The Devotional - R002

The Devotional

Comment:

The Author of the Epistle to the Romans is the Apostle Paul, there is no voice in the early church to argue that someone else is the author. Also the epistle contains some historical facts or references known to the apostle’s life and the content of the book is typical to the writing style of Paul. Here are a couple of thoughts. (1) The epistle was written on Paul’s third missionary journey while on his way back to Jerusalem with the collection for the saints in Jerusalem, in Corinth or Cenchrea around AD 55 - 57. (2) It was the apostle’s desire to go to Rome, Romans 1:8-13, but he was also aware of the warning of the Holy Spirit who warns him of the imprisonment and chains that awaited him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-24). Faith is taking the route that God has planned for you and being confident that His plan is Holy, providing beautiful and everlasting results, even through suffering. Paul's primary theme in Romans is the Gospel of God, God's plan of salvation and righteousness for all humankind, Jew and Gentile alike (Romans 1:16-17). Also Righteousness from God is revealed in (Romans 1:17) this Righteousness includes justification by faith, but this epistle also embraces such related ideas as guilt, sanctification and security.

Challenge: Romans 1:1-6

I want to take just a few moments and nail down our mission in this epistle, I will be sticking to the main theme, which is the Gospel of God, yet we will see other sub-themes as we travel through the various chapters. While all of these doctrinal subjects are important to the separated life of the saint of God I will not pursue them unless the LORD leads me to do so. Therefore it is my hope that we will grow in wisdom and understanding about our “so great a salvation” in this way, prayerfully we will not neglect it – Hebrews 2:3.

In the verses of 1 through 6 we see clearly that all of the saved are called to proclaim this promise of God, even the prophets of God were under this same calling or ordination. The promise includes the Seed of God (Genesis 3:15) and the seed of man (Romans 1:3) and as we compare this with the genealogy of the human heritage of Jesus Christ we see clearly that He is of the seed of David of the nation of Israel. He is the promised One, this Promise of God is fulfilled therefore we do not need to look for another deliverer – Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. John 14:6.

Also in these six verses we clearly see that Spirit of Holiness sealed this Truth of Jesus Christ to be the Son of God with POWER from on high when He raised Him from the dead. A Truth that every generation that ever lived cannot deny. Those of the Old Testament looked forward to the Coming of Christ, of His death and of His resurrection and those of us in the New Testament look back to Christ who came, who died and who rose again. There are many Old Testament references, but I would only like to pick this one; Psalm 22 since this Psalm assisted many New Testament writers to see that the life of Jesus was a complete fulfillment of the Gospel of God when Jesus was raised from death to life again. A reading of JOY this morning would be Luke 24:1-53.

The word “gospel” over the years has like many of our English words lost some of its grandeur, like many of the words of the past we have laid aside the dignity of our roots. Today many Christians are shamefully embarrassed to share the Gospel of God, but the apostle Paul says this. Just as the prophets of the past have received grace, now so have we. However the words of the apostles have not changed in the New Testament. These words will always carry the message of the Gospel of God to all nations to proclaim the truth, we are all called for one purpose. We are called to obey the Gospel of God by faith. To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22.