MEMORY VERSE
Romans 1:16 — For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul’s custom was to visit the churches wherever he traveled. (Acts 15:36) At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul desired to visit Jerusalem. During that time, the prophet Agabus warned him that if he went to Jerusalem, he would be bound by the hands of the Gentiles. (Acts 21:10–14) This prophecy was fulfilled when Paul was bound by the people in Jerusalem and eventually appealed to Caesar, resulting in his transfer to Rome, where he remained under house arrest around 60–62 AD. (Acts 25–28) Rome was a wicked city that persecuted Christians under the Roman emperor Nero, who later had Paul beheaded for preaching the gospel between 64 and 68 AD. (II Timothy 4:6–7)
Paul’s Apostleship
- Paul had to start most of his epistles about his apostleship to correct what some people were saying about him. (Romans 1:1)
- Some were going around saying that he wasn’t appointed by God and Jesus.
- Paul wasn’t deterred; he believed he was called an Apostle by God. (I Corinthians 1:1)
- This is why Paul was able to preach to the saints in Ephesus.
- Paul told them that they were chosen and predestinated. (Ephesians 1:4–5)
- Being chosen and predestinated needs to be in our hearts so we can take a different approach and attitude towards winning souls to Christ.
- No one comes to Christ automatically; it is God who chooses you. (Ephesians 1:4)
- You are in a good church because God chose you before the foundation of this world. (Ephesians 1:4)
- Everyone who accepts the calling is part of this verse. (Ephesians 1:4)
- The question we must ask ourselves is, Am I fulfilling what God had in mind for me? We need to pray out of Ephesians 1:15–19.
- We will become more productive if we look at our position. (Ephesians 1)
- After you are enlightened, you should walk therein. (Ephesians 1:15–23)
Paul Had The Power
- Paul was known for demonstrating the Spirit and the power of God. (I Corinthians 2:4)
- Some were carried away by the speech of those with enticing words. (I Corinthians 2:4)
- These speakers were puffed up, and Paul wanted to visit them to know not their speech but if they had the power. (I Corinthians 4:18–19)
- So let the people say what they want to say, but see if there is an anointing.
- Power comes from testifying about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- There were some in Corinthians who believed that there is no resurrection of the dead. (I Corinthians 15:12–20)
Paul’s Longing To Visit The Saints At Rome
- Paul wanted to impart a spiritual gift to the saints. (Romans 1:11)
- To be a saint or be saved, one needs the Holy Spirit.
- One cannot have Christ in their life without having the Holy Spirit.
- After one receives the Holy Spirit, Christ becomes real in their life.
- They start to believe that Heaven is a real place, not an imaginary one.
- Paul could not impart a spiritual gift to them unless they had the Holy Spirit.
Paul Tells The Saints How To Receive The Power of God
- To receive the power of God, one cannot be ashamed of the gospel. (Romans 1:16)
- To receive the power of God, one must believe in the gospel. (Romans 1:16)
- This power will work if you believe! (Romans 1:16)
- One thing that could’ve made the saints ashamed was the Christian persecution.
- Therefore, we need to quote Romans 1:16 every day. (Romans 1:16)
- The Romans were pagans, but they also knew about the Christian God.
- They knew about the Christian God because of the Jews.
- The Jews had one God, known as Jehovah, whereas the pagans had many gods.
- The Roman pagans thought that the saints were too strict in their faith.
The Christian Persecution At Rome
- The Christians brought this new religion into Rome.
- They claimed to worship Jesus, the Son of the Jews’ God.
- The Son of the Jews’ God (Jesus) died on the cross. (Matthew 27)
- It is a well-known fact that:
- Jesus hung on the cross from 9 am to 3 pm. (Matthew 27:45)
- There was an earthquake after His crucifixion. (Matthew 27:51)
- The saints of old came out of the grave and went to heaven. (Matthew 27:52–53)
- God raised Jesus from the dead.
- The Jews who did not believe in this new religion blasphemed the name of Jesus to avoid persecution from the Romans.
- Persecution is not as strenuous today as it was during that time (64–68 AD).
- Sometimes the Romans would throw the Christians in the coliseum to be killed by wild beasts.
The Persecution We Try To Avoid Is Separation From Those With Evil Communications
- Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (I Corinthians 15:33)
- The association with unbelievers can cause the saints to go back. (I Corinthians 15:33)
- When people leave the church, don’t side with them and agree.
- They may be worshipping idol gods, the spirit of Baal.
- The spirit of these idols may be influencing their heart and minds.
- That same spirit is in worldly music.
- Going to the bar today is like going to an idol’s temple.
- We were all influenced by an idol god before we got saved. (I Corinthians 6:9–11)
- God had a strong dislike of the Philistines.
- God told the Children of Israel not to dress like them. (Deuteronomy 18:9–14)
- We don’t want to come to church dressed like a Philistine. (Deuteronomy 22:5)
Paul Wrote To The Saints About The Wrath Of God (Romans 1:18)
- The wrath of God is reserved for those who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
- What is unrighteousness? It’s a sinful lifestyle. (Romans 1:18–32)
- He that believeth not on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (Romans 1:18; John 3:36)
- How are they holding the truth in unrighteousness?
- They say they are having fun living in sin.
- They enjoy fornication and adultery.
- They enjoy drugs to get high.
- The more people sin, the more they say through their behavior.
- There is no God, there is no Jesus, and no heaven.
- There is no gospel, there is no truth.
- They are saying that they don’t believe.
- The more they sin, the more they declare that there is no truth.
- The more they sin, the more wicked and vile.
- When people live another lifestyle, they try to suppress the truth out of anger.
- This rebellion occurred shortly after Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.
- Men began to make idols out of anger. (Romans 1:21–32)
- Man had become angry at God because God closed access to the Garden of Eden to live forever. (Genesis 3:4)
How To Avoid The Wrath of God
- Come out from among them. (II Corinthians 6:17)
- Yielding to God will cause you to gain more light and anointing. (Romans 6:13)
- We should always have the Holy Spirit so that when people come to church, they feel the presence of God.
