Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Romans
Separated to Preach the Gospel
There
is nothing more foreign to New Testament Christianity than a “born
again” believer who is not burdened for the souls of lost people.
Reaching the lost is the main purpose of God in our salvation and
discipleship.
In
other words, the purpose of God in creating local churches is to create
a Spirit-filled army of soldiers who are theologically trained and
spiritually armed to bring the world to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Every Christian’s life should be preoccupied with this goal. This is
what defines biblical discipleship.
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1).
The word “separated” in Romans 1:1 is from the Greek word aphorizo (af-or-id’-zo). The basic meaning is to set apart by a boundary.
The intent is that every Christian’s purpose in life is set apart from
all worldly ambitions and pursuits after worldly pleasures by a God
ordained motivation to reach the lost of this world with the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. This mission should be among our first thoughts as we
arise from bed in the morning and among our last thoughts and prayers
before we retire at night. This missional vision will not happen by
accident. We will need to do everything in our power to keep it at the
forefront of our lives. We will soon discover that the forces of evil
in the world, along with our own fallen and corrupt nature, will soon
relegate this priority to the bottom of life’s demands upon our time.
There is a great deal of difference between ambition and mission. Ambition wants what it wants for our own purposes. Mission
wants what it wants for God’s purposes. Mission is the major priority
of the Christian life because mission is a direct command of the
commission of Jesus Christ given to ALL believers.
“16
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where
Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped
him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth {refers to Jesus as
the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; I
Timothy 6:17}. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations {enroll people
of all nations and ethnicities to become scholars of the Bible and
followers of the teachings of Jesus}, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen {so be it or so let it
be}” (Matthew 28:16-20).
Every Christian’s ministry is to enroll people in their own discipleship training once someone is “born again.” In
other words, leading people to repent of sin and “dead works” and
understand and believe/trust/rest in the finished work of redemption
through the shed Blood of Christ are just the first two decisions in a
faith decision to be “born again.” Then the believer must confess Jesus
to be Jehovah incarnate with Sovereign authority over the believer’s
life. The believer must then call upon the Name of Jesus requesting the
gift of justification and receive the impartation of the indwelling
Spirit of God. These five verbs constitute what the Bible defines as a
faith decision to be “born again” into the New Genesis. Nothing else
needs to be done to be saved.
However,
a believer’s decisions for Christ do not end with these five verbs.
Water baptism is another decision having to do primarily with a
believer’s enrollment in a local church with a commitment to be a
student of the teachings of Jesus so as to learn to live those
teachings. Water baptism that is disconnected to local church
membership and enrollment in becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is not
baptism at all. If there is no commitment to “walk in the newness of
life,” water baptism has no purpose. This disconnection in teaching
water baptism is a great corruption of the Great Commission, thereby
corrupting the doctrine and purpose of the assembling of the local
church. A local church is primarily an academic institution training
disciples to win souls and make disciples.
Recently,
I received a call from a lady who had found one of my tracks on Saving
Faith in a medical clinic waiting room. She proceeded to tell me the
tract was all wrong. She said, “God is a God of love and when lost
people die they just cease to exist.” She said, “There is no such thing
as an eternal place of torment.” I listened to her ramble on without a
breath for about five minutes. Then I simply asked her, “Are you born
again?” Then there was a moment of silence. Without really answering
my question, she just started where she left off repeating the same
things over again. Then I asked her, “Mam, are you a Jehovah Witness?”
She said she was. I told her if she wanted to have a Bible study with
me, I would gladly show her the many Scriptures that teach on an eternal
Hell and how she could be “born again.” Ignoring my offer and
everything I said, she began again with her diatribe against the Bible
tract. She had been deceived by the lies of the father of lies and was
simply repeating the lies she had believed. This is a truth common to
almost every person that we will encounter in evangelism.
Paul
was not only a man “called” of God, He was man separated from the world
for a specific task. He was called to tell the whole world the good
news of God’s wondrous gift of salvation and how “whosoever will” can be
saved. This is the calling and mission of every person
professing Jesus as Savior and Lord. There are only two categories of
true Christians in the world.
1. Those who are doing what they have been separated to do
2. Those who are not doing what they have been separated to do
Paul was “separated unto the gospel of God” before he was ever born. This is known as the doctrine of predestination. Paul even tells us the exact details in Galatians 1:15 of when God separated him “unto the gospel.”
Paul
traveled extensively during his second and third missionary journeys
planting churches in Galatia. Galatia was a Roman province in the
middle of what is today modern Turkey. There were four main churches in
Galatia - Antioch, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra. Disciples of Christ
were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26). The province of
Galatia was populated by Gauls. The Gauls were ignorant barbarians with
little to no knowledge of the one true God. When they were “born
again,” they began to be influenced by some early corruptions of
Christianity. Judaizers had entered into the churches of Galatia and
began teaching a mixture of Law keeping with salvation in justification
by grace through faith.
The
second corruption was that Christian maturity (perfection) came through
the sacrifices and moral laws of the Mosaic Covenant. Paul condemns
both of these false doctrines as corruptions of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. This was all going on within the first thirty years
after the beginning of Christianity and probably about twenty years
after these local churches in Galatia had been founded.
What
we must learn from Paul’s Epistle to the local churches of Galatia is
that we must all be dedicated to maintaining the purity of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. This includes both the message of the Gospel in
what Christ has accomplished on behalf of sinners to be justified
before God AND what defines a biblical faith response to the objective
facts of that message.
