This morning we are beginning a study of the book of Romans - the first 5 chapters - and the relevancy of the Gospel.

Six in 10 young people will leave the church starting at age 15.  Most will not return.  Why?  Six main reasons.  Which are not just about youth leaving the church.  There’s a ton of somewhat older people that would agree with these reasons as well.  See if maybe you’re feeling some of this yourself.

Isolationism:  Youth say that the church demonizes everything outside the church - music, movies, culture, technology that defines their generation.  Which also touches how the church responds to the incredible busyness of where we live our lives - looking suspiciously at anything that keeps us away from here on Sunday mornings - or our total commitment to the cause.

The church is seen as out of step with scientific developments.  When we can put 10,000 songs on an iPod and watch endless videos on an iPad - twitter and post and communicate instantly face to face with anyone on the planet - with all that science offers in the way of explanations for how we got here - with all the advances in medicine - with our exploding knowledge of the world we live in - the church comes across as stuck in medieval mode.

One-fourth say faith and the Bible are irrelevant.  One-fifth say God is absent from what they experience in church.  Youth groups are holding tanks with pizza.  We can do all the church stuff but never personally connect with God.  Young people say the church is boring.  That’s not just the younger crowd.  Years ago someone said, “Why should I go to church.  I can stay at home and envision the whole thing from my barcalounger.”  That’ll date us.

When it comes to sex the church is seen as simplistic and judgmental.  The whole “just say no” philosophy just doesn’t cut it in a techno-porno world.  Young Christian singles are as sexually active as their non-churched friends.  Somewhat older Christians aren’t living much different.  That’s just the way things are today.

The church is seen as too exclusive in a multi-cultural age of so-called “tolerance.”  The church is divided - racially - economically - socially - generationally.  The church is seen as too political - too old fashioned - too unconcerned with social justice - hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender people.  Choosing between my faith and my friends - my friends win.

One-fourth of young people say they have serious doubts about what they believe and the church is just not a safe place to express those doubts.  A whole lot of adults would say the same thing.  Maybe part of the reason for that - going out on a limb here - maybe the reason in part is because so many Christians today are Biblically - theologically - and doctrinally illiterate. (1)

“Do as I say” or “Believe what I believe” coming from parents or church leadership just doesn’t cut it.  And it shouldn’t.  But any sort of deeper discussion is hugely threatening - exposing ignorance. 

There is a - perhaps well deserved - perception that we have to choose between intellectual integrity and faith - between science and Christianity - between compassion and holiness.  That the only way the gospel is relevant is if we can pick and choose how it relates to our lives.

The more things change the  more they…  stay the same.

The relevancy of the Gospel - the crucial significance of what we the church are called to proclaim and live by - is at the heart of the book of Romans.  Crucial then.  Crucial today.  In response to all of the above reasons and more.  Relevant.

Because the bottom line truth that transcends all of life - in all that we search for - long for - are desperate for - at the heart level - the essential deepest need of our lives can only be met by God.   Each of us needs to be at peace with God.  To be made right in our relationship with God.

That’s Paul’s teaching - here in these first 5 chapters of Romans.  How the gospel - God’s answer to our deepest need - how the gospel is relevant to our lives in 2013.  What it means to have peace with God. 

Would you turn with me or swipe or look at the overhead with me - verses 1 to 7 are Paul’s Greeting.  Paul’s introduction of himself to the Romans. 

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ Jesus.  The Greek word he uses for servant in “doulos” - meaning bondservant - or bond-slave.  Someone who against their will is forced to serve someone else.  The Jews used “doulos” to describe slavery in Egypt.  Or, Jacob serving Laban after Laban’s treachery.  The whole “behold it was Leah” bride swapping deception.  Jacob having to serve for another 7 years.

Paul’s emphasis is the high honor of being a servant of Jesus Christ - his commitment to Christ - the authority of Christ over his life.

Paul goes on with his introduction.  He is an apostle - meaning an ambassador of the gospel.  Called to be an apostle.  Meaning he’s been summoned by Jesus - set apart for this ministry.

We need to have in mind here the whole Damascus Road experience of Paul.

For the greater part of Paul’s young life he lived in strict obedience to Jewish law and custom.  In a sense - as a Pharisee he was “set apart” from others in his nation.  Zealous - righteous - strict in his observance of the law - maintaining a boundary between himself and others in order to maintain his total righteous dedication to God.  All of which is part of the meaning of being “set apart.”

