Multiplication & Transformation (Romans 1:1-18)
Have you ever been ashamed of the gospel? Have you ever felt like the gospel is not enough to help people? Today, we will look at the gospel and try to understand why it is worth putting out there for the world to see.
A Gospel To Be Proud Of
The word gospel refers to a message of good news. But I think we often miss the importance of good news in the first century. Imagine living in one of the bigger cities in the first century and watching your army go off to war with the king leading the way. Do you know what happens next? They wait. There is a lot of waiting on the soldiers to march to the battlefield. Then, there is waiting for the battle to begin. After the battle begins, they have to wait for the army to return. They couldn’t check their news feed to see live updates about what was happening. But the people would send a herald to bring the news about what has happened.
When Caesar would win victories, he would send heralds throughout the kingdom to instill confidence and spread fear in those with rebellious hearts. That would be great news if you were Roman or benefiting from the Roman government. What about everyone else? That news would be dreadful.
What’s interesting about the New Testament is that it reveals the good news of Jesus. The book of Acts shows us how the good news of Jesus spread throughout the world. This is news that everyone should be excited about. It’s good news for every human being on the earth. This is the greatest news ever told.
Today, people are given the news in so many different ways. We have television, radio talk shows, newspapers, blog posts, podcasts, videos, and many other ways to spread the news. The people behind this media system have been doing it for years. They are trained professionals. They use glitz and glamour. They have all kinds of technological advantages over us. What they say will be heard. How can we possibly compete with the media system of our day?
Take a look at what Paul says to the Romans (those living in the city where Caesar reigns).
Romans 1:1--7 (ESV) --- 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice that when Paul writes a letter to Rome, he starts the letter with a proclamation of the good news. He does this in every letter he writes. It’s like he is trying to tell everyone, “Jesus is king.” But he especially does this for the Romans. The word gospel is used more in the first chapter of this book than any other. Paul wants the Romans to be reminded that Jesus, the son of David, was declared the Son of God in power when God raised him from the dead. He won the victory over our greatest enemy, death. This is precisely what God promised he would do throughout the Old Testament (1:2, Isa 25:8, Hos 13:14). That’s why this news is great for every human being on earth. It’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s something to promote and proclaim everywhere. Death lost to Christ, and Christ makes it possible for us to defeat death as well.
But this victory over death indicates that we must come under the rule and authority of Christ. Notice that verse 5 indicates more to the message than news of Jesus’ victory. These apostles or messengers were sent out to bring people to “the obedience of faith for Jesus’ name among all the nations.” Jesus defeated death, and now he calls for all men everywhere to repent and put their faith and trust in Jesus instead of Caesar, themselves, or any otherworldly power. That good news comes with an expectation that all men would devote themselves to Christ in faith that he is whom he says he is and will do what he says he will do.
Eager To Share The Gospel
The next section of Romans 1 tells us that Paul is eager to come to Rome and go beyond Rome, spreading the gospel everywhere he goes.
Romans 1:8--14 (ESV) --- 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--- 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
Paul says that he remembers the saints there in his prayers. He longs to see them. He desires to strengthen them and be strengthened by them as they show their faith. This is the goal of coming together with brethren. (Our Meeting is an opportunity to do the same thing).
Then, he has often wanted to come to Rome. He hopes to reap a harvest among them and the rest of the Gentiles. Isn’t that odd? How would Paul reap a harvest among them? Aren’t they already Christians? Does reaping a harvest mean converting people? Not necessarily. Remember last month we saw that the gospel bears the fruit of multiplication and transformation. It leads to many souls believing and submitting, leading to spiritual growth and obedience. Faith, hope, and love become stronger through the gospel. So Paul is eager to share the gospel among them and to spread it to other Gentiles in that area.
The Gospel’s Saving Power
Paul’s desire to tell the Romans the gospel drives him to write this long letter. He sees this as an opportunity to write what he plans to tell them face to face. The following words are the thesis statement for the book.
