The Lost World

The Book of Romans begins, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ (1:1a). The word "servant" in Greek is doulos, which means "bondslave." A bondslave had no rights of his own. He belonged totally to his master. As a bondslave of Jesus Christ, Paul was living totally for his Master.

Paul was called to be an apostle (1:1b). "Apostle" literally means "one who is sent." In his calling Paul was separated unto the gospel of God (1:1c). We remember that in the Book of Acts the Holy Spirit said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away" (Acts 13:2-3). Paul was sent by the Holy Spirit to bear the Gospel to the Gentiles. The word "gospel" means "good news." To hear some people tell it, God is bad news. But that's not true! God's love for us in Jesus Christ is good news.

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures) (1:2). This Gospel wasn't an event that simply happened without warning. The message of the Gospel, especially to the Gentiles, was spoken of by God through the prophets. (When Paul refers to the "holy scriptures," he has only the Old Testament in mind.)

The good news is about God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1:3a). So often we read the "Lord Jesus Christ" and think of this as His first, middle, and last name. "Lord" is not His name; it is His title. The Greek word for "lord" is kurios.

"Jesus" is His name. This is a Greek translation of the Hebrew name "Joshua," meaning "Jehovah is salvation." In Matthew's gospel we read, "The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21). His name implies His mission: "he shall save his people from their sins." "Christ" is Greek for the Hebrew word meaning "messiah" or "the anointed one of God," the one whom God had promised to send to His people. "Christ" or "Messiah" signifies His ministry as the fulfillment of the promise of God. "Jesus Christ our Lord" signifies the believer's relationship to Him.

In the Bible we read, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). The first part of that passage would be better translated, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord." Our obligation is more than confessing belief in Jesus Christ. You can believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but not be saved. You can believe that He died on the cross for your sins, yet not be born again. It's necessary to submit your life to Him as Lord of your life in order to have salvation.

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh (1:3). As king of Israel, David had a beautiful house in Jerusalem. When he saw the tent where people were worshipping God, he said, "Here I am dwelling in this exquisite palace, and all we have is a tent for God. I'm going to build a beautiful house for Him."

The prophet Nathan told him, "David, that sounds like a marvelous idea." But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him that he had spoken hastily. "Go back and tell David that he can't build My house. It's good that the desire is in his heart, but he has shed too much blood." To soften David's disappointment God told Nathan, "Tell David that I'm going to build him a house."

So, the prophet told David, "I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that you can't build a house for God. The good news is that God is going to build you a house." God was telling David that through him the Messiah would come. God would establish His kingdom through David's seed, and there would never lack one from his offspring to sit upon the throne.

David was overwhelmed. "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" (I Chronicles 17:1-16). The Lord took David from following after sheep and made him ruler over His people. Now He planned to build David a house and establish his throne forever.

"Lord, what can I say?" David was speechless. Now that's a remarkable statement for David to make, because he was very gifted with words. Whenever I find it difficult to express my feelings to God, I turn to the Psalms where David expresses such things so well. Yet, here David was speechless because of God's goodness and grace. It's a wonderful experience when God so blesses us that words become inadequate to describe our feelings. As Savonarola said, "When prayer reaches its ultimate, words are impossible."

As we trace the genealogy of Christ back through Mary in Luke's gospel, we find Him coming through the line of David. Jesus is God incarnate and the seed of David, the beautiful God-Man, declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness (1:4), for He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Some people say that the Virgin Birth is only mentioned in two of the Gospels and so we don't need to accept the event as fact. If we don't accept the Virgin Birth as fact, then who was Jesus' father? How many times does God have to tell us something before we believe it? God has told us twice. Isn't that enough? Jesus is the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (1:3b-4).

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name (1:5). Paul had the anointing and calling of an apostle, although he considered himself to be the chief of sinners (I Timothy 1:12-15).

Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. And now a salutation, 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 (1:6-7). The first title given to the believers, "beloved of God," fits everyone. Many times it's difficult for us to accept God's love, because we oftentimes don't really love ourselves. Since we don't love ourselves, we wonder how can God love us. But He does!

More than that, we're called "saints." It was tragic when the Church decided to honor certain people for special deeds, thus setting criteria for sainthood. Should miracles occur by praying to a deceased person who was known for doing outstanding works during his lifetime, then the Church chose to consider the person a saint. Don't worry if the Church overlooked you. God has chosen you, and it's better to be considered a saint by God than from the Church any day. You have been called a saint. Now live up to your calling.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:7b). Grace and peace are called the Siamese twins of the New Testament because they're always coupled together. This is the proper order of the two words, for you can't have the peace of God until you've first experienced His grace.

Peace with God is necessary before you can have the peace of God. They're two different experiences. You can experience peace with God when you're saved, but still not know the peace of God.

Many Christians are upset, worried, and frantic. They're not sure that God will work out everything, and their lives are in turmoil. They don't have the peace of God. This is the peace to which Paul is referring. After I recognize that the grace of God is unmerited favor, I can experience the peace of God because I'm no longer striving. I realize that His blessings haven't been earned by my merit or goodness. I'm now trusting in God's completed work, and I'm at peace in my relationship with God. I've totally committed myself to Him.

