The Book of Romans: A Burden For Established (1:8-17)

Welcome to Living Faith.

We are a church trusting God to win souls, make disciples, equip leaders, and multiply ministry all throughout the world.

From St.

Louis, Missouri to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Thank you for listening in.

Romans chapter one.

You can leave it off.

That's where we will pick up this morning, continuing our study in the book of Romans in verse 8.

And so hopefully you've been able to follow along with us for those that have been apart.

I know we've been moving slow.

We spent, I think, four messages as a setup to the book in verse 1 or prior to verse 1.

And then we got into the text a little bit more this last week, this last week.

And I'm looking forward to this morning because we get to continue to press forward and seek what God has for us in this text.

If you grab the bulletin, there's some notes on the back or some open lines for you to write down some thoughts.

Maybe you learned something this morning.

Maybe not.

At the least, this is what I'd ask for you to do.

Consider one question this morning.

What would God have you to do based on the truth of his word?

Not the truth of what I say, not my opinion, but what you see in the text.

And if you can see it in the Bible, and the Holy Spirit is bearing witness with your spirit that it is true, my challenge to you this morning is to agree with God according to his word.

It's easy to stand in a pulpit and say, Thus saith the Lord, and yet it not be consistent with what the text says.

And so my desire this morning is to expound the word of God to show you what the text is saying.

Yet I'm a man.

I'm flawed.

I have my own opinions that I can't help but bring as I teach.

And so I want you to be sensitive to what God might be instructing you out of the Word.

I do pray that we can all come before the Word of God humbly and reverently, knowing that it is the God of the universe that speaks through his word to us.

As a Christian, the Bible is not just a book to learn a bunch of stuff about God.

It's a book where we get to hear the voice of God.

You think, what's next for me?

Where am I going?

What should I do?

What job should I take?

Where should I live?

On and on and on.

God has answers for you in his word.

You think, I just don't know about that old book.

Can it really talk to me?

It can.

By the Holy Spirit, God speaks to us in relationship to his truth.

Here's our text this morning, Romans chapter 1 and verses 8 through 17.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

Let's read it together and consider three things.

Paul's burden for the church at Rome manifests three qualities about him his thankfulness for their testimony, his zealousness to see them established, and his readiness to preach the gospel.

Starting in verse eight, he says, First, I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all.

For your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit and the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Verse eleven, we begin to see Paul's zealousness for them to be established, he says, For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established.

That is, that ye may be comforted together with you, I'm sorry, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Verse thirteen.

That I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise.

Verse 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Sixteen, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith.

We begin this morning by considering this overarching thought or topic, Paul's burden to see the saints established in Rome.

An introduction, really, to the book is found here in these verses, where Paul declares his purpose for this letter and why he desires so badly to be with the Romans.

The first thing I want to talk to you about as Paul begins to express his thoughts to the Romans, or his is his thankfulness for their testimony.

Look at with me again, verse 8.

It says, first, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Paul is grateful for the Romans because they not only received the gospel for themselves, but they also had been b busy publishing the gospel to the lost.

So much so that their faith was so evident that it had been spread all throughout the world.

This was quite a testimony and one that we do not see much today.

A lot of churches who say they care about missions, but really what that means is we give money to missionaries.

People don't really know most churches that exist in the world.

And the reality is they they probably won't know us.

At least, man, I hope to God that they do.

I hope that the testimony of this little church, this little group of people, is so profound in the world that people begin to talk about the faith that we have, just like Paul did, and the world was spoken or speaking about the church at Rome.

Here's our first key point for study, and that is that a healthy church should have a testimony throughout the world of being a group of people full of faith.

This was true of Rome.

In verse 8, this is what Paul thanks the Lord for, that their faith was spoken of throughout the world.

And I just want to tell you that you may not know it, but there are churches all through the world who know about this congregation and know what God is doing here, and often are coordinating with me or speaking with me about how they're encouraged to see what God is doing in St.

Louis.

I know it's small, but even this morning, uh a guy from Montana texted me and he said, I'm praying for you.

