The messages in this series will look at the Scriptures as a whole within the confines of Romans. The book of Romans has everything from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. It is a complete book.

Three primary truths are brought out in the first part of Romans 1:1—(1) Paul was personally related to Jesus Christ as a bond-servant or slave. To be a bond-servant in the abstract sounds terrible, but to be Christ’s bond-servant is true liberty in the concrete. Self-surrender alone is a cold void. However, self-surrender to the Son of God is coming to understand true freedom. (2) Paul was officially related to the service of Christ as a called apostle. All are not called as apostles or elders, but all of God’s people are witnesses for Jesus Christ. (3) Paul was dedicationally related to the message of Christ as a separated person unto the gospel of God.

Paul was separated or set apart from all other aims to the ruling aim of God’s message. He was in constant contact with men. Therefore, his separation was not isolation. Separation unto the gospel of God is a subject that has been misunderstood as well as misapplied. Consequently, a study of it is necessary to understand the following things: (1) Separation or being set apart is one of the great themes of Scripture. (2) Separation unto the gospel is internal. (3) Separation by the gospel is external. It is important to keep these three separated.

Separation has been defined as having been separated, having been ordained, or having been dedicated. Separation or being set apart as used in Romans 1:1 is unto the gospel. An examination of the three major views of the word separation will lead a sincere Christian to the true interpretation in the light of its context. There is some truth in the first two, but the latter—having been dedicated—is the accurate explanation.

Some use Galatians 1:15 to say Paul’s dedication to the gospel was preordained in God’s eternal purpose. They say that Acts 9:15 proves that his separation unto the gospel was revealed at his conversion experience. They assert that Acts 13:2-5 proves that the divine purpose was historically fulfilled by the church at Antioch. There is much truth in the preceding assertions. However, in this instance, the apostle is not referring to God’s eternal decree. Another interpreted Paul’s dedication or separation unto the gospel as either God’s eternal purpose or Paul’s separation to that work by the order of the Holy Spirit as it is recorded in Acts 13.

Paul’s separation unto the gospel does not refer to his predestination to that office. The true explanation of his separation is in the light of the context, and that it refers to his effectual dedication that occurred in his call or actual call to apostleship. It indicates what is entailed in that call. The statement does not differ materially from the expression “called to be an apostle.” Paul’s only boast at the time was in the Author of his call to apostleship. He was not speaking of his regeneration at this point. He had already referred to his new birth in his statement that he was a servant of Jesus Christ. Moreover, he did not speak of his effectual call by the gospel to a conversion experience. Paul was discussing his apostleship, showing he did not take the honor unto himself. His own choice did not place him in that position. His response resulted from God’s call. Paul did not like the false prophets (Jeremiah 23:21). Paul contended with false apostles. Therefore, he informed the Romans that his apostleship, although questioned by many, was not of his own choosing but God’s calling.

Every Christian is separated unto the message of God. God dedicated Paul, and Paul dedicated himself as he was working out God’s will in his life. His preaching was not against his will, but it was the desire of his heart. His willingness was prompted by the Lord and not something else. The honor was bestowed. The apostle was so devoted to Jesus Christ and the message of Christ that he disregarded his own personal interests. That spirit should characterize every child of God.

Paul’s separation by God’s sovereign decree is actualized in time in his effectual call to apostleship and separation unto the gospel of God. When God’s actions are expressed by a perfect participle, His action is characterized by eternity. This can be understood in the light of the Biblical truth of divine election. The word election does not always refer to the electing decree. It is sometimes used in the sense of manifestation of that decree in time. As there is an election unto salvation or sanctification by the Spirit, which is performed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is a separation unto the gospel of God’s effectual call. That is the thrust of Paul’s message in the book of Romans.

Paul did not use God’s eternal selection to promote himself. He proved that his apostleship, his call, his sincerity, and his dedication to all persons to whom he ministered was evidenced. Separation unto the gospel is internal. Paul was set apart for a particular ministry. Elders are separated unto a particular ministry. Every child of God is not separated to the same ministry, but he is set apart by the grace of God unto the glorious message of the Lord Jesus Himself. The message is called the gospel of God because He is its Author. Separation unto something is automatic separation from something. Paul dealt with his positive separation unto the gospel of God. Thus he was separated from all things contrary to that gospel.

Two extremes of the interpretation of the word separation are Arminianism and Calvinism without practical holiness. Arminians are religionists who have never been separated unto the gospel of God. Depraved individuals desire religion and seek to earn salvation. They may separate themselves from many things of the world, attend church, and become active in some religious institution. They may temporarily appear religious, but it will not endure. They may be compared with the Pharisees who followed Christ for personal gain. Their religious efforts produce weariness (Eccl. 10:15). Many read a Bible or religious books seeking a quick solution to a problem. Unless one’s desire is prompted by the Holy Spirit, nothing is gained. Without the new birth, the desire for anything pertaining to Christianity is insincere.

