Romans--Communcation of the Gospel of God

The apostle Paul was separated unto the gospel which was promised by God’s prophets in the Holy Scriptures. Romans 1:2 identifies the Divine gospel of verse one with the promised Son in verses three and four. Three things will be discussed in today’s message: (1) The gospel of God is prophesied in the Old Testament. (2) The gospel of God is personified in Jesus Christ. (3) The gospel of God is personalized in saints—the elect of God.

1. The gospel of God is prophesied in the Old Testament. It was prophesied, typified, and promised by the Old Testament prophets. The prophets were God’s channels for prophesying the gospel. Each prophet was known by his prophecies. A man cannot be separated from his word, and his word cannot be separated from his person. A person’s signature on a check is recognized as himself.

The prophets did not decide to write separate from the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures are inspired of God. The apostle called them holy. No man has ever written a paper or book which did not need rewriting. He cannot be under the direction of the Holy Spirit in the same sense as the prophets when they prophesied. The prophets and apostles made no mistakes as they spoke or wrote by the inspiration of the Spirit. However, men speaking from inspiration can and do make mistakes.

A person studying the Scriptures may be assigned a theme and expend much time and energy assembling data and writing his theme. No matter how thorough, he does not deserve a mark of excellence. Man’s knowledge and ability is limited. Scriptures contain the infinite mind of God; therefore, finite creatures cannot perfectly comprehend them. Nevertheless, writings of the prophets need not be rewritten. They wrote as they were directed by the Spirit of God. II Peter 1:21 says, “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” In the original writings, there is not one mistake.

The word “inspired” occurs in II Timothy 3:16—“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” The word “inspired” means “God-breathed.” Not only were the minds of holy men elevated and their spirits sublimated, but their very tongues were elevated. The Scriptures are the word of God in the words of God. We believe in the plenary, verbal inspiration of the Scriptures. The word “plenary” means full or complete, and “verbal” means the very words.

Faith cannot pick and choose from within the Holy Scriptures. Faith which is the gift of God accepts the whole. Scriptures are God’s forethought, not His afterthought. The New Testament is concealed and contained in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is revealed and explained in the New Testament. As the Lord spoke to the two men on the road to Emmaus, we are told in Luke 24:27 that “beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”

The term “holy” establishes that the Scriptures are inspired. Paul’s writings emphasize the inspiration of the Old and New Testaments. Inspiration refers to writings of holy men, not the men themselves. Solomon made many mistakes. Nevertheless, God inspired him to write a number of books. One must think on truth given by a person, not the person himself. A God-called man should be highly esteemed by Christians for his works’ sake.

No person today is inspired to give Scripture. The revelation of God is completed. Jude 3 tells us that the faith “was once for all handed down to the saints.” In I Corinthians 2:1-4, the apostle Paul told the Corinthians that He spoke in weakness, fear, and trembling, as he preached from inspiration. He realized the awesomeness attached to a proclaimer of the gospel. He desired that their faith might stand in the power of God, not the wisdom of men.

2. The gospel is personified in Jesus Christ as we read in Romans 1:3-4. The promise of the Old Testament became a Person. The prophecy became a personality. The Scriptures became a character. Christianity is Christ. It is not a system of theology about Christ. Christianity is not a person living up to a set of religious rules but living in Christ.

The Lord Jesus was Divinely born and raised from the dead. He was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. He was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. He was conceived in a virgin womb and raised from a virgin tomb. Jesus Christ is a Son different from the sons of men. The Son of God is sinless, but sons of men are sinful.

Christ was born of a descendant of David, signifying the genealogy of His human nature. John 1:14 says He became flesh, denoting His incarnation. Galatians 4:4 says He was born of a woman, showing that His incarnation was through the virgin. Hebrews 2:7 tells us that Christ was made lower than the angels, showing His humiliation. Philippians 2:5-8 says He emptied Himself, thus humbling Himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross. II Corinthians 5:21 tells us that He was made a sin offering on the cross for all whom the Father gave Him in the covenant of redemption.

In the Greek text, Romans 1:3 has the article before the Greek word for “Son.” This places the emphasis of faith on the Person of Christ rather than the message. The KJB and NASB both omit the article. The Divine message of God directs attention to the Person of Christ. Faith is in the Son of God, the One about whom the message speaks.

Jesus Christ was born of the seed of David, revealing Himself as a member of the human race. He was declared the Son of God, proving He has a nature superior to human. His human nature enables Him to reach us. His Divine nature proves His power to help us. Being “Son of David” proves He is man. Being “Son of God” proves He is God.

Divine nature assumed human nature. Christ suffered for us in His human nature, not His Divine nature. Divine nature can neither suffer nor die. Both natures are required to redeem. In His human nature, He died for us. In His Divine nature, He satisfied every demand of the holy law.

3. The gospel of God is personalized in the saints as shown in Romans 1:5-7. God provides grace; then He bestows it. It was first planned and provided; then that which was planned and provided, He bestowed.

Grace is given through the mediation of Christ—“through whom we have received grace and apostleship” (Rom. 1:5). Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ is the Mediator between God and men. Grace is for a person who deserves, without mercy, the full penalty of the law. Grace from heaven brings peace to individual saints.

Observe the order of the words, grace and apostleship. That indicates blessing and responsibility—ability with obligation. Grace is not bestowed without attached responsibility. Ability is not given without connected duty. The gospel was given to the apostle Paul on his way to the Gentiles. The gospel was given to us on our way to others. One speaking grace without assuming Christian responsibility is indicative that grace is absent from that person. Obedience is choosing to do what God has chosen you to do, and failure to do this is disobedience.

Note Romans 1:6. We are not called “apostles,” because qualification for that office was to be an eyewitness of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, we are called saints or holy ones. Christians are “the called of Jesus Christ” (v. 6), denoting privilege (John 5:24-25). Being called “holy” speaks of their position.

Grace is not bestowed upon all. Verse 7 says, “To all who are beloved of God in Rome.” This does not mean every person without exception. It refers to all who had been effectually-called holy ones. Those who are effectually called shall consist of only those whom the Father elected to salvation.

Our study this morning ends with verse 7—“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” God denotes the ability to give. Jesus Christ is the One through whom the gift is bestowed (John 14:6). The gift is applied by the Holy Spirit. No person who denies the Triunity can be a Christian.

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