Why Are We Here. (Romans 1: 1-7)

Why Are We Here? (Romans 1:1-7)

Why are we here? What is our purpose in life? In this episode, we explore how the Apostle Paul answers these questions in the opening of his letter to the Romans.

Paul identifies himself in three ways:

• A servant of Jesus Christ – fully surrendered to his Master.
• Called to be an apostle – sent with divine authority.
• Set apart for the gospel – dedicated to proclaiming the good news.

We’ll unpack how Paul’s introduction not only lays the foundation for his letter but also challenges us to consider our own purpose in Christ. Are we, like Paul, living lives set apart for the gospel?

Join us as we go deep into Romans 1:1-7 and reflect on what it really means to be called by God.

Transcript

Why Are We Here. (Romans 1: 1-7)

Transcript: 

Why are you here? What are you doing here?

I don’t mean your physical location at this moment. I’m not talking about the city you live in or the building you're sitting in. I mean, why are you on this planet? What are you doing with your life? How are you using your time, your talents, and your resources?

In other words what is your purpose in life?

We could give many answers to that question, some deeply theological.

But at the heart of it all lies the question, why are you here, what is your purpose in life?

Today, I want us to consider one answer to that question, the answer given by the Apostle Paul here in his letter to the church in Rome.

So, as we look at what he says about himself, we should keep in mind that his words provide a model for us as well.

With that in mind, let’s turn to today’s passage Romans 1:1-7….

Paul opens his letter to the Romans with these words:

" 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[c] faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

(Romans 1: 1-7)

Understanding Paul’s Introduction.

As I said in my introductory episode yesterday, The book of Romans follows the format of an ancient letter. Letters in those days had a standard structure. They began with a salutation, followed by thanksgiving, a prayer, then the main body of the letter, finishing with personal greetings, and a closing blessing to everyone reading it.

Paul’s letter to Romans follows this pattern, and it is that opening salutation we are looking at today. The first seven verses that form Paul’s greeting, which, like all ancient letters, consists of three parts:

·          The identification of the author

·          The identification of the recipients

·          A formal greeting

Unlike modern letters, which require you to flip to the last page to see who wrote them, ancient writers had a more practical approach. They identified the writer at the beginning.

However, what’s unique about Paul's opening greeting is that he doesn’t limit himself to the standard format—he expands on it. In fact, he spends six of these seven verses focusing on his own identity. 

However, this expansion is significant because like in all of Paul's letters it also serves as a preview of the themes he will explore later in the letter.

Notice, Paul identifies himself in three key ways:

·          His person – "A servant of Jesus Christ..."

·          His position – "Called to be an apostle..."

·          His purpose – "Set apart for the gospel of God."

Let’s consider each of these.

1. A Servant of Jesus Christ

The first thing Paul tells us about himself is that he is a servant of Jesus Christ. The Greek word he uses here is doulos, which means "slave."

In the Roman Empire, slavery was common, but it was always involuntary, people became slaves by force, often through conquest. However, in the Jewish history there was a different concept of slavery. In passages like Exodus 21 and others we see situations described where a person, out of love for their master, could voluntarily choose to remain a servant for life.

When Paul calls himself a slave of Jesus Christ, he is not speaking of forced servitude of the Romans. He is using the term that describes a willing and total submission to your mater, in this case, Christ. His entire identity is wrapped up in being subject to his Master, Jesus.

2. Paul, Called to Be an Apostle

Next, Paul speaks of his position. He is called to be an apostle. The word apostle means "one who is sent." But in this context, it doesn’t just mean someone sent on an errand. It refers to an official representative, someone commissioned with authority, with a message to give.

Paul is not self-appointed. He didn’t decide to take on this role; he was called to it by God. So he is both a servant of Christ and a messenger sent with divine authority.

3. Paul, Set Apart for the Gospel.

Finally, Paul tells us his purpose—he is set apart for the gospel of God. His entire life is dedicated to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

Now, here’s something striking: Paul identifies himself both as a slave and as an apostle, two terms that seem contradictory. We don’t usually think of a slave as having great authority, nor do we think of an ambassador as someone with the low status of a servant. But in the kingdom of God, things work differently, things can be often turned on their heads

In fact, before Paul can be an apostle, he must first be a servant. Before he can carry the authority of Christ, he must submit entirely to Christ.

And that, I believe, is a principle still for all of us today. Before God can use us, we must first surrender completely.

But there's a third thing he says about himself, something critical for understanding both his message and our own purpose in life.

As far as his person, he considers himself a slave of Jesus Christ.

As far as his position, he sees himself as an apostle, one sent with authority.

But his purpose? That’s summed up in the phrase "he is set apart unto the gospel of God."

Paul understood that the reason he was here, the reason for his calling was to proclaim the gospel. He was set apart for that particular purpose, he was devoted entirely to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. It was his consuming passion. His mission, and his very existence, revolved around the gospel.

At this point in the passage, something interesting happens, something that happens in everyday conversation. Something Paul does all the time in his writing. He introduces an idea, and that idea sparks another, which leads to another, and soon he’s gone deep into a related topic.

