If You Like A Writer With The Highest Qualifications And Finest Credentials Then This Is For You
Having written introducing this letter to the Romans under "Inspirational", I want to go a little further and introduce you to these opening words.
Reach out for your Bible and turn to this important document.
In this first verse of Romans every word is significant and weighty.
The one main lesson in this book is simple and clear - learn the right way of getting right with God.
The first eight chapters deal with the salvation which God works, and the second eight teach us how it works in practice.
In Chapters 9 to 11 we are given God's Plan for the Jews - God's dealing with Israel - how they have been rejected in the past so that we Gentiles may come in to the Kingdom of God - their present position - and one day in the future when all Israel shall be saved and restored.
But - enough of that just now.
This letter is all about salvation - being rescued from sin through God's mercy and grace, and it is a full comprehensive salvation.
To open with the name of the writer was a familiar form at the time, and seemed sensible.
A modern business letter takes this form.
Paul writes about big themes, but there are greetings, from a brother in Christ.
It has to be more than just formal.
This is a letter from a brother to beloved disciples of Jesus Christ - written in Corinth and carried by deaconess Phoebe.
Paul introduces himself.
These are my qualifications, and he presents his credentials.
There are three miracles in these opening words! PAUL - born a Jew - a Pharisee of the Pharisees - called Saul after the first King of Israel.
You would think such a man would never change his name, but he did, taking the Greek Gentile name Paul.
Then we have SERVANT - or SLAVE.
Now Paul was a religious aristocrat - a scholar who had been to University, but he is now not his own.
He had bought with a price - the blood of Jesus Christ.
Slaves had no rights in the Roman Empire, and of the 120 million people in the Roman Empire at that time around 60 million were slaves.
He introduces himself as A SERVANT OF CHRIST JESUS.
Paul had been brought up to look for the Messiah, and Paul is saying to the world, "I have found the Messiah - I have found the Christ.
" It is better to be a slave of Christ than be a slave to anything else - ambition - alcohol - drugs - fragile temporary success - money - or whatever it might be.
Next he explains that he is CALLED.
He did not just receive the call of Jesus Christ, but he obeyed it, and he makes it clear that it is God who called him.
Remember, it is possible to be called of God and not obey.
We are CALLED to BELONG, and we belong to OBEY.
Then he uses the word 'Apostle' which simply means 'a sent one'.
The Latin word is missionary - or missile.
He is called to be a Christian missile, but notice that GRACE comes before APOSTLESHIP.
He is set apart - separated - one who is different.
Now this is something we have to accept.
We are different - separated from certain things - set apart - in the world, but not of it.
He is reserved for the use of God.
This calling is an Act of God.
We are separated for the Gospel - set apart FROM - and set apart FOR.
Paul was set apart for the Gospel of God - the good news of God - THE Gospel - getting right and being right with God - the good news of being saved - forgiven - washed - cleansed - born again to eternal and everlasting life.
This is good news - not just good advice.
Do you know this good news?Can you say that you have been saved, forgiven, washed, cleansed and born again?My task in life is to do more than submit articles but to see women and men come to real faith in Jesus Christ.
Sandy Shaw
Reach out for your Bible and turn to this important document.
In this first verse of Romans every word is significant and weighty.
The one main lesson in this book is simple and clear - learn the right way of getting right with God.
The first eight chapters deal with the salvation which God works, and the second eight teach us how it works in practice.
In Chapters 9 to 11 we are given God's Plan for the Jews - God's dealing with Israel - how they have been rejected in the past so that we Gentiles may come in to the Kingdom of God - their present position - and one day in the future when all Israel shall be saved and restored.
But - enough of that just now.
This letter is all about salvation - being rescued from sin through God's mercy and grace, and it is a full comprehensive salvation.
To open with the name of the writer was a familiar form at the time, and seemed sensible.
A modern business letter takes this form.
Paul writes about big themes, but there are greetings, from a brother in Christ.
It has to be more than just formal.
This is a letter from a brother to beloved disciples of Jesus Christ - written in Corinth and carried by deaconess Phoebe.
Paul introduces himself.
These are my qualifications, and he presents his credentials.
There are three miracles in these opening words! PAUL - born a Jew - a Pharisee of the Pharisees - called Saul after the first King of Israel.
You would think such a man would never change his name, but he did, taking the Greek Gentile name Paul.
Then we have SERVANT - or SLAVE.
Now Paul was a religious aristocrat - a scholar who had been to University, but he is now not his own.
He had bought with a price - the blood of Jesus Christ.
Slaves had no rights in the Roman Empire, and of the 120 million people in the Roman Empire at that time around 60 million were slaves.
He introduces himself as A SERVANT OF CHRIST JESUS.
Paul had been brought up to look for the Messiah, and Paul is saying to the world, "I have found the Messiah - I have found the Christ.
" It is better to be a slave of Christ than be a slave to anything else - ambition - alcohol - drugs - fragile temporary success - money - or whatever it might be.
Next he explains that he is CALLED.
He did not just receive the call of Jesus Christ, but he obeyed it, and he makes it clear that it is God who called him.
Remember, it is possible to be called of God and not obey.
We are CALLED to BELONG, and we belong to OBEY.
Then he uses the word 'Apostle' which simply means 'a sent one'.
The Latin word is missionary - or missile.
He is called to be a Christian missile, but notice that GRACE comes before APOSTLESHIP.
He is set apart - separated - one who is different.
Now this is something we have to accept.
We are different - separated from certain things - set apart - in the world, but not of it.
He is reserved for the use of God.
This calling is an Act of God.
We are separated for the Gospel - set apart FROM - and set apart FOR.
Paul was set apart for the Gospel of God - the good news of God - THE Gospel - getting right and being right with God - the good news of being saved - forgiven - washed - cleansed - born again to eternal and everlasting life.
This is good news - not just good advice.
Do you know this good news?Can you say that you have been saved, forgiven, washed, cleansed and born again?My task in life is to do more than submit articles but to see women and men come to real faith in Jesus Christ.
Sandy Shaw
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