Who is Paul? (Romans 1:1)

Paul described himself as a servant/bondslave of the Lord Jesus Christ. In essence he is saying: I belong to Jesus. He purchased my life, lock, stock and barrel, for He owns all of me and I’m at His mercy. Why? I’ve been bought, sought, fought, caught and taught by my Master. I initially fought His goading... and thought to destroy the “heresy” of Jesus, abolish His name from the earth, and silence anyone that confessed Him and His ways. But it was a useless fight. The harder I pushed the deeper and wider they grew and more faithful they became. I, outside of my own power and authority, couldn’t resist His personal interruption and powerful invasion and permanent investment in me. For He informed me that He interposed His precious blood over my sinfulness and imputed His righteousness to me. He also enlightened me that I would both go to work for Him and suffer for Him and His kingdom. And, by His grace, He granted me repentance to turn... and I trusted Him and the truth that He unashamedly fought for me, bought me with His blood, sought me by His Spirit, and caught me by His grace and that He was committed to teach and use me to share and spread His good news.

What is his assignment? (Romans 1:1)

Paul said, this is my assignment: I am called to be an apostle and sent out with a specific and particular message

Is his assignment limited? (Romans1:1)

Paul said His assignment has limits: I have a limited stewardship to focus primarily on the gospel of God, the good news of His redeeming grace found only in and through His Son.

How do we know of God’s good news? (Romans 1:2)

This gospel, He promised before time (Titus 1:1-3) and He revealed His promise in time, through His prophets and current messengers (like Paul), and gave us a recorded record of them, known as the Holy Scriptures. God spoke His messages, through them, and has kept this revelation of Himself preserved for us, today. And God’s gospel is based upon and found throughout the Scriptures, for which Paul taught and preached.

Who is God’s good news about? (Romans 1:3)

This good news of His redeeming grace is concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Who is Jesus Christ?

This Jesus was born miraculously and naturally. He was flesh and bones and had real blood flowing through His veins and body. He had a real mother who is a direct descendant of King David. He lived a real life and is a royal heir to the throne of Judah and kingly line of the tribes of Israel, through His mother’s side and also His stepfather’s side. Joseph, His stepfather, knew he wasn’t Jesus’ biological father. Joseph also knew he had been divinely called, and instructed by God, to love, lead, nurture, guide, teach and cherish his virgin wife and her child, as his very own.

Was He God’s Son?

His life, words, thoughts, message, acts, deeds, sacrifice, blood, death, burial and resurrection reveal to us that His birth was something more than natural, like all other births. His birth was miraculous, for He was found to be true, righteous and without the mar of sin, inherited by a natural father. His bodily resurrection declares that He had no earthly father but was the offspring of God, Himself.

Why is all this essential?

Every other natural born man was corrupted by the fall of Adam. And that sin nature was passed down through the father’s, throughout the history of humanity... until, Jesus was born of a virgin. And His conception in the womb of His mother was nothing short of a supernatural miracle that fulfilled many Older Testament prophecy, this child being born of a virgin and a Son given to her to raise. His name would be called Immanuel. For God had clothed Himself in flesh and journeyed in this fallen world with us. And His resurrection is the verdict of God, declaring to this world that He, Jesus of Nazareth, is innocent, not guilty, justified and justifiable, trustworthy and believable, worthy and wonderful. His stripes and chastisement and death were for you... not because He was a transgressor or sinner or full of iniquity. He was blameless, without sin or fault... because God placed our sins and iniquities and trespasses and guile and waywardness and backsliding and unfaithfulness upon Him and He justly took our wrath, judgment and curse, in our place. He, for God, became sin, your sin, for you, so you could be righteous, yes, that you, for God, could have His righteousness and be declared not guilty in GOD eyes.

What is the purpose of it all?

And through Him and His finished work we received grace for this life and when we die and also grace for our assignment. Both, our conversion and calling, are the fruit of His redeeming grace, and this fruit was given to enable us for obedience. This obedience will be manifested in our conduct, convictions, character, commitments and conversations that all point to the faith of Him who converted, called and commissioned us to publish His redeeming grace before the nations for His name sake. Yes, before the people He planted you among today. You are a gospel seed strategically planted in the place He’s planted you to bear witness to the riches of glories of His grace. He will supernaturally nurture and water and cultivate you for this purpose... as you recognize His purpose for having you right where you are.

So the personification of God’s redeeming grace, and His good news about it, is the Lord Jesus Christ.

And the purpose of this personification is to have a real and everlasting relationship with men and women, and boys and girls, who once were alienated and separated from God, because of their own sin and rebellion, but now, by faith, have been redeemed, reconciled, rescued and restored by Christ’s life and righteousness.

God with us, in Christ, He lived!