Romans 1:1-7
Big Idea: The Gospel Provides A New Identity In Christ And A New Purpose For Christ
The new gospel identity and purpose:
1) Saved through Christ (v. 1)
“But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’”
– Acts 9:13-17
2) Slave of Christ (v. 1)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
– Galatians 2:20
“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. ... But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”
– Romans 6:17-19, 22
3) Sent by Christ (v. 1)
“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles ...”
– Galatians 1:11-16
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come ... “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17, 20-21
4) Set apart for the gospel (v. 1-6)
3 facets of the gospel:
1) The promise of the gospel (v. 2-3)
2) The person of the gospel (v. 3-4)
3) The power and purpose of the gospel (v. 4-6)
5) Strengthening the saints (v. 6-7)
5 gospel sources for daily strength:
1) The doctrine of the gospel (v. 2-6)
2) Our belonging to Jesus (v. 6)
3) The unconditional love of God (v. 7)
4) The enduring grace from God (v. 7)
5) The supernatural peace from God (v. 7)