​​“SAINTS IN THE CITY OF THE CAESARS”  or
“ARE YOU CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE?”

TEXT:  Romans 1:5-7  
THESIS:  To show that every believer has a calling as clear as that of an Apostle.
 
INTRO.: 
       A.  Paul writes to all the “SAINTS IN THE CITY OF THE CAESARS.”  It is interesting that he doesn’t address or mention a pastor or pastors, as usual. 
💥There seems to be no organized church in Rome, just house assemblies.  (Rom.16)
❓What might have been…if Paul had not stubbornly insisted in going to Jerusalem & had arrived in Rome a free man, instead of arriving in chains as a prisoner?!  Oh the cost of delayed obedience!)
       B.  In the City of the Caesars saints would find themselves in a cesspool of sin (much as those in Corinth). 
💥There was open divorce & adultery, fornication, homosexuality [ch.1:18-23], profanity, pornography 
💥[Pompeii – Rome’s playground for the rich & famous], filth, profligacy, perversion, evolution, ungodly philosophy, idolatry [including emperor worship], etc. 
💥Paul will address some of these sins specifically, but he starts out his letter on a high note…
 
I.  PAUL’S CALL:  V. 5  
           
       A.  A Commitment To The Truth:  v.5b 
 
ILLUS.:  As noted last time 🔸v.1-7 is one continuous sentence, so 🔸v.5 is a continuation of the thoughts in the previous verses.  The words opening v.5 (“by whom”) refer back to our Savior.  Jesus is never mentioned in Script. in the past tense.  He is alive.  Unlike the other dead religious leaders.  He is!
                 🧡A very wealthy man had many valuable art treasures.  His only son was quite ordinary, but deeply loved by his father.  This son died unexpectedly, and shortly thereafter the father died of a broken heart.  The father’s will stipulated that his valuable art collection was to be auctioned off and a painting of his son was to be the first piece offered for sale.  That painting was offered for bid, and there was a long silence.  Finally, a long time servant of the father & friend of the son timidly bid seventy-five cents, all the money he had with him.  At that point the sale stopped and an official read the remainder of the will.  It specified that whoever cared enough for his son to buy the painting of him would receive the rest of the estate.🧡
         💨This touching story illustrates all the believer has inherited when he demonstrates his love for God’s only Son by receiving Him.  In exchange for loving & trusting Him, we receive grace & peace, and become joint-heirs with Christ.
 
         1.  A call of grace (the word “grace” will be used 22 times in this epistle).
 
             a.  This grace is priceless to us, but expensive to the Savior.
             b.  This grace is something we could never have earned or purchased, no matter how high the bid.
 
ILLUS.:  Paul, a zealous religious bigot, and persecutor of the Church, was keenly aware of God’s grace to him.  He knew he didn’t deserve it.  But he received more than just grace…
 
         2.  A call of Apostleship:
 
             a.  The word comes transliterated from the Greek “apostolos.”
             b.  It meant one who was specifically called and sent with the Gospel.
 
ILLUS.:  The biblical requirements for apostleship were that one was personally called by Christ, had to have seen the resurrected Savior and given miraculous gifts, e.g., healing, raising people from the dead, casting out of demons, etc.
 
       B.  Commitment To The Task:  v.5b
 
NOTE:  ✔Truth precedes task;  ✔salvation precedes service.  John Wesley surrendered to take the Gospel to the world, before he was saved.  You cannot be a servant of the Lord till you know the Lord.
 
         1.  A call of honor:
 
             a.  To be singled out by the Savior for service is an honor indeed.
              b.  Paul has taken these first 5 verses of introduction to his epistle to describe himself who had been so honored as to have been called an Apostle – a special ambassador, an emissary, a herald of Christ.
 
         2.  A call to service:
 
             a.  The call involves attitude:  (“obedience”).
 
QUOTE:  Phillips:  Paul’s whole life revolved around the words, “obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name,”  and he repeats them almost word for word at the end of the epistle (16:26).”
(Question:  If obedience is a measurement of saving faith – are YOU saved❓❗) 
 
             b.  The call involves an assignment:  (“to all nations”)
 
                 1)  Here Paul expresses his burden for world-wide missions.
                 2)  Here Paul expresses his thesis that all believers should share in this burden.  (“…by who WE”)
 
             c.  The call involves authority:  (“…for His name”)
 
NOTE:  Paul is careful to inject this detail so that the overwhelming responsibility to reach the world with the Gospel is seen in its proper perspective, i.e., that He Who sends is the Same Who provides not only the call, but the enablement.
                                         
II.  PAUL’S CONGREGATION:  v.6,7  

NOTE:  Though there may be no organized church yet in Rome, Paul will address all the believers there and they are in effect his congregation.  As a missionary it will be his responsibility to organize them, instruct them, teach them and admonish them, even though he will do so in a letter & from a prison cell when he arrives.
                                         
       A.  A Call To All:  v.6
 
         1.  One who is called is an “apostolos” or an apostle, lit. “one who is sent.”
 
ILLUS.:  There is a distinction between one who is called to the office of an apostle and those who are generally called.   Paul mentions Andronicus and Junia as being “of note among the apostles.”  (16:7)  Luke calls Barnabas an apostle (Acts 14:4).  But only Paul & the original 12 had the office of an apostle.
 
         2.  Since all saints are “sent” all may be referred to as apostles or ambas-
              sadors.
 
       B.  A Call To Saints:  v.7a
 
         1.  Located by God:  “…in Rome” 
 
ILLUS.:  There may not have been an organized church in Rome, but their were saints there.  Where did they come from❓  Probably from the Day of Pentecost❗ 
💥Acts 2:10 speaks of those who were present as being “…strangers from Rome, Jews & proselytes.”  
​💥Or they could have been traveling Romans who heard the Gospel, got saved & returned to Rome.  In any event, God knows where His saints are.
 
         2.  Loved by God:  “beloved of God”
         3.  Lifted by God:  “called to be saints”  (not a special class of Christians).
 
       C.  A Call From God:  v.7b  “…grace to you and peace…”
 
CONCL.:  These “SAINTS IN THE CITY OF THE CAESARS”  were special to Paul and to the Lord. Paul wrote this epistle directly to them;  God intended it for us as well.  It is loaded with truths we need to know.  We too are called as apostles or ambassadors of the Gospel and our calling is from none other than “God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Are YOU living up to your calling?

NEXT STUDY👉👉👉👉👉👉👉