Module One: Week One
Topic: Paul’s Gospel and Mission
Prompt: “Write a reflection on Romans 1:1-7 to identify the content of Paul’s gospel and his
motivation for mission.” Consider the following as you develop the thread:
Response:
The “good news,” or “gospel” which Paul says he was “called and set apart for” (Romans 1:1,
Complete Jewish Study Bible), is clearly outlined in his letter to those who practiced the way of
Jesus, in Rome. “Troubled by conflicts in Rome between Gentile disciples and the Jewish
community, Paul focuses in the book of Romans on how God’s promises to the people of Israel
relate to Gentiles who have come to faith in Messiah.”1 In the first seven verses of his letter, Paul
sets forth the foundation of his gospel message and his motivation for spreading it. This sketch of
his message begins with the apostle introducing himself as “a slave of the Messiah Yeshua”
(Romans 1:1). This is important, because a slave does not belong to himself but is under the rule
of another. By introducing himself in this manner, Paul tells his audience, up front, this message
is from someone greater than he; this message is from Jesus.
Son of God with Power
The obvious question to follow this introduction is going to be, “Who is Jesus?” Paul gives the
reader an answer to this question, right away. According to him, Jesus is the descendant of the
Jewish king, David, and has been “powerfully demonstrated to be the Son of God spiritually, set
apart by his having been resurrected from the dead” (Romans 1:3-4). Here, in the first four verses
1 David H. Stern, “Romans” in The Complete Jewish Study Bible (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers,
2016), 1604.
of his letter, Paul declares that he is not just bringing any gospel, but a gospel concerning the Son
of God. He further clarifies that Jesus’ title is not self-appointed; it is from God Himself,
evidenced by Jesus’ being raised from the dead. This appointment signifies not only Jesus' divine
nature but also His authority and sovereignty over all creation, and His power over sin and death.
The Meaning of "Obedience of Faith"
After setting a clear foundation for who he represents and where his gospel is from, Paul begins
to explain why he is convinced of this message and what it is this message conveys. Paul writes,
“Through him [Jesus] we received grace and were given the work of being an emissary on his
behalf promoting trust-grounded obedience among all the Gentiles, including you, who have
been called by Yeshua the Messiah” (Romans 1:5-6). In this portion of Paul’s letter, he
underscores the response required from believers upon encountering the gospel message – a
response of obedience. Here, Paul explains that it is his faith in Christ and in this gospel message
which leads to his obedience. According to Paul, Jesus “dispenses grace and commissions certain
people—notably Paul himself—to testify to his identity and saving power among all nations.”2
Paul’s words suggest that genuine faith in Christ naturally leads to obedience to his teachings and
commands. The apostle highlights the transformative nature of faith, which should manifest in a
life characterized by obedience to God's will. Yet, this begs the question, “What is God’s will?”
Paul’s Gospel Message
God’s will can be seen through the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Paul declares that the gospel
is “God’s powerful means of bringing salvation to everyone who keeps on trusting” (Romans
2 Wesley Hill, “Psalms of Solomon and Romans 1:1–17: The ‘Son of God’ and the Identity of Jesus,” in
Reading Romans in Context: Paul and Second Temple Judaism, edited by Ben C. Blackwell, John K.
Goodrich, and Jason Maston (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015), 31.
1:16). He further states that in the good news of Christ is “revealed how God makes people
righteous in his sight […] through trust” (Romans 1:17). According to his letter to the believers
in Rome, Paul believes that God’s will is that all would be made righteous through faith in the
saving gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel message, as identified by Paul, revolves around Jesus,
the Son of God, and encompasses Jesus' identity, his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, his
sacrificial death for the forgiveness of sins, and his victorious resurrection. This gospel calls one
to walk in obedient faith to the will of God, through which God reconciles men back to Himself,
declaring them righteous.
Purpose of Paul's Apostleship
Paul asserts that he has received grace and apostleship to bring about this obedience of faith
among all nations for the sake of Christ's name (Romans 1:5). His calling as an apostle is not for
his own glory but to fulfill God's purpose of spreading the gospel message far and wide, leading
people to faith and obedience to Christ. Paul clearly intends to accomplish this task, not only by
proclaiming this gospel, but also by living in obedience to this gospel, himself. This can be seen
in the opening line of his letter to the church in Rome: “Sha’ul, a slave of the Messiah Yeshua”
(Romans 1:1). Paul begins his letter with a statement of submission, clearly demonstrating his
own obedience to the very gospel message he is promoting. This also shines a light on the
apostle’s motives.
Paul's Motivation for Mission
Paul's motivation for mission evidently stems from his deep conviction about the transformative
power of the gospel. He, himself, has experienced the saving grace of Christ. Thus, Paul is driven
by a sense of obligation to share this message with “all those in Rome whom God loves”
(Romans 1:7), knowing that it brings salvation to all who believe. His love for God and his
fellow human beings compels him to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ tirelessly,
regardless of the challenges or opposition he may face.
How does Paul's motivation compare to that of your church?
