The Gospel of God

About this sermon

Introduction: The inspired letter to the Romans came from Paul. Saul was his Hebrew name, and Paul was his Roman name. He was from the city of Tarsus, brought up in Jerusalem, a brilliant man who had excelled in learning both by the standards of Greek culture and philosophy, and by the standards of the religious training of Pharisees. Saved on the road to Damascus. Personally, commissioned to serve as an apostle by the risen Christ. Now, the church’s greatest missionary to the Gentile world. He writes to believers in a city where he had not established the gospel, and where he had not personally established the churches. He writes to personally introduce himself (though they were, no doubt, familiar with him), to explain the gospel that he preaches and its implications, and to encourage their assistance as he desires Rome to be an outpost for further missionary endeavors — to Spain and beyond. Last Sunday we looked at his name (the man himself), his identity (a slave of Christ Jesus), his calling (an apostle), and his work (set apart for the gospel of God). It’s that work, the work of the gospel of God, that he now expands on in verses 2-4. Remember our outline. The messenger (vs.1) The message (vs.2-4) The mission (vs.5-6) The missionaries (vs.7) We begin this morning thinking about the message. This is what Paul now exists for. This is his life’s work. He serves Christ, and He serves Christ in the work of the gospel. He declares the gospel to the lost, and He establishes the gospel and its implications among believers. He has been set apart for this. This is his calling. He does this as he exercises oversight of the churches with the authority of an apostle. That calling is not without opposition. His calling is not without resistance. Remember what Paul was made aware of from the very beginning. Acts 9:16 For zI will show him how much ahe must suffer bfor the sake of my name.” The man who once was among the chief persecutors of the church, would now suffer on behalf of the very name that he once hated. The name of the one that he once thought to be an imposter. For the sake of Christ, for the sake of the good news concerning Christ, for the sake of the churches, Paul is now HIMSELF hated. AND MUCH OF THAT HATRED CENTERED ON WHAT HE SAID. THE CREATOR OF PAUL’S GOSPEL (GOD) (vs.1) That’s where Paul begins as he says hello in the book of Romans. He begins, at the very outset, making clear that what he preaches is a message that has its source and authority in God Himself. Whose plan is the gospel announcing? Who came up with the way that sinners will be saved? Whose decrees find their expression in the gospel message? PAUL SAYS THAT THE GOSPEL IS GOD’S GOSPEL. PAUL IS A VOICE FOR GOD’S MESSAGE, GOD’S OFFER OF FREE GRACE, GOD’S COMMAND TO SINNERS TO REPENT AND TO BELIEVE IN HIS SON. The Gentiles find Paul’s message to be foolishness, and an attack on their gods. The Jews find what Paul says to be a stumbling block and accuse him of preaching a brand-new message — an invention. They see Paul’s message as an attack on the law of God, and on their entire way of life. Acts 21:27   When cthe seven days were almost completed, dthe Jews from Asia, eseeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who fis teaching everyone everywhere against the people and gthe law and gthis place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and hhas defiled gthis holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen iTrophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and jdragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 jAnd as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of kthe cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. As a result, as Paul understands the need to explain HIS GOSPEL, he has to make clear that it’s GOD’S GOSPEL. He does that in Romans from the beginning to the end.