WEBVTT 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:07.608 Alright, so today we get to really start into the book of Romans. 00:00:07.608 --> 00:00:08.640 We're in chapter one, 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:10.020 verses one through eight. 00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:12.304 And I just want to tell you something. 00:00:12.304 --> 00:00:13.660 Something happened to Paul, 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:20.840 okay? Something changed everything in his just perspective on life and 00:00:20.880 --> 00:00:22.820 priority and focus. 00:00:23.360 --> 00:00:27.018 And so Paul's life changed one day. 00:00:27.154 --> 00:00:37.210 And the result of God's changing Paul's life provides for us a book like 00:00:37.250 --> 00:00:41.130 Romans Letters to the Roman Christians. 00:00:41.210 --> 00:00:43.190 And so as we begin this, 00:00:43.202 --> 00:00:46.290 I want you to think along those lines as to the fact that, 00:00:46.290 --> 00:00:46.834 guess what? 00:00:46.834 --> 00:00:47.470 God. 00:00:49.650 --> 00:00:51.750 God gives us reason for change, 00:00:52.390 --> 00:00:53.930 then he changes us. 00:00:54.390 --> 00:00:57.130 So as we read Romans 1:1 through 8, 00:00:57.430 --> 00:01:01.790 think about these things and try to make application in your own life. 00:01:01.830 --> 00:01:02.822 Alright, here we go. 00:01:02.822 --> 00:01:05.342 Paul, a bond servant of Christ Jesus, 00:01:05.406 --> 00:01:06.606 called as an apostle, 00:01:06.606 --> 00:01:08.414 set apart for the Gospel of God, 00:01:08.414 --> 00:01:11.646 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 00:01:11.646 --> 00:01:13.198 concerning His Son. 00:01:13.294 --> 00:01:17.584 I'm going to read it like it's written with punctuation because it's not. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:19.000 Alright, here you go. 00:01:19.088 --> 00:01:20.000 I'm going to start over. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:21.736 Paul, a bond servant of Christ Jesus, 00:01:21.736 --> 00:01:22.712 called as an apostle, 00:01:22.712 --> 00:01:24.840 set apart for the Gospel of God, 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:28.136 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 00:01:28.136 --> 00:01:29.384 concerning his Son, 00:01:29.512 --> 00:01:32.712 who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 00:01:32.712 --> 00:01:36.336 he was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the 00:01:36.336 --> 00:01:38.312 dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, 00:01:38.312 --> 00:01:39.592 Jesus Christ our Lord, 00:01:39.592 --> 00:01:43.136 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the 00:01:43.136 --> 00:01:46.742 obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, 00:01:46.742 --> 00:01:51.718 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ to all who are beloved 00:01:51.734 --> 00:01:52.726 of God in Rome, 00:01:52.726 --> 00:01:53.894 called as saints. 00:01:54.022 --> 00:01:58.414 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:58.414 --> 00:01:59.410 Verse 8. 00:02:00.510 --> 00:02:05.526 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because your faith 00:02:05.558 --> 00:02:08.290 is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 00:02:08.670 --> 00:02:09.230 All right, 00:02:09.230 --> 00:02:09.952 let's pray. 00:02:10.046 --> 00:02:10.980 God, we thank you. 00:02:10.980 --> 00:02:14.260 We praise you again for the morning that we get to share together first 00:02:14.260 --> 00:02:17.796 with you and then with each other and God as we've enjoyed worship this 00:02:17.796 --> 00:02:18.348 morning. God, 00:02:18.348 --> 00:02:20.900 thank you that you have spoken to us. 00:02:20.548 --> 00:02:25.692 Your word is always that opportunity for us to hear you speak to us and 00:02:25.716 --> 00:02:31.276 in your spirit illuminates and shares and opens up our minds and hearts 00:02:31.308 --> 00:02:32.180 to what you've said. 00:02:32.180 --> 00:02:34.164 And so God help us to hear you, 00:02:34.164 --> 00:02:35.814 help us to pay attention. 00:02:35.890 --> 00:02:37.540 Help us to be obedient. 00:02:37.690 --> 00:02:40.514 God help us to do that which you have called us to do. 00:02:40.514 --> 00:02:42.494 We pray it in Jesus name. 00:02:41.794 --> 00:02:45.226 Amen. Ever anybody, 00:02:45.338 --> 00:02:47.990 ever known a person who did something, 00:02:48.370 --> 00:02:52.218 changed something about themselves so drastically that you didn't 00:02:52.234 --> 00:02:54.410 recognize them Right. 00:02:54.450 --> 00:02:55.906 I had a friend one time that, 00:02:55.906 --> 00:02:56.226 you know, 00:02:56.226 --> 00:03:00.546 his hair started thinning and he decided to be radical about it and just 00:03:00.546 --> 00:03:01.458 shave it all off. 00:03:01.458 --> 00:03:02.448 He had hair, 00:03:02.466 --> 00:03:03.020 wasn't much, 00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:04.340 but he had some. 00:03:04.396 --> 00:03:06.228 And so he shaved it shiny, 00:03:06.228 --> 00:03:06.840 bald. 