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Pastor Wade Burleson





The Gospel of God

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Romans 1:1-7 (KJV)
  1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
  2. (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
  3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
  4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;
  5. By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
  6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
  7. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of God

Romans 1:1-7

In 750 B.C. Rome was a little farming village. By Paul's day this little village had become an empire that ruled the world. Though Paul would eventually be imprisoned there twice and ultimately martyred in Rome, when Paul wrote Romans, he had never been to Rome. Paul wrote Romans in A.D. 57 during his second visit to Corinth. He was raising funds to help the poor in Jerusalem (Acts 19-20). A woman named Phoebe was on her way to Rome, and Paul gave her a letter commending her to the church (16:1). The skeptic Renan said of Phoebe, "she carried beneath the folds of her robe the whole future of Christian theology." Luther called Romans, "the purest gospel." Calvin said, "If you understand Romans, you understand the Bible."

  1. Paul begins Romans with an expected salutation . . .
    In Paul's day the person writing the letter put his name first. Paul identifies himself two ways:
    1. A servant of Jesus Christ . . . he uses the word "duolos" which means slave.
      This term is one of both humility and dignity. Paul was a slave of Jesus Christ; not men.
    2. Called to be an apostle . . . "one sent by another." In Paul's case, sent by Christ.
      Jesus Christ has "separated Paul to be a messenger of the gospel of God."
  2. Paul writes Romans with an excursive style . . .
    The word excursive means "to wander or ramble with a purpose." An excursion is a side trip from the main trip because interest has been piqued! Paul writes this way. The customary greeting is found in vs. 1 and vs. 7; verses 2-6 are an excursion from "the gospel of God."
    1. Paul, an apostle of "the gospel of God" (v.1). This phrase triggers something in Paul.
      1. The good news has been promised to us in the Old Testament Scriptures (v.2).
      2. The good news is found in the person of the Son of God (v.3).
        1. The Son of God is in the lineage of King David according to the flesh (v.3).
          The gospels of Matthew and Luke record the genealogy of Jesus Christ and we find that both Mary and Joseph are descendants of King David.
        2. The Son of God is "proved" to be who He is by the resurrection (v.4).
          In the original, Jesus Christ our Lord does not come until the end of v.4. His excursion begins with the good news of God, promised in the Scriptures, fulfilled in the person of the Son of God, from David's family, proved to be the Son of God by His resurrection -- who is this person of whom I speak?
          Jesus Christ our Lord (v.4 in the original text).
          Jesus (the one who saves), Christ (the Messiah), our Lord (Jehoval God).
          1. By whom we have been commissioned to deliver the good news (v.5).
          2. By whom you also have received the call from Jesus Christ (v.6).
    2. To all you that be in Rome" (v.7).
      Those who were believers in Rome were "loved of God" and "called saints" by God. The phrase in the KJV "called to be saints" should be translated "called saints."
  3. Paul fills Romans with an evangelical sensitivity . . .
    "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (v.7). We find that Paul never loses sight of people. Yes, his letter is doctrinal and filled with truth, but Paul's priority was not so much the conveying of doctrine as it was the "grace and peace" that comes to an individual who understands and receives the teaching of Jesus Christ. As we begin our study, let us remember that the gospel is given to us to change our lives.


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Pastor Wade