Bible Studies
Good Memorial Day to you. I hope you are celebrating the valor of our fallen and wounded soldiers with loved ones on this special day. Soldiers are willing to die for their country. How much more should we who call Jesus Lord be willing and ready to die for His name if it is required? A very compelling question, I think, in these days of easy faith.
To continue our Romans study, we are still in verse one, where Paul was also “called to be an apostle…” Apostle means “sent one,” and in this case, one sent to do the Lord’s work. There were 13 original apostles, including Matthias, who replaced Judas, and Paul, who was not part of the twelve, but to whom Jesus made a special resurrection appearance on the Damascus road. Paul would later retell of his commission this way: (Christ speaking), “Arise and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; delivering you from the Jewish people and the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” Acts 26:16-18.
At the outset of this letter to Roman believers, Paul is establishing his authority to teach them. Paul’s ministry was not his idea, but God’s. Remember, Paul was on his way to capture and imprison Christians. Then the Lord appeared to him and converted him to faith in the living Christ, and then immediately commissioned him and sent him to the Gentiles (non-Jews) with the gospel, the good news of how we can have saving faith in Jesus Christ.
“Although the apostles were the ‘sent-ones’ in a unique way, every person who speaks for God must be called and sent by Him.” (Mac) If you are a Christian, you have been sent by the Lord to your sphere of influence, as have I to mine. It is said that the average person knows, to some degree, between 200 to 250 people. Some people know fewer, some many more. What if each Christian gave his/her testimony and the gospel to all the people they know. What if we lived it before them in love? Would it change the world?
Paul was also set apart in the Lords service. In the Old Testament, anyone or anything meant for God’s use and purpose was set apart and considered holy. The Greek word is aphorizo, and is used for setting apart the firstborn for service, of offering God first fruits from the harvest, and of separating Israel to God from other peoples. Paul was set apart by the Lord to go to the Gentiles with the gospel. His was a great mission; so is yours and mine! Until next time, the Lord bless you in Christ…Mike.
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