Jesus revealing Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus changes all that.  Jesus - on the road to Damascus calls Paul - summons Paul to a radically different meaning of being set apart.  Paul - with the same zealousness and dedication - with the same total commitment of his life - Jesus has set  Paul apart as His servant - as His ambassador of the gospel.

Point being - we need to grab on to the authority that Jesus has over Paul and what Jesus summons Paul to do with his life.

Paul goes on.  Paul giving us a thumbnail outline of the gospel and Jesus.

The gospel was “promised beforehand.”  The central focus of the Old Testament - going all the way back to Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden of Eden - every prophet since Moses wrote - looking forward to the hope of salvation that’s in the message that Paul is summoned to proclaim.

The content of that gospel is Jesus Christ - God’s Son.

Notice Paul’s description - verse 3.  “Descended from David according to the flesh” - which is all about Jesus’ humanity.  Jesus being fully man - born of Mary - able to represent us in His death.  “Declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection” - which is all about Jesus’ divinity.  Jesus being of the very nature of God - meaning fully God Himself.  Resurrected - triumphant over death - giving us hope of eternal life. 

Verse 4 - “Jesus Christ our Lord”  Jesus Christ - meaning the Jewish Messiah.  Lord - meaning the Lord God Himself.

What is Paul getting at here?  Paul is systematically establishing his credentials.  He is summoned by Jesus.  His summons is all about Jesus.  He is to declare the same Jesus and gospel that the believers in Rome had trusted their lives to.

Let’s make sure we’re together.

There are a number of people today who call themselves “Christians.”  But when it comes down to it what they believe is not what the Bible teaches - especially about the central figure of Scripture in relationship to the Trinity - Jesus.  Jesus being fully man and fully God.  And the gospel - that we’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Period.

Paul is in Corinth - in Greece - writing to the Romans.  To date - meaning about 57 AD - to date Paul has never been to Rome.  While Paul has a reputation - meaning the Roman believers know about Paul - its important that - as Paul introduces himself - that he establishes who he is - what he believes - and why he does what he does.  Otherwise why should the Roman believers listen to him?  Why should they accept his teaching?

That’s also important in what comes next.  Notice where Paul goes in verse 5:  “Through whom - Jesus - we have received grace and apostleship.”  This is not just a Paul being summoned and set apart thing.  “We” expands that “I” a bit.  We have been called - summoned by Jesus to take His gospel to the nations.

That “we” is who?  That “we” may be about Paul identifying himself with the other apostles.  But - look where Paul expands that “we” in verse 6:  “we is you.”  We - meaning believers in Rome - meaning us - those who believe in Jesus as Paul does.  We have been called to belong to Jesus Christ - we’re His - summoned to be His servants.  We - meaning us - are loved by God - so much so that Jesus went to the cross for each of us.  We - meaning us - are called to be saints - set apart - totally dedicated to Him.

Let’s be clear about this.

When God calls us - us here - to salvation - to life in Jesus - whatever that Damascus Road moment of choice may have been - some hugely dramatic - some a quiet moment of prayer.  This isn’t a contest to see who has the most amazing testimony.  When God calls us to life in Jesus - we’re all saved as a result of God - by His grace not our merit - God summoning us to life in Jesus.  Every one of us being saved is a miraculous work of God.

When God calls us to life in Jesus - He summons all of us to a radically different life - a life of service which - if we are to live - as Paul describes it - if we are to live the life of obedience of faith - is a life of living and proclaiming His gospel to the nations.

How God chooses to use us in His service is a God thing.  Very few of us are put in the role of a Paul - writing Scripture and all that.  But however God chooses to use us we need to latch onto where Paul is going here.  Paul was summoned.  We are summoned.  We are bond servants of Jesus -same faith - same Lord - with the privileged calling of sharing His gospel with the nations.

Are we together?

Going on - let’s read verses 8 to 15 together.  Verses 8 to 15 are Paul’s Obligation.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.  For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.  I want you to know brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.  I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

The first word in verse 8 is… “first.”  Which in Greek means… “first.”  First meaning that this is really really important - of first importance.  Before Paul writes on the Romans need to hear this first.