Romans 1:16--18 (ESV) --- 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Paul tells the Romans that he is proud of the gospel in this text. He is not ashamed of it. He will not hide from those who might kill him for calling Jesus “King.” Instead, he trusts that spreading the gospel will result in multiplication and transformation. The power of God for salvation is found in the gospel. When he shares the gospel with men, they are saved from the wrath to come. The wrath to come might sound dramatic, but verse 18 says that’s what’s coming to all who remain ungodly and unrighteous. That’s what people are being saved from through the gospel. The gospel has the power to save them.
That sounds kind of hard to believe. This idea that the gospel saves man from the wrath of God doesn’t make sense to a lot of people. They believe that they don’t need saving, but the murder of Jesus reveals our weaknesses. We are subject to selfish desires like envy, jealousy, bitterness, idolatry, and covetousness. Later on, Paul will tell us that all of us have fallen short and believed the deceptions of Satan. His goal in sharing the gospel is to help people understand their unworthiness, God’s righteousness revealed in Jesus, and the hope we all have of salvation. This leads to transformation. That’s nothing to be ashamed about. It’s the word of truth and the grace of God.
One more phrase that is important in this text is in verse 17. Paul says that “In it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for (to) faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” This verse is packed full of information, but it explains what Paul is saying straightforwardly. He wants the Romans to understand that when he tells the Gentiles the gospel, he is just passing on the good news in faith that others will hear it and be transformed by it. I don’t mind which way it is translated, but from faith to faith makes more sense to me in the context. He says that he spreads the gospel so that faith spreads, submission spreads, and obedience spreads. Then, he uses this great quote from Hosea, “The righteous shall live by faith.” He preaches the gospel unashamedly because dead people need to hear it and transform: multiplication and transformation.
Illustrations
In the book of Ezekiel, we find two excellent illustrations of the ideas that Paul just told us about the gospel.
The River of Life
In Ezekiel 47, we read about a life-giving stream coming out of the temple. That stream becomes larger and deeper. Eventually, it is a river that flows into the sea. Everywhere it goes, it turns the water into freshwater.
Ezekiel 47:9--12 (ESV) --- 9 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
This text shows us the nature of the gospel. It comes from the dwelling place of God and spreads, giving life to those affected by it and bearing much fruit. The fishermen find all the fish they need, the farmers find fresh fruit every month, and the doctors find the medicine they need for healing. All of this is an image of the gospel giving life to those who have faith in Jesus. Jesus sending out the good news is like a stream of water that goes out and provides life. But did you notice how the swamps and marshes do not come alive? This represents those who would not believe and did not find salvation.
The Dry Bones
The second image is of Ezekiel speaking words of life into dead bones. Ezekiel is taken to a whole valley of dried-up bones. This would be an appalling place. Listen to what God tells Ezekiel to say.
Ezekiel 37:2--6 (ESV) --- 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
Ezekiel is told that the words he speaks will result in the bones coming alive. These people are as dead as they can be, but God’s word has enough of an impact to bring them back to life. This shows us a total life transformation.
Application
Instead of being ashamed of the gospel, Romans 1 shows us that we need to have faith in the gospel’s power of multiplication and transformation. This is the Gospel of Life! It is the word of truth about the grace of God that saves men from sin and transforms them into obedient, faith-filled followers of Christ.
So why would we ever be ashamed of the gospel? Are you ashamed of it? When people share their problems with you, do you leap at the opportunity to share the truth with them or stay silent? Are you praying for any opportunity to speak words of life to them? It’s very easy for us to get distracted from the purpose Paul stated in Romans 1:5. He said our obedient faith is “for the sake of his name among all the nations.” If you aren’t giving people any impression about Jesus, you aren’t fulfilling your purpose.
I know that the world doesn’t want us to say anything. Sometimes, we even focus on our example over our words. We encourage people to walk the walk instead of talking the talk. Walking the walk is essential, but God wants us to do both. The power is in the proclamation of the good news. What would happen if we believed that the good news of Jesus as King could give light to those lost in the dark, hope to the hopeless, and healing to those who are suffering? Our world would be turned upside down, and that wouldn’t be a bad thing. It would be a great thing. Why? Because God’s word will not return to Him void. It accomplishes that for which it is sent out.