I'm just praying that God would show up in your congregation this morning and speak to your people.

I'm so thankful for the ministry there in St.

Louis.

I think that this is also being spoken of in Vietnam and Saigon because I get texts.

I know that there's a missionary in London who often thinks of us.

I know that one of my dear friends in Kosovo thinks about us often.

I get a text from him almost weekly saying, I'm so encouraged that you guys are on mission.

It encourages me halfway around the world.

I think about my friend in Kenya planting a church right now who is encouraging me.

Their faith is spoken of throughout the world.

Verse 8, it says, I thank God that your faith is spoken of throughout the world.

My question to you this morning is as a Christian and as a church, what do you want us to be known for?

Rome was known for their faith.

And for a moment, I want you to consider all the things that a church could be known for.

Just consider that.

Maybe there's a church in the city.

You're like, this church is known for fill in the blank.

What are all the things that a church could be known for?

Great music, a rock concert, wonderful praise, guitars that work.

Amen.

That's probably a good thing.

Guitar should work.

Uh thankfully, an acoustic guitar works even without amplification, nonetheless.

Churches could be known for having amazing coffee and apparel.

Everyone there at that church is hip, man.

Wonderful preaching, comfortable chairs, and convenient parking.

And that church is really easy to get into.

I hate that church.

The parking lot's on a hill.

I have to walk up a hill.

Oh, yeah, I've heard of that church.

They have such great community.

A church known because of the social life.

Man, they're filled with people that are just like me.

I love it.

It makes me feel really good as a Christian.

Well, man, that church, that church, they're really traditional, and I'm really thankful for that.

I grew up in a traditional church, and I think of any church in the city, they just have maintained orthodoxy well.

You go where?

Honestly, it surprises me because everyone else I've met there is really rude and carnal.

Man, you should check out that church down the hill.

Their kids' ministry is so much fun.

It's the best.

I don't know.

I was thinking about the church actually around the corner.

That it seems like every kid that comes out of that ministry just loves Jesus and knows the Word of God.

What do you want this church to be known for?

The reality is with such a small group of people here, we get to trust the Lord for that culture.

And we get to trust the Lord for what we get to become.

Lord willing, that's not in accordance with what we want, but what God wants.

And so the question that should be reaching us is not what do I want to become as a church, but what does God want us to become?

Over time, what will the reputation of Living Faith St.

Louis be in the greater metropolitan?

Man, that church loves the Bible.

That'd be great, wouldn't it?

Amen.

Just not at the expense of not loving one another.

Amen.

Man, that church knows the Bible, but everyone I meet there just is kind of a jerk.

You know what?

I'd forfeit the Bible thing if we were disciples who love one another indeed.

And that all men knew that we were the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ because of our love one to another.

I would forfeit it.

I would rather be shallow and love Jesus and have a devotional life that's honoring and pleasing and filled with the true worship of Jesus than say we're a church about the Bible.

Now, why not both?

Why not both?

Why not a people who love going deep in the Word of God and love loving one another and loving God with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength.

What does God want?

You know, I will say he at least acknowledges through his apostle that the Romans' faith, the Romans' faith was known throughout the world.

I will say this, that there are a lot of things we can be known for.

One of them is being a church that cares deeply about the Bible.

Secondly, I really, and this is for my own life personally, but also as a church, I want us to be a church known in this metro as a people of prayer.

And that church at Lincoln Midland, they cry out to God.

They know that nothing can be done unless God shows up.

I really want that.

Because why?

I think God is pleased and glorified in those situations.

This group here, you know, I think God would be pleased if we were radical in our sacrifice and our giving.

And I don't mean financially necessarily.

I'm saying our lives.

Just completely surrendered to God.

I want us to be a people who love one another and a people that go in our burden for the world.

That there's an unquenchable fire on our lives until the day we die to reach the nations.

And that that never goes away.

I want to be known as a discipleship church.

You know what that church does well?

They father and they mother people in the Lord really well.

They don't just preach the gospel and see people come to Christ and then let the babies just do their thing and wander off.

