Called to Belong!Romans 1:1-7

We Want To Belong!

• Kids• Family• High School• Sport teams• Clubs/organizations

There are Commitments To Belonging

Paul Previously Belonged

• A Roman Citizen• A Freeman• A Pharisee• The Educated • Highly Respected among his peers• A purifier of the Jewish way of life– Acts 8:3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and

entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Paul Was Called To Change What and to Whom He belongs!

Act 9:1-6 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that

if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on

his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you

persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

Paul Was Called to Belong to Something Better

• He was changed!• The change in him changed his allegiances of

belonging.• What about you?

The Letter To the Romans Is Paul’s Explanation of Belonging

• What is this that we belong to? • Why do we belong to it? Or, how do we get

into belonging to it?• Why doesn’t everyone belong to it?• What Should Our Response be to our

belonging?

Romans 1:1–7 (ESV)

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 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, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul Belongs!

Paul Belongs To Jesus Christ

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, Literally: Paul, a slave of Christ JesusThere were over 60 million slaves in the Roman

Empire.A slave is someone owned by someone else.Paul was a slave by choice.

Paul belongs on the front line!

“called to be an apostle,”In general: Apostle is one that is sent outSpecific group: Included in a special, authoritative group of sent out representatives.

Paul was on the Front Line.He receives direct revelation from God and speaks these as instructions for the church.

Paul is set apart to give Good News

set apart for the gospel of God,

He Belongs to Something Very Old, Very New, and Very Special

2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

What is this news about?

3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 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,

We Belong!

6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You Have Been Called to Belong!

6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You Have Been Called to Belong!

6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We Belong to something!To What Do you Belong?

Is there something that you belong to that means more to you than

belonging to Christ Jesus?

How Committed Are You to those who participate in your belonging with

you?

How well do you help others belong?