Romans A Letter that Makes Sense of Life by Andrew Ollerton

 

Romans

A Letter That Makes Sense of Life

By Andrew Ollerton

 

Romans 8 verse 28 was the verse on our wedding order of service all those years ago.  It is one of those promise verses in scripture and I know many people wondered/still wonder why I included it. It was and is a promise from God that no matter what happens in life God has already worked things out.  When I think back now 30 years later and see how God has worked things out for his glory I am in total awe and wonder that the God of the universe loves me so much and had thought of everything before it even happened.  It is so good to put your trust in a God who genuinely cares today. Yes it is a mountain climb at times but it will be worth it when we reach the peak!

 

Romans 16

Never noticed or thought about this before!  Paul was probably in Corinth when he wrote Romans.  Cenchreae is a nearby port. Phoebe was given the task of taking one of the most important letters ever penned to Rome.  Many scholars believe that her role was more than delivering a letter.  She was tasked with reading and if necessary further explaining the correspondence on behalf of the sender. Just imagine her reading this letter out loud to groups of slaves and their masters. Then they would ask questions and she would explain it further.  Copies would have been given so that everyone could study the letter in more detail.  What a role model!  She would have read the letter very carefully on her way to Rome perhaps memorising sections and reflecting on the tone and emphasis. By the time she arrived she was ready to pass it on with passion and insight.

 

I love how Andrew draws our attention to Tertius who was Paul's scribe.  Imagine sitting listening to this great man, keeping up with his thoughts and capturing all those complex ideas down onto a scroll.  But he did get the credit for his work - Romans 16 verse 22. A wonderful reminder that we all have a part to play in spreading the gospel even today.

 

Romans 16 reads like a church membership role list. These are the people Paul is writing to who are part of the church in Rome. There are 27 people named here.  But look at how they are described

Phoebe - a succour of many and of myself
Priscilla and Aquila - my helpers in Christ who have laid down their own necks (lives)
Epaenatus - firstfruits of Achaia
Mary - bestowed much labour on us
Andronicus and Junia - my kinsmen and fellowprisoners
Ampilias- my beloved in the Lord
Urbane - helper in Christ
Stachys- my beloved (favourite friend)
Apellas - approved in Christ
Aristobulus (grandson of Herod the great) household
Herodius - my kinsman
Household of Narcissus
Tryphena and Tryphosa - labour in the Lord
Persis - beloved, laboured much in the Lord
Rufus - chosen in the Lord and his mother (who has been a mother to me)

Now in case you think of this in terms of them all meeting together in a church building like we do, think again. These people made up little house groups meeting in homes, in secret. They risked their lives and locked their doors in case they would be found out.  These names signified people from all walks of life and diversity. Greeks and Jews, men and women, masters and slaves.  Now just think of the cost for them to follow Christ in those days. And consider how often our commitment to being in attendance on a Sunday in a place of worship compares. Remember there are many today all over the world who are suffering for their faith in Christ. They risk their lives to follow Christ. Surely that puts it all into perspective.  Paul might never have got to meet these people he named in his letter but I am sure he remembered them in his daily prayers. They were not nameless, he cared so much for them. What a reminder for us to pray for those with whom me meet with on a Sunday in our place of worship.

 

Romans 1

I love how Paul opens his letter to the Romans "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ." This book was originally written in Greek and simply started with 2 words "Paul's doulos".  Ironic or what. In the first century slaves were an estimated 30% of Rome's population, the property of wealthy masters. Their goal was freedom.  Paul was a well educated Roman citizen, a free man in the eyes of the law yet he identified himself as a slave of Christ.  For Paul you are only truly free when you die to yourself and live for Christ.  Romans shows us how liberating life can be when Jesus becomes our magnificent obsession.

 

"I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also."  Rome needed Jesus and Paul was very convinced of that. What a passion he had, not to visit as a tourist but as an evangelist. What a challenge - would we say the same of our own town, would we be part of meeting that challenge? Do I have the confidence to portray the idea that "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth"?