First, said Paul, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all (1:8a). In the New Testament we're taught to pray to God through Jesus Christ. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name," Jesus said, "that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14).

Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (1:8b). The godly faith of the Roman believers was well-known throughout the Church world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers (1:9). Paul's prayers were in the closet, so to speak. Paul states, "God is my witness," because he can't call on any man to verify his prayers. He was following the instructions Jesus gave us when He said, "Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matthew 6:6a).

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (1:10-11). Paul's motive for going to Rome wasn't to see the great Forum or the Circus Maximus, but to minister to the believers. He wanted to impart some spiritual gift through which they might be strengthened.

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me (1:12). Gathering together with God's people has a two-way effect. You cannot minister to others without being ministered to yourself. That's the beauty of sharing our spiritual gifts with one another. Jesus said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38a). Sowing the truth in love always reaps the same.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles (1:13). Paul wanted to visit them before, but had been hindered. The apostle wasn't deliberately slighting the Romans by his absence.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise (1:14). "Barbarian" is an unfortunate word here because of its modern meaning as "savage." The term originated because the Greeks considered that all foreign languages sounded like "bar-bar" on incomprehensible babbling. The expression actually referred to those who didn't speak Greek. It wasn't a derogatory expression in Paul's day.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (1:15-16). Jesus Christ is God's power of salvation. To whom? To everyone who believes.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (1:17). Paul begins early in the book to introduce the two themes of his message: (1) the righteousness which is of God through faith and (2) the just shall live by faith. Man's righteousness before God isn't predicated upon the Law of Moses or the works of man, but upon believing in the work of God.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (1:18). Verse 16 emphasizes the power of God, verse 17 the righteousness of God, and verse 18 the wrath of God. People talk about the power and righteousness of God, but they often deny or ignore one aspect of God's nature - His wrath.

The Mosaic Law was written on two tablets of stone. The first tablet dealt with man's relationship with God; the second dealt with man's relationship with his fellow man. A man is ungodly when he isn't right with God; he is unrighteous when he isn't right with his fellow man as God wishes him to be.

The wrath of God is to be revealed against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The two tablets of stone are thus tied together. You cannot have a right relationship with God and a wrong relationship with your brother. If you say that you love God, then you have to love your brother also. You cannot love God and hate your brother.

Some people hold the truth of God, but they hold it in unrighteousness. You say you believe in God. That's wonderful. It's the place to start, but alone it isn't enough. The devils believe in God, so what makes you different from them? You must believe in God and glorify Him. That's the difference!

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (1:19-20). The existence of God is universally attested to. The design of His work is self-evident to all. Those who deny or ignore God are totally without excuse.

When they knew God, they glorified him not as God (1:21a). Paul's first indictment against natural men is that they knew God, but they didn't glorify Him as God.

How many times have I failed to honor God and instead found myself arguing with Him. Peter and Paul argued with the Lord. This trait is part of my human weakness, and it doesn't give glory to God. By arguing with God, I bring Him down to my level, and even reduce Him below my level, because my premise is that I'm right. It's ridiculous! God knows far more about my own situation than I do.

Neither were [they] thankful (1:21b). First Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." The circumstances of your life have been ordained by God and are working together according to a divine plan. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23a). Nothing happens to you by happenstance or accident. Don't say, "Good luck!" There is no such thing for a Christian. Similarly whenever you complain about your circumstances you're actually complaining about God. He has brought certain situations into your life for the best. When you moan and groan, God is displeased with your unthankful heart.

As Christians we need to learn to accept the things that come across our paths. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28a). May this truth be embedded in our hearts! When events that seem like tremendous tragedies come, we often ask, "If God loves me how could He allow this to happen?" We can't understand everything that comes across our paths, and God doesn't promise us total understanding. The lyrics to an old southern song have brought comfort to many.

Further along we'll know all about it. Further along we'll understand why. Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine. We'll understand it all by and by.

The point of the song is that in heaven we can sit down with Jesus and ask, "Why did that have to happen?" However, when we get to heaven, we'll be so excited and full of rejoicing that we'll just enjoy it all! God doesn't owe us any explanations, but we owe Him our complete obedience, surrender, and submission.

Imagine the potter with the clay. In front of him is the potter's wheel used to shape the vessel. After getting the clay to the right consistency, he throws it on the center of the wheel and begins to form it. The clay leaps up at his touch as he shapes it.

Now as clay in the hands of the potter, so am I in the hands of God. The wheel on which the potter molds the clay is like the circumstances of my life. The wheel is under the total control of the potter, and that's all the clay needs to know. "It hurts!" the clay may complain. "I wonder how much longer the potter will mold me. Won't he ever stop?"

God molds me by ordaining the circumstances of my life. I submit to Him so that He might work in me His eternal purposes. "I thank You, God, for all the disappointments and losses that I have experienced." Paul says, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17).