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:09.172 I didn't recognize the guy. 00:03:09.316 --> 00:03:09.756 I mean, 00:03:09.756 --> 00:03:11.406 it was kind of like, 00:03:11.660 --> 00:03:12.852 wait a minute, 00:03:12.996 --> 00:03:18.516 right. That there was a change so drastic I didn't know the guy. 00:03:18.628 --> 00:03:19.196 Right. I mean, 00:03:19.196 --> 00:03:19.900 I knew him, 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:21.812 but I didn't recognize him. 00:03:21.836 --> 00:03:22.660 Right. Well, 00:03:22.700 --> 00:03:24.044 when you see Paul's life, 00:03:24.044 --> 00:03:27.460 when we take this journey with Paul through the book of Romans, 00:03:27.460 --> 00:03:31.750 we're going to get a better understanding of how God explained to Paul 00:03:31.756 --> 00:03:37.046 the transformation that the gospel brings about in the life of anybody. 00:03:37.238 --> 00:03:42.766 Ok? And so the challenge for you and I is going to be as we examine the 00:03:42.766 --> 00:03:43.622 Gospel of God. 00:03:43.622 --> 00:03:45.390 And that's what it says right there. 00:03:45.102 --> 00:03:47.782 It says set apart for the Gospel of God. 00:03:47.782 --> 00:03:50.290 What that means is God's good news. 00:03:51.150 --> 00:03:54.614 Anything that God is sharing with us about Jesus Christ, 00:03:54.702 --> 00:03:56.678 about the salvation, 00:03:56.774 --> 00:03:57.494 the redemption, 00:03:57.542 --> 00:04:00.384 the forgiveness that God provides in Jesus Christ, 00:04:00.502 --> 00:04:01.956 that's good news for us. 00:04:01.956 --> 00:04:03.212 And so this is the gospel, 00:04:03.212 --> 00:04:04.716 the good news of God, 00:04:04.716 --> 00:04:05.800 God's story, 00:04:07.540 --> 00:04:11.244 God's proclamation of what he has accomplished. 00:04:11.292 --> 00:04:13.602 Because that's what this text actually says. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:18.988 And what's crazy about the way the English New Testament reflects the non 00:04:19.044 --> 00:04:22.188 punctuation of the Greek New Testament is, 00:04:22.244 --> 00:04:23.894 is that there's no punctuation. 00:04:23.948 --> 00:04:27.890 And so this is the biggest run on sentence. 00:04:28.710 --> 00:04:31.838 If you've ever tried to diagram a New Testament sentence, 00:04:31.838 --> 00:04:32.982 it takes you all day. 00:04:32.982 --> 00:04:36.382 And then I realized that younger students no longer know how to diagram 00:04:36.382 --> 00:04:37.372 sentences. But anyway, 00:04:37.390 --> 00:04:38.422 that's aside from it. 00:04:38.326 --> 00:04:39.342 I was taught that in Greek, 00:04:39.342 --> 00:04:40.370 not in English. 00:04:41.430 --> 00:04:46.006 So what I want us to realize is that as Paul undertakes to write the book 00:04:46.006 --> 00:04:47.170 of Romans, 00:04:47.670 --> 00:04:53.248 he is writing what God has revealed to him and what God has inspired for 00:04:53.304 --> 00:04:56.144 him in scripture scripturally. 00:04:56.192 --> 00:05:02.928 To put this down for our understanding of the gospel so that we 00:05:02.984 --> 00:05:05.100 understand what God has done, 00:05:05.880 --> 00:05:10.460 how he's done it and ultimately why he's done it. 00:05:10.840 --> 00:05:14.180 So the point of the book of Romans, 00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:15.640 you know, 00:05:15.640 --> 00:05:18.980 the reason for its existence is because Romans, 00:05:19.670 --> 00:05:23.890 Romans, people in Rome need the gospel. 00:05:24.630 --> 00:05:27.890 Truthfully, the whole world needs the gospel. 00:05:29.430 --> 00:05:30.622 We need the gospel. 00:05:30.622 --> 00:05:31.982 I need the gospel. 00:05:32.126 --> 00:05:36.054 This is the good news God has chosen to deliver to us and for our 00:05:36.054 --> 00:05:42.382 understanding and comprehension of what God has accomplished through 00:05:42.486 --> 00:05:43.454 Jesus Christ. 00:05:43.542 --> 00:05:47.056 Alrighty, so I want to share with you that the first point today is just. 00:05:47.056 --> 00:05:47.980 Hello Paul, 00:05:48.640 --> 00:05:50.620 let's meet Paul a little bit. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.824 Alright, let's get Acquainted with this guy. 00:05:52.872 --> 00:05:56.264 His name was Saul from birth and good Jewish boy, 00:05:56.392 --> 00:05:57.512 born in Tarsus. 00:05:57.576 --> 00:05:58.340 You know, 00:05:59.200 --> 00:06:00.984 he was a Roman citizen, 00:06:01.032 --> 00:06:05.032 but he was also Jewish and grew up in a Jewish household. 00:06:05.096 --> 00:06:06.086 More than likely, 00:06:06.192 --> 00:06:08.060 his household was wealthy. 00:06:08.640 --> 00:06:11.328 Saul undertook to be a tent maker, 00:06:11.464 --> 00:06:14.032 supporting himself later in his ministries. 00:06:14.096 --> 00:06:16.464 Right? So maybe growing up in Tarsus, 00:06:16.512 --> 00:06:20.288 maybe. Maybe his dad had a tent factory or something. 00:06:20.424 --> 00:06:22.376 Right? He grew up in that. 00:06:22.216 --> 00:06:25.336 The reason we know he was probably from a wealthy family is because of 00:06:25.336 --> 00:06:26.060 his education. 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:27.488 I mean, 00:06:27.624 --> 00:06:33.020 Saul had the highest of education for Jewish young men. 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:37.080 What we find out is that I'm going to read to you from Acts 22. 00:06:37.080 --> 00:06:37.496 Here you go. 00:06:37.496 --> 00:06:38.032 Acts 22. 00:06:38.056 --> 00:06:39.196 If you want to turn there, 00:06:39.196 --> 00:06:40.372 it's not going to show up on the screen. 