The Greeting: Part 2

"Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God..." - Romans 1:1



So... we've covered what it means to be a bond-servant, or rather a willing and wholly devoted slave, to Christ. Now, let's explore what it means to be "called as an apostle."



From the Greek, apostle means "one who is sent." I love the picture that this brings to the table... we are sent by God, as missionaries of His Word. This is not something that we do of our own, rather we are called, by God, to a purpose higher than serving ourselves. Ephesians 4:11 says, "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ..." Now... let's not get too carried away with this, but notice how all of these positions are ones of ministering to others... none of these positions are stagnant, none of them are positions of only receiving the instruction, but rather all of them are positions of ministering to others.



Nobody is listed as having been given as a "listener." Paul did not list a certain group of people as having the "spiritual gift" of simply receiving God's Word, but rather we are all called as apostles, to be sent out, and then there are those whose area of ministry is more specifically zoned in to certain action... Pastors and teachers, for example are called to minister specifically to the body of Christ, but are not exempt from sharing the Gospel with non-believers as well.



That being said, let's look at the next part of verse 1... "set apart for the gospel of God..." This is crazy good stuff! Do you realize just how incredible it is to be set apart for, and in, the good news of Christ's defeat over sin in your life??? You are a child of God Most High! You were set apart, called to salvation... This is indescribably good news for us! When our righteousness is counted as filthy rags in the sight of God... while we were yet sinners, Christ died for US! You and me... how crazy is that?



I don't know about you (well, actually I do), but I DO NOT deserve anything but the wrath of God. My heart is filled with every wicked thing, and it is only by the grace, mercy, and patience of God that these things are skillfully removed, as a cancerous infection by a skilled surgeon, from this wretched being! That's the greatest part of the Gospel message... WE DON'T DESERVE ANY OF IT! But God... such powerful and incredible words! "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7)



You've been set apart. Now... what are you going to do about it? This is not something to keep to yourself! You are no more deserving than the serial killer and rapist who is buried deep within the prison walls. You are a lying, thieving, murderous, adulterer at heart, who has been freed from the punishment of sin by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus alone! Do not become boastful in anything other than the grace that is upon your soul! Secondly, do not think that you are any more deserving of this grace than the drug addict or alcoholic who lives next door or down the street or downtown... Pray and ask God to help you to see them as He sees them... as He saw you. This should bring tears to your eyes.... to realize the love that a holy and just God must have, to be willing to sacrifice His beloved Son for a people undeserving...



Dearest Friends... you've been set apart as messengers of the Gospel of God! Don't lose sight of your mission. Do not resist being "sent out." Go! Show others the light that now lives inside of you. "But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13)



I'll leave you with that thought...



Grace and Peace!



Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .