ROMANS 1:14-17

RESOLVED!

 

Romans 1:14-17 - I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. [15] So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

Keeping your place in Romans 1, please turn to 2 Kings 7.

I believe that 2 Kings 7 is a great illustration of what we have just read in Romans 1:14-17.

 

I'll let you scan 2 Kings 7:3-16 while I tell you the story.

 

It is the days of Elisha the Prophet.

He is inside the capital city of Northern Israel, called Samaria.

 

The Syrian Army had surrounded Samaria.

There is no way to get food into the city, and now there is a great famine.

 

There were four men with leprosy, probably outcasts because of their disease.  Because practically everyone else was starving, they were as well.

 

In verses 3-4, they are having a discussion.

They conclude, that if they just sit on the outside of the city, they are going to die.  It they enter into the city, they are going to die, because there is no food there.

 

So, they decide to go into the enemy camp of the Syrians.  They figure, if the Syrians spare them, they will live. If the Syrians kill them, they would have died anyway.

 

Vs. 5 tells us that they got to the camp of the Syrians, and, much to their surprise, it was deserted!

 

Verses 6-7 tell us that God had caused the Syrians to hear noises of chariots and horses, and of a great army.  The whole army fell into a panic and left, leaving behind their whole camp.

 

Vs. 8 - The lepers entered a tent and found food, so they ate and drank. They found silver, gold, and clothes and carried them away and hid them. They went into a second tent, and hid the contents of that tent.

 

Vs. 9 - At about that time, the lepers came to the conclusion that they were doing wrong. They said, this a day of great joy, and if we keep quiet about it, something bad will happen to us.  Their conclusion was they needed to tell others the good news.

 

Vs. 10 - The Lepers went back to the gate and told the gatekeepers the good news that the Syrian camp was empty, and that there was food.  For all practical purposes, they were announcing the end of the famine!

 

The report was given to the king, and although, he was suspicious that it was a trick, he checked it out and found out that indeed the Syrians were gone, and they had left food in the camp.

 

The people of the city went out and plundered the camp, ending up with more than enough to eat.

 

Now let's go back to Romans 1:14-17.

In these verses Paul is showing his resolve concerning a visit to Rome in order to share the Good News.

 

Paul and us are much like these lepers.

 

Because of their disease the lepers were separated from society.

 

Before coming to Christ as Savior, we were separated from God.  Ephesians 2 tells us that we were "dead in trespasses and sin."

We had no hope for the future.

If we died in that state, we would have faced eternal punishment.

 

But, Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and rose again.

The debt we owed God because we sinned against Him was paid!

What a great discovery that was!

We did as the Bible tells us to do, we came to Him, by faith and trusted Him for eternal life.

John 3:16.

 

He came into our lives and saved us, and gave us a new life of forgiveness, joy and peace.

 

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

Like those lepers in 2 Kings, our lives have been spared.

 

The Lepers in 2 Kings 7 concluded that they had an obligation to tell others the good news about the famine being over, and the food being available.

 

Paul concluded that he had an obligation to tell others the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ!

Forgiveness for sin and eternal life is available.

 

Paul says "I am debtor" in Vs. 14, meaning he had a responsibility to share what he had found to be true.

 

The lepers not only sensed an obligation to share their discovery, but after enjoying the food, the beverages, and the riches they had found, they were ready, even eager, to share their discovery with others.

 

Paul was the same way.

He was ready to share what he had discovered with others, because he had experienced it for himself.

He says in Vs. 15 - "I am ready" to preach.

 

The lepers showed no hesitancy to go to the city of Samaria, and boldly proclaim that the Syrian Camp was empty, and that there was food available.

They went right up to the city gates and told their good news.  They didn't seem to worry what people would think of them. They were rightly unashamed to share their findings.

 

Like the lepers, Paul was not ashamed to share His good news, the Gospel of Christ. In Vs. 16 he says he is not ashamed, because the Gospel, the good news is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes!

 

We can sum up Paul's resolve with 3 simple statements:

I AM DEBTOR

I AM READY

I AM NOT ASHAMED

THESE THREE PHRASES ARE SO VERY IMPORTANT:

I AM DEBTOR

I AM READY

I AM NOT ASHAMED

Let's discuss them briefly.

 

I AM DEBTOR Vs. 14

 

A debtor owes something to someone else.

If you owe on a credit card, you are a debtor.

If you owe on a house or a car, you are a debtor.

 

If someone has done something nice for you, you feel like you owe them something, you are a debtor.

 

Paul claims to be a debtor to the Greeks - this would be the Roman Empire, those who have adopted the Greek way of life.

 

He is also debtor to the barbarians, those not knowing Greek, and therefore uncultured.

 

He is also debtor to the wise and unwise, those of various levels of intelligence and learning.

 

Paul was debtor to the Gentile world to preach the Gospel because this is exactly what God had in mind for Him, when Christ saved Him!  This is what our Lord said to Paul on the Road to Damascus:

 

Acts 26:16-17 - But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

 

So Paul had an obligation to preach the Gospel.

What makes us obligated so we can say "I am debtor". 

What makes us debtors to others to share our faith?

Why do we "owe" it to people to tell them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

 

1) BECAUSE OF GOD'S GOODNESS TO US.

 

If you are saved, you are a recipient of God's Grace.  You did not deserve to be saved.

There was no goodness in yourself. You are a sinner.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

When we are satisfied with a product or a service, we feel an obligation to tell others.  If someone is looking for a beautician and you like yours, you want to tell your friend about your beautician. If you have purchased an automobile and are happy with it, you will tell others how happy you are with the car. If you like your doctor or dentist and someone else is looking for a doctor or a dentist, you feel compelled to tell the person about your doctor or dentist.

