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.
Obviously, the book of Romans is addressed to the church in Rome. But in many ways this book was written for our generation. We are loved by God and called to be a holy people in a self-centered world.
This is a personal letter sent by God for you.
Paul’s words are sacred and true. We need the grace and peace that comes from no other than Father God in Christ Jesus. We, as redeemed and reconciled Christians, are blessed of all the people on earth.
The Lord does not want us to live ignorant of His ways, His judgment, nor HIs saving grace. At the cross God judged sin and yet at the same time manifested His mercy to save. It’s an old old story as new as today’s headlines.
God has done His part and now we need to know our part in the story of salvation.
For Christ’s sake, let us come to the obedience of faith.
Obedience is not a belief issue as much as it is a relationship issue. We obey and trust someone we know. Our love relationship is steeped in God’s word and our intimate time with Him.
The church in Rome was different. All around the church were impressive temples dedicated to ancient gods or goddesses: Mars, Saturn, Castor & Pollup, Vesta, Venus & Roma, Apollo, and Jupiter. The domed Pantheon, built as a devotion to these gods, still stands today.
The Christians prevailed under persecution.
In Rome, the churches built during the forth and fifth century mark the traditional burial places for Paul and Peter. Tradition claims they martyred during Nero’s reign.
They knew Christ intimately and would not compromise their faith or add other gods to appease the government. The Christians who first read this letter, or had it read to them, are now in eternity. The Roman catacombs house the burial grounds of the early Christians murdered for their faith.
The Christ who was with them then is with us today.
The Gospel is real and Christ victorious. History cannot be denied. The story of salvation cannot be unwritten. The grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is as much for us today as for them in the past.
The gospel of Christ will not die.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets, in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
The book of Romans bears the truth and guards us against the poison of false teaching.
We have seen, and cannot unsee what harm and trouble come from wrong ideas, misconceptions, and misunderstandings. We need to treasure the knowledge we gain in Romans to combat twisted notions and recognize misguided conceptions of our Christian faith.
The true word of Christian doctrine is a powerful and effective defense against the enemy of our soul.
The people perish for lack of knowledge.
At the core of our faith is knowledge
The truth is that we cannot earn the favor of God. We do not have to because God’s perfect and pleasing will is that we be saved. Yet we are not free from obligation or entitled to do as we please.
We must make every effort to be worthy of the call of Christ Jesus. Freely He has given and freely we receive. I pray that as we examine and grasp the truth in Romans that we are awakened to faithful obedience as a people who belong to the Lord.
It is true that we were chosen to be redeemed and reconciled to God but it is also true that we have been chosen for a purpose. Our lives should be lived fruitful and productive in fulfilling God’s purpose.
It is well with your soul because God is faithful.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Christine Malkemes is a wife, mother, minister, and retired Army Officer. Her passion is to see women find intimacy in their relationship with the Lord. She will tell you the most powerful prayer she ever sent to heaven was “Lord, You must become more and me less!” She is on a journey to the heart of God. Will you join her.
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about gospel.