God's work in your life may be painful right now, but He's aiming at the eternal goal. He wants to bring you into a more glorious entrance into His kingdom. Maybe He has to deprive you now of something that you feel is so very important, but He overlooks your temporary ease for your eternal interest. He has such wonderful things prepared, and He's trying to lead us toward them. If only we would learn to flow with the Spirit and be thankful in all things, because we belong to God. If we live this way we'll never be disappointed.

Accepting God's will for your life is like the little boy who built a model ship. He carefully glued into place all the masts, riggings, and sails. After months of labor he took it down to the pond and gently laid it on the water. Proudly, he watched as the wind filled the sails and the little boat sailed gracefully across the pond. Midway across the lake a strong gust of wind knocked the sailboat over and it sank. The little boy looked up and said, "Wow! What a great wind for flying a kite!" When God stops you on one venture, be open to what He may have in mind. Don't sit down and cry. He has something else for you to do. Look for it!

God often has to deal with us severely, because we're not open and listening to Him. We easily get into ruts with our well-ordered lives and stop looking for what God wants us to have. "I'm at a good job, getting seniority, and doing fine. This is terrific!" One day you go to work and the foreman says, "Here's your termination notice."

Now it's, "Lord! What are You doing to me? This is terrible!" God has a better job for you, but you weren't looking for it. Now you are! God couldn't bring you to the better position until He upset the old conditions. Now you're open and listening to what God has to say. The Father delights in giving good things to His children, just as a parent loves to give some wonderful gift to his child.

We have one son who's always been difficult to please. Buy him a new shirt and he'll say, "Does it match my slacks?" Buy him new shoes and he'll say, "Why did you get that style?" Sometimes God has a hard time giving us gifts, too. What a disappointment when you give a truly wonderful gift to someone you love, and he or she barely acknowledges it. That isn't a response anyone appreciates, especially God.

But became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools (1:21b-22). Our imaginations often focus on the empty things of the world, and much of our mental power is exercised on vain fantasies. How much better when our hearts and minds are filled with God, His Word, and His love. The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Many times we profess ourselves to be wise and actually become fools by the theories that we believe and follow.

And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (1:23a). The men of the world tried to make an image of God by fashioning it in the form of man.

And to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things (1:23b). Have you ever seen the grotesque images of past civilizations or the awful images in India today that are worshipped as God? Quite often the statues are part man and part animal. How tragic and foolish! Yet people worship these things and say, "That's God. "

Now we come to the first "giving up" by God. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness [sexual uncleanness or impurity] through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves (1:24). Whenever man fashions an image of God in the form of a man, he brings God even below his own level. When a man puts eyes and ears on an idol, it still can't see or hear. Setting God below his own level creates moral depravity in man, for he loses his high ideals and becomes like his god. His god is less than man, thus his god becomes in his mind a base creature.

The ritual worship of false gods was often done through fertility rites and practices. In Paul's time, the great temple of Aphrodite stood on the Acropolis in Corinth. The priestesses of this temple were prostitutes who came into the city nightly. The Corinthians "worshipped" Aphrodite through sexual rites, and the profit supported their religion. Man degrades himself whenever he worships anything other than the true and living God. So, man is given up by God and given over to "uncleanness."

Who changed the truth of God into a lie (1:25a). Man has to live with himself, so he rationalizes his evil deeds in order to ease his conscience. But to do that he has to change God. He challenges God's Word and claims, "The Bible isn't really the inspired Word of God." Or he underestimates Him. "God doesn't care. He isn't really concerned."

In Paul's day some men believed that the body was completely separate from God's concern. These men taught that you must worship God in the realm of the spirit, but you could do whatever you pleased with your body. Such a teaching changes the truth of God into a lie, just to accommodate the lusts of the flesh.

And worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator (1:25b). Men are doing the same thing today as in Paul's day. They're worshipping and serving the works of their own hands rather than the Creator of all things. Idolatry, one of the most common of all sins, is the obsession for the things made by men's hands. The idolater cannot rest until he possesses the object of his desire. For this cause God gave them up (1:26a).

Paul also tells us that God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another (1:26-27). Lesbianism and homosexuality follow whenever God gives up women and men to the things they desire. Don't tell me that God created a homosexual that way. That's changing the truth of God into a lie. Man becomes perverted because he doesn't want to retain God in his mind. He refuses to glorify God as God, and he seeks to make a god after himself. God gives him up to these vile affections, because he has rejected the truth of God within his own heart.

But if a person will return and submit himself to the truth, Jesus will free him from that power and manner of life. He came to set the captive free!

Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient [ought not to be done]; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, convenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful (1:28-31).

This passage shows the sad picture of society today. People have sought to rule God out of their consciences. So, God has given them up to these vile practices. These sins will manifest themselves whenever a society turns its back upon God and seeks independence from Him. Whoever rejects Jesus Christ will find himself going downhill fast, doing things he never dreamed of, and losing any scruples against doing them.

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them (1:32). Many people hold a prideful view of themselves, as the Pharisee who said, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men" (Luke 18:11). They feel smug because they're innocent of some of the grosser forms of sin. Yet, they go to a movie or watch a TV program as actors portray these vile things, and they actually enjoy or "have pleasure in them that do them." We need to take great care not to sow to our flesh in any way. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" (Galatians 6:8).