 

If you are satisfied with the wonderful grace of God in your life through Christ, that is if you are a satisfied customer, you should want to tell others about Christ.

 

Because God has been so good to you, you are obligated to tell others about His goodness.

 

Not only are we debtors to share the Gospel because God has been good to us, but:

2) BECAUSE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

 

When we know something that others don't know, we should feel an obligation to share that knowledge

 

A couple of weeks ago Dottie and I went to the new Ponderosa in Indiana.  Their hot buffet is set up in a "v". The idea is people are to grab plates and start at either end.  However, most people think that the buffet is one continuous line. This slows things down.  I felt obligated because of my "superior" knowledge to share with some that they could start a second line.

 

If you discover a bridge is out in a road up ahead, because of your knowledge, you are obligated to warn others who might use that road.

 

As a Christian you know the truth of John 3:16. - Quote

But you should also know the truth of John 3:17-18.

 

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

You know that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

You also know that people who not place faith in Christ are condemned and headed for hell!

 

By knowing the Gospel, we know something others don't know.  Because we know, we are obligated to tell them! Can someone you know well, crying out to you from hell, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!"

 

We are debtors because of God's Goodness, because of our knowledge, and

 

3) BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S COMMAND

 

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

GO, - Take the Gospel

TEACH - Make Disciples

BAPTIZE

TEACH AGAIN

1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 

BECAUSE OF GOD'S GOODNESS

BECAUSE OF MY KNOWLEDGE

BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S COMMAND

 

I AM DEBTOR

I AM READY Vs. 15

 

As you know the first day of buck season around here is a big thing. Some of you call the night before the season starts "buck eve".  That's the night you get ready for the big day.

 

I don't think that there is a hunter in this church that waits until Monday morning to look for his gun, ammo, clothes, food etc. etc. You all get ready to hunt!

 

And do you know why most of you get ready to hunt?

It's because you're eager to hunt! You can't wait to hunt!

 

In our text the word "ready" carries the idea of being eager.

Paul wanted to go to Rome, not to see the sights, but to win souls!

Paul delighted in sharing the Gospel!

Paul was so sold on the reality of what Christ had done for Him, and the reality of forgiveness of sin, and the reality of Heaven and Hell that He was eager to share.

 

When Paul shared the Gospel he was tactful in his approach.

He was Holy Spirit controlled.

But He was bold, and willing and wanting to speak out for Christ.

 

You might be thinking, "That's well and good for Paul. But I'm me, and I'm no superstar like Paul." Listen to Paul's own testimony from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. We could all do this!

 

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

 

How can you tell if you are ready and eager to share Christ?

 

·        You are praying for unsaved people, more than just those in your immediate family

 

·        You are asking God to give you opportunities to speak to those for whom you are praying, and to others as well.

 

·        You are carrying appropriate literature with you.

 

·        You are trying to steer conversations to Spiritual things.

 

·        You are looking for God-given opportunities to share Christ.

 

·        You are taking advantage of God-given opportunities to share Christ.

 

·        You are inviting people to come with you to church.

 

·        You want your conduct to be consistently Christian, so others will desire what you have. Let's face it, if Christ has not made a difference in our lives, why should anyone else want Him?

 

We wonder why we don't witness more. Perhaps we are not ready, not eager. If we are eager, I believe God will give us opportunities to witness.

 

I AM READY

I AM DEBTOR

Now the "toughie,"

 

I AM NOT ASHAMED Vs. 16

 

Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ in spite of a great deal of persecution.

It has been said that when Paul preached there was either a riot or a revival, and sometimes there were both.

Why was Paul not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?

 

·        The preaching of the Gospel of Christ is the power of God. When the Gospel is preached, God the Holy Spirit is at work convicting souls and bringing some to Him.

 

Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

·        The preaching of the Gospel brings people to salvation. Salvation is being rescued from something. It is being saved. The person who is saved is rescued from an eternity of suffering.

 

John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

·        Salvation is available to anyone, whether Jew or Gentile. God is "equal opportunity" when it comes to salvation. The Jews heard the message first, then the Gentiles.

 

·        Righteousness that comes from God is revealed by faith. When a person trusts Christ as Savior, he or she is declared righteous, or justified. Romans 5:1

 

·        Eternal life is a result of faith.

The just shall live by faith.

 

Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel, because he was convinced that it is God's plan for man!

 

We get ashamed.

We worry about what people think.

We worry about rejection.

 

We worry about upsetting them.

 

But, if the Gospel is God's truth, we must share it!  There is no hope for anyone without it!

 

Let me ask you.

Which is better?

That a person hear the Gospel and be angry with you, or that a person not hear the Gospel and think you a wonderful person.

 

If you decide not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, some will be saved.

 

If you decide to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, you are an

embarrassment to your Lord.

 

I was saved while listening to Billy Graham preach the Gospel on the radio.

 

Believe it or not, the first "live" witnessing I ever heard that I can remember was in a classroom of a public high school in Wayne, New Jersey.  It was a speech class.

 

A gal by the name of Pat Kelly got up and talked about her cousin, baseball Bobby Richardson, and his faith in Christ.  At that time Richardson was a star player on the New York Yankees.

She shared her faith in Christ using Bobby as an example.

 

Why did she do this?

Probably because she felt that she was a debtor, that she had an obligation to share Christ.

 

Why did she do this?

Probably because she was ready and eager to share with others what she had found to be true.

 

Why did she do this?

Because she was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

 

I AM DEBTOR

I AM READY

I AM NOT ASHAMED