318 - A Letter to the Romans (Part 1)
- Gwen Diaz
- Nov 14, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 30
NOVEMBER 14 - Nº 318 Acts 20:2-3; Romans 1 – 5; 6:23
Paul was on his way to Jerusalem to give a report about everything that had taken place on his third missionary journey. He also planned to deliver the gifts that various Gentile churches had donated for famine relief in Judea. But before he arrived in Jerusalem, Paul wanted to fulfill his promise to visit the believers in Corinth. So, after encouraging the churches in Macedonia, he headed south to Greece.
Because it was winter and travel was difficult, he stayed in Corinth for about three months. While he was there, Paul decided to write a letter to a growing congregation of believers in Rome. Rome was the most influential city in the Empire, and Paul was hoping to make it his base of operations for future ministry in western Europe.
Paul knew that the Roman church was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The Jewish believers had probably learned the good news about their "Messiah" when they traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the important feasts. There, they would have encountered a growing population of Jews who had accepted Jesus as the "Savior" they had been waiting for. The Gentile converts may have heard about Jesus when they passed through one of the Roman cities that Paul and his companions had visited on one of their missionary journeys. They may have visited one of the local churches or schools that had been established.
But both the Jewish and Gentile converts faced a problem. There was no one in the city of Rome to follow up the initial teaching they had received.
Since it would be a while before he could get there, Paul wanted to make sure that these new believers really understood the Gospel. He also wanted the Jewish and Gentiles converts to understand the importance of being united as they lived out their faith in a difficult environment.
In his letter, Paul introduced himself as an apostle—someone chosen by God to deliver an important message. He called this message “the good news” (or "Gospel") about Jesus Christ. He began by explaining five basic tenets of what had become known as Christianity:
* First, no one on the planet can claim that they are unaware of God’s existence. All they have to do is look around at nature. The creation constantly reveals His presence. It defines His character and demonstrates His divine power and authority.
* Second, no one can live perfectly enough to have a relationship with the powerful and holy God Who created this universe. Although everyone tries to establish moral rules that will allow them to be in His presence, no one is capable of living up to the standards they set for themselves. This imperfection is called “sin,” and “sin” separates everyone from God. Regardless of what standards are used, no one is capable of creating their own righteousness.
* Third, God (the only true God revealed in the Scriptures) provided a solution by sending Jesus Christ. Christ lived a perfect life and then died in our place. He was separated from God so that we don’t have to be! Therefore, we can live in God’s presence forever!
* Fourth, we are given this gift of an eternal relationship with God when we accept through faith the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave.
* Fifth, this gift of eternal life is available to everyone, everywhere regardless of whether they are Jews or Gentiles!
Paul built the rest of his letter to the Romans on these five basic principles.
Have you ever taken the time to “see” God as He is revealed through nature?
Take a moment to look out a window right now. List all the things you can learn about God from just glancing through that one tiny space?
Do you personally know the God Who created all these things?
Are you certain that you will live with Him forever?
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