SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, July 20, 2025

      • Acts 2:42CSB

  • New Doxology

      • Psalm 86:8–13CSB

  • Sing To The King
  • Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery
  • The Old Rugged Cross

  • I. The MESSENGER of the Gospel - (1:1)

    A. A Servant (δοῦλος) of Jesus Christ

    B. Called as an Apostle (ἀπόστολος)

    C. Set Apart (ἀφωρισμένος) for the Gospel of God

    II. The MESSAGE of the Gospel - (1:2-4)

    A. Promised Beforehand - (v.2)

    B. Centered in Jesus - (vv.3-4)

    Five descriptions of Jesus:
    1. God’s Son (τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ - ‘the Son of Him’)
    2. Jesus Christ (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ)
    “Christ” (Χριστοῦ - ‘Anointed one, Messiah’) is not Jesus’ last name, but rather it is WHO HE IS!
    3. Our Lord (τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν - ‘the Lord, ours’)
    4. A Fulfillment of Promise - “…a descendant of David according to the flesh”
    5. Appointed to be the Powerful Son of God - (v.4)
    If we get everything else wrong in our church (our distinctives, our leadership, our structure, our praxis (how we live out our theology), our worship style, etc.), we must get this right: Our MESSAGE must be centered in Jesus Christ!

    III. COMMISSION Through JESUS - (1:5-7)

    A. WHAT? - (v.5a)

    1. “…we have received grace - We are FORGIVEN through Jesus!
    2. “…and apostleship! - We are SENT by Jesus!

    B. WHY? - (v.5b)

    (v.5b) - “…to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name”
    Robert Mounce - “Apart from a changed life there is no real faith.”
    E. Best - “Only in obedience is there faith, for faith is not emotional feeling or intellectual acceptance but active response to a person.”

    C. WHO? - (vv.5c-7)

    IV. A PRAYER for ROME - (1:8-13)

    A. PRAISE for Their Faith - (v.8)

    Romans 16:19 CSB
    19 The report of your obedience has reached everyone…
    It’s interesting that “faith” and “obedience” are synonymous in Paul’s mind.

    B. The DESIRE of Paul to “…come to Rome” - (vv.9-10)

    The phrase, “whom I serve in my spirit” uses the verb, λατρεύω - “to perform religious rites as a part of worship—‘to perform religious rites, to worship, to venerate, worship.’”
    In fact, λατρεύω can be translated as “serve” or “worship” and illustrates the truth that to serve is to worship; to worship is to serve!
    HOW did Paul “serve/worship”? - (v.9b)
    Romans 1:9 CSB
    9 God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you,
    The GREATEST SERVICE you can give to God is “…telling the good news about his Son”!

    C. To STRENGTHEN the Romans - (v.11)

    It was quite surprising to me to discover that every commentary I own, or have access to, holds that Paul did NOT mean “spiritual gifts” (as defined in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 13), but rather that he is using the words in a more general sense of being the result of his teaching or exhortation.
    Their argument is that it is the Holy Spirit that distributes gifts, and not Paul.
    The PROBLEM with that argument is that there are instances of the leadership of the church (apostles and elders) laying hands on individuals for either APPOINTING them to ministry, or GIFTING them for ministry!
    Acts 6:6 CSB
    6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
    Acts 13:2–3 CSB
    2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.
    1 Timothy 4:14 CSB
    14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.
    Whether or not I understand the dynamics of a situation, you cannot deny the legitimacy of the act of laying on of hands in order to impart some spiritual blessing/gift!
    1 Timothy 5:22 NASB95
    22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
    2 Timothy 1:6 CSB
    6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
    I believe the BEST understanding of this passage is that Paul means what exactly what he says: that he wants to “...impart some spiritual gift to strengthen you”!
    We should NEVER teach that a verse does not mean what it says because of our lack of clarity!

    D. For MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT - (v.12)

    Again we see the humility of Paul because it seems he realizes how his previous words sound!
    Mounce - “A person’s true character is more often than not revealed in the unplanned and spontaneous moments of life. Prepared statements rarely display the real person. Verse 11, taken by itself, could be interpreted to make the apostle appear rather conceited.”
    Stott - “No sooner has he dictated these words than he seems to sense their inappropriate one-sidedness, as if he has everything to give and nothing to receive.”
    Mounce - “Although he was an apostle, sent by God to proclaim the good news throughout the known world, he valued and would profit from the faith of other believers.”

    E. Paul’s DESIRE for a “…fruitful ministry!” - (v.13)

    Many versions translate, “τινὰ καρπὸν” (some fruit) as, “some harvest”, which is accurate as well.
    The end of (v.13) provides the needed clarity, “…just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles.”
    Paul’s desire is for people of Rome to come to faith in Christ, which reflects the heart of Jesus!
    John 4:34–38 CSB
    34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work,” Jesus told them. 35 “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest. 36 The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.”
    The truth is we often reap what others have sown, which is why we must be engaged in doing BOTH: SOWING and REAPING!
    SOWING is when we are preaching the Seed of the Word of God!
    REAPING is when we call folks to a decision, when we ask people to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior!

      • Romans 16:19CSB

      • Romans 1:9CSB

      • Acts 6:6CSB

      • Acts 13:2–3CSB

      • 1 Timothy 4:14CSB

      • 1 Timothy 5:22CSB

      • 2 Timothy 1:6CSB

      • John 4:34–38CSB

SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
jay@scfnwa.com
479-751-2154
http://www.scfnwa.com
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