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| Romans 1:1 |
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1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
When Paul begins his epistle to the Romans, he begins by stating that he is Christ's servant. To understand what it means to be a servant you first have to know what the word servant means.
In the Webster's dictionary a servant is someone who performs services for another. A person employed or used as an instrument in accomplishing God's purposes of mercy or wrath. Nebuchadnezzar was one whom God used to accomplish God's wrath on the disobedient Israelites. See Jeremiah 25:8-9:
25:8 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, 25:9Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
A servant is also, one who yields obedience to another. God calls us saints, the servants of God, and of righteousness. The wicked are called the servants of sin.
So a servant of God is someone who will actually yield to his voice and do what he says. A servant of God performs His will upon the earth. Jesus was called a servant of God.
Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles."
In addition to Christ, Moses was also called a servant of the LORD. Deut 34:5 says:
34:5 So Moses the servantof the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Moses actually carried out the LORD's will over Egypt and the Israelites.
To be Christ's servant you actually have to be doing something! If you are not doing anything for Christ you are NOT his servant. Read Matt 25:31-46. To call yourself a servant of Christ and not do anything, is like calling yourself a police officer or fire fighter but not respond to any of the calls of help. When Christ call us to do something we need to respond to Him.
Paul then goes on and states that he is, called to be an apostle. It is important to notice that Paul was called to be an apostle. He did not choose his apostleship as a career. Christ called him, so dramatically that he had to knock Paul off a horse to get his attention. Because before his conversion Paul was actually a persecutor of the church. He was the exact opposite of what an apostle should be. It is amazing to see what God can do with the hardest of hearts.
Webster's dictionary defines an apostle as, a person deputed to execute some important business: a disciple of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel. This title was given to those who first planted the Christian faith.
It is important to find out what God is calling you to be. Because He calls some to be apostles, evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc. And when he shows you what he wants you to do, it is important that you listen to Him and obey what he says.
In the last part of verse one Paul declares that he was, separated unto the gospel of God. Paul was chosen by Divine choice even at birth.
Galations 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace, 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
It is called the gospel of God to help link and establish the gospels divine authorship; and link it to the old covenant of God to the Jews. Because in the next verse Paul will go on to show how Jesus is the Messiah to the Jews.
It is also important to point out how Paul at the time he was called by Christ to be an apostle, also became a servant of Christ. He immediately and whole heartedly began to do that which he was called to do.
- Aaron Heiring
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Is this one of the essays you wrote to try to get a scholarship to Carthage? Either way, it's really good. |
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| WOW! i especially like the part about a police officer/firefighter, not responding to any calls for help...Jesus said (Jn8:34) who so ever committs sin is the servant of sin. Paul says (Rom6:16-18) that who you YIELD yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey...but God be thanked, ...He made us free from sin and now we have become servants of righteousness....thanks to the Holy Spirit Who lives inside of us to help us do the right thing :) and picks us up again, when we don't...I LOVE JESUS! |
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