Study Notes Ed Underwood

Romans: Give it your all!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes ... For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith. (Romans 1:16-17)

Strategic—necessary or important to the initiation, conduct, or completion of a strategic plan; of great importance within an integrated whole or to a planned effect. God’s wise plan for building the church is a simple strategy—save the lost and build the saved among all the nations.

God uses strategic Christians to execute the plan—those willing to give it their all to reach the world for Jesus Christ. He places these believers in strategic churches with great potential to bring revival that will literally turn entire cities and cultures to His Son.

In the first one hundred years of Christianity there was no more strategic community of believers than those living in Rome. “All roads lead to Rome” was a reminder that the city of Rome was the cultural, commercial, and political center of the Empire.

To this young church Paul writes his most thorough treatise on Christianity. His purpose is clear—to call them to a life of commitment by giving their all to God (Romans 12:1-2). His motivation is also clear—to encourage them to make this radical but reasonable decision because they are overwhelmed by God’s mercy. For eleven chapters the Apostle of grace exalts the mercies of God. “God’s righteousness is revealed in His mercies to all who believe,” writes Paul. “So I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, it has the power to deliver believers from the wrath of God and set them on a path of faith that will radically transform their lives.”

He speaks from his own experience. Since he met Christ on the road to Damascus he found he could do the will of God with a free spontaneity and overwhelming joy he had never known under the law. “He knew himself accepted by God. Blessed with a new power within, and called to a service which for ever thereafter gave zest and purpose to life” (F. F. Bruce). By exalting God’s grace and mercies he had become a strategic, radically committed follower of Christ. And so, to these well-placed believers in Rome he exalts God’s mercy and grace.

The lesson to Christians of every generation is clear:

Strategic, radically committed Christians exalt the mercies of God!

By comparing the history of the church at Rome with Paul’s letter to the Romans we appreciate the need to exalt the grace and mercies of God if we want to grow strategic, radically committed Christians.

I. Paul’s most complete treatise on Christianity calls the strategic believers at Rome to a life radically committed to God.

A. God had given the Romans believers a unique strategic opportunity to spread the Gospel.

1. TheRomansaretheonlyEuropeanslistedinthe“PentecostalCongregation”(Acts2:10).

2. Romans among the 3,000 converts took the Gospel back to Rome and many believers from all parts of the Empire migrated to the capital city.

3. ChristiansweregrowinginRomethroughseveralhousechurches(Romans1:7,tosaintsatRome rather than the church at Rome; 16:5, one of these churches met in the home of Priscilla and Aquila).

4. RomewasamagnetthatdrewpeoplefromallovertheEmpire(Phoebe,16:1-2).

B. Paul appreciated the strategic importance of Rome.

1. He dedicates three months of “down time” in Corinth (16:1-2) as he closes his third missionary journey and prepares to go to Jerusalem with a love gift (15:25-27).

2. HehaddesperatelydesiredtogotoRomeforyears(1:8-16;15:22-24).

3. SoheseizestheopportunitytosendalettertoRomewithPhoebe(16:1-2).

4. Hebegsthesestrategicbelieversto“giveittheirall”forthesakeoftheGospel(12:1-2).

II. Paul devotes eleven chapters to carefully detailing how the righteousness of God is seen in His mercies to believers. Then, he devotes four chapters exhorting believers to exalt God’s mercies by giving their lives to Him as an act of worship.

A. Believers should never be ashamed of the delivering power of the Gospel that reveals the righteousness of God in everyone who believes (1:16-17).

1. The Gospel delivers believers from the penalty of sin. Justification by faith—every believer is declared righteous the moment they believe (Chapters 1-4).

2. The Gospel delivers believers from the power of sin. Sanctified by faith—every believer who relies on God’s Spirit will live righteously (Chapters 5-8).

3. TheGospel’spromisesarethepromisesofacovenant-keepingGod(God’sfaithfulnesstoIsrael, Chapters 9-11).

B. Therefore, the only reasonable decision is to give Christ your life as an act of worship (Chapters 12- 16).

III. Romans and You! Give your life to God in response to His mercies (Romans 12:1-2).

1. On the basis of God’s mercies, believers are urged to present themselves to God because such response is intelligent worship (Romans 12:1).

2. The believer’s commitment of worship is maintained by a transformation, which comes through renewal of the mind in order to demonstrate God’s will in life experience (Romans 12:2).

Can a single decision change a Christian’s life? I think it can!

In fact, I believe there is one decision that the Book of Romans urges every Christian to make. A decision so significant and with such potential to transform and bless that Paul devotes eleven chapters preparing us to consider this decision!

Romans 12:1-2 invites individual believers who have read this great treatise on the mercies of God to respond in a way that pleases God and maximizes the experience of their so great salvation. It is a commitment to God separate from the decision to put your faith in Christ, and it moves the Christian into a new experience of devotion and intimacy with Christ. The choice we are asked to make is to present our lives to God: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

The why is Romans 1-11. We make the logical decision to worship God by giving Him our life because of His mercy to sinners—mercy motivates! The what is outlined in 12:3-15:13—count the cost! When you give your life to God, He asks you to do the same thing He asked His Son to do—give your life to others.