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Sermon Notes of
Rev Dr Ivor J.W.Oakley (Strandtown Baptist Church 08-01-1978)
To preface the message with
account of importance and influence of this epistle.
William Tyndale’s
prologue in 1534 edition of New Testament in English read “This epistle is the
principal and most excellent part of the New Testament, and most pure Gospel,
and also a light and way into the whole Scripture… should be daily bread of
soul of Christian man, cannot read it too often”. He also said it was the key
to the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Summer 386 Augustine of
North Africa, Professor of Rhetoric in Milan. Longing to begin new life because
he was ashamed of sin. Took up a scroll and read “Put ye on the Lord Jesus
Christ”. He said “Instantly a
clear light flooded my heart and all darkness of doubt vanished away”
November 1515 Martin Luther
Augustine monk and Professor of Sacred Theology at Wittenburg. Expounded on
Romans to his students. Lecture preparation caused him to see Jesus by faith
“I felt myself to be reborn. Whole of Scripture took on a new meaning”
24 May 1738 John Wesley went
very unwillingly to society meeting at Aldergate Street where someone was
reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. “About a quarter to
nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through
faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ,
Christ alone for my salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken
my sins away, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death”
August 1918 Karl Barth Pastor
in Germany. Published exposition of Romans. “Reader will detect it has been
written with joyful sense of discovery”. He repudiated liberal theology,
seeing it to be inadequate to deal with deepest needs of mankind.
Therefore there is no telling
what may happen when people begin to study Romans. The source of great spiritual
movements of church history. Similar things also happen to individuals when
Romans comes to them with power.
Written AD58 to the church in
the greatest city of the Roman Empire. Paul had never seen it but was hoping to
visit. The epistle contains the most systematic exposition of Christian faith.
Servant of Jesus Christ;
called to be an apostle; separated unto Gospel of God (1:1)
(a) “Servant”
in AV can represent any one of 6 different Greek words. The particular one Paul
chooses doulos
here is better translated as “slave”, the lowest category of servant, from
the root meaning “bind”. It is the same word used for one who is bought and
purchased, “chattel that breathes”, handed over completely to the rule of a
despotic master. Paul is saying he has no rights or claims, he is at the
Lord’s disposal, his master’s property entirely. His time, energy and family
are at the service of his master. The will of another is his guide and law.
(b) Called to unique office of
Apostle. One of the founders of the early church whose teaching was the
foundation of Christian truth. He was called clearly and irresistibly to God.
God had made his will clear to the slave.
(c) Separated
unto Gospel of God. This separation occurred even before he was born: separated
me from my mother’s womb (Gal 1:15). Then in due time separated, with
Barnabas, by the church at Antioch, with prayer and laying on of hands. Formal
external recognition of inward conviction and call.
Obviously dealing with a unique
man. Yet principles of God’s dealings with us are similar.
Do you have a sense of belonging entirely to the Master? Are you a tool
or weapon in his hands? Do you have a consciousness of being in the centre of
God’s will? Are you doing a task, spending time, at his beck and call?
For young people, implication of
consecration. Not spoil lives by going own way, pleasing selves. Find out
God’s will, and do it. Ear open for mission-field and ministry. You might love
to have your own way and map out your own future, but far better to give future
– all your tomorrows – to God. We are all called to be missionaries. Jesus
has bought us, we are his slaves and we have no right to our own lives. Jesus is
entitled to unquestioning obedience. God has a perfect plan for us, no life need
be purposeless. The equipment given is grace and apostleship. Encouraging to
know God never commands without giving the grace to obey.
J. MacNeill of Australia “O
what a lot of the master’s time is taken up with runaway slaves”. Called not
just to be his ally or friend, or even subject, but called to be a bondservant.
Awful burden? No, but rather the secret of freedom and joy.
“Make
me a captive Lord,
And
then I shall be free”
Surrender to the Son of God, who loved me (Gal 2:20). No plunge into cold void but arrival at seat of life and power and freedom.