00:06:40.372 --> 00:06:42.076 It's just what I got for you. 00:06:42.076 --> 00:06:42.460 It says, 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:43.540 brothers and fathers, 00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:46.800 listen, listen now to my defense before you. 00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:50.596 When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, 00:06:50.596 --> 00:06:51.020 all right? 00:06:51.020 --> 00:06:51.732 So he's. 00:06:51.876 --> 00:06:53.268 He's writing in Greek, 00:06:53.364 --> 00:06:54.868 speaking in Aramaic. 00:06:55.044 --> 00:06:58.084 Okay? Knows Hebrew, 00:06:58.132 --> 00:06:58.880 I'm sure. 00:06:59.420 --> 00:07:00.980 So it's well educated, 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:02.316 right? When they heard it, 00:07:02.316 --> 00:07:04.626 he was speaking to them in Aramaic, 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:07.040 they became even quieter. 00:07:07.380 --> 00:07:08.436 So they're listening to him, 00:07:08.436 --> 00:07:09.876 and all of a sudden he starts speaking to them. 00:07:09.876 --> 00:07:10.276 They went, 00:07:10.276 --> 00:07:11.148 shh, shh. 00:07:11.324 --> 00:07:12.492 What's he saying? 00:07:12.676 --> 00:07:14.244 Right? So then he goes on, 00:07:14.244 --> 00:07:14.908 he says, 00:07:15.044 --> 00:07:15.804 he continued, 00:07:15.852 --> 00:07:16.860 I am a Jew, 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:18.972 born in Tarsus of Cilicia, 00:07:19.116 --> 00:07:21.012 but brought up in this city, 00:07:21.012 --> 00:07:25.452 educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors. 00:07:25.516 --> 00:07:26.956 I was zealous for God, 00:07:26.956 --> 00:07:29.060 just as all of you are today. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:30.268 I want you to notice that sentence. 00:07:30.268 --> 00:07:30.596 He says, 00:07:30.596 --> 00:07:32.246 I was zealous for God. 00:07:32.284 --> 00:07:37.272 We look at Paul's life before Jesus and we think of him as persecutor and 00:07:37.296 --> 00:07:40.824 this horrendous person who would strike out against Christians. 00:07:40.872 --> 00:07:44.000 But what is it that Paul believed about his life? 00:07:43.712 --> 00:07:45.352 He was zealous for God. 00:07:45.352 --> 00:07:50.792 He believed he was doing what God had purposed designed and planned for 00:07:50.816 --> 00:07:52.640 him to do in his life. 00:07:52.640 --> 00:07:55.720 He didn't see himself as this contrary, 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:56.304 kind of, 00:07:56.304 --> 00:07:59.176 I'm going to fight against Christians and Jesus. 00:07:59.288 --> 00:08:00.680 That's not how he saw himself. 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:04.052 He saw himself as an advocate for God. 00:08:04.196 --> 00:08:05.040 All right? 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:07.260 But then he goes on to say, 00:08:07.260 --> 00:08:07.920 he says, 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:10.724 I persecuted this way to the death. 00:08:10.812 --> 00:08:11.988 So. So he's admitting, 00:08:11.988 --> 00:08:12.660 guess what? 00:08:12.780 --> 00:08:15.090 They didn't call him Christians until Antioch. 00:08:15.044 --> 00:08:16.060 But. But he says, 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:18.644 I persecuted followers of the Way. 00:08:18.812 --> 00:08:22.852 These people who are following the way I sought. 00:08:22.916 --> 00:08:23.420 I even. 00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:27.710 I was standing there when Stephen was stoned and I held everybody's coats. 00:08:28.310 --> 00:08:31.646 I was into this thing I was one of you. 00:08:31.718 --> 00:08:35.598 He probably sat the Sanhedrin that he's on trial before. 00:08:35.734 --> 00:08:38.650 He probably sat with them as friends, 00:08:38.950 --> 00:08:40.366 brothers and fathers. 00:08:40.398 --> 00:08:41.770 He says right there. 00:08:42.470 --> 00:08:44.406 So Paul was one of them. 00:08:44.182 --> 00:08:48.494 He was probably sitting in the Sanhedrin when they brought Jesus before 00:08:48.582 --> 00:08:49.970 the Sanhedrin. 00:08:50.550 --> 00:08:57.280 Okay, so Saul is not ignorant of what's going on. 00:08:58.380 --> 00:08:58.940 He says, 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:00.604 I persecuted this way to the death, 00:09:00.604 --> 00:09:03.876 arresting and putting both men and women in jail as both the high priest 00:09:03.876 --> 00:09:07.540 and the whole council of elders can testify about me. 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:08.124 So he's saying, 00:09:08.124 --> 00:09:09.760 you guys know me. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:11.870 Y'all know what I did. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:15.200 Y'all know how on fire for God I was. 00:09:15.900 --> 00:09:17.740 After I received letters from them, 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:21.710 the elders and the high priest to the brothers, 00:09:21.790 --> 00:09:26.542 I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to 00:09:26.566 --> 00:09:27.950 Jerusalem to be punished. 00:09:28.030 --> 00:09:31.830 It wasn't good enough that I was throwing people in jail in Jerusalem and 00:09:31.830 --> 00:09:33.550 having people stoned in Jerusalem. 