Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 1

Paul had not seen the Romans when he wrote this epistle. They were strangers to him, and therefore he begins by asserting his apostleship. "called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God." That expression should be true of every Christian minister.

We are not apostles; but we are "separated unto the gospel of God."

I do not think that we are called to have anything to do with party politics, or social problems, or any such questions; we are set apart for this purpose. "separated unto the gospel of God." There are plenty of people who can attend to those things better than we can. If we mind our own business, or rather, if we mind our Master's business, we who are ministers will have quite enough to do.

"Separated unto the gospel of God." There are some brethren who in preaching are as timid as mice; but on a political platform they can roar like lions. Should they not rather take to what they like best, and give up the work at which they are not at home?

For my part, I believe that I am like Paul when he says that he was "separated unto the gospel of God." I am set apart unto the gospel, cut off from everything else that I may preach the glorious gospel of the blessed God to the perishing sons of men (which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures.).

Notice, brethren, how reverent the apostles were to Holy Scripture. They had no doubt about its inspiration. They quoted the Old Testament, and delighted to make it a kind of basis for the New Testament: "which he had promised before by his Holy Scriptures."

What a glorious Lord we serve! He is God's Son: Jesus Christ our Lord. In his human nature, he is a Man of royal race: of the seed of David. He was a man, therefore he died: but he rose again, for he was more than man: declared to be the Son of God with power.

That is a sweet name for every truly converted man. Called of Jesus Christ. He has called you personally, he has called you effectually, he has called you out of the world, he has called you into fellowship with himself: the called of Jesus Christ. The revised version has it: call to be Jesus Christ's. Those who are called by Christ, are called to be his.

What contrasts we have in the seventh verse! In Rome, beloved of God. In Rome called to be saints. God has beloved ones in the darkest parts of the earth. There is all the more reason for them to be saints because they are surrounded by sinners. They must have had true faith, or they could not have confessed Christ between the jaws of a lion, for they lived in Rome, with Nero hunting after Christians, as if they had been wild beasts, and yet they were not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

This man, Paul, did a great deal by prayer. I remember a minister, who is now with the Lord, who was thanked by his people for his wonderful sermons; but he said to them, "You never thanked me for my prayers, yet they were the best part of my service for you." When men of God are mighty in prayer, we owe much to them.