Here, he starts by saying, "I am separated unto the gospel of God." That’s verse 1. But from that point down all the way to verse 6, he expands on what the gospel is.

And essentially Paul explains two things:

1.     The message of the gospel: What it is and where it comes from.

2.     His mission: His calling to proclaim that gospel to the world.

Let’s trace his thought process through these verses.

In verse 2, he says:

“Which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”

Here, Paul emphasizes that the gospel isn’t something new. It didn’t originate with him or even with the apostles. It was promised long ago, revealed by God through His prophets in the Old Testament.

This is important. Sometimes people act as if the gospel is just a New Testament concept, but Paul insists that its foundations were laid in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures. In fact, in Galatians, Paul tells us that he received the gospel directly from Jesus Christ. But here in Romans, he’s making a different point: 

The gospel, he says, was foretold in the Old Testament.

So, what is this gospel? Paul gives the clearest definition of it in his other letter to a church in Corinth when he says, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor 15)

That’s the gospel in its simplest form:

1. Christ died for our sins.

2. Christ rose from the dead.

Paul insists that this message was prophesied in the Old Testament. 

Isaiah 53, for example, foretells the suffering and death of the Messiah. His resurrection is also subtly implied throughout the Psalms and the promise of His eternal reign. But Paul’s argument is that the entire message of salvation through Christ was there in the Scriptures all along.

He continues his focus on the gospel  in 1 Cor 15: 3, 

“Concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of 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.”

Here, Paul go straight into who Jesus is. So he tells us the gospel isn’t just a set of ideas, —it’s about a person, Jesus Christ.

And once again, Paul’s thought process leads him to expand on Jesus. And he has told us two key things:

1.     Jesus was born of the seed of David, according to the flesh—stressing His humanity and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

2.     He was declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead—stressing His divine authority and victory over death.

Paul’s introduction in Roman at times might seem like a series of digressions, but everything he says is interconnected. He starts with his purpose—being set apart for the gospel and the as he reflects on what that is and he naturally unpacks what the gospel is and who Jesus is for us.

So, what does this mean for us today? If Paul’s is saying his life as a believer was completely devoted to proclaiming the gospel, what about us? Are we living with that same sense of purpose?

The challenge for us today is to ask: Are we separated unto the gospel?

Are we setting our lives apart for the message of Christ, as Paul did?

Because ultimately, if we belong to Christ, we are not just here to exist—we are here to proclaim the good news.

Paul is making a clear and profound statement here. He is talking about the gospel and how it was revealed by the Lord through the prophets in the Old Testament, and now he declares that the central subject of that gospel is Jesus Christ. And what does Paul say about Jesus Christ? Two things:

·          He was truly human.

·          He was truly divine.

This means that Jesus was truly human. According to the Old Testament prophecies, the Messiah was to be a descendant of David, fulfilling the Jewish expectation of the coming King. His Jewish heritage was an essential part of His identity and His fulfillment of the Messianic promises.

The resurrection was a powerful declaration that Jesus was truly divine.

At this point, let’s not lose sight of the big picture. Paul’s overarching theme in his greeting is to say his purpose, he has been set apart for the gospel. 

Everything in verses 2 through 4 relates to this gospel: it concerns Jesus Christ, it declares His true humanity, it affirms His divine nature, and it proclaims that the resurrection is proof of His deity.

Then in verse 5, Paul shifts gears slightly. He is still talking about being separated for the gospel, but now he focuses on his mission:

" Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake

Notice he says “we” rather than “I.” This suggests that he is including the other apostles. They have all received the grace of God, not only for their own salvation but also for their calling to take the gospel to the world.

Paul makes it clear: His mission—and the mission of the apostles—is to bring about obedience to the faith among all nations for the sake of Christ’s name. 

From the very beginning, the gospel was never intended to be confined to one group of people. It was meant for all nations, and Paul sees himself as a key player in spreading it.

This mention of "all nations" leads Paul to think specifically about the Gentiles, and in verse 6, he naturally includes the Roman Christians to whom he is writing: " You also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.."

Paul reminds his readers that they, too, are part of God’s plan. The gospel has reached Rome, and they too have been called by Christ. 

So, this calling is not just about Paul’s mission; it is also about the Romans' response to the gospel.

The Recipients of the Letter.

In verse 7, Paul finally addresses his audience directly:

"To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:"

Here, he makes two important statements about the Roman believers:

·          They are beloved of God.

·          They are called to be saints.

Let’s pause for a moment and reflect on what it means to be beloved of God. Does God love everyone? John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” 

So, there is definitely a general sense in which God loves all people.

But there is also a special, relational love that is reserved for those who respond to Him. 

When someone places their faith in Christ, they enter into a father-child relationship with God. At that point, they are not just loved in a general sense; they are beloved. This is the love of a Father for His own children, a love that assures us of our place in His family.

So, in these opening seven verses, Paul has introduced himself and establishes three key things about his identity:

He is a slave of Jesus Christ.

He is an apostle, sent with authority.

He is set apart for the gospel.

Paul then makes another key statement in verse 7: they are all "called to be his holy people/saints." The word "saints" comes from the same Greek root as "holy," meaning set apart. Paul has already spoken about his own calling (verse 1) and their calling (verse 6). Now, he emphasizes that they are all called to be saints—holy and dedicated to God. 