Paul is in…  Corinth.  It is 57 AD.  Paul is on his third missionary journey.  Which means he’s covered a lot real estate.  Visited a lot cities.  And, as he writes in verse 8 - the gospel - what he and the Romans believe - that faith has been proclaimed in all the world.  Paul knows that because he’s been there.

But Paul has yet to go to Rome.  There was a rumor floating around that Paul didn’t want to go to Rome.  Otherwise Paul would have been there already.  “Paul is deliberately avoiding us.”  Paul is writing to bury that rumor.   

First - before I go any further - with God as my witness.  If I’m lying may God strike me dead.  Surgical lightening strike.  ZAP.  I am praying for you.  Without ceasing.  Constantly.

Praying what?  Verse 10 - that somehow I might - God willing - I might come to you.

“I long to see you.”  “My deepest desire is to see you.”  To see you face-to-face.  Epistle writing has its limitations.  Texting, tweeting, Facemail and email - even Skype has its limitations.  Paul has been in ministry long enough to know the value of face to face being with people.

Fall Retreat.  How great that was to be together as families - as a church family - hanging out together - learning from God’s word together - worshipping - praying - playing - serving - freezing.  The importance of being the body of Christ here in Merced.  Not neglecting our coming together as the body of Christ.  But being physically together.  What all that means to our growing closer to each other and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul writes I long to see you - to strengthen you - to help you in your relationship with Jesus.  I long to be with you so that we can encourage each other in our faith.

In verse 13 Paul calls them brothers.  That’s a tight - because of the blood of Jesus - relationship.  Brothers you need to know how often I’ve wanted to come.  But so far God has prevented me.  So far it hasn’t been God’s timing for me to come.

I pray for you.  I long to see you.  I want to grow with you in our relationship with Jesus.  Why - verse 13 - “In order that I may reap a harvest among you.”  For us to serve together - to do together what God has summoned us to do - sharing the gospel in Rome.  Reaching others with the gospel of Jesus - especially the Gentiles.

Verse 14:  “I am under obligation to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.  So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

An obligation is something we owe - a debt to be paid.  The Greek verb is “opheilo.”  Think:  Oh, I owe.   “Opheilo, Opheilo, so its off to work I go.”

If we borrow money from the bank to buy a house or car or something the bank usually wants to get paid back.  Right?  We’re indebted to the bank.  That’s one kind of debt.

Paul’s debt is slightly different.

Say someone gives us money to give to someone else.  We become the middle man.  In one sense we’re indebted to the person who gave us the money.  And in another sense we’re indebted to the person the money is intended for.  As a middle man we’re indebted to both.  That’s Paul.

Indebted to Jesus who saved Him.  Called Him.  Gave Paul the responsibility - a debt to pay - to be the messenger of God’s gospel to someone else.

Greeks are… well, Greeks.  Barbarians are... not wild crazy brutal uncivilized savages.  But those who were not yet part of Roman culture.  Those living on the frontier.  Think - taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.  The wise are those who are perishing wise in their own eyes.  The foolish are those who are perishing in the world’s wisdom. 

Because of what Jesus has called Paul to - Paul has a duty that must be carried out.  An obligation to both Greeks and barbarians.  Jews, Greeks, Romans - oh my - and everyone else - to the ends of the earth.  People who need the gospel delivered to them.

Let’s be clear.  We’re not end users of all that God has blessed us with.  What we experienced at the Fall Retreat.  What we experience here on Sunday mornings.  Our relationships together in Christ.  Everything that God blesses us with - grace and peace.  God’s purpose in all that isn’t for us to soak all that in and feel good about ourselves.  Which is all good.  But its not the point. 

We are called to proclaim the gospel.  To take what God blesses us with and engage in serving Him.  Live and proclaim the gospel.  Not because our salvation depends on it.  But because that’s what those called by God do.

Are we tracking with Paul’s heart?  God has called me to preach the Gospel.  That’s what my life is all about.  That’s what God has called you to.  Grab the importance of that.  I am not avoiding you.  I’m praying for you.  I long to see you.  I’m eager to be with you -  so that I can preach the gospel to those in Rome.  So that we together can encourage and support each other in doing what God has called us to do as His servants.

Are we together?  What God has called us to?

Read with me verses 16 and 17.  These verses are the core of what Paul is getting at - not only in what we’re looking at this morning - but verses 16 and 17 are the theme of the whole letter to the Romans.  On your outline you’ll see verse 16 and 17 described as Paul’s Presumption. 

