The renown Dr. Albert Einstein was asked, "How many feet are there in a mile?" To his utter surprise and astonishment of the student, Dr. Einstein responded, "I don't know." The student was sure the great professor was joking. Surely Dr. Einstein would know a simple fact that every fifth grader should be required to know. But Dr. Einstein wasn't joking. When the student pressed for an explanation of Dr. Einstein's knowledge, he declared, "I make it a rule not to clutter my mind with simple information that I can find in a book in five minutes or less."
Dr. Einstein was not interested in trivial data. His passion was to explore the philosophy of science and he is best known for developing the theory of relativity. He also made important contributions to quantum mechanics, and was a central figure in reshaping of the scientific understanding of nature that modern physics accomplished in the first decades of the twentieth century.
The Apostle Paul too, was disinterested in trivial data, but unlike Dr. Einstein, his passion was not to explore the deep things of the world, but rather to know the Creator of the universe, through His Son, Jesus Christ, and then to preach Christ to all mankind. It was this very passion for Christ and the gospel, that led to Paul's desire to visit the church in Rome. In short, while Dr. Einstein was engrossed in physical reality, Paul was enameled with the finale reality.
Imagine the fervor Paul had as he persecuted the church, that same fervor was being transferred to his God, as he was sent on a mission to take the gospel of grace to the Gentiles, and it was that fervor that motivated him. It was that submission after meeting Christ that he saw himself as "a servant of Jesus Christ," as he was called to be an apostle of God. He was the one that was sent to spread the good news unto a people who did not know Jesus, the Gentiles, and to anyone who was willing to hear the good news.
The name Paul comes from the Latin Paulus, meaning "little." He was Saul of Tarsus, but also called Paul. In preparing for his future arrival in Rome, Paul wrote to the church at Rome to introduced himself and to make a clear declaration of faith. Paul identified himself to the Romans from the very beginning as, "A servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). He address this letter, "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints" (Romans 1:7). He commends unto them, "Grace and peace." Paul never put peace before grace. You can't have peace unless you have received God's grace.
This was not a church that was started by Paul. He longed to preach there, but he had never been there, nor had any of the other apostles. Since he had been hindered from going, he sought to pen them words of encouragement from Corinth. He states, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world" (Romans 1:8). What a testimony that this church was reaching out beyond the confines of its walls. Therefore, Paul made mention of them and how constantly they are mentioned in his prayers. Paul just didn't want to visit them, he longed to see them physically. He said, "I long to see you so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong" (Romans 1:11). And to communicate to them the great doctrine of grace that had been revealed to him.
Paul wanted his hearers to know the divine provision of God's grace, whereby He is able to declare sinners as righteous through the atoning work of His righteous Son. The gospel according to Paul, set forth the nature of the new life which all justified persons may enjoy, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The key to understanding this letter of Paul, is the expression, "the righteousness of God."
As Paul outlined to us the doctrine of salvation which includes justification, sanctification, and glorification, we are not to glaze over the Book of Romans in a haphazard manner.
Paul states in verses 14 and 15, that "he is a debtor" to mankind and he further states that he is "ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also." There was this great fire of desire in Paul, to do God's will at any cost.
There was no shame of the gospel, for in it was the power of salvation, but in order to receive this power you had to be connected to the Source. Salvation was on the table for everyone that believe. Paul tells us, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith'" (Romans 1:17).
Allow me to use these points to further explain, "The gospel according to Paul." First of all Romans 1:14 lets us know that Paul was obligated, personally to preach the gospel. He was a debtor to all people. This was not an economic or personal debt. It was a spiritual debt owed to his Savior. He was commissioned as the apostle of grace and sent forth.
In Romans 1:15, he gives us his proclamation, "I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also." Paul had gone through a lot of stuff and he had suffered a lot, but there was no "quit" in him.
My third point can be found in Romans 1:16. There Paul gives us his declaration, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." To be ashamed of something means to be embarrassed by it. To be ashamed, you don't mention it, you try to hide from it. You disassociate yourself from it. When you are unashamed, you react the total opposite. You want to shout from the rooftop, knowing that you know something is great and you just can't hold back the joy. We should not want to stand before our Savior in judgment trying to explain why we were ashamed of Him.
Paul would not be ashamed of preaching the Good News. The preaching of the cross is the cardinal point of the whole gospel. Something that has power is able to accomplish its purpose. The gospel of God is the power used to save people from sin. There is only one message that has the power to convict and convert sinners. The power must be personally applied, through personally applied spiritual belief.
Also in verse 16, we are able to see salvation. The scripture states plainly, "It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." The object of this gospel is salvation to open eyes of everyone to what Jesus sacrificed, and that means He sacrificed Himself for, us. It is the mighty works of God that makes salvation available.
My forth point is the C-portion of verse 16, "first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles." There is no discrimination, and Paul wanted to spread this message to everyone without regards to blood, nation, race, or location. The gospel is inclusive, not exclusive. The gospel is available to everyone that believes.
My final point is, the gospel is God's revelation to humanity. Romans 1:17 states, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed." When God looks upon the sinner who accepts Him as their Lord and Savior, He doesn't see the sinner, He sees Himself. It is His righteousness that He sees that covers the sinner. "For the righteous will live by faith."
You can probably find a clearer understanding by turning to 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, "Now, Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." Paul again lets us know what he means by the gospel which he preached. Paul tells us what is the gospel, he gives us the facts of the gospel, and he declared his allegiance to it. Paul presents the Good News - salvation is available to all. We are saved by grace (unearned, undeserved favor of God) through faith (complete trust) in Christ and His finished work. Through Him, we can stand before God justified, "not guilty."
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