They really care for those that come to Christ and they equip them in the Word of God so that they can be strong and feed people the meat of God's word as well.

That church gets discipleship, and what a testimony that would be.

I think all of these things, being a church of prayer and diligent Bible study and radical worship and loving one another and going to I think all of it gets accomplished if we were people full of faith.

Man, we need to be like Rome.

I wish it could be said of us long term, over time, as a testimony in this city, living faith is a church filled with people who radically believe God in the most honest way that I've ever seen.

I've never seen a group of people in the world that just forfeit all of their agenda and trust Christ at every moment.

Can you imagine having that as your testimony?

Individually, but then also as a church?

They believe God.

They forfeited their strategy and they're dependent on the Lord.

You know, I think great evidence for this is our prayer life, and we'll talk about that here in a moment.

If you remember in the Bible, Jesus isn't seen marveling or being amazed at much.

Most of the time people are marveling and amazed at him.

But if you remember in the Gospels in Matthew 8, Jesus heard of the centurion's plea.

In Matthew 8 and verses 8 through 9, it says, The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

And Jesus turned to the crowd.

And in Matthew chapter 8 and verse 10, it says, When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said unto them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.

Matthew 8 · chapter mention

The rhetorical question, right, for all of us this morning is Is our faith so great that it makes God marvel?

Why not?

Why can't it be?

Why can't we trust him for more?

Why can't we ask him for bigger things?

Why why don't we?

I think we can.

His faithfulness has proved that we can put all of our chips on him.

The second example I want to bring to your attention is in Paul's ministry as he writes to First Thessal the Thessalonicans.

In First Thessalonians chapter one and verses five through eight, he says, For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes.

And ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost.

So that ye were in samples to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia, verse 8, and from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaea, but also in every place.

Your faith to God's word is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak anything.

Man, that's what I want this I want this church to be that.

So that I never have to go out into the world and try to convince anyone that we're a people full of faith.

Just as Paul says, your faith to God is spread abroad that we need not to speak anything.

I I hope that the testimony of our lives are so filled with the evidence that God has shown up that we never have to convince people that we are truly having living faith and not a dead faith.

A lot of people claiming Christ, right?

Claiming the name of Christ, claiming I'm a Christian, I live for God, and then yet no evidence in their life for it.

I pray that our lives testify of God showing up because we have had great faith.

But great faith in evangelism alone does not constitute establishment.

I want you to consider our text in Romans 1.

Though Paul is thankful for the church at Rome for their faith being spread abroad throughout the world, you know what he says?

I long to see you because you're lacking in something.

You need to be established.

And so being a people full of faith and genuine in your desire for God and the things of God is not enough if you are lacking establishment.

Okay, so you're a great evangelist.

The world knows about your church because you've gotten the word out that you're a church that believes God.

Great.

Paul says, I long to see you though, because I'm zealous that you might be established.

You need to be strengthened in the Word of God.

You need an understanding of God's word, that you might live thereby, and that we might mutually as a body comfort one another.

Okay, so while thankful for their faith and testimony, Paul also expresses a need that he says for the church at Rome.

He says they still need to be established, and Paul, knowing their faith, likely wanted to see them take hold of doctrine that they might grow thereby.

Their testimony demonstrated that they believed the gospel and were actively proclaiming it, but their activity in evangelism did not mean that they were established in the doctrine of the gospel.

Moreover, it's one thing to preach the gospel.

A lot of churches do a really good job of that.

I'm thankful that the gospel's going forth from many assemblies, even in this city.

But while the gospel can be declared, it's often misunderstood.

And the functional power of the gospel in the Christian experience is completely missed.

And Paul, I believe, is saying, I'm coming to preach to you, to the whole world, but I'm coming to preach to you the gospel that you might be established.

He's trying to get them to see that the gospel has benefits or positive consequences that will affect their Christian life, and they need to be established in those.

This is important because the conventional measurement of a successful church is how many gospel tracts they get out, or how many door hangers they do, or how many souls they win.

And while that is super important and necessary to be on mission as a Christian and to obey the Great Commission, it is not the fullness of the mission, which is discipleship.

