Appointed to Christian Service

​Romans 1:5-6 ~ “…through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”
 
You have been called, selected and appointed by Christ. Do you understand what this means? Your life now has eternal purpose. Through Divine grace, though weak in ourselves, we find that there is great strength in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). I would venture to say that the majority of Christians travel through their lives without the slightest understanding that they can make a Divine impact upon their world. The Holy Spirit dwells within us. We can walk in the power of Christ. Jesus is the One who sent us. Let us then abandon any docile position and venture all upon the LORD Jesus Christ.
 
Selected By Christ
 
As we consider our text, Paul says, “…through whom [Jesus] we have received grace and apostleship…” It is through Him. Where Paul had received “grace and apostleship” so we have received grace as well and are appointed unto a life that is set for the service of Christ. Our appointment comes through Jesus Christ Himself. There is no other mediator, no go between who has come to us as a recruiter for the Army of the LORD. Jesus Himself has called us out of our own lives to become a part of His grand enterprise. And let us not forget that it is for His Name’s sake. We are not called because God wanted to lavish us in our own glory. Jesus called us for His own name’s sake. We are set apart to bring glory to the Name of Jesus, nothing more, and nothing less. Remember that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that HE is LORD (see Philippians 2:10). Should we not want to bring glory to His Name? Think of what He did for us. He deserves all of the Glory. We are called to live in and for His name alone.
 
Sent With a Purpose
 
As we continue to consider our text today, we read that our purpose is to, “bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.” In whatever venue God has placed you, your ultimate purpose is to pursue the opportunity to bring about faith in others that they also should be obedient to our LORD. Paul says that he received grace and apostleship to call people from among the gentiles. He had a purpose and was given what he needed to accomplish that purpose. We have a purpose and have been given the necessary resources to accomplish it. Consider what Paul said in Philippians 1:3-5, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” The purpose has not changed. As the Philippian church, we are also called to be in partnership in the gospel.
 
Situated With Others
 
As Paul considered the church in Rome, he understood that they, too, were not only his mission field but also partners in that mission. Our text today concludes with this statement, “including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” I am greatly encouraged to know that in the work of the gospel, I am not alone. And, beloved, neither are you. We are situated with those who were once the mission field, even as we were, and now are servants with us in the work of the gospel. And we need to stand together. Solitary Christians will find themselves struggling, facing the world without the strength that comes from working with others. Consider 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
 
Paul often used sports as analogous of the Christian life, so I am going to use football as an analogy. Consider a football team. There are 53 men working together to accomplish one ultimate goal. They have to orchestrate an average of 1000 plays effectively to achieve that goal. As they strive together, they face the opposing force that fights against them. Dear friends, if you are walking with Christ, you walk together with those who belong to Him. Don’t go it alone. God’s call and His objective has not changed. Let us walk in the ways of Christ, faithfully striving in the obedience of faith as we bring the gospel to others.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

---