Question #2: What characterizes the gospel preacher?
This helps us understand what Paul declares in today’s passage. But it also fits what we need to be when, in Rom. 10, Paul notes that all people need someone to “preacher” the gospel to them.
· He serves God, v8-9a
– He is thankful for what God is doing in the Church.
– He acknowledges that he is accountable to God.
– He serves with his spirit.
· He loves people, v9b-12
– He prays for them.
– He longs to be with them.
– He submits to them. He recognizes his own need to be encouraged and that he has the same faith as the Roman believers.
· He devotes himself, v13-15.
– He won’t give up. He has tried to be with them but been hindered. (Some of that hindrance involved time in prison for preaching the gospel. He would eventually make it to Rome via an all-expenses paid voyage as we learn in Acts 27-28.
– He obligates himself. He sees that he has a debt, an obligation of love, to settle with those in Rome.
– He remains ready.
Question #3: What does the gospel do?
· The gospel is God’s power for salvation.
– To be saved your friends and family must hear the gospel.
– How does the gospel do this “saving” of those who believe? We must know this so that we might have a right relationship with Him.
· The gospel saves by revealing God’s righteousness.
– It reveals how a righteous God accepts sinful men into his family!
– God punished Christ in our place and declared us righteous in Christ!
– THE RIGHTEOUS LIVE BY FAITH!
This concludes Paul’s introduction to Romans. There are many details to learn about the work of Christ as revealed in the gospel.
