Sermon 6th September 2009
Welcome back! We hope that you had a good summer break. Today our Vicar, Cameron Barker, preaches based on the reading from Romans 1:1-7
It has often been said that this church has more people in it in the legal profession than in any other. But, is it true?! Time, then, for one of my straw-polls. So, hands up if you are in the legal profession, please ... What about medics: hands up again ... And education? ... The civil service? ... The world of finance? ... IT? ... Caring of any kind? ... The arts? ... How about trades? ... Service, manual or domestic industries? ... And, finally: how many rocket scientists?! ...
Well, as ever, that was interesting – and revealing, if not too surprising; except in one significant way! Clearly not many of you have read Tom Wright's excellent, and very accessible, commentary on Romans yet. If you had, you may have claimed to be a rocket scientist! From today, hopefully you will claim that – though you may also need to explain why you do, before you apply for a job at Cape Canaveral!
So, let me explain: in his book Wright gives 2 reasons for studying this letter being rather like rocket science. The 1st is a little negative – though it is honest. He argues that for many of us Paul's writings seem to come from another planet. It's not 'just' because of the cultural differences between the 1st and 21st Centuries – though admittedly those are vast. It's more that most of us are very aware that Paul was a hugely influential figure in the formation of the Christian faith. He was a man of vast intellect, as well as of great courage. He had masses of energy and commitment to the cause. He literally gave his life to and for it, in every way imaginable, and that's all daunting enough in itself.
But there's more! Most of us will know that this letter, to Christians in ancient Rome, was Paul's masterpiece. He wrote it after more than 20 years in ministry; and in it he set out exactly what he believed and why he believed it. And let me clear up any potential doubts now: there's not a hint of scholarly debate around whether Paul wrote this, from start to finish. Everyone emphatically agrees that he did, while he was in Corinth, in 55 or 56AD. Paul sent it to Christians in Rome, for precisely the reasons that he put in the letter. His plan was to go and preach in Spain next. To do that he'd need practical help and support from the nearest church – which was in Rome. Paul hadn't set up the church there; he'd never even been there before – though he clearly knew a number of people in this church. So Paul wrote what we call Romans to introduce himself to the church, and to prove that he was theologically sound. He told them that he hoped to visit soon, en route to Spain – and then leave with what he needed for his next mission.
As I say, everyone accepts all this as fact. But the nett result is that what we have is a letter packed full of very dense theology. Paul may have intended it for everyone's use; but the reality is that we could spend literally years going through it. It is rich and rewarding – but it's often hard and demanding work to 'get' what it means for us today. But it really is worth it! The study of this letter has been credited with starting some of the great movements and revivals of Christian history. It has hugely influenced people like St Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Karl Barth. Each of them, in their own way, was moved to life-changing action by grasping the truth of what Paul wrote about here, and what it means for all people.
So, for us to understand this letter isn't actually as hard as exploring Mars would be, really! But Tom Wright gives a second reason to stick with the rocket science picture, for Paul's opening anyway. He describes these first 7 verses as being like the launch-pad for a letter that will take us on a very long journey into space! If we can stay with it, we'll get to see and understand God's purposes from before the start of the world until after its ending! Life, the universe, and everything - including our place in it all - will make ultimate sense; and that was Paul's plan for his letter all along! Even more amazingly, this short introduction lays out the whole journey plan! It literally throbs with the kind of energy and excitement of a rocket that's ready to launch!
Those are quite some claims; but I have been discovering that they are all valid. The main reason for his excitement is that Paul was writing about what God has done through Jesus. It's easy for 21st Century Westerners like us – even well-taught Christians – to forget that we aren't the centre of the universe. This is the age of self-obsession in many ways – in great contrast to the 1st Century. Paul can't help himself. Yes, this is where he's introducing himself to his readers – but look at how he does it. If he'd followed the traditional letter-writing form of the time, he'd just have begun with, 'From Paul; to you all in Rome: grace to you and peace'. But see what he added to that standard formula!
To make it easier to grasp, this is how it reads in the more modern Message version: “I Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ, on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God's friends. The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others, who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.”
We clearly aren't going to have time to unpack all of that now. But that doesn't matter, because we've got weeks of Romans stretching ahead of us yet! These are the themes that underpin the whole of this letter. Paul will come back to them time and again, because this is what makes the world and history make sense. You see, he can't talk about himself – or his readers – without talking about Jesus! That was who made sense of his life – and theirs. It was then – as it is now – all about Jesus! So he wasn't 'just' Paul; he was 'a devoted slave of Jesus Christ'. And that's far more radical a deal than we may realise. In the Roman world the best thing was to be born free; if you weren't, then you worked as hard as you could to buy your freedom. Paul was born free: but he chose slavery to Jesus!
