Romans 1:1C Set Apart for the Gospel of God
Set Apart For the Gospel of God
Romans 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God[i]
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IN Paul’s intro to the Romans,
He Introduces Himself-Paul
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Followed by his designations/titles.
1 a slave to Christ Jesus
2 And an Apostle of Christ Jesus.
3 Set Apart for the Gospel of God
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“Set Apart”
ἀφωρισμένος
The verb aphōrismenos has the same root meaning as ‘Pharisee’ (pharisaios)
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Pharisee one set apart to keep the law and make sure others kept in the strictest sense. (Acts 9)
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This word being used was not a coincidence, but purposeful.
Paul had set himself apart for the law, but now God had set him apart for the gospel.
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Grace
Paul
Born a Roman Citizen (Acts 16:37, 22:28)
Born an Israelite/Benjamite/Hebrew (Phil 3:5)
Born into a family of Pharisees (Acts 23:6)
When God saved Paul, his nature was changed, but God kept Paul ‘s human aspects intact.
Paul’s Roman Citizenship was kept. Why? To preach to the Roman Authorities (Acts 22-28)
Paul Jewish Ethnicity was kept. Why? To preach to the Jews and to the Gentiles (Acts 9-28)
Paul scholasticism was kept. Why? To preach to pagan philosophers (Acts 17:22-33)
Application:
Comfort
1 Take Comfort in knowing, all the life lessons we learned were meant to shape us into who he wanted us to be.
And at the moment of being born again, God will use all of that!
My Note: The Good (like a good home) the bad (broken home). The heart ache (divorce) The rejoicing (reconciliation of marriage) The painful (addictions), the joy of children and parenting (raising kids), even the pain of wayward kids….All that God will use for Good!
Application
Change
2 Some of us want God to change our human aspects/situations, but maybe God is keeping you there. Why? To Preach to those who are not Christians yet!
My Note:
Feel like you need to accomplish more in life, and you should be doing more? Do you have kids at home, why has God left you there? Maybe to preach to your kids and to help them grow in following Jesus.
Feel like you can’t get out of a rut at work/job/promotions/or have an unfulfilling job? Maybe God is keeping you there? Why? To preach to shoe who are not Christians/and to grow current believers!
Stop looking for a way out, and look for God’s purposes for setting you apart, yet leaving you in your current situation.
Romans 1:1C Set Apart for the Gospel of God
#Who set Paul apart? God.
#What was God’s purpose for setting Paul apart? For the Gospel of God.
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Not only was Paul using “Pharisee law keeping vs Grace coming from God”, language,
He is using “Prophet language” to grab his readers attention.
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OT Prophets
Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.[ii]
Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, O coastlands,
and give attention, you peoples from afar.
The Lord called me from the womb,
from the body of my mother he named my name.[iii]
Isaiah 49:5 And now the Lord says,
he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him;
and that Israel might be gathered to him—[iv]
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Paul follows this line of thinking:
Galatians 1:15
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;[v]
Question
When did God set Paul Apart? V15
For what purposes? V16
2 Timothy 1:9, Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:29, Revelation 13:8
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Why is this encouraging to a persecuted Church?
Because it tells them and us, that the same eternal God who saved a legalistic/murderer like Paul, can save a sinner like us.
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Why is this encouraging to a persecuted Church?
Because it tells us that the same God who came to Paul, is the same God who will stay with Paul.
2 Timothy 4:16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
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Why is this encouraging to a persecuted Church?
Because it tells us, that even if we die from our trials, we will live in the eternal safety of our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. [vi]
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Set Apart for the Gospel of God
It also shows the origination of the gospel, is God Himself
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Why is this all encouraging to a persecuted Church?
If the gospel starts with God Himself, it ends with God Himself, and his love for us NEVER ends and Never Fails!
My notes; Believers, stop living in fear, Stop living in regret, Stop living in anger, and stop living in the past, live for today, doing Christ work…Church, Family, Friends, neighbors.
Unbelievers, Stop living for yourself, Live for Jesus. He died for you, and now lives and calls to you. Revelation 22
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” [1]
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 22:17.
[i] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 1:1.
[ii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Je 1:4–5.
[iii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 49:1.
[iv] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 49:5.
[v] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ga 1:15–16.
[vi] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ti 4:16–18.