Ink & Fire: The Words that Changed the World Part One: Marked: The Signature of the Savior

Micaiah Irmler

Romans 1:1-17

September of 386 A.D. a professor in Milan, Italy sat weeping in a garden with a friend contemplating the wickedness of his life. He had fathered a child out of wedlock and felt an overwhelming sense of un ease over his life when he found a copy of the book of Romans and read.

Romans 13:13-14 and said, “No further had I read, nor did I need for all the gloom of doubt vanished away. The professors name was Aurelius Augustine or as he is better known as St. Augustine.

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg’s church, sparking the Reformation. What fueled his fire? The book of Romans. These weren’t just ancient words — they were revolution inked by the Spirit. And the world was never the same.

“Romans is the chief part of the New Testament and the perfect gospel.” — Martin Luther

Martin Luther lead the reformation preaching the just shall live by faith.

March 24, 1738 a discouraged missionary went to a meeting in London looking for a miracle. He had been a missionary in America and wrote in his journal I went to America to convert the Indians but who will convert me but at a church service at Aldersgate Street.

Where he rode 250,000 miles preaching the gospel, he preached over 40,000 sermons, founded the methodist movement which brought a spiritual revival to England and was joined by George Whitfield.

Note: God used some ink on parchment to start a fire that still burns today!

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

Romans 5:8 But Christ demonstrated his love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us

Romans 10:9 That if thou wilt confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord and shalt believe in thine heart thou shalt be saved

Romans 10:13 For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Note: My prayer is that this series will be more than ink on a page but reignite a fire in our lives and that maybe once again these words will once again change the world.

Romans 1:1-17 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God  2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,  3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born 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.  5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,  6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,  10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.  11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—  12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.  14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.  15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Note: Paul wasn’t writing to a “church in crisis,” but a church in a culture of compromise.

Remember: There is no such thing as spiritual neutrality.

Note: Paul is saying Rome I have a message for you but first I need you to know the man.

Key Thought: True freedom isn’t doing what you want; it’s being who you were to be.

Marked by the Master vs. 1

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 

Note: Paul could have led with titles: Apostle. Church Planter. Miracle Worker. But instead, he starts with identity: slave.

Definition: The Greek word “doulos” literally means bond-servant—one completely owned and surrendered to another.

Note: The city of Rome was about a million people and about 300,000 of those were slaves.

Note: They estimate that about 40% of Italy at that time were slaves.

Illustration: Chuck E Cheese Marks you, Clubs mark you, my son Austin was competing yesterday and they put a mark on him for each lap.

Question: Labeled by the Lord.

Note: This mark means I’m His.

Paul doesn’t introduce himself by résumé—he introduces himself by . He belongs to one Person: .

Remember: The brand of a bond-servant was his badge of honor.

Remember: Paul is not saying that he merely serve’s God but that he IS God’s.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [g]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Being marked means you no longer —you boldly .

Remember: You are not called to camouflage.

Remember: The God doesn’t call us to be like culture; He calls us to be like Christ.

We’ve lowered the bar on what is bold.

Boldness is the byproduct of .

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Someone’s breakthrough is on the other side of your .

Silence may be safe but boldness changes .

Marked for More vs. 1-6 …called to be an apostle

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God  2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,  3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born 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.  5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,  6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

Question: What has God called me to do—beyond Sunday mornings? Your career, your classroom, your cafeteria are your mission fields because you are His.

Pauls purpose started at the point of his .

Many want God’s calling without God’s claim on their life.

The world’s brand is compromise; God’s brand is consecration.

Definition: The word separate means set apart, made holy, different, or distinct.

Note: Many people carry his name but few carry his nature.

Remember: God did not mark you for mediocrity he marked you for .

Remember: God’s approval is worth more than the world’s applause.

Marked for this Moment vs. 13

13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 

Note: Someone say now.

God may have set you apart but God did not set you .

The greatest danger of the Christian life isn’t —it’s .

Marked with a Mandate vs. 14-15

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.  15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

Remember: The gospel is good news not good advice.

A mandate is not a suggestion—it’s a .

If I’m marked I must move.

Question: Are you loud but not really loyal?

Quote: The Gospel is not the ABCs of Christianity—it’s the A to Z. – Tim Keller

Marked But Not Muzzled vs. 16 Not Ashamed

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Definition: Dunamos in Greek for the word .

Remember: Paul did not say it has power but it is power.

Note: Paul is saying this thing is loaded.

Note: It’s loaded with grace, truth, mercy, hope, healing, and power.

Remember: The gospel has divine destination power in it.

Paul was unashamed because the gospel . The gospel is not just information its .

It’s not powerful until its personal.

Remember: This thing is loaded—so why are you carrying it like it’s empty?

Marked to Multiply vs. 16 for everyone who believes…

Its not just because the gospel works but its also for the world

True faith isn’t a moment — it’s a movement

Why are we trying to tame the flame that is the gospel?

We give up more ground than the enemy will ever steal.

Marked So I Am Going to Make it vs. 13

13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 

When you know that you are marked than you know that you are going to make it.

Remember: It was His mercy that He marked me.

Respond to Your Ownership: If you’ve never said, “Jesus, I am Yours,” pray a brief prayer of surrender right now.

Claim Your Mission: Identify one “field” (co-worker, neighbor, classmate) where you’ll intentionally share the love of Christ this week.

Refuse to Be Muzzled: Write down one bold sentence of your personal testimony or a gospel outline. Pray for courage and share it—text a friend, post it online, or speak it aloud with someone in person.

Unashamed in Your Life vs. 15-16

15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Boldness is the byproduct of belief.

We’ve lowered the bar on what is bold

Someone’s breakthrough is on the other side of your boldness.

Uncompromising in your values

Quote: If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified. — A.W. Tozer

When God gives us what we want, we often lose what we need. If you blend in with the dark, don’t be surprised when your fire fades. The issue isn’t ignorance.

God's truth is clearly seen through creation, but humanity chose to suppress it. This isn't a knowledge problem; it’s a heart problem. We’ve traded diamonds for dust and then we wonder why it doesn’t shine. Have you softened convictions only to avoid conflict?

Unyielding in your pursuit of God.

The Collapse of What We Know.

The God “gave them over” to their own desires—not as cruelty, but as .

Sin snowballs: distorted worship leads to disordered desires and destructive decisions.

Sometimes the worst judgment is when God gives us what we want.

Culture is there to conform you while the cross is there to transform you.

Unashamed in my walk.

Unyielding in my pursuit of God - Don’t Trade Diamonds for Dust

Ye are our epistle read of all men.

We are their Bible. We become the standard however we still want to live according to the old adage, Do what I say not what I do.

We all will fumble and stumble… a just man falls seven times but rises yet again.

Quote: If God says, I believe it and that settles it. All of that is good except for the middle statement. It doesn’t matter if you believe it.

God is not tinker bell that if you say I don’t believe in fairies he dies. That is how the Greeks believed.

If God says it that settles it and God help you at judgement day.

Clean your house, clean your hands, and let God clean your heart.

You can clean your house, you can clean your hands, but only God can clean your hearts.

You called to be a saint if you are in Christ

Word means Sanctified ones.

The Wrath of God The Grace of God The Will of God

Pauls Diagnosis We are trading diamonds for dust We are descending into darkness

My life is the loudest message.

You don’t have to sell out to to stay in.

Question: What is your core story?

Paul changes his credentials. Paul shares his concerns. Paul shares why He is confident.

Starts in the .

Paul is coming to UN some things in the lives of these Roman Christians.