And so what happens is a lot of times in church, people end up finding their success or measuring their success based on their activity rather than their identity in Christ.

And so, great, they're known of throughout the world.

Everyone knows that this church really serves the world well.

And they're bold in their faith, great.

Okay, but they completely misunderstand their identity, and so Paul has to write 16 chapters to them to help them understand how to function in the church.

Paul's thank truly thankful for them, but he thinks there's something missing.

And so Paul prayed for them.

When there's need in the church, we pray.

Romans chapter 1 and verse 9 he says, For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of the Son, of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

Paul continually made mention of them in prayer.

His burden for the Romans went beyond their salvation, and as I've already mentioned many times now, he desired for them to be established.

His prayer related to his desire to personally minister the doctrine to them.

He says, I long to come to you, I want to be with you, I want to impart some spiritual gift unto you.

And so this is where we need to discuss Paul's zealousness and burden to see them established.

Not only his thankfulness, but his zealousness.

Paul greatly desired to come and see them, but but listen to the words he expresses or records carefully.

He describes that his desire was subject to the will of God.

Verse 10 If by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey, by the will of God to come unto you.

And this is our second key point for study, and that is our desires are only good when they are subject to the will of God.

Paul makes a contingency in his desire to come to them, and that is, I want it if God wants it.

If this is the will of God, let it be so that my journey would be prosperous unto you.

If not, I think I think there's a contingency contingency there for him to say, I don't want to be part of it.

Moreover, a good thing in the wrong time or pursued in the wrong manner can still lead us to being out of the will of God.

Okay, so simply put, a life, our life is pleasing and honoring to God when we finally yield our plans and our purposes, and and we don't go about our own way trying to carve out some.

Path in our life to please God by our best efforts and reasoning.

And by way of example, I can testify from both directions in my own life.

There have been times I've been blessed because I've been yielded, and there have certainly times I've been left frustrated in my Christian life because I'm trying to get something I know God wants for me on my terms and on my timeline.

Anybody ever been there?

You ever experienced that?

God, I know that this is what you want for me.

I know that you want me to, and then fill in the blink on whatever you want.

And you know God wants for you.

I'm just going to get it my way.

And I think that's the garden.

I think that's the temptation of the garden.

I think God wanted to invite Adam and Eve into knowledge of good and evil.

I think he desired to do that in a process, not in a moment of usurping God's plan and authority by getting it in an instant.

And that's what Satan always wants to do.

You see the thing that God wants.

Here it is in a moment.

That's Matthew chapter 4, when Jesus is brought before the temptation to the exceeding high mountain.

Matthew 4 · chapter mention

Satan's offer, the third offer is, hey, just bow down and worship me and I'll give you the kingdoms of the world.

See them?

Look at it.

They're yours.

Were they yours?

Were they Jesus's?

Yes, most certainly.

Just not before he went to the cross.

There are some things that needed to get accomplished in Jesus' life before he was going to become King of Kings.

And one of those significant details is he had to die.

God forbid he would be king and us not redeemed.

There'd be no people or subjects for him to lead.

The question I have for you this morning is this.

What is the motivation of your decision making?

And ultimately, is it the will of God?

Is it your own comfort or is it the edification of other believers?

What was motivating the Apostle Paul into making a decision to go to Rome that he might impart something to them was the impartation of the gift.

He wanted to see them established.

It was not about him.

In fact, this would probably have been like a two-week journey.

That isn't like hopping on a plane or like a ferry with your car while you sit on your phone and look at social media.

This was going to be a rough journey.

And it was going to have to cause Paul to forfeit his comforts.

But his greater desire was not for his own life.

It was for them to be blessed.

And so what motivates you in your Christian life when you make decisions for how to move forward, what motivates you?

Is it comfort?

Is it what you want?

Or is it what the will of God is for you?

And I believe the will of God for us is to have our mind transformed and to be like him, to serve not only the Lord, but one another, to be a minister, to humble ourselves, and to serve one another.

Look at verse 10, right?

