Confidence in the Gospel

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Introduction: In the first part of the book of Romans, Paul describes two relationships. He describes his relationship to the church at Rome, and he describes his relationship to the gospel. In terms of the church at Rome, he explains how he had long desired to be present them, but how circumstances had not allowed him to visit them. As we now know, Paul would eventually make his way to Rome, but he would arrive there a prisoner. And the reason that he would arrive there a prisoner would because of the second relationship that he described. That is, his relationship to the gospel message. PAUL’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE GOSPEL Paul describes that relationship in three ways. HE WAS UNDER OBLIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THE GOSPEL (vs.14) TO THE ENTIRE WORLD (Greeks and barbarians) TO THOSE WHO CONSIDERED THEMSELVES WISE TO THOSE WHO WERE CONSIDERED TO BE SIMPLE ESV 1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For anecessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with aa stewardship. ESV Galatians 2:7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been aentrusted with bthe gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised ESV 1 Thessalonians 2:4 but just as we have been approved by God ato be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not bto please man, but to please God cwho tests our hearts. ESV 1 Timothy 1:11 in accordance with athe gospel of the glory of bthe blessed God cwith which I have been entrusted. ESV 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. aAvoid the birreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," ESV Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant1 of God and aan apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and btheir knowledge of the truth, cwhich accords with godliness, 2 ain hope of eternal life, which God, bwho never lies, cpromised dbefore the ages began1 3 and aat the proper time manifested in his word1 bthrough the preaching cwith which I have been entrusted dby the command of God our Savior; Paul understood himself to be set apart for this very purpose (vs.1) HE WAS EAGER WITH RESPECT TO THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL (vs.15) This gospel trust was not one that Paul was unwilling to pursue. He was anything but discontent with it. Rather, he was eager to fulfill this calling. He found joy in the fulfillment of this stewardship. πρόθυμος Eager, willing, ready. HE WAS NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL (vs.16) He wasn’t embarrassed by the gospel. He wasn’t distancing himself from the gospel. He wasn’t standing apart from it from fear, or because he wasn’t fully convinced of it. Question: Do you share Paul’s convictions? Do you have a sense of obligation? Are you eager to share the gospel with others? Are you ashamed of the gospel? PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE OF THE GOSPEL (vs.16-17) His relationship to the gospel is explained by his perspective of the gospel. PAUL KNEW THE GOSPEL TO BE GOD’S POWER FOR SALVATION WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? IT IS GOD’S GOOD NEWS (vs.1) IT IS PROMISED GOOD NEWS (vs.2) IT IS BIBLICAL GOOD NEWS (vs.3) IT IS THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST (vs.3-4) Of His deity (God’s Son) Of His humanity (descended from David) Of His life, death, burial, and resurrection Of His Lordship IT IS THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD’S ETERNAL SAVING PURPOSE IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED (vs.5-6) IT IS THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD’S ETERNAL LOVE IS MANIFESTED (vs.7)