Called to Preach the Gospel

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ”

“There were several ancient Greek words used to designate a slave, but the idea behind the word for servant (doulos) is “complete and utter devotion.”

“Called to be an apostle”

“The idea of being an apostle is that you are a special ambassador or messenger.”

“Separated to the Gospel of God”

“Some think Paul alludes to the name of Pharisee, which means ‘Separatist.’ When he was a Pharisee, he was separated to the law of God; and now, being a Christian, he was separated to the Gospel of God.” [1]

“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship”

“Without GRACE, the help of God, he could not have been an apostle.” [2]

“I am ready to preach the Gospel to you who are in Rome” [3]

Readiness to preach the Gospel was Paul’s gift and high calling from the Lord.

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ has power. We do not give it power; we only stop hindering it when we present it effectively. The Gospel’s power to salvation comes to everyone who believes.” [4]

“For in it [the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed”

“The Gospel speaks of the righteousness of God that is given to the sinner who puts their trust in Jesus Christ. William Barclay explains the meaning of this ancient Greek word dikaioo, which means ‘I justify,’ and is the root of dikaioun ‘righteousness’: ‘All verbs in Greek which end in oo… always mean to treat, or account or reckon a person as something. If God justifies a sinner, it means that God treats the sinner as if he had not been a sinner at all.” [5]

“The just shall live by faith”

By faith in who or what? By faith in Jesus Christ. Faith by itself merits nothing. Faith is receptivity. Faith receives Christ and all that He has done for us. This faith rests on the merits of Christ! What He did for us on the cross! By His resurrection! By His presence via the Holy Spirit! He gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him.

[1] Romans 1:1 and Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Romans 1:5 and Enduring Word Commentary
[3] Romans 1:15
[4] Romans 1:16 and Enduring Word Commentary
[5] Romans 1:17