He says he wanted to be yielded to the will of God, but verse 11, his desire also was to see them established.

And so you might ask yourself, how do I know what I want?

How do I know what I want?

How do I know what my vote my motivations are?

When I go to make a decision in my Christian life, how do I know if this desire is coming from me, from God, from the Holy Spirit working in my heart to move me, or the enemy?

What do I want?

How can I trust what I want?

It's sometimes difficult to navigate our desires and our decisions in the Christian experience, isn't it?

Is it just me?

No, it's difficult.

It's really difficult at times, especially if we distance ourselves from the truth of God's word.

But one way we can discover our wants is by observing our prayer life.

Our prayer life is a really good measuring stick to show us what we actually want.

Are we like Jesus in the garden?

Not my will, but thine be done, O Lord.

I mean, Lord, let this cut pass for me if you would, but at the end of the day, not my will, but thine be done.

If you want me to go to Rome, so be it.

If not, I don't want to go.

And so evaluate your prayer life.

Are you always praying about yourself?

Maybe it's revealing to you that what you want is selfish.

Are you always praying about your will and not rather not my will but thine, O Lord?

Are you always asking for physical things?

You know, when you look at Paul's prayer life through his 13 epistles to the churches, I believe this is the only time he ever prays for something physical.

Every other prayer has a spiritual context.

And I would argue that this one does too.

He's asking for a prosperous journey, something physical, for the purpose that the end of that journey would cause some spiritual blessing in the church at Rome.

Is your prayer life filled with physical things?

Lord, give me the better paycheck.

Lord, give me the better place to live or give me the new car.

What's your prayer life about?

It'll probably reveal what you want.

And I'm expressing to you that it's a good measuring stick to know whether or not you're in the will of God or not.

Are you surrendered?

Are you yielded?

Maybe you don't pray at all.

And therein lies more evidence for what you want, your own way rather than trusting God and being a people full of faith.

Paul says in verse 9, God is my witness.

He's saying, I pray for you.

And then he's saying, I could tell you that, but God is my witness, I'm not a liar.

In other words, we can lie to ourselves about our desires, but God is a witness of our prayer life.

And he can tell what we're in our spirit without ceasing giving to him, what we're longing for.

And so you may tell yourself, Man, I really think I want the things of God.

Just make sure you can declare, like the top of verse 9 says, For God is my witness.

If God were to come in and expose your prayer life, would a different conclusion be drawn?

No, this person actually isn't interested in what God is doing.

They're interested in what they're doing.

Now Paul is zealous, okay?

So first, Paul is thankful, but he's also zealous, and he's passionate and determined, not about his pleasures, but their profit.

And he doesn't only pray for them, but he longs to see them.

He actually wants to be in their presence.

Romans chapter 1 and verse 11.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

It says, For I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end that you may be established.

And I really want you to understand the importance of what we're seeing in Paul's life.

That his zealousness wasn't just for information to be given, but for him to actually fellowship with other believers.

And that should be the longing of the Christian, to be with other people who agree that God is worthy of a life yielded to the Word of God.

I think that's true.

And I think that we see that in Paul's life.

He says that I might impart unto you some spiritual gift, and that that spiritual gift would end in their establishment.

So quickly in passing, I want to acknowledge that he says, may, may twice and not will, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established, not that ye will be established.

Why?

Because the Romans still had a choice.

Even if Paul showed up and he was in their presence, they still had a choice on whether or not they would receive what he was giving.

Paul had more to his apostleship than simply the gospel of grace to the Gentiles.

He was actually trying to accomplish something in the presence of believers, and that was the edification of the church, which is impossible unless you come together with others.

And so the outcome of Paul's establishment of giving this doctrine or this spiritual gift was mutual comfort.

Look at verse 12.

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith, both of you and me.

Both of you and me.

He's like, I want to be in your presence.

Because I know that if you're established and I'm with you and I impart this spiritual gift, we're going to mutually benefit from it.

And that is our next key point this morning, and that is that seeking to establish others in the faith will only result in compounding comfort and edification.