What was Paul’s message which he was commissioned to
preach to all nations? Nothing abrupt or new-fangled about it. Promised in Old
Testament. Prophets hundreds of years earlier had predicted the Messiah and his
salvation. Part of God’s age-long plan. The Gospel is not a programme of
ethics, philosophy, psychological pick-me-up with religious veneer. It is not
something that Paul dreamed up. No novelty or afterthought. Rooted in God and
his eternal purposes, concerns Jesus Christ our Lord.
In the centre is a person: Jesus, meaning Saviour; Christ
our Lord, meaning anointed and commissioned one. The Son of God, in a unique and
special sense. Also truly human, because in his humanity he had been descended
from King David. After his death he had been raised again. Exalted, the Living
Saviour. His resurrection shows the Son of God with power. The outpouring of the
Holy Spirit is proof of the Son of God with power.
This was the message Paul was to preach to all nations. A
message that requires a response and obedience.
Authentic Christian message. It is the centre around
which all New Testament writers gather. The heart of the New Testament. It is in
the great creeds of the Church when facing heretics and Gnostics. People wonder
what the Gospel is, there are all sorts of ideas. Here we have the real thing,
the genuine article. It is a message of good news from God. The fulfilment of
promises. Centres on person – divine and human, God and man. Alive now, as we
are. When men know him, dramatic effects. He is the Son of God with power. His
gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Power to cleanse and change. It has a
claim upon us – requires trust and obedience, submission and surrender.
A message which transforms countless lives. Immoral and evil living men, like Augustine; seekers like Luther; self-righteous religious men like Wesley. It is a message for all of us. It doesn’t want to be admired, or flattered, or obtain intellectual approval. But it does want personal entrustment to the living one who centres in the message. He is the only giver of pardon and new life. Stretching out empty hands to receive God’s gift, which is free.
He is writing to people he has never seen, who live in
the capital city of the Roman Empire. He calls them Beloved of God and called
to be Saints (1:7). This can be said of any group of Christians even though
we have never seen them or even speak their language.
“Beloved of God”. But does
God not love everyone? Obvious question to us, and obvious answer. But until
Christ gave the answer, no-one knew what it was, though the question had
tortured human hearts for hundreds of years. God is Love, loves all men, Jesus
said it and His Cross proves it. Does God love all? 1000 times – yes. Is there
a special love to believers in his Son? Equally answer is yes, there is no
contradiction here. Special affection is not inconsistent with universal
benevolence. Expect special affection because God is not indifferent to
repentance and faith. Not all same to God whether we love and serve him or not.
True that God so loved the world (John 3:16). Also true that his infinite
love is not indifferent to character of man. If a man loves me he will keep
my words and my father will love him (John 14:23). We are loved with
everlasting love. Lets take it to our hearts for our comfort and peace of mind.
“Called to be saints”. How misunderstood. Called to
belong to God. Called to be consecrated to God. Called to be separated and
dedicated to God. Never think of a saint as someone who is especially holy, with
an honours degree while the rest have only a pass degree. All Christians in New
Testament were called Saints, but some were very imperfect – dead, cold,
inconsistent.
All Christians are called to be
consecrated to him. From the moment when we are converted, we become a saint,
consecrated to God and belonging to him. There is an obligation on all to obey
his will, to be like him in character, to commit ourselves to him day by day.
This consecration is to apply to our whole nature – heart, will, thoughts,
senses. With increasing consecration we receive increasing experience of God’s
power. The more he has of us, the more we have of him. We are all responsible to
cultivate and increase our consecration. It is our solemn obligation to be
yielded to the Lord, and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.
“Beloved of God and called to be his saints” – Paul’s readers. If a letter so addressed was dropped in our streets, would anyone bring it to us or to the church to which we belong? Would we be recognised as the people for whom it was meant?
· Called to be slaves, messengers in the will of God.
· Gospel centred on the Person of Jesus Christ, Saviour and Lord, requiring faith and obedience.
· Beloved of God – called to be consecrated to him.