There's a direct link to Jesus being Lord, or Master. That's why he's called that in New Testament, as God was in Old Testament. Paul chose to enter this kind of relationship of total, instant obedience to Jesus as Lord. And he wasn't at all unique in doing so. His purpose, as he said here, was to call others into the same relationship to Jesus – because that's what it means to be a Christian! Yes, it also means to be God's friends, as Paul described the Romans. Yes, it means to receive the generous gift of his life, and to be set free by it. Paul will have much to say about that later. Yes, 'we are who we are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ'. But, above all, it means to choose obedient slavery to Jesus as Lord. His gift of life comes with an equally great responsibility. So, as Paul put it here, we have been given 'the urgent task of passing on God's words and acts to others'. They then receive these benefits by entering into obedient trust in Jesus' – just as all Christians always have.
That's why Paul described himself as 'on assignment'. As Jesus' slave he'd been “authorized as an apostle – which literally means 'sent one' – to proclaim God's words and acts' through Jesus to everyone who would listen. And so who's the rest of this introduction about then? It's all about Jesus of course! Paul had already defined himself, and all his readers – so including us, of course – in terms of our relationship to Jesus. As part of that he also expanded here on what the good news of Jesus is, what he's done.
To summarise it: he, Jesus, is the substance, the topic of the good news. It's God who has done all this through Jesus. God proved who Jesus is – His Son – by raising him from death. God promised this ahead of time through the Old Testament prophets. The intended scope of the good news is to reach the whole world through Jesus. The purpose of the good news is to draw all people into this kind of obedient relationship with Jesus as Master. And the goal of the good news is to honour Jesus! Yes, we receive life and freedom through him – but it's all about him, not us!
This is heady, powerful stuff! Right from the start of his letter Paul invites us to confront our basic perspective on life and faith. Honestly, do we think more about what Jesus can do for us; or of what he wants from us? How do we respond to this challenge – to choose total, instant, slave-like obedience to Jesus in response to God's free gift of life to us? In the light of that can we still think of faith as an optional extra that we can pick up or put down as suits? There is no doubt in my mind about what Paul would say to that: of course we can't! Just think about what God has done through Jesus: he has given us his all, his Son; how can we do any less? The freedom we now have is to choose slavery!
Here then is the launch-pad for the rest of this great letter. At the very start Paul in effect says: 'this is what God has done through His Son Jesus; this is what it means, for all people – yes, including you and me; this is the response that he is then looking for, from all people – yes, including you and me. Now, let me explain in much more detail what it all means, one step at a time'. All I can say today is that it's time to fasten our seatbelts! Houston, we have lift-off – and life will never be the same again. Who knows where this journey will take us, as a church or as individuals. My prayer is that it will be ever deeper into choosing slavery because of the freedom and the life that God has given us through Jesus' death and resurrection. So let's pray ...
It has often been said that this church has more people in it in the legal profession than in any other. But, is it true?! Time, then, for one of my straw-polls. So, hands up if you are in the legal profession, please ... What about medics: hands up again ... And education? ... The civil service? ... The world of finance? ... IT? ... Caring of any kind? ... The arts? ... How about trades? ... Service, manual or domestic industries? ... And, finally: how many rocket scientists?! ...
Well, as ever, that was interesting – and revealing, if not too surprising; except in one significant way! Clearly not many of you have read Tom Wright's excellent, and very accessible, commentary on Romans yet. If you had, you may have claimed to be a rocket scientist! From today, hopefully you will claim that – though you may also need to explain why you do, before you apply for a job at Cape Canaveral!
So, let me explain: in his book Wright gives 2 reasons for studying this letter being rather like rocket science. The 1st is a little negative – though it is honest. He argues that for many of us Paul's writings seem to come from another planet. It's not 'just' because of the cultural differences between the 1st and 21st Centuries – though admittedly those are vast. It's more that most of us are very aware that Paul was a hugely influential figure in the formation of the Christian faith. He was a man of vast intellect, as well as of great courage. He had masses of energy and commitment to the cause. He literally gave his life to and for it, in every way imaginable, and that's all daunting enough in itself.
But there's more! Most of us will know that this letter, to Christians in ancient Rome, was Paul's masterpiece. He wrote it after more than 20 years in ministry; and in it he set out exactly what he believed and why he believed it. And let me clear up any potential doubts now: there's not a hint of scholarly debate around whether Paul wrote this, from start to finish. Everyone emphatically agrees that he did, while he was in Corinth, in 55 or 56AD. Paul sent it to Christians in Rome, for precisely the reasons that he put in the letter. His plan was to go and preach in Spain next. To do that he'd need practical help and support from the nearest church – which was in Rome. Paul hadn't set up the church there; he'd never even been there before – though he clearly knew a number of people in this church. So Paul wrote what we call Romans to introduce himself to the church, and to prove that he was theologically sound. He told them that he hoped to visit soon, en route to Spain – and then leave with what he needed for his next mission.
As I say, everyone accepts all this as fact. But the nett result is that what we have is a letter packed full of very dense theology. Paul may have intended it for everyone's use; but the reality is that we could spend literally years going through it. It is rich and rewarding – but it's often hard and demanding work to 'get' what it means for us today. But it really is worth it! The study of this letter has been credited with starting some of the great movements and revivals of Christian history. It has hugely influenced people like St Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Karl Barth. Each of them, in their own way, was moved to life-changing action by grasping the truth of what Paul wrote about here, and what it means for all people.
