Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA)
A
few years ago, a minister in another denomination called me to help him and his
secretary make sense out of some donated computer equipment, and to show them
what could be done with it.
His congregation was of a different ethnic and denominational background
than my Scots Presbyterian heritage. Nevertheless, I went along with samples of
bulletins, spreadsheets, budgets, databases and used sermons to demonstrate what
a blessing silicon chips could be when married to a typewriter!
We talked for several hours and discovered that, indeed, we did share the
same evangelical faith in Christ.
I looked over the machinery in question and was able to discover several
problems which needed to be fixed before it could be used.
A few months later, I invited a person to visit that congregation with me
for one of their revivals.
And so I attended, but the person didn’t show up.
Well, there I was in a different church, where because of my ethnic
background, I really stood out in the crowd!
In spite of our apparent cultural and organizational differences, I was
made very welcome and even invited to participate in the service.
Afterwards I was warmly welcomed and remembered by many in the
congregation who had shopped at the grocery where I had worked for twelve years
when I was going to college.
It
is really nice to turn up in a different congregation and feel like you are
right at home.
Several years ago, when one of our members moved to Virginia he found a
warm Christian welcome in a congregation where they knew of our church and
another local congregation as well.
You know, I am firmly convinced that you can go almost anywhere in the
world, and if you look for God’s people, you can feel right at home -- even if
they think you speak funny!
When I traveled in Europe in the sixties, a little cross that I wore on
my suit jacket allowed me to meet completely different people than my Army
buddies met.
On one bus tour, my Army traveling friend was really jealous that
complete strangers would talk too me and ignore him completely.
Most of the strangers were Christians, two of whom knew people that I
knew.
One mother and daughter from the East Coast even lived next door to one
of my relatives who played the organ in their church.
Another older gentleman knew my uncle!
The most important thing about all of these “chance”
meetings is that
we all knew Jesus Christ.
With this said, perhaps we can begin to appreciate the warm fondness that
comes through in these introductory verses to the book of Romans.
Because the Roman Christians know Christ, Paul will feel at home.
Because he knows Christ, he will be welcome as well.
In this context then, let us examine the verses before us here.
To the Romans, verse seven is certainly addressed, but in the sense that
we belong to Christ, the letter is for us and all those who have heard of the
faithful in Rome itself.
Paul
gives thanks for the Saints in Rome and their God-given faith of which he has
heard.
This much is very plain, very straight-forward.
But let us make some observations on what Paul considers of “First”
importance.
The phrase “I
thank my God through Jesus Christ” includes
words that slip easily off our tongues.
However there is something here we should be reminded of.
More than once, I have been asked why we don’t pray to Jesus or even to
the Holy Spirit.
Isn’t it because of the example of Paul and the other New Testament
writers?
Their example ought to be considered carefully, even as we frame our
relationship and our prayer habits.
Years ago, in my home church, I was invited to preach one week when the
Pastor was on vacation.
Another speaker was also invited so that there would be a real adult to
carry the focus of the service if I wasn’t up to it!
The other speaker spoke about his close relationship with Jesus and how
he was talking to Jesus on the way to church that morning.
You almost got the impression that the Messiah of all the earth was
sitting in the front seat with him.
My sermon was on the fourth chapter of Revelation, where the Apostle John
was ushered into the very presence of the Godhead enthroned with the vast
crystal sea separating John from the elders, the creatures and the Son of God.
When I opened my sermon that morning I spoke some unprepared words about
how close we might really get to the Lord of heaven and His only Son our Lord.
Certainly, Jesus of Nazareth appeared on earth and dwelt among us for a
time.
But now, He is in heaven with our Father.
In the presence of the Father we are taught from scripture that He there
intercedes for us.
Like Charles Hodge I believe that the “expression
here implies the mediation of Christ, through whom alone we have access to the
Father, and for whose sake alone both our prayers and our praises
are accepted.”
That is why when we pray, we should pray in the Holy Spirit to the Father
through the Son.
While Paul is much more concise in his phrasing, the proper order and
doctrine are there if we will see it.
The
next phrase in verse eight, ”....your
faith is being reported all over the world,” can
easily be confused.
Does it mean that the whole world has heard about the church in Rome?
Or does it mean that the whole Christian church has heard that even in
Rome there are believers?
The truth of the matter probably lies somewhere in between.
Perhaps our thinking about Rome may color our understanding.
I remember a few years ago when I heard that the PCA had a congregation
coming together in Las Vegas.
I’m sure I was thinking, “Really
- even in Las Vegas”?
Some of my friends who are rural conservatives seem to express the same
attitude about conservative churches in our time when I tell them about Christ
Covenant Reformed:
“Really!
Even in Columbus?!
Imagine that!”
We do not see this attitude in Paul’s report however.
He
is thankful wherever Christ’s church is assembled.
And he assures the Roman Christians that even though he has never met
them, they are daily in his prayers.
Think of the churches you pray for.
How many of them have you been to visit?
Paul hopes, in time, to come to the Church in Rome.
There is a purpose in that visit that we read in verses eleven and
twelve.
Just as I regularly take away from church the blessings of fellowship,
prayers and testimony, so Paul hopes to gain from his visit to Rome.
Once, at one of our early Bible Studies, the appointed leader was a
little worried that I would be sitting in.
He thought that since I was there, I should be in charge instead of
taking instruction.
I assured him that even pastors and elders need down time to sit and
listen and learn.
By the same token, those who are willing to listen are more able to lead.
This point of leadership is emphasized in verse eleven and followed with
my point in the next verse.
In our day and time I believe that we must learn to lead by knowing
people and finding out where they are ready to go.
When I was in the Army, the essential difference between the officers and
the non-commissioned officers were that the officers didn’t have to live with
the enlisted men.
They didn’t have to earn their stripes like the sergeants and
corporals.
The officers received their commissions as an act of Congress!
Is it only in our era that we can appreciate the humor of such befuddled
confidence?
Resources Used: The Holy Bible, New International Version
Places Preached:Hodge, Charles. Romans. Mackenzie, R. Calvin's New Testament Commentaries: Romans.
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America) Post Office Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213-7926
Rom01b.htm 09 April 95
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