“Romans 1:1-17”

Monday, February 12, 2018

“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’”

---End of Scripture Verses---

Let’s start our study of Paul’s letter to the Romans with a quote from Jack Cottrell’s introduction to his commentary on Romans by College Press Publishing Company:

“God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Ps 119:05), and no part of it shines more brilliantly than the book of Romans. The truth of God’s Word sets us free (John 8:32), and Romans teaches us the most liberating of all truths. God’s Word is sharp and piercing like a sword (Heb 4:12), and no blade penetrates more deeply into our hearts than Romans. Overall the book of Romans may be the most read and most influential book of the Bible, but sometimes it is the most neglected and misunderstood book.

“In 1 Cor 15:3-4 Paul sums up the gospel as these three truths: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised up again on the third day. The reality of the historical facts of the Savior’s death and resurrection is stressed over and over in the book of Acts. Romans, however, is an exposition of the meaning of these facts. In the language of 1 Cor 15:3, Romans focuses not on ‘Christ died,’ but on the next three words: ‘for our sins.’ Acts explains what salvation consists of and how we may receive it. Romans does the same, but carries the explanation to heights and depths that thrill and satisfy the soul, providing it with an experience that is at the same time intellectual, spiritual, and aesthetic.”

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the congregation in Rome with the hopes that he would be able to come and visit them personally and preach the gospel to them (Romans 1:15; 15:23-28). But he had many important things to tell them in anticipation of his protracted travels prior to his arrival. Some of the more prevalent “topics” or “themes” he addressed are, justification by faith, salvation by God’s grace (not law), equality of Jews and Gentiles, and God’s righteousness in dealing with both groups.

Paul felt an obligation to all people to share with them what the Lord Jesus had so graciously shared with him. Paul was saved from his sins but by the grace of God, and he knew that all people, rich or poor, wise or foolish, Jew or Gentile, desperately need this life-giving, life-saving grace. He also knew that God’s saving grace is contained in and transmitted by the words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel that he so frequently suffered for, because “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

The subject and focus and thrust of the Gospel is Jesus Christ. Jesus, who “was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead” (verses 3-4). He had two natures simultaneously—He was both human and deity, man and God. The Old Testament prophets had prophesied of His human lineage through the direct descent of the great king David. His resurrection from the grave declared Him to be God’s Son with supreme power over life and death.

All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Praise Him for His power, majesty and goodness. Profess His indescribable love and gift to everyone!

Please read Romans 1:18-32 for tomorrow.

Have a super day!!!

- Louie Taylor

Share