So, for us to understand this letter isn't actually as hard as exploring Mars would be, really! But Tom Wright gives a second reason to stick with the rocket science picture, for Paul's opening anyway. He describes these first 7 verses as being like the launch-pad for a letter that will take us on a very long journey into space! If we can stay with it, we'll get to see and understand God's purposes from before the start of the world until after its ending! Life, the universe, and everything - including our place in it all - will make ultimate sense; and that was Paul's plan for his letter all along! Even more amazingly, this short introduction lays out the whole journey plan! It literally throbs with the kind of energy and excitement of a rocket that's ready to launch!
Those are quite some claims; but I have been discovering that they are all valid. The main reason for his excitement is that Paul was writing about what God has done through Jesus. It's easy for 21st Century Westerners like us – even well-taught Christians – to forget that we aren't the centre of the universe. This is the age of self-obsession in many ways – in great contrast to the 1st Century. Paul can't help himself. Yes, this is where he's introducing himself to his readers – but look at how he does it. If he'd followed the traditional letter-writing form of the time, he'd just have begun with, 'From Paul; to you all in Rome: grace to you and peace'. But see what he added to that standard formula!
To make it easier to grasp, this is how it reads in the more modern Message version: “I Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ, on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God's friends. The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others, who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.”
We clearly aren't going to have time to unpack all of that now. But that doesn't matter, because we've got weeks of Romans stretching ahead of us yet! These are the themes that underpin the whole of this letter. Paul will come back to them time and again, because this is what makes the world and history make sense. You see, he can't talk about himself – or his readers – without talking about Jesus! That was who made sense of his life – and theirs. It was then – as it is now – all about Jesus! So he wasn't 'just' Paul; he was 'a devoted slave of Jesus Christ'. And that's far more radical a deal than we may realise. In the Roman world the best thing was to be born free; if you weren't, then you worked as hard as you could to buy your freedom. Paul was born free: but he chose slavery to Jesus!
There's a direct link to Jesus being Lord, or Master. That's why he's called that in New Testament, as God was in Old Testament. Paul chose to enter this kind of relationship of total, instant obedience to Jesus as Lord. And he wasn't at all unique in doing so. His purpose, as he said here, was to call others into the same relationship to Jesus – because that's what it means to be a Christian! Yes, it also means to be God's friends, as Paul described the Romans. Yes, it means to receive the generous gift of his life, and to be set free by it. Paul will have much to say about that later. Yes, 'we are who we are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ'. But, above all, it means to choose obedient slavery to Jesus as Lord. His gift of life comes with an equally great responsibility. So, as Paul put it here, we have been given 'the urgent task of passing on God's words and acts to others'. They then receive these benefits by entering into obedient trust in Jesus' – just as all Christians always have.
That's why Paul described himself as 'on assignment'. As Jesus' slave he'd been “authorized as an apostle – which literally means 'sent one' – to proclaim God's words and acts' through Jesus to everyone who would listen. And so who's the rest of this introduction about then? It's all about Jesus of course! Paul had already defined himself, and all his readers – so including us, of course – in terms of our relationship to Jesus. As part of that he also expanded here on what the good news of Jesus is, what he's done.
To summarise it: he, Jesus, is the substance, the topic of the good news. It's God who has done all this through Jesus. God proved who Jesus is – His Son – by raising him from death. God promised this ahead of time through the Old Testament prophets. The intended scope of the good news is to reach the whole world through Jesus. The purpose of the good news is to draw all people into this kind of obedient relationship with Jesus as Master. And the goal of the good news is to honour Jesus! Yes, we receive life and freedom through him – but it's all about him, not us!
This is heady, powerful stuff! Right from the start of his letter Paul invites us to confront our basic perspective on life and faith. Honestly, do we think more about what Jesus can do for us; or of what he wants from us? How do we respond to this challenge – to choose total, instant, slave-like obedience to Jesus in response to God's free gift of life to us? In the light of that can we still think of faith as an optional extra that we can pick up or put down as suits? There is no doubt in my mind about what Paul would say to that: of course we can't! Just think about what God has done through Jesus: he has given us his all, his Son; how can we do any less? The freedom we now have is to choose slavery!
Here then is the launch-pad for the rest of this great letter. At the very start Paul in effect says: 'this is what God has done through His Son Jesus; this is what it means, for all people – yes, including you and me; this is the response that he is then looking for, from all people – yes, including you and me. Now, let me explain in much more detail what it all means, one step at a time'. All I can say today is that it's time to fasten our seatbelts! Houston, we have lift-off – and life will never be the same again. Who knows where this journey will take us, as a church or as individuals. My prayer is that it will be ever deeper into choosing slavery because of the freedom and the life that God has given us through Jesus' death and resurrection. So let's pray ...
posted by Parish Administrator at 12:16 pm
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