Romans - The Heart of the Gospel

Unity in the gospel

As Paul concludes his letter to the church in Rome, he is keen to impression them the importance of unity in the fellowship. Paul is writing here to the leaders of the church to give them some final instructions. He wants them to be discerning about those who will influence God's people through their teaching and preaching. He doesn't want them pulled away by various winds of doctrine. His letter as a whole has given them what they need to know to stand strong, in unity, against teaching that will pull people away. As Paul finishes he makes sure that he displays his heart to the church and to us. Romans is a rich, dense, glorious book, one saturated with the beauty of the triune God and the redemption he has accomplished. At the heart of it is how to know and live the gospel so that we don't fall away, but daily be captivated by his great love for us. Romans - The heart of the Gospel is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/sermons [https://www.annalongpc.org/sermons].

The beauty of the church in its people

We have seen before that Paul has a deep heart for this church in Rome. Even though he hasn't visited Rome he knows some of its members. Chapter 16 details for us these people and their names tell us more about them. Long lists of names aren't simply in the Bible to fill space; they communicate important details of how God works through his people to build his church. The church in Rome was a diverse church made up of Jews, Greeks and Romans. It had nobility and slaves and it was a place where both men and women worshiped and served. This has bearing for us as a church today. Every church should strive to welcome and greet all who enter its fellowship. This includes those who are visitors and those who come week by week. The church should also express its affection and acceptance of one another in deeds as well as words. When we work together in the church we get to know each other and so our bond of fellowship grows. And when we do all of this then we should expect growth in the church as we live as the people of God. The picture Paul paints for us in Romans 16: 1-16 is a beautiful one of what the church should be and how God's people should be one in the Holy Spirit, under one gospel. Romans - The heart of the Gospel is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/sermons [https://www.annalongpc.org/sermons].

The mission of God's people (in three Ps)

There is one more aspects of the church's maturity that Paul wants to address and it is to do with mission. In the second half of chapter 15 Paul affirms once again his calling to be a missionary to the Gentiles. So far this has been in the east of the Roman Empire, but now he knows his calling to the western part of the Empire and to places where the gospel has never been preached. Paul is writing the letter to the Romans while in Corinth and he will leave there to go to Jerusalem to leave with them the collection from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia and then head to Spain. En route he will stop in Rome to visit with the believers there. His purpose for stopping in Rome is two-fold: (1) to encourage the believers there and (2) to give them opportunity to share in this mission. They may not be able to go to Spain, but they can support Paul through their prayers and giving as he makes the journey and spends time at the ends of the earth of his day. Paul knows this is part of their ongoing discipleship, but he also knows that the work of the Holy Spirit is essential as they do this together. And so we learn of the need of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we undertake God's mission in the world. We can see these in three Ps: 1. Power of the Holy Spirit 2. Partnership in the gospel 3. Prayer for all the church Romans - The heart of the Gospel is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

The church in harmony

Paul is approaching his final conclusion and in chapter 15 he wants to address what it means for the church to be a welcoming place.  If it is to welcome new converts into the faith then it must be a welcoming place for each other.  The believers are to be of one accord in Jesus Christ. Paul continues to use Scripture to show us the enteral plan of God in ingrafting Gentiles into his covenant family.  He demonstrates why our knowledge of Scripture is important as we live for him today. Romans - The heart of the Gospel is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

The sacrifice of self

As Paul continues the practical outworking of our Christian faith he address an issue that is not just fixed to the first century church, but a problem that has seen damage in the church in every generation. Paul addresses the human problem of judging. In the context of chapter 14 of Romans, Paul is telling the church then and now that there is no place for judging in the fellowship of believers. He makes this clear in a number of verses that conclude each time by taking us to God’s perspective. It is God alone who is judge and as judge he sees us through his son Jesus because our faith is in him for our salvation. Rather than judging, Paul takes us in the second half of the chapter to consider how we can build each other up. Once again, this doesn’t come without a challenge as Paul warns us that our freedom to do certain things can cause another to stumble. We are to be a church that speaks well of Jesus as we live well for him together. We are to think of others before ourselves and live Biblically as Paul directs us. Romans - The heart of the Gospel is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/sermons [https://www.annalongpc.org/sermons].