If you try to get that in your own life, in your own Christian life, and just turn the focus on yourself and think, I want to be spiritually strong as a Christian and live a good life for God, that's fine, but if you focus, it's a good desire.

But if you you seek that good desire and try to accomplish it by focusing on self and what you want, you're going to actually forfeit the compounding comfort that comes through members of the body of Christ coming together and loving one another.

And what is necessary here is establishment.

That's what I want you to see.

The outcome of establishment is mutual comfort.

That's why doctrine is needed.

In other words, when our spiritual growth, our focus, and our prayers are on self, we not only forfeit our own comfort, but the establishment of others and the edification of the body of Christ.

Look at 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 3.

2 Thessalonians 1 · chapter mention

It says, We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.

That's why I want to be true of this church.

That our faith is growing exceedingly day by day, and that the charity of every one of us, all toward one another, aboundeth.

Just that when people come in, they think, man, every every time I come here, I just feel more and more loved.

And I'm just so thankful to be able to love everyone that God brings in here.

That should be the heart of the church, rather than backbiting in bitterness and being disgruntled and finding ways to divide God's church.

A look at Paul's burden in prayer should also be considered when he writes to Colos and Laodicea in Colossians chapter two, in verses two and three.

It begins this way, though, in verse one.

He says, For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, his burden for them, and for them at Laodicea.

This is verse one of Colossians chapter two.

He says, And for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.

That would include us.

Verse 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in whom all I'm sorry, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Once again, Paul's prayer.

Paul's burden manifests in him praying these things on behalf of the Colossians, the Laodiceans, and all those that had not seen him in the flesh.

Establish establishment produces something in us as believers.

It produces our ability to comfort one another.

And Paul expected that the establishment would result in mutual faith, comfort, and edification.

And so this is why he longs.

This is what his zeal is for.

And so the again the rhetorical question this morning is what are you zealous for in life?

What do you long for?

What do you want most?

As much as is within you.

With all of your getting.

What do you seek for?

And what are you so zealous about?

Paul was zealous for the edification of others.

Oftentimes I am thinking about myself.

I'm thinking about what I need to learn, how I need to grow, the doctrine I don't understand that I need to study out, the ways that I need to love better.

And the solution is just get my eyes off myself and begin loving y'all better.

And caring for you more, reaching out, asking how I can pray for you, genuinely doing that, doing that without ceasing, for God is my witness.

And letting that thing be honest in our lives.

I think one of the greatest evidence of us being a people of faith is us being a people of prayer.

It's the the revealing of whether or not we trust ourselves or trust in the Lord.

Paul had oftentimes purpose to come.

It wasn't just his zeal to long to be with them.

He actually tried to be with them.

Romans chapter 1 and verse 13.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

He says, Now I would not have you ignorant brethren that I often time, that oftentimes I purpose to come unto you.

He says, But I was hindered, that I might have some fruit among you, even as among other Gentiles.

So oftentimes purposed, yet hindered.

And I think that's important.

When we read Romans chapter 1, and we read verse 16, you know, that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all those that believed the Greek first and also the Jew, we think, oh, Paul's just really excited about preaching the gospel to the world.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

That's true, isn't it?

It's true.

Woe unto me, he says, if I preach not the gospel.

We'll see that here in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 16.

1 Corinthians 9 · chapter mention

I think this is our next verse in the PowerPoint.

If not, I apologize.

Yeah.

It says, For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me, yea.

Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.

I mean, that's certainly true.

He ought to preach the gospel throughout the world to, as we'll see here in verse 14, the Greek, the barbarian, the wise, and the unwise.

But in our section this morning, what I'm trying to get your attention to is actually verse 15.

Paul does want to preach the gospel with readiness to the Greeks, the barbarians, the wise, and the unwise.

The gospel has to go forth throughout the world.

But look at verse 15 quickly.

He says, So, as much as me in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Now, if we were coming through the text, we would realize that the Romans that he's talking about are already saved.

And so what the heck, Paul?

What are you doing preaching to save people?

They're already saved.

The gospel needs to be preached to those that already are justified, because the gospel has aspects and benefits that completely and radically change the Christian experience.

