Love Letters from Afar

1. This letter was written by a man changed by the power of the Gospel
a. He was captured
a servant of Christ Jesus,

b. He was called
called to be an apostle

c. He was corralled
set apart for the gospel of God

2. This letter was written to explain that eternal Gospel
a. This Gospel was rooted in Old Testament promises
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

b. This Gospel is about the Person of Jesus
concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 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,

c. This Gospel actually changes people
i. It changed us into Apostles
through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith
ii. It changed you into Christians
… 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,

3. This letter was written to people made right with God by obeying this Gospel

a. They live in the real world
To all those in Rome

b. They are loved by the real God
who are loved by God

c. They are chosen to be holy by God in this real world
and called to be saints:

d. They are blessed by the living God in real time
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.