Today, we begin our focus on Paul’s letter to the members of the church in Rome. He wrote this letter while in Corinth around 57 AD. This letter was not just for the members of the church in Rome but to you and me today. Imagine what your thoughts would be when reading it for the first time.
The church was probably established by Jews who had been in Jerusalem when Pentecost occurred. They became followers of Christ. They returned to Rome and established the church. Originally, the members were Jews, but by the time this letter was received, gentiles had joined them. The church existed in a very depraved society who were idol worshipers.
He wrote this letter to people he had never met or communicated with before. Neither had any of the other apostles. The one thing Paul knew about these people was they were known for faith in Jesus Christ. We do not know how much the members knew about Paul.
Our focus today is on the first two chapters. As I read the chapters, certain verses stood out to me as important.
Verse 1:2-6 He opens the letter with a summary of the gospel of Jesus Christ, what He did for mankind and the grace He offers us. The believer’s faith in what Christ had done for him/her drives the believer to tell others about this gift so they too can experience God’s gift.
Verse 1:8-17 As I read these verses, I tried to imagine what the church members thought when they first read this letter from a stranger. He thanks them for their faith which is known around the world. He tells them he continually prays for them.
Verse 1:18-32 These verses describe God’s wrath being directed at these godless and wicked men who suppress the truth about God. As a result, the awfulness of sin and its affect on them is validly described. They become fools.
Verse 1:20 This verse is extremely important. It states that God, since Creation, has made His eternal power and divine nature clearly seen by what He made. Mankind has no excuse of ignorance of God’s existence.
Verse 1:21 This verse says they did know God but did not glorify Him as God or give Him thanks.
Based on these two verses, a question about God’s existence is not a valid question. He exists. It is man who chooses not to recognize Him and to ignore the evidence. Could a “Christian” make a wrong decision?
Verse 2:1-16 A contract is made between the righteous judging of God and His impartiality to man’s sinful judging of other humans. Because of his sin, man’s judging of others is destructive.
Verse 1-2 Every man who judges another person condemns himself because he is guilty of the same things. How easy it is to ignore this verse in everyday life.
Verse 2:11 states God is not partial in His judgement of men. This is why we can trust His judgement.
Verse 2:13 People who know the “Law” but do not follow it are not just before God, but the doer of the “Law” is justified. If a theory has no practical application, it is of no value.
Verse 2:24 This is a serious verse for a Christian. If the life I live as a Christian defiles the character of God in any way, the people I am exposed to will get a distorted view of the God I claim to follow. As a result, they could reject Him.
Psalm 133 states that it is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell in unity. The letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome illustrates this unity.
I am thankful for Paul’s letter to the Roman church. It covers the reality of justification by faith.
I hope your reading of these two chapters and the entire letter will put these words of hope in your heart.
Lynn Creitz
has been married to Lucretia for 57 years, "since she was willing to put up with him for that long." In the good old days, he liked sports and backpacking, since that is what they used to do as a family, but nowadays he enjoys traveling, hiking, and just being outdoors. Professionally, he was a microbiologist. He and Lucretia have been actively involved as members of the Hood View church since 1971. They have two children and three grandchildren that live in the area.
The Word of Promise audio Bible is used by permission. For more information and to purchase the complete audio Bible go to https://www.wordofpromiseapp.com/.
Romans 1
Greeting
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.
Desire to Visit Rome
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.
The Just Live by Faith
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.”
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 2
God’s Righteous Judgment
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles
17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
Circumcision of No Avail
25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Psalm 133
Blessed Unity of the People of God
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.