Romans 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God,… I. NO ONE HAD A MORE VIVID SENSE OF LIBERTY and the right of private judgment than this disciple of Gamaliel. He had all the zeal of a Republican for the worth of manhood. He was a free-born Roman citizen, and he never forgot it. He could make a stand for his civil rights like a Hampden or a William Tell. He allowed no privileged authority to rob him of his franchise. He was the champion of personal liberty before the weak-minded Felix, or the straightforward Festus, or the frivolous Agrippa. And that famous declaration: "I appeal unto Caesar!" — it rings down eighteen centuries like the sound of a war trumpet. "Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ." Yes, a slave — in body, mind, and spirit; boasting of his slavery in the face of the world. II. THE AUTHORITY OF THIS DIVINE SLAVE IS PROPORTIONATE TO THE EXTENT OF HIS SLAVERY. The more slave he is of the Supreme Mind of humanity, the more right and power has he to be the founder of Christian theology. For what does this splendid slavery mean? It is a soul finding a personality higher and better than its own, and yielding allegiance to it. Slavery? It is liberty. It is moving within God. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (H. Elvet Lewis.) Parallel Verses KJV: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,WEB: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, |
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