Romans - Week 1

Sent Out to Preach

READ

Romans 1:1-3

1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line.

The custom in New Testament times was to say at the beginning of one’s letter who was writing.  Paul reveals he is the author. Likely in the multi-cultural area in which he was living he had both a Gentile name (Paul) and a Hebrew name (Saul). He also gives some of his qualifications. He is a “slave” of Jesus Christ. The word for “slave” means a “bound one.” In the Roman culture that was a slave. In more modern times most translations use “servant” to translate this word. He was also “chosen by God to be an apostle.” In addition, God sent him “out to preach the Good News.” This Gospel he preached was about God’s Son who has always existed but physically was born in the line of David.

REFLECT

Think about your privilege of now looking at a book written by one who was a radical unbeliever, but on the road to Damascus he trusted in Jesus. This should give you hope in praying for the salvation of those who seem hardened to the gospel.

RESPOND

Read Acts 9:1-18 to read about Paul’s conversion. He described himself as the foremost sinner (1 Timothy 1:15). Encourage those who don’t feel worthy to be saved that if God could save Paul then He could save them.

The Apostles' Mission

READ

Romans 1:4-5

4 And he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

Having mentioned that Jesus was born in the line of David, Paul now gives more information about the Savior. Jesus demonstrated that He was the Son of God because of His resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now Paul rejoices that through the grace of God he is allowed to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul’s desire was tell the Gentiles everywhere what God had done for them so they would believe and obey God, which would bring glory to His name.

REFLECT

A Gentile is a non-Jewish person. If you fit this category then your salvation and obedience to God bring glory to Him.

RESPOND

Read Galatians 2:7-8 that tells about Peter being the apostle to the Jewish people and Paul to the Gentiles. God uses different people in different ways. How is He using you at the present time? What group of people has God equipped you to reach because of the things you have in common with them?

His Own Holy People

READ

Romans 1:6-7

6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul encouraged the Gentile believers in Rome by reminding them they had been called to belong to Jesus Christ. It must have been encouraging for them to be reminded they were loved by God. Plus, notice they were called to be God’s “holy people.” That’s the kind of believers that pleases Him. Paul’s greeting of grace and peace, used two cultural expressions: “grace” (charis) was common in Greek and “peace” (shalom) was common in Hebrew. Paul was a Jewish Pharisee before he experienced the grace of God on the road to Damascus, which resulted in a peace that lasted.

REFLECT

Think about the peace you have from experiencing the grace of God. You are not really ready to live the abundant life until you have decided your eternal destiny by trusting in Christ as Savior.

RESPOND

The purpose of this material is not only to feed you spiritually, but also to encourage you to pass it on to others. Do you have someone with whom you can share what you are learning? If not, pray for a companion that you can encourage spiritually.

I Thank God For You

READ

Romans 1:8-9

8 Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son.

Paul was thankful for fellow believers. This was particularly because their faith was talked about throughout the then-known world. As travelers would come to and go from Rome, apparently they were taking the testimony of these believers with them. Note also how fervently Paul prayed for them—day and night he brought their needs before God. He noted that the God he prayed to was the One he was serving with all his heart to bring the gospel to others.

REFLECT

Have you thanked the Lord lately for fellow believers? Do you bring their needs before God as Paul did?

RESPOND

Make a list of believers and ministries who are especially encouraging to you. Pray for them and ask some believers to become prayer partners with you. Have a least one believer younger in the faith who can meet and pray with you.

Mutual Encouragement

READ

Romans 1:10-12

10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

Sometimes it is thought that apostles such as Paul did not need any fellowship or encouragement. This passage reveals how he yearned for both. His passion was to help others grow strong in the Lord. He not only wanted to encourage them in their faith, but he also wanted to be encouraged by their faith. Those who have been Christ-followers for years need to be encouraged by those younger in the faith.

REFLECT

What have you done lately to encourage those who are older in the Christian faith than you are? Have they made a difference in your life? If so, be sure to tell them.

RESPOND

Be open with the one you are discipling. Let the individual know that you want to encourage them in their faith. Let them know also that it encourages you to see them growing stronger in their faith.