SERMON SPOTLIGHT * 1/11/26
Paul desires to SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING. Even though this is simply Paul’s introduction to this amazing theological magnum opus, we can learn some things. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.
SERIES: Romans: The Power of God in the Gospel of Christ
TEXT: Romans 1:8-15
TITLE: Celebrating Faith and Pursuing Obligations
PREACHER: Tim Lambros
BIG IDEA: Biblical faith calls us to thanksgiving, mutual edification, and obligation.
POINTS:
I. A Godward Thanksgiving
II. An Eager Partnership
III. A Gospel Obligation
SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes and text emphasis are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.
”We love to see God manifest Himself. As we will see, Paul has HEARD about the faith of this Church in Rome but hasn’t SEEN it. Paul desires so SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING. Even though this is simply Paul’s introduction to this amazing theological magnum opus, we can learn some things.”
“Now remember what we learned last week. Paul is called, gifted, and graced to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and “bring about the obedience of faith.” His life mission is to do this for the glory of Christ. Paul has heard about their faith. He has heard there is a Church - a Gentile Church - in Rome. He didn’t plant it, Peter didn’t plant it, but he’s hearing about their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul knows this. The first step in “bringing about the obedience” of faith is to put your trust in Jesus.”
“Paul might not know any of the people in that Church, but he knows something very important from what he’s heard. Their faith has been proclaimed in all the world. ‘In all the world’ might not necessarily imply in all the known world, but the world that Paul lives and ministers in, the emerging Christian world has heard of the faith of this Church in Rome.”
“Let’s remember the context of the 1st century. Rome is a powerful empire, and this Church is in the capital of that empire. Like we learned last week, this Church is probably the fruit of the people filled with the Spirit at the original Pentecost that went back to Rome and planted a Church. There’s no influence from Peter or Paul’s apostolic gifting and leadership. Paul’s not mentioning the level of maturity of their faith. He’s simply giving thanks to God that there are fellow Christians in a Church in Rome.”
“Paul is simply giving thanks to God for the fact that people are getting saved and building a Church. Paul’s life calling is to bring about the obedience of faith. Faith is not the end game. The end game is the glory of God.”
“Paul’s thanksgiving moves to his prayers. In Paul’s introduction section in letters to the Churches, it’s not uncommon for him to mention his prayers for that Church. It’s clear Paul wants the Church in Rome to know “THAT WITHOUT CEASING” he’s repeatedly sought the Lord about coming to see the Church.”
“Paul has already stated that he is a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, he is called to be an Apostle, set apart for this work among ALL THE NATIONS – meaning to Gentiles. To people like those in Rome. The grace and calling he received was to bring about THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH for the sake of the name of His Savior.”
“When Paul writes to other Churches, it’s not uncommon in this part of his introduction to mention some things he knows about the Church. So Paul says God is my witness … without ceasing … always in my prayers, petitioning God that I might by His will be able to come see them. Paul wants to be with them. This is his heartbeat. He wants them to know this.”
ILLUSTRATION: Eagerness to hear updates and see photos from fellow churches in Gilbert, Santa Ana, CA, and Santa Cruz, Bolivia
“Even though we aren’t called like Paul, it should stir our faith and wonder what it would be like to see it and be among them!”
“Paul is deeply moved to partner with a primarily Gentile Church in a very strategic location. He doesn’t know this Church, but trusts that God has something he can impart to strengthen them and establish them in the faith. Plus, he knows that he’ll be encouraged and blessed.”
“2,000 years ago, Paul desired something that today can be so easy for us to overlook. What Paul heard about their faith is simply God’s grace active in their lives. He wants to encourage them in this. He knows he’ll receive encouragement in return. We are on a mission to grow a Church community that is characterized by encouragement.”
“We don’t want to build a Church that regularly meets in Comm Group, always silent until there’s something to complain about. We call it one of our 7 SHAPING VIRTUES. Seeing and celebrating evidences of grace in each other. Paul’s heard of their faith, he prays for them, he wants to encourage and be encouraged! This is what a gospel-shaped, gospel-defined, gospel-centered Church looks like.”
“We can learn something about a Godward-oriented thanksgiving like Paul exemplifies in this letter. We can appreciate and, to some degree, FEEL and desire to partner with a local Church when we hear about their faith. But in this final verse, we have a sense of calling and obligation that every believer can relate to.”
“A sense of calling should run deep into our souls. It orients us and defines us in what we give our time to. It becomes our IDENTITY. For our Church, it’s ‘Building a local Church that PROCLAIMS and DEMONSTRATES the power of the gospel.’”
“But what does Paul mean when he says ‘under obligation?’ The word actually means debt. Paul has a debt he is under. So is Paul’s motivation to come to Rome all about him paying back a debt? Is he somehow trying to pay God back for saving and forgiving his sins? Emphatically, NO! Notice what the text says. Paul is under obligation to Greeks/barbarians & wise/foolish. This is Paul’s way of saying all Gentiles. Paul was saved by grace. Paul formerly loved this world, power, and status more than God. He lived to exchange the glory of God for earthly things that would fade. Paul’s sense of obligation, this debt is NOW to bring about the obedience of faith in all the Churches. To strengthen their faith in Christ. We can all identify with that.”
“When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he put his faith in Christ. Paul’s gift of salvation was all of grace. His calling and obligation is his response to this amazing grace. We cannot and must not get the two confused.”
“We don’t have to be called to be an Apostle to relate to this sense of obligation. Paul had a unique calling during a unique time in God’s redemptive plan. But it’s clear from the NT that all of God’s people are obligated to share the gospel of grace with others.”
“Our life purpose doesn’t become to pay God back because we owe God a debt for our salvation. This is done because it’s part of the OBEDIENCE OF FAITH for all believers. This is done because God is glorified when sinners receive the gift of faith and put their trust in Jesus. We do this because we love God and want to live a life doing all we can to bring about His glory!”
APPLICATION:
Q: Have you ever given thanks for and prayed for believers you’ve not met? Part of the privilege of our partnership with Sovereign Grace is to regularly hear about Churches getting planted, people getting saved, and believers walking in the obedience of faith.
3 ways we live out this OBLIGATION:
1. Biblically understand the why behind personal evangelism. Personal evangelism is an obligation. Not like paying a car loan back. Not like paying taxes. It’s God’s claim on our lives to joyfully participate in bringing about the first step in the obedience of faith in others. Paul is called to be a servant, an Apostle to the Gentiles. Wherever he goes, he preaches Jesus.
2. Grow a deeper commitment to the local Church. Paul’s life is about willingly obligating himself to the local churches. Because his sins are forgiven, he no longer needs to pay his debt back to God. He can now be a slave for God’s purposes. He, of all people, understands God’s purposes revolve around building local churches. This truth is the same for you and me and for all believers.
3. Prepare for unique times of mission. At times, God will call you, or in this case, a local Church to a unique place. For us, it’s a deep sense of calling to duplicate what God has done in this Church to the east side.
QUOTES:
Douglas Moo - “That people in the Roman capital had bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus is something that would be widely known, and perhaps highlighted, by the early missionaries.”
Jared Mellinger - “Distinctly Christian encouragement is different than a compliment, because it aims at directing hearts to Christ and deepening confidence in Him.”
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION:
ROMANS 1:16-17
SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Great (Psalm 145)
Oh What High And Holy Privilege
There is a Fountain
Jesus Thank You
NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Romans 1:16-17, The Manifesto of Romans
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