The Calling

Paul was eager to visit Rome. No Apostle had yet come to Rome, and since Paul was commissioned by Jesus on the road to Damascus to be the Apostle to the gentiles, the duty fell upon Paul to complete the work that had begun in Rome.

There are two people involved in the ?calling? in verse one. Paul says that he was a ?doulos,? a bond-servant (or slave). Though Paul was undoubtedly a willing ?doulos? he was called by Jesus Himself to be an apostle. Paul did not appoint himself an apostle or seek the position, but he was called by God to the position he now had to fulfill. Jesus told His disciples that He no longer would call them His servants, but friends. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ? John 15:15 Though Paul was free in Christ, because He was called to preach the gospel he became Jesus Christ?s bond-servant. I can be said that all who are truly Christians are called to be a ?doulos? and ?friend.? The Work A ?doulos? does not choose the work he is going to be involved with. Paul had a job to do and was a willing bond-servant, able to see the great privilege of being called by Jesus into the work that Jesus said was His Father?s business. A ?doulos? does not choose the location or duration of the work he is involved with. As the Master ordered Paul to minister the gentiles, so God speaks to us all as friends and servants. As the Master orders so the ?doulos? goes and does according to the Master?s Plan. The Separation Not only was Paul a ?doulos? who was called by God, but he was a ?separated? servant. Paul was separated to the ?gospel of God.? This separation was not just in regard to holy living, but in regard to one?s life work. Though we are not Apostles, we are all separated servants of the Almighty God, who are called for a purpose. Paul?s purpose was to be an Apostle. My purpose is to be a husband, daddy, and a pastor. What is your purpose and what has God called you to do? (Verses 2 ? 3) The Promise The gospel, or good news, was promised by God in the Old Testament. The promise of the Messiah, the anointed one, is spoken about throughout the entire Old Testament. From the promise God made to Eve in the Garden of God that her seed would crush the serpent?s head to the promise God gave Israel concerning her Messiah and King, we understand the gospel of God. The prophets were the chief agents who were the channels through whom God spoke to the world. Notice that the gospel came ?through? the prophets and is ?in? the Holy Scriptures. All the prophets spoke directly or indirectly concerning the Father?s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The Son Paul makes it very clear in this letter that Jesus is God, the Son of God, the Annointed One, Savior and our Master. And being Jesus being God, Paul makes it clear that Jesus was also fully human. Jesus was heir to the throne of David through the human line (seed) and was heir to the heavenly throne by divine line. Jesus was born according to the flesh and raised according to the Spirit. Paul is not referring to the sinful nature when he speaks about Jesus being born according to the flesh, other than to say that Jesus was born normally, even though His conception was of divine order. (Verse 4) Human and Divine Some may confuse Paul?s words here as meaning that Jesus began to be the Son of God when He was born. Paul is speaking about the ?decleration? concerning Jesus. God did not declare Jesus the Son of God because He suddenly became the Son of God, but declared Him the Son of God because that is what He was and is and will always be. When God speaks concerning Jesus Christ it was always through the Holy Spirit. We must remember that our message is a divine message that can only be heard and spoken through the Spirit of God. (Verses 5 ? 6) The Gospel It is through the promise of God?s anointed Messiah that we receive grace and are chosen. It is not by anything we can do in the flesh, but through the Holy Spirit. Just as the ?gospel of God? gave Paul the grace and power to become an Apostle, the gospel gives all of us power and grace to do the work of preaching the good news about Jesus Christ. God calls us to Jesus so we can obey His voice. IT is this obedience to the faith in Jesus Christ that God uses to speak to the nations. (See Hebrews 1:1 ? 2) Just as Paul was a ?doulos? called to be an Apostle for the sake of the gospel of God, we too are ?doulos? who are called to serve Jesus for the sake of the gospel of God. (Verse 7) The Saints Paul tells the believers in Rome that they are very loved by God and are the ?called? ones who are ?holy ones? or saints. Just as the Temple and the Articles used in the Temple rituals were set apart and holy by virtue of their use in worshiping God, so we too are ?set apart? and are holy by virtue of our relationship with Jesus Christ. In these seven verses we see Paul who was called by God and who did everything because of His calling for the sake of the gospel. As a Christian, we are separated and holy for the work of the new Temple that God is building with living stones whose sacrifices our the lives of the believer (See Romans 12:1 ? 3)

Copyright © by Access Christian All Right Reserved.

Published on: 2006-01-01 (2015 reads)