Weekly Reflection 3/21/23

“G.O.S.P.E.L.” Gospel Reflection for Sunday’s message on March 19, 2023

Romans 1:1-17

“I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” Romans 1:14 ESV

• How do you get into an obligation or debt? 

• Paul says here in this passage that he is under obligation to other people, not God.

• The situation is that God has freely given Paul something, grace (verse 5), both the grace of salvation and the grace of apostleship. 

• This obligation to these people arose from the favor that God had shown him in appointing him to this work. (Acts 9:15, Romans 11:13)

• Are you and I under this same obligation? Yes we are. (Romans 5:10, Matthew 28:18-20)

“So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.” Romans 1:15 ESV

• What is the obligation?

• It appears this obligation is to preach the gospel.

•  “You received without paying, give without paying.” – Matthew 10:8

“I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” Romans 1:14 ESV

• Who are we under obligation to?

• Paul is not a debtor to anybody because they qualify. Nobody qualifies for grace. For then grace would not be grace. 

• So there is no one who is any less or more deserving than he. And that makes him a debtor to all.

• This implies that we are under obligation to share this gospel of grace to everyone.

“So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:15-16 ESV

• What is this salvation that the gospel powerfully brings about?

• Is it just for conversion or is it also for believers to be saved?

• It is power for both.  It is the power for justification, sanctification, and glorification.

• Conversion – Romans 10:17, 1 Peter 1:23-25, Ephesians 2:8

• For believers – Romans 5:9-10, Romans 13:11, 1 Corinthians 1:18)

• In other words, Paul’s point here is not just that the power of the gospel creates faith, but that the power of the gospel sustains faith.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 ESV

• There is a difference between being shamed for the gospel and being ashamed of the gospel.

• That is, you will be the target of shaming behavior. But there is a very good reason why you do not have to be ashamed when that happens. (Hebrews 12:2, 1 Corinthians 1:18)

• Please do not try to avoid shame by altering the gospel.

• Only one message saves sinners and brings them safely into the presence of God: the gospel of Jesus Christ. It alone is the power of God unto salvation.

• Therefore, Paul would say — Jesus Himself would say — suffer, yes. Be misunderstood, yes. Be shamed, yes. But do not be ashamed. Because the message of God’s saving work in Christ is the only saving message in the world.

• For the joy set before you, for the salvation that only the gospel can gain, take up your cross, follow Jesus and despise the shame.

2 Timothy 2:6-9

• I believe God is calling us to take the gospel power and use it to fan into flame the gift of God that is in us.

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