“Romans 1”

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

The theme of the book of Romans is “obedience to the faith.” Paul states this theme at both the beginning of Romans (1:5) and the end of the letter (16:26). In this epistle, the apostle explains what is meant by being “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1).

 The letter begins by reminding these first century Christians that Jesus Christ was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). Everything we are, everything we believe and any hope that we have comes from the reality that Jesus is God’s Son and that He was crucified for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day.

The message of salvation in Christ is found in the gospel. This “good news” is described in Romans 1:16 as “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” And in it (that is, in the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed (verse 17). How God makes a person righteous, through obedience to the Lord’s will, is delivered to us in this new covenant between God and man, otherwise known as the New Testament. This New Testament is also referred to as “the faith.”

 The existence of God may be known by looking at the universe around us (verse 20; Psalms 19:1-6). But how God expects us to live and serve Him is revealed in His written word (see also Psalms 19:7-11).

 Those who are disobedient to God will be punished (Romans 1:18-32). Many specific sins are listed, representative of all sin against God. Those who “practice such things are deserving of death” (verse 32; Romans 6:23). Only those who obey “the faith” will be saved.

 --Roger Hillis

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