Christ, the Masterbuilder

June 15, 2002                                                                               Northwest Bible Church

Romans1:5
Christ, the Masterbuilder
INTRO

I. CHRIST, THE MASTER BUILDER OF HIS CHURCH.

A. Christ is the Lord over Paul’s ministry (Romans 1:4).   Kurios = sovereign Lord, Master, Ruler over all.     And WHO IS LORD?  Jesus Christ.  The resurrection has exalted Christ to the throne of God in heaven and from there He exercises His sovereign control over all things.  It is this Lord who is rules over His church and who is building His temple.

B. Christ is the gift-Giver of Paul’s ministry (Romans 1:5).  “Through whom we have received grace and apostleship.”

1) Christ is the One who dispenses the spiritual gifts in order to build His church.                                     Eph. 4:7-12 and 1 Cor. 12:7, 11, 18.

2) Christ also gives the power for the gift to operate.   Col. 1:28-29.

3) Application: What gift(s) do you have?   Are you using them?   A list of spiritual                                  gifts can be found in Romans 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; 1 Pet. 4.

C. Christ is the Director of Paul’s ministry (Romans 1:5).  “to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles”  is the task Christ directs Paul to labor toward.

1) What does “the obedience of faith” mean?

#1 -  It can mean the obedience which is faith.

a) The gospel is a command which requires obedience. Acts 17:30  “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring (Grk = “to command”) to men that all everywhere should repent.”  1John 3:23 “And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.”

b) Unbelief is disobedience. John 3:36  “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”   2Th. 1:8  “dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”  I Jn. 5:10  “The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar.”

#2 -  It can also include the obedience that results from saving faith, in other words, the process of sanctification as we grow in our obedience to Christ throughout our Christian lives.  “If you love Me you will keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15).  We are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

2) Who are the primary objects of Paul’s ministry?  “among all the Gentiles.”   Paul is uniquely the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13).  Christ called Paul to bear His name before the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).

Christ in His infinite wisdom, has equipped Paul and directed him into the ministry of  laying the foundation of the temple of the Church (Eph. 2:20).

Christ has a role for you too!   Every believer has a part to play in the construction of this glorious and holy temple.  Christ is the Chief Architect, Master Builder, He is equipping and directing His saints to the wonderful work.  Are you involved in the work, or are you on the sidelines?  Do you desire to be useful to the Master?

D. Christ is the goal of Paul’s ministry (Romans 1:5).  “for His name’s sake.”  The name signifies the character and being of a person.   The ultimate reason for saving the Gentiles is not to save the Gentiles, it is proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.  The gospel spotlight never falls on us, but on the glory of Christ.

CONCLUSION