And so if you don't understand the gospel and its implications, here's the point, and its implications, then you'll never be established.

And we'll never see that edification, that building up of the house that God intends.

It's only possible when we realize and we begin to learn what Paul prayed about in Colossians chapter 2, as we just read a moment ago, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God.

Colossians 2 · chapter mention

That's what he's trying to get them to see.

That's what he's trying to give them assurance of and understanding in, the mystery of God.

And if that's missed, then he says, ultimately I've failed.

And so I long to be with you.

I want to be with you in person that I might be comforted, that I might be comforted with you.

And so Paul oftentimes purposed to go to them.

And as you see in verse 14 of Romans chapter 1, he says this, I am a debtor.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

I am a debtor.

That was his zeal.

That's what motivated him more than anything.

Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel.

He says, I have nothing.

There's no glory that I would have in my Christian life if I wasn't preaching the gospel.

And so as a Christian, even though it's uncomfortable, you have to be preaching the gospel.

You have to be sharing your faith.

You have to get uncomfortable and become an evangelist.

Even if you're not gifted in that way, God has told you to be ready to share your faith.

And a lot of times, as Bible-believing Christians, it's easier to learn a new thing about God and His Word than talk to a stranger about their need for Christ.

My message to you this morning closes this way Paul's readiness to preach the gospel, his thankfulness for Rome, his zealousness to impart some spiritual gift unto them, his readiness to preach the gospel.

That is to the world.

He knows he's a debtor to the whole world, but also to those that are at Rome.

If you remember in verse 6 of Romans chapter 1, he says that the Romans were called of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

In verse 7, they were beloved of God.

They weren't enemies of the cross.

These were saved individuals.

And in verse 7, he goes on, called to be saints.

Called to be saints.

These were saved individuals who also needed to hear the gospel.

Paul was ready to preach to the lost.

Look at with me now, the very familiar verse of Romans chapter 1.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

In verse 16, he says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Here the description of the gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation, the contingency to everyone that believeth.

Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again, and yet the gospel, though it is powerful, and though it's offered freely, only has efficacious power, has effectiveness in the Christian life if we are a believing people.

Paul was ready to preach the gospel to the lost, but he was also ready to preach the gospel to the saved.

And that's what I want to encourage you with you all with and in the pulpit and out of the pulpit to be a people who freely speak of the gospel and provoke one another to love and good works in accordance with the gospel.

When you're in conversation and someone's discouraged, preach to them the gospel.

When someone is wondering whether or not they can trust Christ, preach to them the gospel.

When someone is wondering, can I believe that God is faithful to continue to lead me forward, preach to them the gospel.

You think the gospel is just kind of the thing that the new baby Christian needs know?

It is the thing that every one of us will need and need to understand progressively as we go about our lives day to day.

We have to live out of the power of the gospel.

And yet, I will say, here in Romans chapter 1 and verse 14, Paul did express that his readiness wasn't just for the saints, it was for the Greeks, the barbarians, the wise, and the unwise.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

It reminds me of 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 15, which says, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

An answer.

The Greek there is what we get the word apologetic from.

An answer for what?

All the deep questions?

No, not all the deep questions, just a reason for the hope that's in us.

And this is our last key point for study this morning, and that is that you are saved.

I'm sorry, that if you are saved, you have everything you need to be a soul winner.

And the book of Proverbs says, He that wineth souls is wise.

A lot of people in the pulpit I've heard say, you know, it's not up to us to win souls.

That's God's business.

We just preach the gospel.

I don't know.

The Bible says that you can be wise if you win them.

And that if you follow Christ, he'll make you to become a fisher of men.

If you are saved, you are not lacking.

You have everything you need to be effective in this area.

Have you ever won a soul?

Have you ever tried?

Have you tried a hundred times?

What about a thousand?

The Bible says that this is a responsibility of the believer.

And just as Paul was thankful for Rome, thankful for their faith spread abroad, zealous to impart some spiritual gift, he was also ready to preach the gospel.

1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 15 really encourages me, y'all.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

It's what I've been thinking about really all week.