 

 

We all have our own ways of saying things and every nationality has certain little phrases that are unique to them.  When it comes to religion it is the same and we forget how it sounds to those who are not familiar with them.  Take the word "gospel". The original Greek word was "evangelion" which really referred to an announcement of good news. That is why I love the little chorus "Good news, good news, Christ died for me." And the original cartoon picture was of a newspaper because it was an announcement.  This word gospel had both political and social implications in the days the book of Romans was written in. The Emperor Augustus was referred to as the "gospel" because he was the person who brought victory and established peace. Romans chapter 1 verses 1 to 4 proclaims a new ruler and this announcement is actually the fulfilment of a larger story told throughout the rest of the bible. Jesus the Messiah has fulfilled the ancient promises and released God's message to all nations.

Paul introduces Jesus as "of the seed of David". Remember he was the shepherd boy who killed the giant Goliath and brought peace to the nation. Jesus defeated our enemy - sin and has brought peace to the world. Eternal life is now possible through Jesus' death and resurrection.  Andrew Ollerton points out 3 ways the gospel can be applied - on a personal, relational and cosmic level.  The gospel is good news for me personally but also for the governments, galaxies and everything in between.  We need the good news today. It is available through Jesus' death and resurrection.

 

Romans 1 verse 18 – 3 verse 20

I have to be honest and say that I am struggling with this section of Romans and it was this part that I listened to on Sunday night at Keswick Portstewaart through Jonathan Thomas.  We know sin is present in the world -"for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3 verse 23  Despite the gospel being good news there is the flip side - the wrath of God.  This is actually an extension of his love!  Think of creation at this moment in time. We only have to look around us and see something of what God is like. God actually delights in beauty and variety.  We also have the witness of our own moral consciences.  To claim there are right and wrong ways to live implies there is a higher moral authority to which we are accountable.  We are "without excuse" (Romans chapter 1 verse 20). Divine fingerprints are all over the natural world. We can sense God's presence deep within our souls. God's existence is self evident today.  But ... Notice the word "changed" in 3 of these verses in Romans chapter 1. Replacing God with substitutes known as idols.  Paul looked around and says everything has been changed - and as a result we have superstition, bribery and debauchery. Substitutes for the real thing. Promising more for less.  What have I replaced God with today? Shopping, work, leisure.  We make huge sacrifices in order to find significance and security in the things we can control - careers, properties, sport, financial investments, body image, travel, academic achievements.  It's not just about evidence, it's convenience.

Now you can see why I am struggling!

KESWICK AT PORTSTEWART 2023

SPEAKER: JONATHAN THOMAS

NOTES FROM SATURDAY 8 JULY 2023

Verse 16 is our focus tonight “For I am not ashamed of the gospel.”

The “I” is Paul the apostle.  He was dictating the letter and in chapter 16 we see it is Tertius who wrote it all down.  Phoebe has taken the letter with her to deliver it.  The ultimate authority is God himself – 2 Timothy 3 verse 16. 

Paul is a man who has been completely changed by the gospel.  He was Saul the persecutor who meets Christ on the road to Damascus.  He describes himself as “servant or slave” and that indicates his new freedom in Christ.  He is also an “apostle” meaning a sent man with a mission.  The gospel is to be preached.  Paul is set apart for the gospel. 

He is writing to the church in Rome and there is a description of them in verses 7 – 9.  “Loved by God, called to be holy”.  The church was actually a house church.  It was probably not a church planted by Paul but he knew a lot of its members.  Rome is the eternal city, the symbolic centre of the world, the greatest place in the empire.  Rome had given the world peace and stability.  Conquered the known world.  When it comes to the gospel sometimes people wanted to share it but they cannot for some reason.  For Paul he could see they have everything but still needed to understand the gospel more fully.  He wanted to go there but was unable – verses 13 and 14.

This church was in a mess, they had their problems just like the other churches Paul wrote to.  How had this church come about?  On the Day of Pentecost there were Jews from Rome meeting in Jerusalem.  They had been converted and returned to Rome with the gospel.  The church was planted – not all were Jews but there were some Gentile converts.  In Acts 18 we see that the Jews were expelled from Rome – we can think of Aquila and Priscilla who left and moved to Corinth where Paul met them.  These Jews lost their influence but when they eventually returned to Rome the people there struggled with a cultural identity.  The Jews with all their regulations and observances had difficulty fitting in with other believers.  Throughout the book of Romans Paul writes to these different groups – sometimes addresses the Gentiles and other times the Jews.  He wants to bring a gospel unity.

