SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 1
INTRODUCTION:
Paul wrote this letter in AD-56-57 to the church in rome during his 3 months visit in Corinth. The theme of this letter is “righteousness”. He presented the Christian doctrine of “the just shall live by faith”. Justification is God’s gracious act by which He declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus because of the work of Christ on the cross. Once Christ’s righteousness is imputed, the believer develops the holy character and conduct that leads to a holy life. We are not saved by works or by faith and works but by a faith that works.
This book presents doctrinal truth of justification, sanctification, adoption, judgment and identification with Christ. It conveys a complete Christian doctrine of faith.
Bible Verses:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”(Romans 1:16-17)
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” (Romans 1:21-23)
Paul called himself a servant of Christ, an apostle set apart for the gospel of God. The gospel centered in Jesus, who came as a man, died and arose again to save all who trust in him. It is the power of God to salvation.
PAUL’S LONGING TO VISIT ROME (vs. 8-17)
Paul praised God for the faith of Roman’s believers. He constantly remember them in prayer and wished that he could visit them. He was eager to preach the gospel because he considered himself a debtor to both the Greeks and non-Greeks. He considered the Gospel as “the Gospel of God”, the “Gospel of His Son and the “Gospel of Christ”
He explained that Gospel concerns Christ who is God-man, having died on the cross and through God’s power was resurrected proving that he is the Son of God who became our mediator.
GOD’S WRATH AGAINST MANKIND (vs. 18-32)
There is no excuse for man to deny God’s existence. He revealed Himself in their conscience and unto them through creation. His eternal power and divine nature are manifested. Instead of glorifying and thanking him, they exchange the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. They worship created things rather that the creator. Therefore, God’s wrath was upon them with the following judgments:
- God gave them up to sinful desires of their hearts, to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another (v. 24-25)
- God gave them over to shameful lusts (vs. 26-27)
- God gave them over to a depraved mind (v. 28)
As a result, men became filled with every kind of wickedness – evil, greed, depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanders, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful, disobedience, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
THOUGHTS:
- Paul humbly called himself as slave of Christ and completely obedient to his master. What is your attitude towards Christ? Are you willing to serve and obey Him as his usable servant?
- God gave Paul a new life to witness His Good news as a foreign missionary. Christ also calls us to be his ambassador and to witness your changed life tot he world.
- Paul showed his love for the Roman Christians by expressing God’s love, his gratitude and prayer for them. Let us show Christian love to brothers and sisters and let them feel your care to them.
- Satan used temptation to lure man into sin. We can resist these powerful temptations through prayer, Bible study and loving support of Christians.