This is an early hint of the ultimate point Paul will develop later, especially in chapters 6 through 8: Being that God calls His children to live righteous, godly, and holy lives. And to be a saint, is to be set apart for Him.

In the final part of this opening section, he says: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is Paul’s characteristic greeting, “grace and peace”. 

On one level, it’s a customary phrase. But on another level, it’s deeply significant. Paul isn’t just saying these words as a formality; they are directly connected to what he has just said about them.

Think about it. Paul is speaking to those whom God deeply loves.

To those whom Christ has called.

To those who have been set apart as saints.

And to these people, he extends grace and peace. 

As we continue through Romans, we’ll see that grace is the foundation of everything he will talk about. 

It is by God’s grace that we are declared righteous. It is through grace that we have access to God. We who are loved, called, and made saints—are all of these things because of His grace.

And the result of grace that grace is? Peace!. 

Later in Romans, Paul will declare: "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Grace is the foundation; peace is the outcome. 

Everyone longs for peace, the end of struggle, the end of hostility. Through Christ, we have peace with God and because of that, we can have peace with one another and even peace within ourselves.

This is why Paul’s greeting is more than just words; it is a profound theological truth.

Now, I’ve moved through these verses quickly, but there’s are two important points I want to emphasize in closing. 

Two critical takeaways I want you to see.

First, this passage serves as the introduction to the book of Romans. It’s not just a greeting, it lays the groundwork for everything Paul will discuss later. 

As we study this book verse by verse, we’ll see that the key themes of Romans are already present here. 

·          We see the emphasis on the gospel.

·          We see that the gospel is about Jesus Christ, the divine-human Son of God who died and rose again.

·          We see that the gospel is for everyone, both Jews and Gentiles. We see that the gospel calls us to holiness. 

The entire book of Romans is built on these truths, and Paul introduces them right from the start.

Second, this passage isn’t just about Paul or the Romans—it’s about us today.

You might wonder, "What does this have to do with me?" But Paul himself says that his life serves as an example for us. The truths we see in his calling and in the Roman believer’s response apply to us today.

These verses are meant to remind us that by God’s grace, we too become His saints through the gospel.

The gospel is simple: Jesus Christ died for you. He rose again. And because of His death and resurrection, you can have eternal life by simply trusting in Him.

That is the core of the gospel, and that is what Paul is emphasizing here.

But Paul is also making another crucial point: because of Christ’s resurrection, we can live holy lives.

Right here in this introduction, Paul highlights the resurrection and the "Spirit of holiness." As we move deeper into Romans, we will see that not only are we declared righteous by faith, but we are also empowered to live righteously. 

The living Christ dwells within us, making it possible for us to walk with God and live in holiness.

And we can trace everything that we will read back to its source, where we find it in verse 1: "That we are set apart for the gospel of God." That’s the key. If you have trusted in Christ, then in a very real sense, you too have been set apart for the gospel. 

Our calling, like his, is to make Christ known to other people.

I started today by asking, why are you here? What is your purpose in life? Are you just here to pass the time or enjoy yourself? I hope not. Of course, I hope you enjoy the journey, but there’s a greater purpose.

In practical, everyday terms, we are here for one primary reason: to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wherever you are, at work, in your neighborhood, among your friends, you are there, in part, to share the message of Christ. 

This church exists for that same purpose, it is the only organization in the world that exists wholly for the benefit of those who aren’t members yet.

One of our central missions is revealed here as to just like Paul proclaim the gospel, to the ends of the earth.

And the reason I emphasize this is because we live in a culture that promotes the idea of “live and let live.” It’s easy to avoid uncomfortable conversations. Even when the opportunity presents itself, you might hesitate. Sometimes suggesting that someone else needs to trust in Jesus Christ? That can feel too bold, too intrusive.

But let me remind you—this is why God has placed you here. You have been set apart for the gospel. 

That means I am here, right now, to tell you that Jesus Christ died for you, and that through Him, your sins can be forgiven. And just as I am called to proclaim this, so are you. Each of us must take the opportunities God gives us to share His truth.

So, the takeaway from our study today is more than just an opening greeting to the people of Rome who received this letter from Paul.

We will be going through this book verse by verse, but this is about more than knowledge. This is about mission.

We are not simply researchers collecting information; we are ambassadors with a purpose. You are here for a reason—to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. And how do we do that? With our words, with our actions and with our lives.

I began by asking, “Why are you here? And the answer, from this passage, is clear: you are here to be set apart for the gospel. Just as Paul was commissioned to proclaim Christ, so are you. We have been entrusted with a mission—to share the good news with as many people as we possibly can….

So, let me close by asking you again—why are you here? 

Maybe you don’t have the specific call to preach or teach or stand in front of a crowd. But every one of us is here to deliver a message in some way. 

That is our purpose in life. So, when God gives you the opportunity, don’t hesitate. He will give you the grace to speak, just open your mouth and try to talk about him sometimes.

Speak up. Speak with conviction. And proclaim the hope that God has placed within you.