Maybe you have come from a difficult situation, there are conflicts and hardships in your life right now.  Perhaps you are looking at the world and wonder if you have made the wrong decision.  The answer to disunity is the gospel.  When you inwardly digest the word of God you will encounter an unshakeable gospel.

 

Paul is writing “I am not ashamed of the gospel”.  The gospel is good news.  It is really making an announcement of good news.  Perhaps when a baby is born we call that great news – in verse 1 God’s gospel is not a human initiative.  The good news from God was a revelation promised beforehand – verse 2.  All the Old Testament leads to Jesus.

In verse 3 we read that Jesus was a descendant of David.  He was born human.  The Messiah came to save.  The Lord is one of us, one for us.  He came for us.  What did he need to do? In the Garden of Eden man had gone away from God, he wanted to decide for himself what was right and wrong.  Adam did that and we do it every day in our lives.  We are stuck in our sin.  It does not matter how religious we try to be but the Bible tells us we are dead in our sin and trespasses, there is nothing we can do.  How are we going to get out?  No-one can help us.  The Lord God sent his son.  He was outside the situation and he came alongside us to save us.  Paul realised if you understood all that it will set the world on fire.  Whilst we say we would never be ashamed of the gospel we struggle.  We know it is the best news ever, the news everyone needs to hear but we struggle.  Why?  Because it is offensive.  And in a myriad of ways.  Justice has been met by an innocent man.  When you stand up for the gospel you will offend people.  You are the problem but you are not the answer.  Society today says there is nothing wrong with you, you are the answer to every problem.  But the gospel is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone that believes.  It is for everyone, everyone that believes.  Its only guarantee is that you will be saved.  The gospel is not a shaky bridge when the winds of life come.  God will never let you go.

In verse 17 we see that faith in the gospel is something for all of life.  We would describe it as ABC – admit you are a sinner, believe in Jesus Christ and commit your life to him.  But actually it is A to Z – for all of the Christian life.  You never move on from the cross, you just move into a deeper understanding.  He is the only one who can get us through life by faith.  If we trust in Christ he will never let us go.

KESWICK AT PORTSTEWART 2023

SPEAKER: JONATHAN THOMAS

NOTES FROM SUNDAY 9 JULY 2023

Reading: Romans 3 verses 10 – 26

Last night we surveyed the mountain in Romans chapter 1. 

Romans chapter 1 verse 18 to chapter 3 verse 20 shows we descend into the valley of sin.  Look at the different doctrines in these verses – sin, judgement, wrath of God.  They are difficult but important.  Before you can understand the good news you have got to grasp the bad news.  When you have a problem the solution is huge.

Up to Chapter 1 verse 18 we read of an amazing gospel but then we read “but the wrath of God is being revealed.”  There is a need for righteousness because of the wrath of God.  We don’t like the word “wrath”.  Sometimes we think it is a difficult word.  Maybe we have experiences of people who have lost control for no reason – is that how the wrath of God is?

“The wrath of God, then, is almost totally different from human anger. It does not mean that God loses his temper, flies into a rage, or is ever malicious, spiteful or vindictive. The alternative to 'wrath' is not 'love' but 'neutrality' in the moral conflict.” John Stott

God’s wrath is a refusal to condone the world, it is a just judgement in a world that is shaken.  God hates all that is evil.  In all of the evil and injustice in the world there is one who sees it.  He sees all the ways people have sinned.  But there is good news – everything will be made right.  God is revealing his wrath.  It is being revealed to all.  Paul knows that the people listening to this will say “how is that fair”.  Paul goes through 3 arguments of how that is right.

1.      Conscience - deep down everyone knows about God.  John Blanchard wrote a book entitled “Does God believe in Atheists?”  What atheists think about when bad things happen.  Atheists ask “why does God do that. God that is not fair.”  Right down in our hearts we know there is a God who exists.  There are no atheists on a lifeboat.

2.    Creation – when you look at the world the invisible qualities of God are made known in creation.  This design demands a designer, the creator demands a creation.  There is a new theory – the goldilocks enigma – regarding the creation of the world.  We know there is a God.  Is that enough to convert, to have a conscience?  No-one can really say there is no evidence for God.  Everyone can see creation.  Everyone has a conscience.  That is enough to tell you God is there. Even though we know this, we continued to suppress the truth, continued to disbelieve in God.  We have taken God’s world and decided the world is really about us not him.  The outcome has been terrible.  We are now living in a world God has designed for us to enjoy but we have gone our own way.

