This gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures.  Yes he promsed salvation.  Yes the prophets wrote about it centuries before it happened.  Most of the books I have read discuss the 48 main prophecies that Jesus fulfills.  Amazing.

Concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh.  A descendant of David. A man like me.  A man that cried when he saw the pain the sisters of Lazarus felt over their brother’s death.  A man that was tempted by Satan just like I am.  A man who though tempted did not give in to that temptation.

Who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit.  The Son of God.  No mere man could live a sinless life.  No mere man could make the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  Only the Son of God.  I think about this sacrifice less often than I should.  Why?  Because it makes me cry.  Because it makes me regret every sin in my life.  Because I know without this sacrifice my Lord would not be able to look upon me.

By the resurrection from the dead.  The resurrection.  How casually I use this word.  But the power it contains.  The power to realize that death, that sin was defeated with His resurrection.  Yes how casual this seems.  And yet it is not casual at all.

Jesus Christ our Lord. A few months ago the kids and I discussed the word Christ.  The Anointed One.  The Messiah.  His name was Jesus and He was the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah.  Our Lord.  How quickly I forget the goal of the gospel is to make much of God and yet I go on trying to make much of myself.  So I see another hope in the only word not worth capitalization.  Our.  Yes our Lord.  Mine and yours.

This gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh, who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 1:2-4

Chapter 3.  Here I come…

Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.  Romans 1:1

A bondservant of Christ Jesus.  It carries the strength of the word slave and the willingness of the word servant.  To willingly become a slave.  To give yourself completely to your savior.  Am I a bondservant?  I constantly struggle with the amount I give to Him.  The strange thing about that is I know that I can’t give anything He doesn’t already own.

Called to be an apostle.  Blinded on the road to Damascus this self proclaimed sinner was called to be an apostle.  I search for my calling.  To struggle here, in this place, with the people I know to become a better Christian for Jesus, for myself, and for you.  I too am a sinner.  I too am blinded by the distractions of the world.  So I extend myself to you today, as a sinner, willing to provide support for your needs and willing to try and accept support from you.

Set apart for the gospel of God.  Set apart to preach the Good News.  To tell everyone of the joy he puts in my heart.  The sad part is I trained myself to not show joy at all.  I might have had some help from society but I can refuse to accept this about myself and change.  Many days I am filled with joy and unable to show it.  As we can see later in Romans 1:12, Paul wants to be mutually comforted by one another’s faith.  So my friend, again I extend myself to you, in hopes that you understand I do have this joy and I do want to share it, but you may have to share your joy first so we can both be mutually comforted by each other.

Set apart for the gospel of God. Paul, the bondservant, had direction to share this gift with the world.  Jesus told me to share His gift too.  I see it quite clearly in Luke 24:46-47 and Mark 16:15.  Share it with all the nations.  Yes, this means me.  I move forward with great difficulty for what this means in my life.  Will he ask me to share with my neighbor who moves overseas or will he send me on a mission trip?  I do not know.  So I ask for one final thing today.  If you see me not sharing this free gift please call me out lovingly.

As I read and reread Romans 1:1, I could see some of what it had to share with me.  I must move forward knowing I will fail and He will pick me back up.  I must move forward knowing I will sin again and be forgiven.  Lord, hear my prayer.

Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.  Romans 1:1

–I was afraid of that.

I asked Blaine the same question as closely as I could and he did a thumbs down with a “pfffttt” sound.

Well usually free or highly recommended.  This time I went with Church Planter by Darrin Patrick.  The intro was great and what I have heard from Darrin Patrick has been good.  We shall just have to wait and see.