Romans 1:1-7 // Introduction to the Romans

Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Paul identifies himself first as a servant of Jesus Christ, in this we should follow his example. Every believer has the privilege to affirm total surrender to the will of Jesus to overrule even his or her most heartfelt wishes. Every believer has the privilege practice denial of even legitimate desires in order to learn dependence on Jesus; Sell that ye have, and give alms; (Luke 12:33). Only those who are servants of Jesus Christ will be saved.
Paul explains his calling to apostleship, each servant of Jesus Christ has a particular calling from God, which should be obeyed. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Cor 12:27) The office of apostle was filled by men who could be public witnesses of Jesus' resurrection (Acts 1:22), we have the writings of the apostles, not modern apostles. Prophets have always been part of God's plan, and are used to give information at all major stages of God's work (Amos 3:7), those who wrote the Bible were prophets (this does not include those who wrote things that prophets included in the Bible -Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Roman Centurion etc-, but the writer/editor of the book) and although the Bible is complete, there is no reason that prophecy should be lost to humanity. We are warned against false prophets in the last days and told to test prophets, this is conclusive evidence that we should also expect true prophets at any time. Teaching is the highest Biblical function that is held by more than a handful of people. This is the office of overseer or elder; otherwise called pastor, minister, preacher, parson, vicar, priest, bishop, rabbi, imam, professor, doctor, master, principal but not teacher in the modern sense. The biblical teacher functions similarly to the Jewish rabbi, who was always a man, had his own school and was a teacher for people of all ages. He also had supervisory authority in the community, a mix of school principal, lecturer, minister of religion and politician all in one. Paul is an overseer but also an apostle and a prophet, but Timothy is an overseer but not an apostle or a prophet, which makes Timothy a good model for the modern minister or elder. Two things are emphasised; supervisory authority and licence to preach/teach. Under the authority of the overseers are those who are what we are starting to call "prayer warriors" whose prayers just seem to be answered more often than is normal, they could be called miracle workers, and often they are. Also those who have devoted themselves to healing; the doctors, nurses, and various health professionals of today along with people whose use their knowledge of biblical health principles to bring health to others. Both those that administer and those that assist are important in God's church and those who are privileged to be bilingual or multilingual can be especially helpful as missionaries or translators.
Paul was separated/ordained by laying on of hands to the work of spreading the gospel (Acts 13:2-3) as such we would consider him a full-time gospel minister, though when it was prudent he was voluntarily self-supporting.
This first verse is such an encouragement to me just now, it helps me to see that it is consistent with my calling to full-time ministry that I go to foreign fields as a professional teacher, although I should take opportunities to serve in a more full-time capacity when I can do so.
What gospel was Paul ordained to preach? A new gospel? No, the same gospel that the Hebrew Scriptures promised.

3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The gospel is about God's Son Jesus who is the Anointed One and our Overlord, but who became a human being with the nature of King David the man after God's own heart who nevertheless had a sinful fallen nature, although Jesus shared his nature and weaknesses, he did not sin.
The pivotal evidence that Jesus really was the Son of God as he claimed by the wisdom given him by the Holy Spirit, was that he raised himself from the dead.

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
Jesus gave Paul grace and a job of witnessing to do, he does the same for all of us; the goal is that there will be people obedient to the faith in all ethnic groups to clear God's name by demonstration. This includes some in Italy; it includes some in your country. Paul shows the Romans their significance in God's plan.

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This letter is to the Romans, but it is included in the Bible because it applies to everyone. It is written to those God loves, those who God wants to be set apart from the normal to be devoted to him; it is written to everyone, it is written to you.
May you experience the undeserved favour of God and have peace in your heart as a gift from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.