Leeds Vineyard

The Gospel changes me - Romans 1:1

Romans - Web 1







Romans introduction
Not long after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension (which you can read about in the biographies about him - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) the community of people who followed his way was growing and dispersing over the Roman Empire. This would have been from about 33AD onwards.

One of the early and dramatic converts to Jesus was a fire-breathing Pharisee called Saul. A brilliant Jewish theologian but a nasty piece of work, he was making a name for himself hunting down the Jesus followers and often executing them.

To cut a long story short, God toppled him off his horse, blinded him, cut short his employment as a persecutor and gave him a new career as a preacher for God. He went off for some retraining and deep thinking. When he turned up again he planted many churches, converted hundreds of people and taught and wrote down the core beliefs of the Christian faith.

Saul, now called Paul, was undoubtedly an intellectual giant, tutored under the famed Jewish lawyer Gamaliel - fluent in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, with a mastery of logic and language, he authored half the New Testament epistles. Paul was a devout Pharisee, one of the elite within Judaism. He was a passionate man, before his conversion zealously opposing Christianity, and then after his conversion zealously promoting Christ. He was an influential man, a peoples' person, a courageous man - who endured rejection, suffering and ultimately beheading, all because of his desire to live for and promote the name of Jesus.

Paul wrote this letter, which is the longest of his that we have, from the Greek city of Corinth to the church in Rome whilst he planned a visit there via Jerusalem. He wrote it around 55AD - so about 20 years after Jesus.

He had never been to Rome, wasn't responsible for the church in the city but knew quite a few people there. This letter to them is a gargantuan theological statement of some of his views - particularly of what salvation is and how it affects the way we live. He focuses on drawing different ethnic groups together in a unity of faith and purpose.
 
In the first verse of Romans 1 we are introduced to the man, we get a first look at his mission and a feel for the tone of the whole letter - our theme for today is that The Gospel changes me.
 
Romans 1:1
"Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart to proclaim the gospel of God"
Paul

rose"What's in a name?" asks Juliet. Well a lot really, as Romeo & Juliet goes on to show.
 
There's lots in this name, Paul. As we have seen, Paul has had a dramatic change in his situation. Whereas Saul was a Jewish name meaning "prayed for/asked for by God", Paul was a Latin name meaning something small. When Saul had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, when he came face to face with the one who died for him, when he repented and gave his life to Jesus, a most dramatic change took place.

By introducing himself as Paul he is saying, "This is me - I was Saul, now I am Paul".

The assassin turned apologist, the persecutor turned preacher, the proud turned humble, the judge of others met his own judge, the sinner was saved.

"The gospel has worked a complete revolution. The change from Saul to Paul was a change not just of name but of nature. It is a 180degree turn, a volte-face, an about-turn; it is true repentance". Simon Ponsonby.

When you meet Jesus the world moves on its axis. When you choose to follow him transformation follows, the gospel changes you.

"This change is radical - it gives us a new nature, it makes us love what we hated and hate what we loved; it sets us on a new road; it makes our habits different; it makes us different in private and different in public." CH Spurgeon, speaking of the power of the gospel to transform.

What's your name? If the Lord were to give you a new name, what change would it signify in your life?
 

A servant, slave of Christ Jesus
Doulos – bond slave. Slaves were everywhere in the Roman world, but not in a nice way – as if it ever could be. To voluntarily describe yourself as a slave would be offensive – particularly for one of the Jewish elite to do so.

The Jews didn’t have many slaves and when they did they were kept for only 7 years after which they would be set free. Sometimes they chose to stay as a slave to their master and if so their ear would be pierced by an awl hammered into a block of wood. With blood and nails they pledged themselves to serve their master forever. This is what Paul is alluding to.

The gospel changes me - from thinking I'm the boss to gladly becoming a slave. From being in charge to being a servant.
 
Sometimes following Jesus can look like a bless-me jacuzzi. Love me, forgive me, heal me, bless me.
 
