I like to do. I'm far too busy to add anything else to my life. At the judgment, the Lord will not be interested in whether you finished remodeling your home, got that promotion, made MVP Hockey player, get your deer.
What did you do with your calling. Christians, we are obligated to preach the gospel. When was the last you told someone the good news. Sunday School Teachers, your responsibility is to preach the gospel.
What is the gospel?
"Dear Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Saviour and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
Christians, has the Bible continued to be the point of Reference upon which you are directing your life?
If you are not a Christian, I invite you to make that decision today. Find Peace with God today.
Here’s what I’m all about. I want to turn you on to reading and studying the Bible, applying it to your life and falling in love with God in the process. I pray that a God revolution will start around you while you love for God and engage in the plans that he has for you. For years I have wanted to take the time to read, study and journal my way through the book of Romans.
I have preached through this book, studied it in College but this is different. Previously, I have studied Romans with the objective of delivery; whether for a professor or a congregation. This time I am going through Romans and seeking what God has to say to me. It’s personal. I visualize Paul as a man that is showing the marks of an apostle. You can see the marks of one having survived being stoned and beaten. He has walked months and years in the hot sun. He may show the effects of arthritis and other infirmities. Yet today he is full of strength, pacing the floor, overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit, the words that become the great book of Romans flow from him. Paul’s penman writing with the greatest of care these powerful words.
Did Paul have any idea the power this letter would have for the centuries to follow? Martin Luther's heart was revolutionized as he became acquainted with the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and then reintroduced it to the world. It ignited the mind of Jonathan Edwards, strangely warmed the heart of John Wesley and then fuelled the revival fire with George Whitfield.
Here’s my point: I want to invite you to journey with me. Read the selected passages of Romans and study with me. Each day I plan to pen the story, truth and application as I read through Romans
In Romans 13, Paul talks about how the transformed life includes our obedience to the government's laws. He now adds to the list our love for our neighbours and eternity. As for the neighbours, Paul is not talking about those in near geographical nearness, rather, the question is to whom can you be a neighbour to. That includes when you are on an errand or journey. Remember the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36) where Jesus teaches about your neighbour.
The Story: In Romans 13, Paul talks about how the transformed life includes our obedience to the government's laws. He now adds to the list our love for our neighbours and eternity. As for the neighbours, Paul is not talking about those in near geographical nearness, rather, the question is to whom can you be a neighbour to. That includes when you are on an errand or journey.
Remember the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36) where Jesus teaches about your neighbour. The good Samaritan treated the one in need as his neighbour. Paul says that we are to treat that neighbour with love, the kind of love that you would generally extend to yourself. I think of the teaching of Jesus to his disciples in John 13:34-35 where he tells his disciples to love his neighbor as himself. In another passage, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking him which was the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-40).
Jesus' response was to love God above all else and then love your neighbor as yourself. The Pharisees were, of course, trying to find Jesus guilty of breaking or speaking contrary to the law. The Pharisees were silenced because, by loving others, you were in fact upholding the majority of the laws of Exodus 20. Try murdering if you love them. Next Paul says that we are to stop wasting time because we have already lost valuable time for loving God and bringing people to Jesus. It's time to wake up and stop spending your life in satisfying the flesh.
The Key Truth: When we are neighbourly to those around us we are demonstrating the transformed life.
The Application: We need to stop living like it's our lives that counts the most. That attitude is living after the flesh. We're trying to satisfy every thirst and hunger that the flesh has. We need to start pursuing God and righteousness. We need to surrender our lives as living sacrifices to God. What does that look like? We'll start obeying the laws of the land and above that, loving God and loving others as ourselves. What's the motive? Christ is returning and as it is, we've already lost time. We need to wake up to the purposes of God for our lives. We need to stop wasting time.
My Prayer: Lord, take my life. It's yours. I'm holding nothing back. My greatest desire is that my life is to count for you alone. I want that to be reflected in how love my family, those around me, and seek to bring people to you.
