Romans 1:8-17

Romans 1:8-17Senior Pastor Alex KennedyAs a reminder, once the Jewish people were allowed to return from Rome, they came back to a church full of Gentiles. They found a church that had become non-Jewish in its customs and practice. This culture clash created lots of tension, and by Paul's day, the Roman church was divided. They disagreed about how to follow Jesus, debating about whether or not non-Jewish Christians should observe the Sabbath, eat kosher, be circumcised, etc. Paul is writing to them to show them how to do life together.
The church in Rome was a big deal because Rome was known for people living in a vile and abominable culture. Paul is thankful "because your faith is proclaimed in all the world."
Why does Paul want to visit this church?

1. To be able to mutually encourage one another with the gifts given to each of them. To encourage means "to strengthen". (v11-12)
2. To evangelize with the gospel

Why?Verse 14 says, "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish." This obligation means "indebted to". One definition that applies here for obligation is "to be given something from someone, for someone else, a third party." At this point, you are a debtor to the third party. You have an obligation. You must deliver it.
And what is the debt...the gospel! Paul was in debt to the Romans to give them the gospel that had been given to him by Jesus.
He emphasizes both Greeks and barbarians. Just as the Jews divided everyone into Jew or Gentile, the Romans divided people by Greek (learned and sophisticated) and barbarian (any foreigner ignorant of the Greek language and the Greek culture, whether mental or moral).
Paul is eager to preach the gospel, but why would Paul preach the gospel to people who were already Christians? Everyone needs the gospel, both the "you" inside the church and the "you" who are yet outside it because the gospel is the way people are called to faith, and the way people grow in faith.
Paul then says in verse 16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel". The gospel will always cause offense, because it reveals us as having a need that we cannot meet. So we will always be tempted to be ashamed of it. The gospel message is actually the power of God in verbal form.It is powerful because it does what no other power on earth can do: it can save us, reconcile us to God, and guarantee us a place in the kingdom of God forever! All that is required to know this salvation is belief. (v 16) This is the first explicit statement that the only way to receive the gospel and its power is through faith. Faith is the channel or connection to the power of the gospel. Paul does say it is boundless and boundaried. It is for everyone...who believes.Paul found so much joy in evangelizing Rome because he recognized the gospel:

1. is an unpaid debt to the world
2. and the saving power of God

We are in a post-Christian nation. We cannot be "asleep in the light". We must choose, and the choice sticks out to the world. The gospel brings us to life (born again), and we must live like that for the rest of our lives by faith.

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