“6
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there
be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we
said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now
persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men {pleasing or placating men to avoid division in the churches}? for if I yet pleased men {just to be agreeable, but compromise the Gospel},
I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren,
that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man {finds no source of origin in human philosophies}.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by
the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my conversation {the way I lived}
in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I
persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the
Jews’ religion {was famous, privileged, and wealthy} above many
my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the
traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me
from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son
in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I
conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to
them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and
returned again unto Damascus” (Galatians 1:6-17).
Before
we were ever born, God foreknew those who would trust in Christ and
incorporated them into His plan to bring the message of redemption to a
lost world. Even before we were saved, God began working in
our lives to prepare us for the ministry that He would call us to do.
Many people think that it is only men like Paul, John the Baptist,
Jacob, Samson, Moses, Samuel, and Jeremiah that are unique in this way.
Actually this is a common truth for all believers. Every believer is
separated from the womb unto the “gospel of God.”
“29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren
{the ‘church of the firstborn’- Hebrews 12:23}. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called {‘them’ here refers corporately to the priesthood of all believers known as ‘the church’}: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30).
What Christ said about the Apostle Paul is true of every believer born
again of the Spirit of God. All who have accepted God’s free gift of
salvation in Jesus Christ also have a vocational calling to take that
good news to everyone with which they come in contact according to the
threefold plan of evangelism defined in the Great Commission.
“13
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much
evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath
authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto
me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my
name’s sake” (Acts 9:13-16).
The “gospel of God” is broad in the scope of its intended audience.
The word translated “gospel” is from the Greek word euaggelion
(yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on). It refers to the good news for humanity
regarding the kingdom of God soon to be established on earth. The good
news revolves around the finished work of Jesus the Messiah and how His
life, death, and resurrection opens the door to the New Genesis “in
Christ” for “whosoever will.”
However,
the “gospel of God” does not end with the good news regarding
deliverance from condemnation. The Gospel message continues the good
news for those who accept God’s free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus
by teaching that the resurrected Jesus has been exalted to the right
hand of God in heaven. From here, He will return in glory and majesty
with His redeemed to establish the kingdom of God on earth.
Therefore, the Gospel of God to which we must be committed to proclaim is much more than a fire escape message of salvation.
The “gospel of God” is a proclamation of victory and restoration of the
lost dominion of humanity over this world given to humanity by God and
stolen by the deception of Satan (Genesis 1:26-28; Revelation 5:1-13).
The “gospel of God” is a proclamation of a complete salvation and an
already accomplished victory over sin and Satan. The battle is already
won.
“9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete {perfect tense and passive voice} in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:9-10).
“55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The
sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks
be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:55-58).
The “gospel of God” is doctrinally definitive.
The
“gospel of God” to which Paul refers is the whole book of Romans
detailing every aspect of Christ’s work on mankind’s behalf.
The “gospel of God” details the doctrine of condemnation, the
propitiation of God, the availability of justification by grace through
faith, positional and practical sanctification, consecration, and the
believer’s ultimate and final glorification with Christ. It is this
complete body of doctrine that Paul calls “the gospel.” It is this
complete body of doctrine that we are commanded to go into all the world
proclaiming (Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, to preach/teach the “gospel
of God” moves far beyond winning a soul to Christ in salvation into
discipleship in “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
There
is such a superficial understanding of the “gospel of God” that the
good news is reduced to little more than a few facts regarding Jesus
Christ. This reduction of the good news is often so shallow it is
dubious that anyone could even make an intelligent faith decision.
For instance, the statement of Paul in I Corinthians 15:1-4 is merely
an abbreviation of this whole body of doctrine. The work of salvation
is just an introduction to the “gospel of God.” We must remember that
the first four verses of I Corinthians chapter fifteen are merely and
introduction to the balance of doctrine regarding the resurrection and
glorification of all believers. The first part of the “gospel” involves
what Christ accomplished in His death burial, and resurrection.
However, these truths are just the foundation for the “good news,” not
is entirety.
“1
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also
ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye
have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:1-4).
Additional
aspects of the “gospel” are detailed in the balance of I Corinthians
chapter fifteen. The whole of the “gospel of God” is the most
thoroughly presented in the whole epistle to the Romans.
Paul
clearly states in Galatians 1:6-9, that any person adding to, or
subtracting from, the “gospel of God” regarding salvation retains the
curse of condemnation upon himself. However, when a person strays from
any doctrine presented in the epistle to the Romans, he preaches
“another gospel which is not another.” The Gospel provides
details about salvation that are much more than mere deliverance from
condemnation. The Gospel gives details about the New Genesis and the
eternal life that is ours presently and in the hereafter. The epistle
to the Galatians is divided into two sections dealing with two aspects
of the Gospel. The salvation of the soul is dealt with in chapters one
and two. The salvation of one’s life from ruin and waste in chapter
three.
“6
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there
be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we
said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
“1
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey
the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,
crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the
Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so
foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the
flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles
among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith” (Galatians 3:1-5)?
Central
to the Gospel message is what Christ has done to save our souls from
Hell and to give us a new life. Any admixture of religious ceremony,
Ritualism, or works of self-righteousness (Moralism) for salvation
perverts (Galatians 1:7) the Gospel of grace.
“15
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of
Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for
by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians
2:15-16).
“10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it
is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which
are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just
shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:10-11).
“1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul
say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he
is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto
you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from {out
away from} grace” (Galatians 5:1-4).
How
much “works” is too much? To what degree can a person trust in
religious ritual, ceremony or self-righteousness before the “gospel of
God” is perverted and he remains under the curse of condemnation?
“5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who
did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion
cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:5-9).
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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist.
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.
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