A Slave of Christ

I am reminded of a quote I read many years ago by Bruce Thielemann, “To preach, to really preach, is to die naked a little at a time, all the while knowing, that you must do it all over again next week.”

This could be said of the Apostle Paul. Paul put everything on the table and never held back from the truth of Scripture.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is arguably the most influential letter ever written. It is certainly the most significant letter in the history of Christianity. Romans has initiated conversions from Augustine to Barth, established doctrines, and even started a few reformations.

This is how Paul begins his powerful letter: “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God” (Rom. 1:1 LSB). From this opening verse, we see the messenger and the message.

The Messenger
Paul does not begin with his credentials; he does not introduce himself as “a Hebrew of Hebrews” (Phil. 3:4ff). Rather, he begins with, “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus.” Slaves are duty-bound only to their owners or to those to whom total allegiance is pledged. Paul has credentials; Paul is somebody! However, he leads with, “I am a slave.”

I greatly appreciate many of the traditions of my Mennonite heritage, especially the emphasis placed on servant leadership: “…you are slaves of the one whom you obey” (Rom. 6:19 paraphrase).

First Paul says, “I am a slave of Christ Jesus” and second, “I am a called apostle.”

In a general sense, an apostle is simply one who is sent out as a messenger. God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. Bruce Demarest writes in The Cross and Salvation, “God’s call is the means by which He makes men who are entirely unqualified into instruments of His will.”

Paul starts with, “I am a slave” and “I am a called apostle.” Then he says, “I have been set apart.” Paul understands his role in line with the Old Testament prophets. Although there are no longer apostles in the strictest New Testament understanding of apostleship (2 Cor. 12:12), all followers of Jesus are to be apostles in the sense that we are to be His ambassadors.

Paul completely accepted his calling and recognized by whom he was called. He also understood the message given.

The Message
“…set apart for the gospel of God.”

A Greek lexicon would simply define gospel, euangelion, as the good news—to tell the good news. It is where we get the word “evangelical.” This term has fallen on hard times, but the message remains unchanged. Evangelicalism holds to the belief that the essence of the gospel consists of the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone! “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

This is the good news! This is the message of Paul. This is the message of Romans. This is the message of Scripture.

This is Paul, called on purpose and for a purpose, and that purpose is you and I!

     Slaves of Christ Jesus.
     Set apart as messengers.
     Sent to take the message of good news to the ends of the world.

In our biblical literature class at Hesston College, we were taught to keep three questions in mind as we read Scripture: What is the sin problem? What is God doing to solve the sin problem? And how faithfully are God’s people cooperating?

     We know the sin problem.
     We understand what Jesus has done to solve the sin problem.
     Are we being faithful messengers with the good news entrusted to us?