ROMANS UNWRAPPED 6

                             
                     " PAUL    -    SEPARATED UNTO THE GOSPEL OF GOD"



The word for separated is  APHORIZO.   This is made up of two parts, the preposition "apo"  -  (away from) and the noun  "horizo"   -   from which we get our word (horizon).  The word literally means a set boundary, or a set limit.   Its usage in scripture has to do with the idea of destiny (e.g. the biblical word for predestination is simply pro-orizo).    In essence, Paul has found his horizon, his destiny.   The French put it this way " raison - d'etre" which means the reason to be.   God has designated, delineated Paul's life to be a preacher of the gospel.  

Have I found my raison-d'etre?   Do I really have that sense of purpose?   There is no greater motivation in life than knowing who you are and why you are here.

The word Paul uses for separated is in the perfect tense -  a past action with a present continuance; it is also in the passive voice - God has done this within him and it is in the indicative mood - it is a fact.   This absolute assurance within Paul as to the reason for his existence, was so powerful, it enabled him to finish his course, through many trials; with such similar assurance we should receive his teachings knowing that his message came from God.  

Acts Ch 9 v 15                    "He is a chosen vessel to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel."

Galatians Ch 1 v 15            "It pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by His grace to reveal his Son in me."

1st Timothy Ch 2 v 5/6/      "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an apostle a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."

2nd Timothy Ch 1 v 11        "The gospel, whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles."

Through reading the Old Testament scriptures Paul came to understand like king David of old  (Psalms 139 v 16) and the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah Ch 1 v 4) that God had set him apart from his mother's womb (Galatians Ch 1 v 13).   In other words this is the reason why Paul was born.   He was set apart at his birth, he was set apart at his conversion, he was set apart in Antioch in his call to the mission field, he was a divinely " set apart"  person, designated to serve God in the gospel.

This would involve preaching, reasoning, opening and alleging, persuading, teaching, revealing, writing, praying and all through many trials.

Not all of us are called to such heights in the things of God but Paul will not finish this opening paragraph in Romans Chapter 1 before he says "among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ"
(Romans Ch 1 v 6).

Although serving the Lord in a lesser role, it behoves each one of us to understand that we are here for a purpose, for us to find that purpose, and like Paul to give ourselves to the role that God has given us.

We have looked at the man, tomorrow we will look at the message he brings.