Let’s read together:  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,  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

What Paul writes here is bold - audacious - certainly not PC.  Pure presumptuousness on Paul’s part.

Paul begins:  “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”

Remember the rumor was that Paul was avoiding going to Rome - that he was afraid to go there.  Why?  Why be afraid?  Intimidated maybe?  Ashamed?

If you’ll bear with me a little bit of history - we need to grab some understanding of Rome.

According to legend - back in the 700’s BC - Rome was founded by two twin brothers - Romulus and Remus.  Apparently Romulus defeated Remus and so Rome is named Rome with an “o” and not Reme with and “e.”  It’s a Star Trek moment.  Paul writing to the Romulans.

Romulus knocking off his brother Remus is a good thing - worthy of honor.  Point being - in the Roman mindset - earning honor - being well thought of - earning the esteem of others - is woven into the fabric of Roman society.

In Roman society a person could buy a position of  honor and respect.  Or a person could seize it through some brutal act or conquest.  Even if a person is born into a position of nobility - of honor and respect - they still needed to prove themselves worthy of the position they’ve been called to or that they’ve attained to.  To earn that position of honor either by conquest or by virtuous deeds.

Which isn’t too far off from where we are today.  Americans tend to be self-focused individualists who expect others to respect us.  For the most part we tend to honor those who have achieved something - in sports - politics - entertainment - business.  Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Something else about Rome.  We’ve heard this:  All roads lead to…  Rome.  Rome at its height included about a fourth of Europe, much of the Middle East, the entire north coast of Africa.  Its millions of people spoke different languages and worshipped many gods.  But at the center of the Empire was Rome.

Rome is the nexus - the hub - the center of everything that’s anything in the western world.  It is the center of culture and business and architecture and learning and scholarship and politics and military might and the arts and architecture and philosophy and intellect and enlightenment and wisdom and we could go on and on.

Rome is the center of religion.  Octavian - who was the Emperor when Jesus was born - who really got the whole Roman Empire thing started - Octavian was given the title Augustus - meaning “the exalted” - Augustus became the first Roman emperor to declare himself divine - demanded that people worship him.

The Roman Empire came apart more that 1,500 years ago and still it influences our lives today - our language - architecture - law - culture.  We could go on.  But, the point is… Rome is it.  The greatness of Rome - imperial capital of the world - is to be respected - honored - even today.

In contrast - the gospel says that we can never earn our standing before God.  Its given to us by grace.  We receive it by faith.  What Paul is proclaiming is totally contrary to the mindset of the Roman Empire.  A challenge to just about everything Rome stands for.  The Romans would have thought Paul was nuts. 

Who is Paul?  A Jew from Judea.  What is the gospel compared to all that Rome is?  What relevancy?  How presumptuous of Paul.  How arrogant to make this kind of bold statement.

Yet Paul says, he’s not ashamed.

We might be.  Have you ever knee jerked held back from sharing the gospel - talking about your faith - because you were ashamed?  Because it might not go over so well in our PC tolerant culture?

The Apostle Paul - as he traveled and shared the Gospel - was imprisoned on several occasions - beaten more times than he could remember - was whipped by his own countrymen - in the city of Lystra he was stoned - dragged outside the city - and left for dead - 3 times he was shipwrecked - once he spent a night and day drifting on the Mediterranean Sea clinging to the wreckage of his ship.  He was often in danger of death from natural causes - from hunger - thirst - cold - exposure.

And still he was not ashamed.

Ultimately Paul made two trips to Rome - in chains - as a prisoner of the Empire.

And still he was not ashamed.  Even when Nero had him beheaded.

Paul was not ashamed.  Why?  Paul writes - verse 16 -  because “the gospel is the power of God for salvation.”  Not a power but the power - singular - exclusive.

This is Pastor Richard Wurmbrand who died in 2001.  He was an evangelical minister who spent 14 years in Communist imprisonment and torture in his homeland of Romania.  Pastor Wurmbrand was the founder of “The Voice of the Martyrs” ministry - which for 30 plus years has been actively serving the persecuted church.

