And now, deep breath, I tackle Romans.
The Gospels give you a ground level view of Jesus. There have been quiet seasons in my life, 2003-4, and this year, when the first thing I have done in the mornings is read a short Gospel passage.
And it is as if Jesus strolls into my room, full of energy, full of love, interacting, healing, blessing, teaching.
The Epistles give you a meta perspective, a grand-stand view of the action. You see Jesus from a distance, and see the loving friend in his cosmic role, “He was before all things, and in him all things hang together” as Paul writes in Colossians.
Romans is Paul’s theological masterpiece, but also a graveyard of preachers. Many have attempted sermon series and books on it; many have not finished them.
As a non-professional, I am bravely tackling Romans for the good of my soul in what has been called exegetical blogging.
The Righteous will Live by Faith, Romans 1 1-17
Paul reveals a new way for the righteous to live–by faith.
What does it mean to live by faith?
Some thoughts:
How do we face our worries? Do we take them to God?
How do we deal with our hopes and ambitions for our future? Do we prayerfully take them to God?
How do we deal with our hopes and ambitions for our children’s future? Do we prayerfully take them to God?
How do we deal with these things?
Fears.
Hopes.
Dreams
Ambitions
Plans
Do we discuss them with God, ask him for his wisdom and perspective on them, follow his directives, and leave the outcome in his hands?
I am aware that I am just scratching the surface. What else does it mean to live by faith?
Romans 1
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle
and set apart for the gospel of God—
Gospel, euangelion in Greek, means good news. It includes not just a call to initial saving faith, but Paul’s entire message about Jesus Christ, and how Christ’s saving activity transforms all of life and all of history.
Servant, Doulos, or bondservant.
2 the gospel he promised beforehand
through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
3 regarding his Son,
NIV The central figure of the gospel is Jesus, in and through whom the history and promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled.
who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David,
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness
was appointed the Son of God in power
by his resurrection from the dead:
Jesus Christ our Lord.
NIV The resurrection was the authentication of Jesus’s divine nature, the climax of his earthly ministry, and the focal point of the apostolic proclamation.
5 Through him we received grace and apostleship
to call all the Gentiles to the obedience
that comes from faith
for his name’s sake.
6 And you also are among those Gentiles
who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all in Rome
who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace, God’s unmerited favour. Peace, echoes the OT concept of shalom, where a person’s life with God and with everything else is in ordered harmony, both physically and spiritual, and “all is well.”
Grace and Peace is the initial greeting used by both Peter and Paul in their letters. It combines the traditional Greek and Hebrew greeting, but links them with the only true source of “grace,” (God’s unmerited favour, esp. that which comes to sinful humanity through the work of Christ on the cross) and “peace” (the total well-being and security that only God can provide. The greeting is echoes in the conclusion of Peter and Paul’s letters so that they stand framed in what amounts to an apostolic benediction on those to whom they are addressed.
See blog on the greeting Grace and Peace.
ESV Notes–
This is the longest introduction of any of Paul’s letters. Paul goes into more detail here because he had never been to Rome, and he wanted to summarize the Gospel for the Roman readers.
Interestingly, many of the themes mentioned here also conclude the letter in the final doxology, Romans 16 25-27.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
A pattern of prayer. First of all, thank God for the person.
God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
Pre-evangelistic work. Pray for the person.
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
As the spirit transforms him, Paul becomes honestly loving and caring.
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
An obligation laid upon him by Jesus.
An obligation laid upon him by Jesus.
16 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.
The Gospel saves everyone who believes, saves them from the power of sin, and reconciles them to God.
Because of their lack of size, fame or honour in the Roman corridors of power and influence, Christians might be tempted to be ashamed. But Paul says it is nothing to be ashamed of, because it is a message that comes with the power of God.
Because of their lack of size, fame or honour in the Roman corridors of power and influence, Christians might be tempted to be ashamed. But Paul says it is nothing to be ashamed of, because it is a message that comes with the power of God.
17 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.”
Through the Gospel, we are grafted into Jesus by faith. When the Father sees Jesus, he sees us, and vice-versa.
We only have this righteousness imputed to us by our faith in Christ.
And Paul reveals a new way for the righteous to live–by faith.
What does it mean to live by faith?
Some thoughts.
How do we face our worries? Do we take them to God?
How do we deal with our hopes and ambitions for our future? Do we prayerfully take them to God.
How do we deal with our hopes and ambitions for our children’s future? Do we prayerfully take them to God?
How do we do these things?
Fears.
Hopes.
Dreams
Ambitions
Plans
Do we discuss them with God, ask him for his wisdom and perspective on them, follow his directives, and leave the outcome in his hands?
What else does it mean to live by faith?
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More from my site
On the Benefits of Writing Down Our Prayers
On Forgiveness and Creativity: A Personal Experience of the Link
The Sensitivity of the Spirit and Decision Making
Failing Better: A New Year’s Resolution, of sorts
On Planting Secret Seeds for the Kingdom and for the Love of Jesus. And on a Role Model of Christian Leadership