3.    Commandments for the Jews.  God has said what he demands.  Paul builds this argument – everyone is without excuse – all of us are guilty. 

 

Chapter 3 verses 10 – 20

Tim Keller “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Verse 10 – no-one is righteous

Verse 11 – all have turned their own way

The human condition is stark.  There is something about us.  We are all sinners.  Have you noticed how easy it is to sin?  It is natural.  St Augustine came to faith in Christ through the book of Romans.  We live in a world where there is sin in our hearts.  We are all the same.  Maybe you might think “I am not good enough to be a Christian.”  All of us are sinners.  There is nothing we can do.  None of us are perfect.  Romans says we are all sinners.  We are all the same.

Verse 21 is the most important single paragraph ever written and it starts with the word “but” - it is wonderful news.

In the first 3 chapters Paul is laying down the bad news.  He is laying down the black cloth so that when he comes to the gospel, the righteousness of God which is ours for free, it will shine all the better.  God is everything you need.  If you don’t realise that you are a sinner, never going to heaven, there is no good in thinking you can save yourself, there is nothing you can do but Jesus has done everything for you.  What does Jesus do?

God made flesh.  When he came into the world he came to us.  Even though he had made us we didn’t recognise him.  He came to die for us, to make it right.  To save us.  He is willing to give us everything.  Not by trying to earn your salvation.  Righteousness has been made known – verse 22.  Verse 23 “all have sinned” but we can be justified.  How?  Verse 25.  It is amazing what Jesus has done for us apart from the law.  What does it mean – the idea of God breaking his own law?  When God did something apart from the law he didn’t break the law.  There is something more.  “apart from the law” means apart from you trying to earn it.   Verse 25 this thing he did, he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, to be the just and the one who justifies.  Justifies us in a just way.  All of our sins are against God.  David got that when he said “against you, you only have I sinned.”  The sins in our world are sins against God.  Sin is ultimately cosmic.  The only one who can forgive us is God.  That is where Jesus comes in.  He is God himself.  He comes down to save us, to give us new life.  He is one of us.  John 3 verse 16.  Jesus went willingly to the cross.  Why?  Because he is God and he loves us.  Galatians 2 verse 20.  Jesus lived, died and rose in our place.  Just as our sin is against God, only God can forgive us.  He paid the price for us.  Self-substitution.  He comes in our place.  Our relationship is unshakeable.  I couldn’t do anything.  It is all of Jesus.  He has done everything.  Even though he didn’t need to die on the cross he became sin.  The Lord on the cross was there in our place.  All our sins were laid on him.  He became the man of sorrows.  All we have done was put on him.  If you are a Christian you might struggle with assurance.  In those times Satan comes to us, tells us of the great wrath of God.  What do we do?  We look upward to Jesus, the righteous one.  As the Lord of my life he has made me live with him.  We are all sinners but we can all be saved – verse 26.  Can you say yourself that Jesus has loved me and gave himself for me?  If you trust in him he will never let you go.  His righteousness is unshakeable.