I often say, “there is no such thing as a lukewarm Christian.” Either you believe, or you do not
believe in the message of Jesus Christ. To believe is to act, and this call to action is what can be
seen in the apostle Paul’s message to the believers in Rome. Paul’s conviction to share the
message of Christ is foundational to the Christian faith. It is the mission of the church, as
commanded by Jesus, to “make people from all nations into talmidim” (Matthew 28:19). A true
encounter with Jesus Christ and a true faith in the message He brings will ignite a flame within
the heart of the one who believes. Ultimately, like Paul, the church is called to proclaim the
gospel message faithfully and to demonstrate the love of Christ in both word and deed, motivated
by a sincere desire to see lives transformed and God's kingdom advanced. I am proud to say that
my church chooses to believe the message of Christ and joyfully answers this call. As the apostle
John writes, “We ourselves love now because he loved us first” (1 John 4:19). It is this deep
conviction of the gospel's transformative power and this love which overflows from the love He
has given us that moves me and many others within our church to share the gospel of Jesus in
any way we can, with everyone we can. From outreach in the streets and resource dinners,
focused on helping the unhoused and marginalized in our community, to prayer walks and
community events, calling the church and our community to hear and adhere to the gospel
message, our church truly does seek to be with Jesus, be like Jesus, and do what Jesus would do
if He were in our community. Our church truly seeks to fulfill the Great Commission and bring
people into a saving relationship with Christ, while also emphasizing social justice and
compassion in our own backyard.
Replies
Teresa,
To begin, I pray that God will strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
as you pursue Him and an education. May you be overwhelmed by the evidence of His love for
you, daily. Excellent work responding to this week’s discussion. I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
I especially found interest in your ideas about the obedience of faith. You wrote, “Grace given
through Christ is God’s response to our sin, and we are to take that grace and apply it to our lives
not through works but through reflection on our day-to-day.” Amen! I once heard a statement
about reflection, and it stayed with me: “We do not change from our experiences; we change
when we reflect on our experiences.” Jesus calls us to repentance, to turn away from self and
towards godliness. This takes reflection. Thus, Jesus calls us to reflection. That said, this is most
certainly an action, a “work,” and it is the first of many “works” we will do if we truly believe.
While God’s grace is opposed to earning, it is most certainly not opposed to our efforts. In fact,
Jesus emphasized actions as the evidence of faith. He taught that love for Him would be shown
through obedience to His commandments (John 14:15) and that discipleship involves self-denial
and bearing one's cross (Matthew 16:24). Paul seems to assume that those who believe and love
God will be obedient “since faith is only sufficiently evidenced through obedience.”3 He
3 David E. Garland, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J.
Schnabel, vol. 6, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: IVP; IVP
highlights this in his letter to the Galatians when he writes, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and
you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Thus, claiming I believe or even
believing I believe does not count me as a believer. It is only when I act as if I believe that I truly
am considered as one who believes. Paul and his companions are calling all “Gentiles to the
obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5, New International Version). Jesus’ life was a
testament to perfect faith, and it was filled full with acts of love, kindness, mercy, and obedience.
Scripture even tells us, “He was heard because of his reverent submission” (Hebrews 5:7). Jesus,
though He is the Son of God, shows us that the proper response to God’s saving love is humility,
reverence, and worship. As I think you alluded to, so very well, salvation is not the beginning of
some “religious life;” salvation is the daily life we receive from God. Christ has made His home
in our hearts, and through our faith in, and our intimacy with Him and God’s word, we are
sanctified. Paul’s priority seems to be that a deep experience of divine love will lead to a life of
obedience to Christ; a life of daily reflection, as we gaze upon the wonder and beauty of our
God. Thank you for your inspiring post. I pray I have treated your thoughts well. May the peace
and love of our Lord be yours. Blessings.
Rickey,
I hope and pray that the peace and the love of Christ are eternally yours, especially as you pursue
His kingdom being brought to earth and the furtherance of your education, for the glory of our
Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2021), 49.
Father. Great work on your thread, this module. I was particularly interested in your statement,
“Paul's motivation is considered radical in modern evangelical churches.” As unfortunate as this
point is, it is true. Paul calls the church to live lives that are set apart from the world around
them. Much of the church, today, relies too heavily on the ways of the world. Paul's approach to
evangelism was characterized by a profound reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit. He trusted
in God's guidance and empowerment to effectively communicate the message of salvation and to
bring about spiritual transformation in people's lives. While many churches today acknowledge
the importance of the Holy Spirit, many also rely more on worldly strategies, marketing
techniques, or entertainment to attract people to the faith, often neglecting the supernatural
aspect of evangelism. If we use carnal means to draw men in, we will inevitably draw in carnal
men and need to use more and more carnal means. God calls us to spread His gospel and trust
Him to bring the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Paul preached a message that was
uncompromising in its emphasis on repentance, faith in Christ, and the transformative power of
the gospel. He did not shy away from proclaiming difficult truths or confronting sin and idolatry.
In contrast, many churches today prioritize a more seeker-friendly approach, downplaying or
diluting certain aspects of the gospel message in an effort to avoid offense or controversy and fill
the auditoriums. May the church, today, return to the simple gospel and boldly proclaim its
message without compromise. May we desire to glorify God and pray to see men and women
turn to Him and nothing else. Thank you for your thought-provoking post. Blessings to you and
yours.
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