00:09:33.630 --> 00:09:38.550 I wanted to go down the street and grab some more and bring them back. 00:09:38.550 --> 00:09:41.190 And so I got letters to do that. 00:09:41.270 --> 00:09:42.920 And then he says this. 00:09:44.230 --> 00:09:45.950 As I was traveling. 00:09:46.110 --> 00:09:47.854 Now I'm going to stop right there a minute. 00:09:47.854 --> 00:09:49.926 I want you to consider your day, 00:09:49.926 --> 00:09:50.586 any day, 00:09:50.614 --> 00:09:51.350 just pick a day, 00:09:51.350 --> 00:09:52.094 whatever day, 00:09:52.182 --> 00:09:54.542 as you're going through your day, 00:09:54.726 --> 00:09:56.030 as you're traveling, 00:09:56.110 --> 00:09:57.550 walking, talking, 00:09:57.710 --> 00:09:59.530 working, hanging out, 00:09:59.830 --> 00:10:01.130 whatever you're doing, 00:10:01.750 --> 00:10:03.730 as you're going through your day. 00:10:03.798 --> 00:10:07.726 See, Paul was just doing what Paul did. 00:10:07.878 --> 00:10:10.070 Now, I've kind of characterized it this way. 00:10:10.070 --> 00:10:10.470 You know, 00:10:10.470 --> 00:10:12.174 wealthy, probably tent making, 00:10:12.262 --> 00:10:14.226 family became a tent maker. 00:10:14.258 --> 00:10:15.282 He was not a peasant. 00:10:15.282 --> 00:10:18.002 He was not like the disciples or the apostles. 00:10:18.002 --> 00:10:19.482 He was not a fisherman. 00:10:19.314 --> 00:10:21.106 He was not a peasant. 00:10:21.298 --> 00:10:21.770 You know, 00:10:21.770 --> 00:10:25.482 Matthew was probably the only one of the apostles that had a, 00:10:25.482 --> 00:10:26.270 you know, 00:10:26.890 --> 00:10:29.642 sort of a source of wealth of any kind. 00:10:29.642 --> 00:10:31.482 His education was of the high. 00:10:31.482 --> 00:10:34.782 He was probably working with his dad up till about 14. 00:10:35.130 --> 00:10:38.230 Right then he went to Jerusalem to be trained, 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:40.860 spiritually speaking, 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:43.852 with regard to religious instruction. 00:10:43.916 --> 00:10:45.932 And somewhere around 20ish, 00:10:45.996 --> 00:10:49.452 probably he came under the teaching of Gamaliel, 00:10:49.516 --> 00:10:50.228 who is a. 00:10:50.228 --> 00:10:51.228 In that first century, 00:10:51.228 --> 00:10:54.676 you can read extra biblical texts that talk about the writings of 00:10:54.676 --> 00:10:59.880 Gamaliel and some of the things that he produced as one of the leaders of 00:11:00.420 --> 00:11:02.396 the Judaism of the day. 00:11:02.468 --> 00:11:07.884 And so Saul became one of the students and obviously one of the highly 00:11:07.932 --> 00:11:09.080 regarded students. 00:11:09.380 --> 00:11:10.660 Put it in your mind like this. 00:11:10.660 --> 00:11:15.512 He graduated like summa cum laude from Harvard among the Jews. 00:11:15.576 --> 00:11:16.420 All right? 00:11:16.880 --> 00:11:18.200 That was his education. 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:21.296 He had a career path in front of him. 00:11:21.296 --> 00:11:23.320 I'm going to be a Pharisee. 00:11:23.400 --> 00:11:27.304 I'm going to be a ruler I'm going to be on the high council. 00:11:26.896 --> 00:11:27.912 Can't be high priest, 00:11:27.912 --> 00:11:29.008 because that's a family thing. 00:11:29.008 --> 00:11:29.820 But anyway, 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:36.014 I can rise to these heights as a ruler among the Jews, 00:11:36.192 --> 00:11:37.154 be wealthy, 00:11:37.202 --> 00:11:38.010 because guess what? 00:11:38.010 --> 00:11:39.442 Those guys were wealthy. 00:11:39.586 --> 00:11:40.906 Like it or not, 00:11:41.002 --> 00:11:41.658 I can. 00:11:41.658 --> 00:11:48.670 I can ascend the heights in my community and my people until, 00:11:49.370 --> 00:11:51.586 while traveling to Damascus, 00:11:51.778 --> 00:11:54.866 whoops, about noon, 00:11:55.058 --> 00:11:58.642 an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me, 00:11:58.666 --> 00:12:00.042 and I fell to the ground. 00:11:59.898 --> 00:12:01.794 Now, I like to characterize this as. 00:12:01.794 --> 00:12:04.828 As Saul was riding a donkey and he fell off his donkey. 00:12:04.828 --> 00:12:05.716 But we don't know that. 00:12:05.716 --> 00:12:06.964 It just says he fell to the ground. 00:12:06.964 --> 00:12:09.700 So just imagine they're traveling up a dusty road, 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:12.996 and he's got his entourage so that he can capture some Christians and 00:12:12.996 --> 00:12:14.356 take them back to Jerusalem. 00:12:14.156 --> 00:12:15.364 And he's walking along. 00:12:15.364 --> 00:12:18.440 Pow. He's blinded by this light, 00:12:19.140 --> 00:12:22.204 right? Falls to the ground. 00:12:22.292 --> 00:12:26.582 Now, this became very real to me in the last couple of days. 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:32.150 Did y'all know if you step from grass onto concrete where there's ice, 00:12:32.810 --> 00:12:35.030 it's like going to Damascus? 00:12:37.930 --> 00:12:39.746 Because I went to get the mail, 00:12:39.746 --> 00:12:40.642 I'm looking at the mail, 00:12:40.642 --> 00:12:41.394 I'm looking at the mail, 00:12:41.394 --> 00:12:41.978 and I went, 00:12:41.978 --> 00:12:43.122 whoo. Bam. 00:12:43.266 --> 00:12:44.002 Like that. 00:12:44.106 --> 00:12:47.406 I forbid the security team from looking at the video, 00:12:48.730 --> 00:12:50.470 but they did anyway. 