KESWICK AT PORTSTEWART 2023

SPEAKER: JONATHAN THOMAS

NOTES FROM TUESDAY 11 JULY 2023

Reading: Romans 6 verses 1 to 14

There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.  What I have tried to show in Romans chapters 1 to 5 is that Jesus gives us righteousness.  It is not based on our own attempts.  We are enclosed in Christ.  Nothing can change that, it is completely done.  Sometimes we worry that God’s grace is going to run out.  Maybe you know mercy and grace but are not sure how far it can go.  If you get God’s radical grace, his righteousness is given to you.  All our sin is given to him.  Nothing will separate you from God’s love.  You will come to the point – does it matter if I sin then?  Paul knows that we all come to that point.  Paul has taught the gospel and now asks the question in verse 1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”  Paul wants to say that we need to grasp we are alive to Christ.  You are called to righteous living.  I wonder if you are struggling with sin.  In the end we are all struggling with sin.  Some of us are struggling with the cycle of sin.  Some of us have that conscience of sin while others don’t feel it any more.  Some of us thought we were doing well then we did something wrong and now our feelings are guilt shamed.  We can deal with these cycles of sin.  You have a new life in Christ but how do we deal with sin in our lives?  How do we learn to say no to sin?  There are indicatives and imperatives.  The indicatives are all about who we are in Christ.  Our sin has been paid in full.  The imperatives are all about how we should live.
Paul deals with the indicatives in verses 2 to 10.  There are images after images in these verses.  Verse 2 “dead to sin”, verse 3 “baptized into Jesus his death”, verse 4 “buried with him” and verse 5 union with him.  His death was my death.  I am “crucified with him” verse 6 and in verse 7 I am “freed from sin”.  The guilt, gloom and the grace.  The guilt of sin has gone, the grave of death has been buried.  I often think of it as the penalty of sin, the power of sin and the presence of sin.  Hopefully you can see clearly the penalty that has been paid by Christ.  It is gone.  The power of sin has also gone.  The presence of sin is however not gone.  That is one of the reasons we long for heaven, long for the day when we will not sin or struggle.  We will be free to serve God.  We have not died to sin but are alive to Christ.  In verse 4 we have been “raised up from the dead” and live a new life.  Verse 5 talks about unity.  Verse 6 we are free from sin.  Verse 8 we live with him.  The Lord describes it as being born again.  Jesus’ death and resurrection is for us.  Verse 10 the death he died, he died for all, the life he lives is for God.  The power of God is gone even if the presence of sin is still here.  Righteousness in 2 ways are imputed.  Righteousness has been given to us on the cross. There was a great exchange.  He who knew no sin became sin.  My sin was imputed to Jesus on the cross but his perfect life was imputed to me.  The bible will call us holy saints.  The bible doesn’t leave it there.  It also calls us to be holy, to live righteous lives.  We are made holy in our standing, called to be holy in our lives as well.  It is hard to live a holy life, hard because we feel trapped.  When we are forgiven by Christ the penalty is gone and in a large part the power is also gone.  The problem is – we are still surrounded by sin but sin is always an inside job.  We struggle with these things. The bible calls you to be holy.  You have to learn to say no to sin.  The faith that justifies us will bring us to him.  We can say no to sin because of the gospel.  The religious terminology is justification and sanctification.  Justification – just as if I had never sinned and sanctification – now I am being called to be holy, to become more like Jesus.  How do you do it?  You realise who you are but it is more than this.  Christ is in me by his Spirit.  Amazing concept.  We are seated in the heavenly realms as Colossians says.  Also Christ by his Spirit now lives in me.  This means united to Christ.  There is a link with me and Christ.  A union of blood.  He became man, shed his blood for me.  We are the bride and he is the bridegroom.  Also united in a spiritual way because the Holy Spirit will live in us.  This is the way we need to deal with sin.  Christ’s life will empower you.  You have the power to say no to sin.  Now the penalty is gone there is a power to say no.  A lot of our holiness does not last.  Having a new habit, getting on top of it.  Titus 2 verses 11 and 12.  We are going to come to a little bit of discipline.  What we need to do is grasp the gospel – “yet not I but Christ through me.”  Indicative – the need to know what God has done.
The imperatives – we set our mind to love verses 7 to 14.  Paul gives 3 steps to dealing with sin in our lives.  They are concurrent steps – they all work at the same time.
Firstly, savour the gospel – verse 1 count it – consider it, never move on from the cross.  It has been paid in full.  His mercy will not run out.
Secondly, stop listening to Satan – verse 13. 
Thirdly, start living for God.
We need to look at what the Lord is wanting to fill our minds with instead.  Deep down we think sin is so much better that the life we live now.  God’s plans are worse than mine and I need to trust Satan.  Do you really believe God’s plan for your life is better than my plan?  We need to offer ourselves to God – verse 13.
We need to savour the gospel – the penalty is gone, the power of God is with us.  Jesus has now left us alone, given us his Holy Spirit, a new life in him.  You will struggle, you will fall and mess up.  Sometimes when you think what have I to be doing we will ask ourselves you will fall and mess up.  Times when you think what have I been doing?  We will ask ourselves ‘what am I doing, I am not saved.’  That is the moment you will really know you are saved.  The one who worries about salvation is the one who is truly saved.  When you surround the gospel you will savour the gospel.  Don’t let Satan get his power over you.  You can say “no” to sin and yes to life.  When we fail one day, we can get up on a new day and say “new mercies every day, great is your faithfulness” and receive from him his righteousness.  We will struggle but we will live for Christ.  Say no to sin and yes to Christ tonight