But being a slave to Jesus means it's about him not me. We are nailed to the wood as bond-slaves for life at his beck and call.

How do you start your day as a follower of Jesus? Do you start with a list of all the things you would like God to do for you? I know I easily fall into that trap. How about we start our day with, "Lord, what can I do for you today?"

 
Called to be an apostle
Paul doesn't take the title himself he says that God called him to a job, the job of an apostle. There were few apostles: Jesus' disciples, James his brother, Paul and one or two others. They didn't take the title to themselves, they were described as apostles because of what had happened to them and because of what they did. It's a verb not a noun - meaning it is about what they did, not a title.

We don't use the term apostle because we can't see any basis on which to do so of anyone today. Our founder, John Wimber was sometimes called an apostle, perhaps with good reason (he planted churches, preached the gospel and God attested him with signs and wonders) but he refused the title and I don't see anyone around doing anything like what he did.


Set apart
Just as Paul was called to be an apostle - it was God's action not his - so he was set apart. God set him apart. It means there is a demarcation, a line in the sand, and God takes Paul and puts him over there.

wiggins-froome2277601bWhen cycle teams are planning their strategy, some riders are given the role of "domestique". Their job is not to win the race but to block and take the wind resistance so that someone else on their team can win the race. They still have to train and sacrifice, they are still knackered but they get no medal, rarely a mention. They are set apart for that job.



There is a subtle play on words here in that it sounds like the word for Pharisee (which Paul was). A Pharisee was someone whose life was set apart to study the religious law. Paul describes himself as no longer set apart for the law but set apart for the gospel.

The gospel changes you - when God gets his hands on you, you are no longer your own but you are set apart for a greater purpose. It may not be exactly what you had in mind, it may not be glamorous. But it is important that that is where you go and what you do. What have you been set apart for?


For the Gospel of God
In Paul's case it was clear cut and focussed purpose for which he was set apart. The proclamation of the good news, the gospel.

The whole of the history of the bible and up to today is a story of the Mission of God, his plan to tell forth the good news of salvation. But this particular point in history is a pinnacle of God’s revelation.

The word euagge ion which we translate as gospel or good news, was used by kings and emperors to proudly declare their importance or their family news, "the king is dead, long lie the queen", "a baby has been born to Kate". A royal announcement. A gospel.

In Mark 1, right at the beginning of the Jesus story, he makes a huge announcement of the gospel, "the Kingdom of God is here, repent and believe the good news". This was a blinding flash of light in a dark world, a torrential downpour on a dry and thirsty land. This is good news for you, news that changes you and transforms your life.

"What we have to share with others is neither a miscellany of human speculation, nor one more religion to add to the rest, nor really a religion at all. It is rather the gospel of God, God's own good news for a lost world." John Stott

It transformed Paul's life. When he encountered Jesus he realised he has been called to make proclamation about Jesus. He discovered that God is revealing himself to mankind in the form of a man, Jesus. He has discovered that God is making a way for mankind to be restored to him, through the life, death and resurrection of this Jesus. Good news indeed.


Conclusion
The gospel has changed Paul. He has been given a new name, a new identity, he has become a slave and has been called, set apart to proclaim this gospel.

That gospel that has saved and changed millions since.
That gospel that can save and change you today.

I'll give you a sneak preview into future weeks looking at Romans by saying that one of the things we will learn is that the good news is not about us figuring out a way to make ourselves right with God, no one ever has and no one ever can do enough to fix the problem. The good news is that Jesus has done it for us.

God loves you so passionately that he gave himself in the person of Jesus to save you. No matter what you have done, no matter how good or bad you are, not matter what your shame or pride, he has done enough, he has done what it takes to save you and change you.

The good news is there for you, the good news is there for you to share.

God is reaching after you with a gospel that will change you. He will declare you righteous, rescue you and give you a new name, a new call. He will set you apart for his purpose.

The gospel changes me.
David Flowers, 08/07/2013