In 1945, when the Communists seized Romania and attempted to control the churches for their purposes, Richard Wurmbrand immediately began an effective “underground” ministry to the Romanian people and the invading Russian soldiers.  He was eventually arrested in 1948.  On the way to church he was kidnapped by the secret police and thrown into prison.  Prison meaning isolation - torture - beatings - drugging.

Christians in Norway negotiated with Communist authorities for his release from Romania.  In May 1966, he testified in Washington before the Senate’s Internal Security Subcommittee and stripped to the waist to show 18 deep torture wounds covering his body.  What this man went through - and what our brothers and sisters are going through today - in places like Pakistan and Syria and Egypt and North Korea - is almost unreadable.

Pastor Wurmbrand writes in His book, “Tortured for Christ,” “What the Communists have done to Christians surpasses any possibility of human understanding.”

And yet, the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread through the Underground Church - it was unstoppable.  Wurmbrand writes, “The life, the self-sacrifice, the blood which they - the believers - are ready to shed for their faith, is the greatest argument for Christianity presented by the Underground Church.”

Do you hear “I am not ashamed” in that?

Pastor Wurmbrand touches the true power of the Gospel.  He writes, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers of evil.  We saw that communism is not from men but from the devil.  It is a spiritual force - a force of evil - and can only be countered by a greater spiritual force, the Spirit of God.”

This will date some of us - but when the Soviet Union collapsed it exposed a tremendous spiritual vacuum - a hunger and thirst that led to an amazing spiritual openness and revival.  Men and women - empty and disillusioned with the failed promises and the corruption of communism - searching for the dignity and value placed on their lives by God - desperate to be filled with with the only hope for mankind - salvation offered in Jesus Christ.

Its not something that the secular press spent a whole lot of time reporting.  But the reality was there if one looked for it.  The collapse of the great Soviet empire was fueled by the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Paul writes that the power of God for salvation is for everyone who believes.  Who’s excluded from that?  No one. 

Verse 17 - For in it - the gospel - the righteousness of God - what it means to live at peace with God - is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Paul quotes the prophet Habakkuk:  “The righteous shall live by faith.”  (Habakkuk 2:4)

That one quote has two meanings.  Meaning number one:  The righteous shall live by faith - which is about how we live with God today.  Each day trusting Him - learning to go through life God’s way.

Meaning number two:  The righteous by faith shall live - which is about salvation.  Meaning trusting God with our lives and God giving to us a restored eternal life with Him.

The essential bottom line of both of those is the gospel.

The gospel is the power - God’s unique power which nothing in the world can rival.  God’s power which can transform the life of a man or woman - forever.  Not communism - not capitalism - not man’s philosophy or religious spirituality - not man’s wisdom or intellect.  There is no other power that can transform the life of a man or woman - to fill the emptiness within and renew them to a restored relationship with God.

Matthew 28 - Jesus speaking - the great commission is what?  “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… Stop… make disciples of who?  of all nations.”  Under who’s authority?  Jesus’.  What presumption!  (Matthew 28:18-20)

Socrates never said that.  Confucius and Buddha never said that.  Oprah never said that.  Even Octavian Augustus Caesar in all his self-proclaimed divinity never said that. 

Lets be clear - Jesus washed feet.  This isn’t about Jesus’ ego.  It isn’t about what people may think about Jesus.  Its about Jesus knowing that what He brought to us is the knowledge of what we desperately need - what restores us to peace with God - what sustains us in life and even in death.  That’s relevant.  Isn’t it?

Paul may sound presumptuous.  But if you had the 100% cure for the worst disease of humanity - worse that AIDS - worse than Cancer - if someone had given you the cure and said - “Tell them.”  Why would we ever in shame slink back from declaring the reality of what we know.

Jesus isn’t talking about filling this building to 80% capacity on Sunday mornings.  He’s not just talking about reaching Merced or the Central Valley or even the US - He’s given us the cure for the worst most fatal disease on the planet - and we - as Paul writes - have been called - we are under obligation - to share the gospel with everyone who needs to come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Processing that for out there.  One question each of us needs to answer - asking God to show us what He has for us to do as servants of Christ Jesus:  What would it look like for you to live under obligation - eager to preach the gospel to everyone who needs to hear it?

_________________________

1. David Kinnaman, Six Reasons Young People Leave the Church, 2012, www.christianitytoday.com

2. Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ, Voice of the Martyrs, 1967, pages 37, 60, 68, 99, 103, 121, 125

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.