The Gospel of God Offers Something to Us
Studying Romans 1:5.
Through [His Son Jesus Christ our Lord v. 3] we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, (Romans 1:5)
The gospel of God that had been His plan all along, and that same gospel that has His Son Jesus Christ our Lord at the center offers something to every person.
Paul mentions what he had received, what the response should be, and the purpose behind that response.
What he received.
Through [His Son Jesus Christ our Lord v. 3] we have received grace and apostleship
Paul received both God's grace and his apostleship through Jesus Christ.
Grace.
“Grace” carries the idea of undeserved or unmerited favor.
Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace. - Barnhouse, Romans Vol. 1, 72
Paul was well aware of how gracious Jesus Christ had been with him.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:12-15)
As you read that passage, hopefully you noticed how closely connected grace and mercy are. Paul knew that what he had received through Jesus Christ our Lord had been nothing he deserved or had earned.
If any individual thinks that he should go to Heaven by natural right, he has never understood either the holiness of God or the sinfulness of sin. - Barnhouse, Romans Vol. 1, 72
The Holy Spirit through Paul was emphasizing the holiness and graciousness of God while at the same pointing to Paul’s own sinfulness.
Apostleship.
God’s gracious offer through Jesus Christ wasn’t simply limited to the forgiveness of Paul’s sin (Acts 22:16). As mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:12 - he had been given a special mission by Jesus Himself.
Paul was a “called apostle” of Jesus Christ.
What the response should be.
for obedience to the faith among all nations
There are various possible interpretations of what exactly is meant by “obedience to the (or a) faith.”
It could refer to “the faith” - the system of faith in Christ Jesus.
It could be referring to the obedience produced or required by faith.
It could be the idea of “believing obedience.”
It could be that faith further defines obedience - “obedience, namely, faith.” (NET Bible Translator Notes)
Some believe the phrase is purposefully ambiguous to highlight the various shades of meaning. My personal opinion is that this may be the point - the Holy Spirit, through Paul, intentionally phrased it in this way to cause Bible students to think through all angles because these possible interpretations can be accurately applied.
Could each disciple, in the present day, realize that he too is made a Christian for the obedience of belief, it might greatly add to the activity of many. - Lard, Romans, 30-31
The response to what God did for Paul - and what God has done for us - should be obedience. Paul made this same point to King Agrippa when he told what had happened on the road to Damascus.
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. (Acts 26:19-20)
This offer is extended to “all nations.” This will be a significant theme throughout the letter to the Romans - “the gospel is for all.”
The purpose behind the response.
for His name
All Paul did was “for the sake of His [Jesus Christ’s] name.” His life was all about Jesus (Philippians 1:21).
What was most important for Paul was not the kind of work he might do among the Gentiles at Rome or how many he might convert, but that God’s name would be glorified (see Romans 15:6-7). - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 36-37
Paul was not writing this letter to the Christians in Rome to glorify himself or to exalt his own position. He wasn’t urging obedience “to the faith” so that he could boast about how many people he had converted. It was all about bringing glory to the name of Christ.
What about us?
The reason for all we do, for our submission, for our obedience, for our willingness to be bondslaves, is all for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins are never forgiven because of ourselves. They are forgiven because of the Saviour. John wrote in his first epistle, “I write unto you little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake (1 John 2:12). - Barnhouse, Romans Vol. 1, 81
While our obedience to the Lord is what we should do - even when we have done that and are living a faithful life to Him - we still have nothing in and of ourselves to boast in.
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
Let us submit ourselves to the Savior by obeying the gospel of God and by serving Him faithfully. But even when we have done all that - may we always remember to do it “for His name’s sake.”