Grace and Apostleship

 DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

GRACE AND APOSTLESHIP

Rom 1:1-6

1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

NIV

Having dealt, at least in part, with the two natures of Christ and how they relate to us, we now consider this receiving grace and apostleship. We know that within the New Testament the word apostle is meant to be applied to the office and dignity of apostle exclusive to the twelve and, of course now, Paul. However, when we look at the purpose of what Paul says in his apostleship, which is to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith, we wonder how exclusive is that word apostle. First, the Greek word apostolee has the direct meaning of sending away. However, that form of the Greek word Apostolos is only translated as apostleship, while Apostolos is directed meant as a messenger, a delegate sent with orders. This is the word applied throughout the New Testament to those twelve Jesus chose. In the broader sense, it has been applied to other eminent Christian teachers, such as Barnabas and Paul. We wonder although we are not distinguished, renowned, esteemed, or noteworthy teachers regarding Christ, could it still be used of us because we have been sent with authority to speak to people about Christ. It would seem the word witness would be more applicable, however, we have no doubt that we have received the same grace that Paul did. Still, we are called to tell the story about Christ, and we are called to tell people that can belong to Christ. It is far better to belong to Christ, than the only other alternative, belonging to Satan. No man belongs to himself, for our self is nothing more than a creation of God, who never intended for man to belong to anyone other than himself. This idea of being our own man, which is portrayed in that sound which includes the phrase, “I did it my way” is simply false, a lie perpetuated by the father of lies, Satan. He does not openly demand allegiance, but merely is happy enough for a man to reject belonging to Christ and think they are their own person, living according to their way. Nevertheless, we are not like those people, for we are assured and confident that we are children of God, and belong to Christ Jesus. At the same time, have we not been sent with orders from Jesus to tell others about the grace of God, the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? In addition, we wonder specifically about those of us who have been called to serve as overseers, pastors, elders, deacons, missionaries, evangelists, or others called to serve in another capacity and are not in some sense able to be seen as an apostle, with a lower-case a, or course. Paul had a conversion experience for the purpose of God, to send him to the Gentiles. We have had a conversion experience and it is not for our own satisfaction of knowing we are saved from the pits of hell, and we have eternal life in Jesus. No, we have had a conversion, a transformation from being a self-satisfying, deceived follower of Satan, even if by default, into a devoted follower of Christ, with a purpose. God has not called us to live for ourselves but to live for Christ. God did not call us to just sit and soak or isolate ourselves from those who do not know Christ, and only associate, and socialize with other believers. Have we not been sent forth into all the world, or are we just supposed to huddle together, as a little band of brothers and sisters, to encourage each other in our faith? We wonder what if we have been given the same grace as Paul that we also have not been given or at least seen by God, as one of his apostles.