The theme of the book of Romans is God’s Righteousness. As Paul finishes the section on soul liberty, he also wraps up the entire epistle on God’s righteousness. Harry Ironside describes this section in this way. “Properly speaking the epistle as such – the treatise on the righteousness of God – is brought to a conclusion in Romans 15:8-13. All that comes afterwards is more in the nature of postscript and appendix.”

In this section, Paul describes Jesus as a servant for the truth of God. Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords became a servant. He humbled himself to serve His creation. As a servant, He met man’s greatest need. He did this to uphold the true promises of God. God reveals His truth in the Bible. God’s truth cannot fail. He is 100% trustworthy. For this reason, it was necessary for Jesus to become a servant to the human race.

Transition

Paul presents three reasons that Jesus became a servant to the human race, which ought to make us grateful.

He Became a Servant to the Jews to Confirm Promises

God chose to work through the Jewish nation

  1. As we have learned, the phrase, “the circumcision” is another name for Israel or the Jews.
  2. After the Noahic flood (Gen 6-8), man again began to turn away from God. God broke up man’s united rebellion at the tower of Babel (Gen 11), but this did not stop their individual rebellion.
  3. About 350 years after the flood, God chose to work through the children of godly Abraham to provide the Messiah to save men from their sins.
  4. The OT records many promises regarding salvation given to the Jews.

Jesus fulfilled promises given to the Jews

  1. God promised to bless all nations with a Saviour through the Jews.
    Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
  2. Jesus provided eternal salvation through faith in His atonement. The book of Romans is rich with verses about salvation through Jesus.
    Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
    Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
    Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
    Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
    Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
    Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

He Became a Servant to Gentiles to Show God’s Mercy

God did not ignore the Gentiles (9)

  1. No one deserves God’s mercy. We are all sinners that deserve hell. However, Jews often thought that Gentiles did not deserve God’s mercy. God looks on the heart not on the nationality or social status. In Luke, Jesus told a story about two men praying in the temple. The religious Pharisee prayed proudly, but note what Jesus said about the publican.
  2. Luke 18:13-14 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
  3. Jesus was born a Jew, but God did not limit salvation to the Jews.
    Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
    Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
  4. God loves Gentiles as much as He loves the Jews.
    John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Showing mercy to Gentiles glorifies God

  1. Paul quotes from several OT scriptures to show that God cares about Gentiles as well as Jews.
    1. Verse 9 comes from Psalm 18:49
    2. Verse 10 comes from Deuteronomy 32:43
    3. Verse 11 comes from Psalm 117:1
    4. Verse 12 comes from Isaiah 11:10
  2. Jesus became man’s servant so God could be glorified every time a person is saved, whether he is a Jew or Gentile.

He Became a Servant of All to Give Believers Hope

Paul ends this section with a prayer for his readers (13).

Our God is the God of hope

  1. The word “hope” means “expectation”. God gives us an expectation through Christ. What can the Christian expect to get from God? Here are a few of the blessings believers can expect to get from God.
    1. Justification (complete cleansing and forgiveness)
      Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
    2. Reconciliation to God (reunion with God)
      Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
    3. Eternal life instead of eternal hell
      Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    4. Adoption into God’s family
      Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
    5. Inheritance with Christ
      Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
  2. This hope in God gives joy and peace
    1. It gives joy because it promises us many rich blessings.
    2. It gives peace because it assures us of His mercy instead of the judgment we deserve.

God gives hope to all who believe.

  1. We must not miss the fact that hope hinges on believing on Christ. Jesus became a servant for you, to pay for your sins and give you eternal life, but you must believe on Him.
    John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
  2. The power of the indwelling Holy Spirit makes hope abound or overflow in the believer.
    Overflowing reminds me of an artesian well that is near where I grew up. As long as I can remember, water has overflowed from the roadside fountain without ever stopping. Like an artesian well, the Holy Spirit makes our hope constantly overflow.

    1. He is God’s ever-present down payment.
      Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
    2. He helps us understand our hope and to live in the light of it so we can have peace and joy.
    3. When trials challenge our hope, He gives comfort.

Conclusion

Jesus became a servant for you. He died in your place. If you have believed on Him, He has given you a rich hope. Though you live in a troubled world, you can have joy and peace. If you lack hope, likely you have offended the Holy Spirit. Examine your heart. Get right with God, and your hope will abound. If you have no hope, you can have if you will believe that Jesus became a servant to pay for your entire sin debt.

Song: Thank You Lord – 221

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Jesus Became a Servant

5 January 2014 AM – Romans 15:8-13 – Romans – Scott Childs