And 1 Peter chapter, can you go back one verse, Sean?

I'm sorry I messed you up, y'all, up.

1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 15.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

It says, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be always ready to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that's in you.

You don't need ten reasons for why you have hope.

You don't need some great exposition of the text for why you believe in Jesus and why you have hope and joy in him.

You don't need five.

You don't even need two.

The Bible says you just need a reason.

That's what you need to be ready for.

You think, I'm not ready.

I'm not ready to go preach the gospel.

I'm not ready to share my faith with my coworkers.

I'm not ready.

Are you saved?

If you're saved, you have a reason.

God has saved your soul.

And he has died for you.

And if that's not reason enough to express to people why you have hope, then are you saved?

Or have you forgotten what Christ has done for you?

1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 4.

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

Peter writes this, he says, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

I think I forgot some of that verse.

That's not the right verse.

Nonetheless, just put it put a note there, alright, in 1 Peter chapter 1.

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

This is that lively hope that Peter writes about.

Can we just turn there?

Because I think that would be appropriate at this time.

Okay.

1 Peter chapter 1.

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

And look it with me, starting in verse 3.

The verse right before this, he says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

A reason of the hope that you have in Jesus.

What is that reason?

What is that singular reason you can declare to this world, ready with an answer in your mouth, for the hope that you have?

Jesus is risen, death is defeated.

If that doesn't give you hope, I don't know what will.

If you are willing to believe it, as a Christian, you should be thankful and unashamed.

Just as Paul was unashamed of the gospel of Christ.

That was the power of God to his salvation.

Romans chapter 5 and verse 5, he would go on to the church at Rome, and he would say this to them, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us.

Romans 5 · chapter mention

A reason for the hope, I've just given you three.

Your own salvation, the resurrection of Christ, and now the impartation of the Holy Spirit given to us in our hearts, the sealing of the Spirit according to Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 13.

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

A reason you should have hope is that you're secure in Christ, and you can never lose your salvation.

And you should be able to go out into this world and share with people the reason, the answer that I have for you for why I'm an individual filled with the joy of God is because I believe that Jesus Christ rose again from the grave.

And upon believing that message, that God raised him from the dead, my sins have been dealt with, and God has given me his Holy Spirit.

His Holy Spirit gives me hope, and his love is now shed abroad in my heart.

And so I rest in that.

How does your prayer life look and is it filled with prayers that are saying, Lord, establish this church?

Is that what you're zealous for?

The second question for you is Are you zealous for this body to not only know the gospel but be established in it?

Are we praying for one another?

Are we yielded to the will of God?

Or are we doing our own thing?

Are we focused on ourselves, or are we comforted by one another as we seek to love one another?

And lastly, are you ready to preach the gospel?

Are you thankful?

Are you zealous?

Are you ready to preach the gospel to the Greek, to the barbarian, to the wise, to the unwise, and to one another.

To Rome also, he says.

Do you have a at least a single reason for why you have hope?

That single reason allows you to answer every one of those individuals.

The wise man doesn't need a wise answer.

He needs a reason for hope.

The unwise doesn't need you to dumb down yourself and talk to them on a low level.

They just need to know there's hope in this world.

The person who can't make sense of this world and is anxious every day and depressed, they just need someone to share with them why there's hope.

And we all collectively, as we speak with one another, need hope.

We live in a crazy world, don't we?

You're like, no, I love it.

Nobody loves this world.

It's crazy.

The governments are crazy.

This nation is crazy.

This city is messed up.

Highest murder rates for the last decade in the United States?

Reason for the hope.

You know what gives me hope?

Jesus Christ is risen from the grave and death has been defeated.

I'm so thankful for that.

Let's go to the Lord in prayer, and I just pray that these things are true of us.

Are you a thankful people?

Are you zealous for the things that God desires you to be zealous about, and are you ready to preach the gospel?

Once again, thank you so much for listening in.

We pray that these words were a challenge to you, but also a great encouragement in your walk with God.

May the Lord bless you and lead you further into His will as you're conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

God bless.