00:12:51.930 --> 00:12:53.538 Now, that's not so bad. 00:12:53.194 --> 00:12:55.834 Except that I did it again this morning. 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:57.804 I went back to the mailbox, 00:12:57.804 --> 00:13:00.388 walked across the same grass and fell again. 00:13:00.388 --> 00:13:01.380 And I was like, 00:13:01.380 --> 00:13:01.796 you know, 00:13:01.796 --> 00:13:03.776 I'm getting too old for this. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:08.370 But imagine Paul sitting on the ground and asking the question, 00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:10.028 well, actually, 00:13:10.084 --> 00:13:11.140 Jesus speaks as so, 00:13:11.140 --> 00:13:12.788 so why are you persecuting me? 00:13:12.788 --> 00:13:13.476 He doesn't say, 00:13:13.476 --> 00:13:15.076 why are you persecuting Christians? 00:13:14.892 --> 00:13:15.476 He doesn't say, 00:13:15.476 --> 00:13:17.076 why are you persecuting the way, 00:13:17.076 --> 00:13:19.056 why are you persecuting my people? 00:13:19.092 --> 00:13:19.620 He says, 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.270 why are you persecuting me? 00:13:22.750 --> 00:13:24.130 And Saul says, 00:13:24.990 --> 00:13:26.022 wait a minute. 00:13:26.166 --> 00:13:27.054 Who are you, 00:13:27.054 --> 00:13:29.622 Lord? I mean, 00:13:29.646 --> 00:13:30.366 think about that. 00:13:30.190 --> 00:13:32.170 You just got blinded by somebody. 00:13:32.358 --> 00:13:33.454 Now you can't see them, 00:13:33.454 --> 00:13:35.054 and they're talking to you, 00:13:35.054 --> 00:13:37.090 and you're answering them back, 00:13:37.870 --> 00:13:39.286 I'm Jesus of Nazareth, 00:13:39.318 --> 00:13:42.250 the one you are persecuting. 00:13:42.750 --> 00:13:46.600 Now, I can imagine Paul thinking and Saul thinking in his mind, 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.896 I'm not persecuting you. 00:13:47.896 --> 00:13:49.020 We killed you. 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:52.820 I saw you die. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.980 You see? 00:13:56.920 --> 00:13:58.820 So all of a sudden, 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.220 I mean, 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:03.320 I like to say it in as humorous a way as I can. 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:06.680 I can imagine Saul in the back of his mind going, 00:14:06.680 --> 00:14:10.208 oh, right. 00:14:10.264 --> 00:14:10.760 I mean, 00:14:10.760 --> 00:14:12.410 think about it a minute. 00:14:12.450 --> 00:14:13.550 Uh, oh. 00:14:15.330 --> 00:14:18.590 Because now he's being confronted by Jesus. 00:14:19.970 --> 00:14:21.170 And then it goes on to say, 00:14:21.170 --> 00:14:22.738 now those who were with him, 00:14:22.738 --> 00:14:23.554 saw the light, 00:14:23.554 --> 00:14:26.274 but they did not hear the voice who was speaking to me. 00:14:26.274 --> 00:14:27.178 I said, 00:14:27.314 --> 00:14:28.634 what should I do, 00:14:28.658 --> 00:14:31.242 Lord? The Lord told me, 00:14:31.266 --> 00:14:32.906 get up and go to Damascus. 00:14:32.906 --> 00:14:36.946 There you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do. 00:14:36.786 --> 00:14:38.130 And then we get the rest of his story. 00:14:38.130 --> 00:14:38.850 So I want you to. 00:14:38.850 --> 00:14:40.830 I want you to understand Paul. 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.510 Paul was just doing life. 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:45.520 Paul had a trajectory for his life. 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:47.020 I've told you all the story. 00:14:47.020 --> 00:14:47.356 You know, 00:14:47.356 --> 00:14:51.320 my family really revered the medical profession. 00:14:52.380 --> 00:14:54.440 My mom was a registered nurse. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:15:01.320 My uncle became a pharmacist and a nurse practitioner. 00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.412 My aunt, 00:15:03.556 --> 00:15:05.400 my mom's youngest daughter, 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.196 she. 00:15:06.268 --> 00:15:07.604 She went to college, 00:15:07.652 --> 00:15:09.148 and then she got into med school, 00:15:09.148 --> 00:15:11.046 and she started into med school, 00:15:11.046 --> 00:15:15.006 and she got into the second year of med school and quit. 00:15:15.670 --> 00:15:18.014 So from middle school, 00:15:18.182 --> 00:15:19.294 I wanted to be a doctor. 00:15:19.294 --> 00:15:21.604 I was going to be a pediatrician, 00:15:21.750 --> 00:15:23.806 right? Because I loved kids. 00:15:23.998 --> 00:15:25.582 I thought being a pediatrician, 00:15:25.582 --> 00:15:27.606 man, I could play all the time. 00:15:27.318 --> 00:15:28.166 My mom told me, 00:15:28.166 --> 00:15:28.638 as a nurse, 00:15:28.638 --> 00:15:28.886 she said, 00:15:28.886 --> 00:15:30.558 you realize the kids you see will be sick, 00:15:30.558 --> 00:15:31.142 don't you? 00:15:31.142 --> 00:15:31.990 I was like, 00:15:31.990 --> 00:15:33.182 okay, maybe not. 00:15:33.286 --> 00:15:34.446 But anyway. 