Debtor to the Gospel
A note on the audio: This lesson's audio is a sermon recording in Korean. The notes below are in English, but pressing play will play Korean speech.
1. The Church in Rome
The church in Rome was not one Paul had founded, yet he carried a deep love for it. So Paul prayed for the church in Rome, and the letter in which he laid out the gospel for them is the book of Romans. Paul makes this confession:
Romans 1:8-10
Paul carried the heart of God — he loved the church in Rome even though he had never seen it.
Rome lay about 1,300 kilometers from where Paul was, nearly a month's journey away. Even so, Paul wanted to go and help them.
Reflection Questions
Q. Paul was filled with God's own heart to save and care for souls. Is that kind of heart in me? When have I felt it? If I find it lacking, why do I think that is?
2. Bearing Fruit
Romans 1:13
Paul wanted to go and shepherd the church in Rome, bearing beautiful fruit for God there. Fruit matters greatly.
John 15:16
The purpose for which Jesus saved us is to bear fruit. This means carrying out the mission he has given us. God gives us gifts and resources for this very purpose, and we bear fruit by using them for the Lord.
Reflection Questions
Q. Paul's life goal was "to bear fruit." The true purpose of a saved person's life is to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. If I died today, what fruit could I bring before God? Reflect deeply before God and write down what the Lord lays on your heart.
3. Debtor to the Gospel
Romans 1:14-15
Paul confesses, "I am a debtor to everyone." What does this mean? Paul makes this same confession elsewhere.
1 Corinthians 9:16
The word here carries the sense of obligation — its underlying meaning is "to be in debt." In other words, it is a confession: "The reason I preach the gospel is that I am in debt!"
What does this mean? Paul had once persecuted the church. But by God's great grace and forgiveness he was saved and became an apostle. And God gave Paul an overwhelming revelation of the gospel. Paul carried the awareness that this made him "in debt" before God.
God, you have shown immeasurable grace to a sinner like me. You saved me and revealed to me this overwhelming gospel, and this is a debt. I will repay this debt.
Paul ran his whole life with this debt-repaying heart. Even when he suffered hardship for preaching the gospel, he confessed this:
Philippians 1:29
Philippians 2:17-18
Through Paul, who carried this kind of heart, God saved countless souls.
Reflection Questions
Q. Do I have this kind of heart? Let's examine the deep motives of our faith. Look closely at whether the heart Paul had is in me — and if it isn't, why not — and write down what you find.