Romans 1:1-5

I've been thinking: What does a real Christian look like and what does it mean to be a Christian? Is it merely saying some "magical" words so as to gain fire insurance? Or is something good to do on Sunday -- like going to a country club and hanging out with people that have a similar interest? What does it really mean? I've been searching through Scripture (mainly the NT) and what I am finding is very sobering. There are so many warnings regarding salvation and yet salvation is not something we can produce in and of ourselves. Salvation is obtain through grace via faith and it not something we can produce -- it's not of our own works.

So what does it mean to be a Christian? I was reading Romans 1:1 - 5. This is part of the introduction to the book of Romans and honestly a passage that many overlook or skim over while reading. But tonight I took the time to slow down and try to absorb what was being said. While I am very sure that I am no where near understanding the complete revelation of these verses, I did see a few interesting points.

First, we see that this letter is being written by Paul and he refers to himself right from the start as "a slave of Christ Jesus". I started pondering what it meant to be a slave. Yes, for many if someone says the word "slave", there are mental pictures of torture and beatings. However, the Greek word for slave, doulos, means the following: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition; metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men; devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests; a servant, attendant. If you call yourself a Christian, do those around you (other believers) resemble this definition? Does your life resemble this definition? This hit me between the eyes. How many times have I given myself up to God's will in service so that the His kingdom is furthered among men? How many times have I so devoted myself to God even at the expense of or disregard for my own interests? Have I been a servant to God or attended to His needs or desires for my life? Just something to think about.

Well, that was just the first half of the first verse. This verse goes on to tell us that Paul was chosen by God to be an apostle (a delegate; messenger; one sent out with orders) whose directives (or orders) were to preach the Gospel -- the Good News of Jesus Christ. A lot of people look at this (being an apostle) as something Paul was chosen to do (his "job" so to speak) and a position given only to certain elect people. Interestingly enough, later in verse five the Scripture states, "...God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His Name." Wait a minute! I thought that an "apostle" was an exclusive calling. But according to this passage, God has given "us" the privilege and authority as "apostles" to go and share. I may not be a rocket scientist, but I do believe that "us" would mean both Paul and the Believers that he is writing to. (Please don't misunderstand, there is an office of the apostle and I believe that Paul was chosen of God to be one of the founding apostles, but am just saying that in verse five we are also called apostles -- a delegate and messenger of God that is being sent out by Him.)

So, Paul is saying the true Believers, through Christ, have been given a mandate of sorts to tell others what God has done. Wow! That kind of sounds a little intimidating. Isn't that what we really think? I mean, why else would most people cower out of fear to tell anyone about what God has done for them? I think it could be partly based out of an incorrect mindset. This verse (v. 5) says that this is a privilege and that we have authority to tell others, and this privilege and authority has been given to us by God through Christ. Wow! What would happen if Believers actually saw it as a privilege and understood that they have authority and then acted on this directive? The end of the verse tells us: "...they [unbelievers] will believe and obey Him [God], bringing glory to His Name."

Hmm... have I shared with others what God has done for me? I used to and even would carry extra Bible in my car so that I could give people that I spoke with their own copy of God's Word. I mean, most of the time when prompted by the Holy Spirit I would go up to total strangers and tell them about God and His goodness and many times they wanted to know Him. So what happened? Could it be that I have forgotten that this is an amazing privilege given to me by God and that I have the authority to tell others about God and how good He has been to me? Have I become complacent in my walk and succumb to the enemy's subtleties that would try to convince me that sharing the Gospel is a difficult thing filled with drudgery and a mere duty instead of a privilege? Have I allowed the enemy to rob me of the authority given me by my God through Jesus Christ? Selah.

Maybe I'll share more thoughts as I continue my search...