00:15:34.638 --> 00:15:35.446 But I had a. 00:15:35.446 --> 00:15:39.642 I had an idea in my mind what I was going to do, 00:15:39.642 --> 00:15:40.634 where I was going to go, 00:15:40.634 --> 00:15:42.614 who I was going to be, 00:15:42.810 --> 00:15:43.550 right? 00:15:44.170 --> 00:15:46.410 That doesn't always happen the way you want it to. 00:15:46.410 --> 00:15:50.266 Did you know that some of you are probably in places that you thought. 00:15:50.266 --> 00:15:52.138 I never thought I'd be here. 00:15:52.138 --> 00:15:53.578 Didn't want to be here. 00:15:53.578 --> 00:15:54.762 Can I tell you something? 00:15:54.618 --> 00:15:59.426 I believe God puts you where he wants you for his kingdom's sake. 00:15:59.618 --> 00:16:02.090 You might not be where you want to be, 00:16:02.090 --> 00:16:02.970 but guess what? 00:16:02.970 --> 00:16:04.610 If God's got you there, 00:16:04.610 --> 00:16:06.896 he's got a reason for you to be there. 00:16:06.896 --> 00:16:08.976 Okay? So when I look at this, 00:16:08.976 --> 00:16:09.296 I think, 00:16:09.296 --> 00:16:10.232 well, you know what? 00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.832 Paul could have. 00:16:10.832 --> 00:16:14.568 Saul could have gone on and been a Pharisee for Jesus. 00:16:14.744 --> 00:16:15.600 There are some. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.500 Y'all know, 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.344 I'm just telling you, 00:16:18.512 --> 00:16:19.784 not Jewish Pharisees. 00:16:19.832 --> 00:16:23.132 There's just some Christians I know that act like Pharisees. 00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:25.752 See the gospel's life changing, 00:16:25.752 --> 00:16:29.832 y'all. Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus. 00:16:29.976 --> 00:16:31.768 Saul is his Jewish name. 00:16:31.824 --> 00:16:33.710 Paul is his Roman name. 00:16:33.880 --> 00:16:35.200 It's not like Abraham. 00:16:35.042 --> 00:16:35.394 It didn't. 00:16:35.394 --> 00:16:36.330 Like, he changed his name. 00:16:36.330 --> 00:16:38.490 Said, you'll no longer be known as, 00:16:38.490 --> 00:16:40.418 he's still Saul to a lot of Jews, 00:16:40.418 --> 00:16:43.790 but he's Paul to the New Testament body. 00:16:44.170 --> 00:16:46.350 But the gospel changed his life. 00:16:47.130 --> 00:16:48.310 Can you imagine? 00:16:48.890 --> 00:16:52.706 He starts calling the First Baptist Church in, 00:16:52.778 --> 00:16:53.290 let's say, 00:16:53.290 --> 00:16:54.280 Ephesus and goes, 00:16:54.290 --> 00:16:57.066 hey, I got saved and I'm an evangelist now. 00:16:57.066 --> 00:16:59.376 Can I come speak at your church. 00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.932 And the Church of Ephesus is going, 00:17:00.932 --> 00:17:01.300 no, no, 00:17:01.300 --> 00:17:01.700 no, no, 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:03.020 no. You kill people. 00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:05.964 We don't want you to come speak at our church, 00:17:05.964 --> 00:17:06.460 right? 00:17:06.580 --> 00:17:07.500 But what happened? 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:16.028 Peter took Paul and just affirmed his conversion and what God had called 00:17:16.084 --> 00:17:16.920 him to. 00:17:17.300 --> 00:17:18.940 So here's the challenge, 00:17:19.020 --> 00:17:20.964 right? Here's the point for us. 00:17:20.964 --> 00:17:22.652 God has designed, 00:17:22.716 --> 00:17:27.761 provided and planned for redemption and salvation in the lives of the 00:17:27.785 --> 00:17:29.785 people that he calls in our lives. 00:17:29.609 --> 00:17:31.433 If you're a Christian this morning, 00:17:31.433 --> 00:17:35.809 God designed and purposed that you would be his people. 00:17:35.929 --> 00:17:36.689 All right? 00:17:36.809 --> 00:17:37.889 God promised it. 00:17:37.929 --> 00:17:42.257 The text right here tells us that he promised beforehand through his 00:17:42.313 --> 00:17:43.505 prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 00:17:43.505 --> 00:17:44.495 concerning his Son, 00:17:44.529 --> 00:17:47.169 who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 00:17:47.169 --> 00:17:49.945 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the 00:17:49.945 --> 00:17:51.745 dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, 00:17:51.745 --> 00:17:52.977 Jesus Christ our Lord, 00:17:52.977 --> 00:17:57.182 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the 00:17:57.206 --> 00:18:00.318 obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for his name's sake. 00:18:00.318 --> 00:18:01.966 So Saul, 00:18:01.998 --> 00:18:03.574 Paul is talking about himself now, 00:18:03.574 --> 00:18:04.534 says, you know, 00:18:04.534 --> 00:18:09.358 that God has purposed this redemption through Jesus Christ, 00:18:09.414 --> 00:18:14.702 and I have been given grace and apostleship to share Jesus Christ with 00:18:14.726 --> 00:18:15.502 the Gentiles. 00:18:15.566 --> 00:18:16.310 And then it says, 00:18:16.310 --> 00:18:20.548 among whom you also are the called Jesus Christ. 00:18:20.604 --> 00:18:22.480 So you've got grace too, 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:26.520 see, because he's writing to Roman Christians. 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.956 And we remember like two weeks ago, 00:18:28.956 --> 00:18:32.308 I told you there were people from Rome in Jerusalem, 00:18:32.484 --> 00:18:35.508 and some of them saw the crucifixion, 00:18:35.604 --> 00:18:37.254 some of them saw Pentecost. 00:18:37.284 --> 00:18:39.316 When they scattered because of persecution, 00:18:39.348 --> 00:18:40.404 they end up in Rome. 00:18:40.404 --> 00:18:42.428 They start getting their friends and family together, 00:18:42.428 --> 00:18:43.418 talking about Jesus. 00:18:43.396 --> 00:18:44.844 And so there's small house, 00:18:44.844 --> 00:18:46.440 churches all throughout Rome, 00:18:46.750 --> 00:18:47.740 scattered all around. 00:18:47.774 --> 00:18:49.686 So Paul's writing a letter. 00:18:49.878 --> 00:18:51.462 We call it a book of the Bible, 00:18:51.462 --> 00:18:56.170 but he's writing a letter to them to explain the gospel, 00:18:56.670 --> 00:19:00.038 to explain how the gospel works, 00:19:00.214 --> 00:19:04.758 to explain what God has accomplished in the good News, 00:19:04.814 --> 00:19:05.702 you see? 00:19:05.886 --> 00:19:10.582 And so when I say that Romans needs the Gospel, 00:19:10.646 --> 00:19:12.626 the Roman people need the Gospel, 00:19:12.678 --> 00:19:14.628 the world need the gospel, 00:19:14.724 --> 00:19:15.396 guess what? 00:19:15.468 --> 00:19:17.448 The gospel's for you and me. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.200 And it's life changing. 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:21.660 You know, 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:26.052 you might continue on your career path and your career trajectory. 00:19:26.196 --> 00:19:29.748 You might end up in a place that God wants you to be for his sake, 00:19:29.748 --> 00:19:32.540 because of something in you or because of something around you, 00:19:32.540 --> 00:19:33.530 I don't know. 00:19:34.300 --> 00:19:35.772 But the truth of it is, 00:19:35.772 --> 00:19:38.040 Paul, God took Saul, 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:39.036 called him, 00:19:39.036 --> 00:19:41.540 Paul, sent him. 00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:43.604 That's what apostleship means. 00:19:43.772 --> 00:19:45.440 He sent him out. 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:52.130 And so he's writing this letter to all who are beloved of God in Rome, 00:19:52.228 --> 00:19:54.468 called as saints. 00:19:54.644 --> 00:19:55.420 How about that? 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:57.108 Now here you go. 00:19:57.164 --> 00:20:00.460 Now remember last week we did the deacon thing and I mentioned small D 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.320 deacons. 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:04.148 Deacon in Greek means servant, 00:20:04.324 --> 00:20:05.140 capital D. 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:11.878 Deacon is an office that we sort of made in administrative direction for 00:20:12.014 --> 00:20:14.010 the way we do church. 00:20:14.670 --> 00:20:18.250 Small S saint means set apart. 00:20:18.990 --> 00:20:22.198 Set apart for the gospel. 00:20:22.374 --> 00:20:26.004 Do you know every Christian is set apart for the gospel? 00:20:25.710 --> 00:20:28.810 You have been set apart for the gospel, 00:20:30.830 --> 00:20:33.526 right. So called as saints. 00:20:33.558 --> 00:20:35.670 And then he says this grace to you. 00:20:35.670 --> 00:20:38.970 Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:39.060 --> 00:20:42.820 First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because of your 00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:48.860 faith, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the world for 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.932 you, the gospel, 00:20:49.996 --> 00:20:51.452 grace, peace, 00:20:51.596 --> 00:20:53.520 community and faith. 00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:59.480 Now I'm going to drive the nail home. 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:02.268 In the Book of Acts, 00:21:02.268 --> 00:21:04.408 chapter 22 is this verse, 00:21:04.604 --> 00:21:05.632 get up, 00:21:05.816 --> 00:21:07.072 go into Damascus, 00:21:07.136 --> 00:21:13.340 and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do. 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:15.770 Who assigned it to him? 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.260 Jesus did. 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:23.020 Right? What have you been assigned to do? 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:26.104 See, when I asked that question, 00:21:26.104 --> 00:21:27.000 everybody comes up to me. 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.472 A lot of people come up to me and say, 00:21:28.472 --> 00:21:30.782 well, tell me where you need me. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:35.220 I don't know because I don't know what you've been assigned to do. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:39.120 Right. There's a whole next step tablet out there. 00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:43.040 You can tap your phone on the back of the chair and just scroll through 00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:45.840 there and just find a place to get involved. 00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:48.936 Or go to work and live. 00:21:49.008 --> 00:21:54.100 Jesus, wherever it is you are, 00:21:54.560 --> 00:21:56.200 go live your faith. 