Romans 1:8-17
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well 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 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 for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
It was miraculous how in less than twenty-five years the news about Jesus Christ had reached every corner of the known world. Paul certainly had no small part in that. But even in his prodigious efforts Paul had not yet preached the gospel in Rome. Someone or someones had beaten him to it. There was a thriving community of believers in Rome.
Even though Paul was not the originator of the church in Rome he was thankful for its existence. No matter how or by whom, the important thing to Paul was the spread of the gospel. Paul did know some of the people in Rome and he was thankful for them and for all the Christians he didn’t yet know. Paul was thankful for the Jewish believers and the gentile believers. And Paul was thankful for the strong and the weak. Every member of the family of God is a reason for thanksgiving.
Paul was far away from Rome, probably in Corinth, when he wrote this. From far away he heard news about the churches in Rome. Their faith was making waves such that, in just a few years, they were the talk of the empire. Faith in Jesus makes changes worth talking about. Paul was thankful that, in this way, the gospel was making headway all around the world.
As God’s messenger entrusted with the gospel, Paul longed to go to Rome and preach there. Paul felt keenly the constant presence of God with him and served wholeheartedly wherever he was but he prayed to be allowed to go to Rome. In his praying he left it to the will of God. Even Jesus prayed, “Not my will but yours be done”. And this is how we were taught to pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. God is good. His will is perfect. Doing God’s will is satisfying.
Paul’s reason for wanting to go to Rome was to give them the unshakable foundation of the gospel. Jesus himself is the cornerstone, the truest, most solid, best beginning of our faith. This breath of life which has unlimited value not just in time but for eternity was the gift Paul desired to give them. This letter was a partial fulfillment of this desire but nothing compares to face to face fellowship.
Being with others who are growing in faith is encouraging. Sharing your faith with others is encouraging. Athletes or soldiers that train together do the same things for the same reasons but doing it together is better than going alone. We all share one object of faith, Christ Jesus. But, each individual’s faith is unique in expression. Sharing our faith with each other strengthens every member and the church as a whole.
Paul planned to go to Rome but his plans didn’t work out. Even though his plans were all only for the spreading of the gospel they were subject to the will of God. Paul’s ministry had been fruitful. Over three missionary journeys many churches had been planted and many had come to Christ and Paul wanted more of that in Rome.
The weight of the gospel was an obligation to everyone Paul could, by any means, reach. He considered it a trust that he couldn’t hide or bury but had to carry out with every fiber of his being. He was going to preach to civilized folks and uncivilized folks, literate and illiterate alike. He wanted the gospel for Rome so bad he could taste it. He was raring to go.
In Rome the message was a little difficult because it starts with a man who was crucified. In Rome they knew about this practice but since it wasn’t lawful to crucify a Roman citizen it was something that was detached and a little distasteful, a little shameful. Polite people did not refer to such things. Bringing this forward as the important part of this new Way was jarring to sensitive citizens.
Nonetheless, Paul insists that though the world finds it shameful, he is not ashamed. He is not ashamed because, in the cross is demonstrated the power of God. Shame is not as powerful as Jesus. This is the power of creation, the power that destroyed the world in the flood, the power that led Israel out of Egypt, the power that raised Lazarus from the dead. This power is brought to bear upon men and women who call upon the name of the Lord. Let the world wallow in shame, Jesus Christ is the name above every name.
This power is for salvation. It is rescue from death and hell. It is restoration and reconciliation with God for everyone who believes. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
This salvation comes first to the Jews because it is the fulfillment of the law. Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The law taught clearly man’s inability to attain righteousness. The Jews then understood their need for a savior and so were closer to salvation.
Salvation is also given to the gentiles. God is God of all. The promise given to Abraham was that he would be the father of many nations. Genesis 17:5,” No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” Abraham as the father of faith has become the spiritual forbear of everyone who believes.
Salvation displays the righteousness of God. It shows God’s moral perfection, God’s judicial prerogative and God’s graciousness. Salvation is the apocalypse or unveiling of Jesus Christ in the hearts and minds of all who believe.
This unveiling is never ending. As soon as it is apprehended fresh revelation is applied to the heart that calls us continuously further in and higher up.
Habakkuk 2:4b, “…the righteous shall live by his faith.” Faith is our manna that causes us to grow in righteousness. Manna was given by miracle fresh each day but it had to be gathered, prepared and eaten that day. Every day is our day of salvation, not that we have to be saved over and over but in that there is more of Jesus for us day by day.
John 6:53-58
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
brotherpayne 