The Spirit of Holiness

Paul’s letter to the church in Rome was most likely written while he was in Corinth. Paul had been traveling, evangelizing, and planting churches. He longed to visit Rome and preach there, but so far he had been unable to go. In the first several verses of Romans, Paul stated the reasons for his letter and his qualifications for writing it.

Although these verses serve as the introduction to his letter to the Romans, Paul immediately began explaining theological principles to his readers. In fact, if we did not know better, we might think that Paul was already well into the body of his letter at this point because of how quickly he addressed the subjects of Jesus, salvation, grace, and the gospel. (In fact, some have dubbed the book of Romans as the “fifth gospel.”)

Paul proclaimed the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ, emphasizing that The Holy Spirit is God and Empowerer. The Holy Spirit worked within Christ, guiding Him to complete His earthly mission, and even leading Him to the cross in full obedience to God’s plan. Because Jesus lived a sinless life, His sacrificial death satisfied the penalty for humanity’s sin. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was raised from the dead. Believers rejoice in Jesus’ provision for salvation; they can also rejoice that the Holy Spirit will enable them to live righteously before God.

Romans 1:1 Paul began his letter to the Christians at the church in Rome by identifying himself as a servant of Christ. Paul used the Greek word doulos, translated as “bond servant.” A bond servant was different from a slave, because, while the slave was held in forced service, the bond servant chose to serve willingly and without compensation until death. As a result of his experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he willingly took on the position of bond-servant of Christ for the rest of his life.

Paul called himself an apostle or “one who is sent.” The term “apostle” referred to one of the dozen men that Jesus chose to accompany Him during His earthly ministry. Jesus gave them the ability to perform various miracles to confirm their apostleship. Their lives and their teachings are the foundation of the New Testament Church. Although Paul was not one of the original twelve, he declared that he was an apostle whom Christ had personally commissioned to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul had witnessed the resurrected Christ. He could perform the signs of an apostle. Therefore, he was, and is considered to be an apostle even though he did not spend time with Jesus during His earthly life and ministry.

Paul also described himself as one who was set apart for the gospel. The wording that Paul used indicates that he was set apart to something, not from something. Before meeting Christ, Paul had been set apart from many things because he was a Pharisee, but after meeting Christ he was set apart to only one thing––the gospel.

Romans 1:2 Those who opposed Paul accused him of preaching a new message. But the gospel of Christ was not a new concept. The prophets had foretold Jesus’ coming throughout the Old Testament. They had spoken of a new covenant and the Messiah who would bring it to fulfillment. Paul knew that Christ and His gospel was the fulfillment of God’s promises revealed and recorded centuries earlier.

The promises about the coming Christ were written in the Holy Scriptures—in this case the Old Testament. These well-known words are significant because they identify the place where God’s Good News can be found. It has been true and always will be true: God speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures.

Romans 1:3 Although Jesus is God’s Son—indeed, He is God—He was born by natural means when he came into the world. He was an actual historical figure. This proved the humanity of Jesus. He was also born as a descendant of David, just as it had been foretold in the Old Testament. Both Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Joseph, his earthly father, were descendants of King David. Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise God had made to David when He showed him the royal descent of Christ.

Because Jesus—who is God—is also fully man, He can completely relate to humanity. Because He walked in our shoes, He was able to serve as a substitute for our sins and as a high priest sympathetic with the tests, trials, and temptations of us all.

Romans 1:4 The title “Son of God” is used almost thirty times in the gospels. It signifies that Jesus is of the same essence as God—in fact, He is the expression of God in human form. The resurrection of Christ did not make Jesus the Son of God; He already was. The resurrection simply proved it. The power of the resurrection showed that He is God in the form of a man and that He came back from the grave in great power.

As a man, Jesus willingly carried out the will of the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of holiness. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is Himself holy, is the author of holiness in the lives of believers. According to Paul, the Spirit was also at work in the resurrection of Christ. While the Gospels as a whole do not specifically associate the Holy Spirit with Christ’s resurrection, it is clear that Paul did. He asserted that the Holy Spirit powerfully revealed that Jesus is the Son of God by raising Him from the dead.

Romans 1:5 Paul used two key words, “grace” and “apostleship,” to describe what Jesus gives to enable believers to obey God through faith. These two words signify the favor and honor that comes with being a Christian.

Paul often used the word “grace” in his letter to the Romans. The word first appears in this verse. Grace includes all that believers have received in and through Christ: His calling, justification, forgiveness, and sanctification. If not for the graciousness of God, no one could be saved. Grace is the undeserved favor that God shows to guilty sinners. And since grace excludes any kind of boasting, since it did not come from anything that believers have or will do. Instead, God’s grace should cause believers to use all that they are and have for the glory of Jesus—from whom they received this grace and all of its benefits.

Earlier, apostleship was explained as those who spent time with Christ during His life and ministry. But in this verse, it refers to every believer because every Christian is a “sent one.” All believers in Christ receive the gift of apostleship to be exercised for Him.

Paul also explained that through God’s grace, salvation through faith was granted to the Gentiles as well. Paul was the messenger of the fact that true saving faith results in obedience to Christ even among those who were not originally God’s chosen people, the Israelites.

Romans 1:6 As Paul neared the end of his introduction in this letter, he assured the Christians in Rome that they were among the saved. He used the word “called” (kletos in Greek), which conveys the idea of speaking to another person in order to establish a personal relationship with him or her. Those who have heard God’s call and have responded to His free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ are the elect. God extends this call to all—Jews and Gentiles alike. Although the Romans were obviously considered Gentiles, they were also among those who belonged to Christ.

Students are faced with multiple decisions throughout any given day . . .  they must decide what to wear, who to sit with at lunch, how to treat the new student in class, how much time they need to spend on homework. The list could go on and on. Much of the culture that surrounds students encourages them to do whatever pleases them; conversely, God requires them to live in ways that please Him, even if that way does not always match their personal desires. This life that pleases God is a life of holiness. He calls believers to be holy because He is holy. Jesus fully understands this struggle to live a holy life in a corrupt world. Jesus chose to rely upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to enable Him to live a sinless life. As a result, the Spirit of holiness raised Him from the dead. Believers can rejoice because the same power that enabled Jesus to live a holy life and conquer death is available to them as well.

As you teach this lesson, explain to students that we know that God requires holiness of His followers because it is written in His Word, but emphasize that they are incapable of obeying every command under their own strength. Therefore, encourage students to stop relying on their own willpower and to surrender themselves to the control of the Holy Spirit living within them, who will help them live victoriously in their pursuit of holiness. By persevering in their commitment to lead Spirit-filled lives, students can train themselves to follow the Spirit of holiness as He directs their attitudes and actions.