Introducing the Call and Cause (Romans 1:1-17)

Romans is the 45th book of God's word. Romans is also the 6th book of the New Testament. This makes it important!

Over the next month or maybe even more http://www.doyouhavetheurge.blogspot.com/ and it's followers will be taking a walk through this book. I pray that God will use His word to transform our hearts as we study together.

I challenge you to stick with me through this. I plan to blog everyday, maybe even more than once, as I read through Romans. I hope you will read with me. I hope that you will pray with me.

I challenge you to give feedback regarding God's word and the blog posts so that we all can be encouraged, and more importantly, God's name be glorified.

Here we go...

Romans 1:1-17

1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line,4 and he was shown to be* the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.* He is Jesus Christ our Lord.5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege* and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.



6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.


May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.


8 Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart* by spreading the Good News about his Son.



10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you.11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.


13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,* that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world,* to the educated and uneducated alike.15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.


16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.*17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."*
 
Romans is a letter. Romans is one of the 13 letters that apostle Paul wrote, and that are included within the New Testament of God's holy word. This letter, obviously, is a letter addressed to the church in Rome. We must remember that Paul was a real man. The Romans were real people. And the God that called them out of spiritual slavery and debt is the realest of all.
 
In this passage, Paul explains. Paul explains his call, his God, and his intent.
 
1.His Call-
In the first verse, Paul explains who he is and the call that is placed on his life. The first thing that Paul points out is his committment to Jesus. He calls himself a slave. This is hardcore stuff. We must be reminded that Paul was the real deal. He was once a slave to sin, like us, but was transformed into a slave, servant, and soldier of Jesus Christ.
EVANGELISM was very important to Paul. He states that he is called to preach the Good News. We find him doing this very thing through out Romans.
 
2. His God-
Starting in verse two, Paul explains his God. He makes sure to state that his God is a promise keeper and always faithful. He exposes God's prophets as truth bringers and gives proof of God's faithfulness. Paul depends greatly on the faithfulness and grace of God, as should we. 
 
3. His Intent-
Paul's intent is a result of his call from his God. His intent is to be that in which his God called him to be. Paul intently challenges the Romans to follow Christ in faith and repentance. Paul continually professes the Gospel as truth. God called Paul to preach, teach, and share the Gospel. He did this with intentions of glorifying Jesus.
 
Paul loved the Romans and wanted to see them...
 
How do we know this?
 
2 Ways we know Paul loved the Romans
 
 
1. What he told them...
Paul told the Romans about Jesus. This is a clear sign that he loved them. We will tell the ones that we love about Jesus. Jesus' story is the best news that has ever been shared, so why wouldn't we want to share it with those closest to us? We will. If you love someone, you tell them the Good News. Are you? If not, your love is not as great as you thought...
2.What he did for them...
One of the most underrated and underestimated gifts ever given is that of prayer. Paul states over and over again in verses 8-10 that he is committed to praying for the church in Rome. We will be committed to praying for those that we love. Parents, are you praying for your children? Friends, are you praying for your friends? Who do you love? Pray for them. Stop reading for a moment and pray for the ones you love.
 
Have no Prejudice-
 
Paul says that he wants to see the Romans. He wants to work with them, pray with them, and endure with them. But, we see in verses 13-15 that he will show no favortism. He will come to see those who are intelligent and those who are not. He will speak with those who take showers and those who don't. Paul expresses his call to take the gospel to all the people in Rome, not just the ones that he plays church league softball with.
We must have no boundaries when it comes to ministering to the lost. They need Jesus. We must have a passion for all that know him, and that need to know him. We must not look down on others , but we must seek to show them Jesus every chance that we get!
 
Have no fear-
 
Verses 16-17 exemplify Paul's boldness. Christ gave Paul this gift. He clearly states that all power belongs to God, and is sure to give glory to HE who is worthy. Paul also does this with his life. Paul shows great humility by throwing himself into a world that hated and crucified Jesus, so that they may be saved by the man that they crucified. We are to put ourselves on the line like Paul. More importantly, we are to put ourselves on the cross like Jesus.
 
 
Paul opened the first 17 verses of this letter with love for love, committment to Christ, and a passion for people. We must pray that these same values will be impressed on our hearts by Jesus.
 
 
Pray:
 
"Jesus, change me and make me into what you saved me to be so that your name may be glorified."