Regenerated persons desire the word of God that they may personally apply it and grow thereby. Other religionists, Calvinists without practical holiness, boast of separation by God’s eternal decree and calling but manifest no practical holiness in their lives. That is just as heretical as Arminianism. Unless one manifests practical holiness, his belief in the sovereignty of God means no more to him than the subject of divine election meant to the Jews who debated with Jesus Christ in John 8, and there are ten parts to that debate. His opponents boasted of their heritage, but Christ showed them that if Abraham were their spiritual father, as they claimed, they would do the works that He did. Election is unto salvation and practical holiness.

In the original language, the word for separation or set apart (aphoridzo) reminds one of the word “horizon.” Paul’s pre-salvation days were circumscribed to the small circle of Judaism. His salvation in Christ enlarged his horizon. He was lifted from the circle of Judaism to the circle of Christianity, including some persons among whom were all nations and tongues. As new leaves on a pin oak tree push off the old leaves, new life in Jesus Christ caused the old leaves of Judaism to fall from the apostle Paul. Separation unto the gospel of God is internal. It causes one to automatically separate from his old horizon and elevates him into the larger realm of Christianity. There is nothing in the whole circle of doctrine that does not surpass capacity and confound his utmost reach. The extent of the horizon may vary from one Christian to another Christian. Each learned Biblical student opens unimaginable horizons. One never ceases to be amazed at God’s infinite knowledge. Christians occupy their time pursuing the things of God, realizing that the eternal God who is past knowledge, reveals these things to them.

Believers are not only saved by Christ, but they are separated unto Christ. They are separated by covenant (John 17), by redemption (Gal. 1:4), and by the effectual call (I Pet. 2:9). Those separated then separate themselves. They grow up. God dedicated the apostle Paul, and Paul dedicated himself. He dedicated himself through continuous obedience to God’s commands.

Separation by the gospel is external. God’s separation of the elect by grace results in a continuous separation throughout the life of God’s people here on earth. The Holy Spirit alone can apply this truth to a person’s heart that he may obey. The once-for-all cross and the daily cross are inexhaustible paradoxes. On one side, a true and total self-denial results from a conversion experience. Regenerated persons on the other side of conversion need daily self-crucifixion. His work of redemption is completed. Self always seeks to exert itself. Therefore, it must be crucified daily. The cross life is not an attainment but a life-long attitude. It is not a goal, but a road to be traveled throughout one’s earthly life.

A Christian’s union with Christ enables him to mortify the deeds of his body. Paul’s separation began in God’s decree before the foundation of the world. It continued in Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. God’s prevenient grace set him apart even from his mother’s womb (Gal. 1:15). He was separated by the Holy Spirit in regeneration. He was separated by God’s effectual call to apostleship. He was separated unto the gospel of God. He was separated by the church at Antioch under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s separation which began in God’s eternal decree continued in his daily dying (I Cor. 15:31).

A true minister’s attitude is expressed in II Corinthians 7:3—“…you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.” The average conception is that a pastor should live and die with his sheep. However, unless he is willing to die daily, he cannot effectively live with his sheep. Ministers must die to personal desire and selfish ambitions that they may live with a flock over whom the Holy Spirit has made them overseers.

Consider the circumstances under which Paul stated that he was willing to live and die with the Corinthian Christians. Some criticize Paul and question his apostleship. On one occasion, he said he was foolishly relating many things he had suffered for them (II Cor. 11). God-called ministers are willing to endure all things for the elect’s sake. Dedication brings the regenerated elect of God into the light of the cross. Subjection to the message of God causes one to desire to do the will of God. The message of the cross teaches that Jesus Christ came not to straighten us out, but to cross us out. That message contradicts our wills, our affections, our wisdom, our pride, and ourselves.

A bride’s most joyous moment should be when she loses her own name and self-dependence and is united to her husband for support. As that is true in the natural realm, how much more should we drop our self-dependence and depend solely and completely on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation. Self-ownership does not exist in the life of those surrendered to Jesus Christ. There is a once-for-all surrender and a daily self-surrender, but those thus crucified daily mortify themselves. Applied truth is learned truth. “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from myself” (John 7:17). Truth that is merely stored in one’s mind does not differ from Satan’s mental concept of truth. The devil knows that God alone can forgive sin (Mark 2:7), but that does not make him a Christian. Divine truth is intimately connected with the disposition of a Christian’s mind. The results are twofold: (1) the desire to know God’s will, but not merely to gain knowledge, and (2) the determination to do God’s known will. To speak from a mental concept of truth is to speak from the neck through the mouth. That person becomes sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. To speak from mentally and experimentally learned truth is to speak sincerely from the heart. Truth is never one’s own until applied.

Dedication of one by God results in self-dedication by that one saved by God’s grace. His once-for-all death occurred at the cross, but he dies daily to sin. Separation unto the gospel is internal. Separation by the gospel is external.

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.

Copyright ã   2006

This sermon has been written, preached and copyrighted by W. E. Best. While the author retains his copyright to this material, you are invited to copy the sermons or portions of them for your use. But you are specifically forbidden from changing any of the material and from selling it for any financial recompense.  We do not charge for getting out God's Word and we will not support others who do so.