00:21:56.280 --> 00:21:57.930 Go live the good news. 00:21:58.016 --> 00:21:59.912 Go live your testimony. 00:22:00.056 --> 00:22:01.728 Maybe it's in your own home, 00:22:01.728 --> 00:22:02.748 it's on your street, 00:22:02.748 --> 00:22:03.840 I don't know. 00:22:04.540 --> 00:22:08.636 But you've been assigned something because it's not like out of all of 00:22:08.636 --> 00:22:10.076 this we look at Paul's life and go, 00:22:10.076 --> 00:22:13.116 okay, Paul's the only one that ever got an assignment. 00:22:12.780 --> 00:22:14.120 Not how it happens. 00:22:14.780 --> 00:22:18.640 God has called us all and assigned us all. 00:22:19.260 --> 00:22:19.988 Where are. 00:22:20.044 --> 00:22:21.060 Where will I'm. 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.460 Let's pick a time. 00:22:22.444 --> 00:22:26.000 Where will you be at 9:37 in the morning? 00:22:27.190 --> 00:22:29.742 Okay, where will you be? 00:22:29.766 --> 00:22:30.822 Maybe you'll be in school, 00:22:30.822 --> 00:22:32.802 maybe you'll be in your house. 00:22:33.110 --> 00:22:34.862 Maybe you'll be hanging out with your kids. 00:22:34.862 --> 00:22:35.742 Guess what? 00:22:35.926 --> 00:22:41.390 You have an assignment in that you have an assignment for the gospel. 00:22:41.550 --> 00:22:42.890 Wherever you are. 00:22:43.270 --> 00:22:44.822 We're supposed to live it out. 00:22:44.822 --> 00:22:47.102 That's what Romans is about. 00:22:47.286 --> 00:22:50.062 Because the world needs the gospel. 00:22:50.206 --> 00:22:52.186 And I love this last line, 00:22:52.470 --> 00:22:56.590 because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the world. 00:22:57.210 --> 00:23:00.490 Young, we got folks that are part of this gathering who are on the other 00:23:00.490 --> 00:23:05.378 side of the world right now serving, 00:23:05.554 --> 00:23:07.750 called assigned, 00:23:08.170 --> 00:23:10.480 but they're a part of this gathering. 00:23:11.130 --> 00:23:12.642 We don't see them much anymore, 00:23:12.642 --> 00:23:14.750 but they were here. 00:23:15.130 --> 00:23:16.450 See what I mean? 00:23:16.810 --> 00:23:19.590 As you go out and share the gospel, 00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:24.360 your faith being proclaimed throughout the world, 00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:26.400 don't miss your assignment. 00:23:27.540 --> 00:23:30.280 Don't miss God's expectation for your life. 00:23:31.300 --> 00:23:33.060 You can go live the world if you want to. 00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:39.916 You can go make decisions that dishonor God's call and love in your life. 00:23:39.988 --> 00:23:40.836 Yeah, you can do it. 00:23:40.836 --> 00:23:41.880 He'll let you. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.580 Careful. If you see a bright light, 00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:50.490 though, that's the warning. 00:23:51.630 --> 00:23:53.798 We're going to sing a last song. 00:23:53.798 --> 00:23:55.934 If you don't know Jesus this morning, 00:23:55.934 --> 00:23:57.350 we want you to know Jesus. 00:23:57.350 --> 00:23:58.774 We want you to meet him today. 00:23:58.510 --> 00:24:00.526 We'd love to introduce him to you. 00:24:00.526 --> 00:24:04.206 Maybe you know him and maybe you know that God's telling you. 00:24:04.206 --> 00:24:04.718 All right, 00:24:04.718 --> 00:24:06.368 it's time to get busy. 00:24:06.390 --> 00:24:07.934 That's between you and him. 00:24:07.934 --> 00:24:10.244 I'm not the one to police that. 00:24:09.822 --> 00:24:12.094 Okay. If you want to pray about something, 00:24:12.094 --> 00:24:13.774 I'll be down here to pray with you. 00:24:13.774 --> 00:24:16.242 Alrighty. You just let God lead you. 00:24:16.426 --> 00:24:17.770 You can pray right where you are, 00:24:17.770 --> 00:24:18.100 too. 00:24:18.074 --> 00:24:19.146 Just so you know. 00:24:19.146 --> 00:24:21.914 Alrighty. Let's pray together as we get ready to sing. 00:24:21.914 --> 00:24:25.506 God, thank you for today and for all that you are accomplishing. 00:24:25.506 --> 00:24:25.946 Thank you, 00:24:25.946 --> 00:24:27.714 God, for your love for us. 00:24:27.450 --> 00:24:28.810 God, I thank you for good news. 00:24:28.810 --> 00:24:30.790 I need good news every day. 00:24:30.890 --> 00:24:34.010 It's safe to say I need the gospel every day. 00:24:34.010 --> 00:24:34.498 So, God, 00:24:34.498 --> 00:24:36.090 this morning as we gather in this place, 00:24:36.090 --> 00:24:38.858 God, we want to praise you and thank you for what you're doing. 00:24:38.858 --> 00:24:40.346 Want to praise you and thank you that, 00:24:40.346 --> 00:24:42.010 God, you've loved us and cared for us, 00:24:42.010 --> 00:24:42.410 and yet, 00:24:42.410 --> 00:24:44.390 God, that's not where it stops. 00:24:44.450 --> 00:24:48.410 It stops where we show others the love that you've shown us. 00:24:48.458 --> 00:24:50.146 And then it just continues. 00:24:50.258 --> 00:24:50.722 So, God, 00:24:50.722 --> 00:24:57.282 help us to be where you want us to be and that we'll be who you called us 00:24:57.306 --> 00:24:59.914 to be and that we'll be obedient to it. 00:24:59.914 --> 00:25:00.986 God, thank you for your love. 00:25:00.986 --> 00:25:02.650 And we pray it in Jesus name, 00:25:02.650 --> 00:25:02.930 Amen.