Okay. I am realizing at the rate I'm going here we'll probably still be into Paul's letter to the Romans at least until the end of the year, if not longer. But, hey, that's okay. There's just so much in this letter! So, with that said, let's continue on in chapter one.
Paul summarizes what his letter will basically be all about with four short clauses in verses 16 and 17 of chapter 1. let's take some time to dig into these verses a little.
Paul exclaims that he is "not ashamed of the gospel." This gospel Paul is alluding to is the message about a Jewish carpenter who was put to death on a cross as a satisfaction for our sins. This Jesus was was also raised from the dead and is now Lord of all. Paul says that he is not ashamed to proclaim this gospel, a message that was not only a stumbling block for the Jews but also seemed foolish to the Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:23).
Paul had no confidence in his own speaking skills to overcome the objections to the message, but he knew the power of the Spirit to change the lives of people as they heard the good news about Jesus Christ. This was why he was not ashamed to proclaim the good news, "because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Paul knew that salvation is the grace of God, the will of God, and the power of God working through the message.
We need to understand this as well. We don't need to muster up courage in order to share the good news, neither do we, nor should we, be ashamed of it either. When we share the hope we have with others, God works through us and the message. Shame of the gospel is a real problem today. Remember, it is God's message, one that can change the course of a person's life forever. This calls to mind Paul's words in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment."
In verse 17 Paul speaks of "the righteousness of God." This was the core of Paul's message. God's righteousness can be understood in several ways. First, God always does what is right and can be said to have righteousness as one of His attributes (God is righteous). Second, since God always does what is right, his actions are sometimes as His righteousness (the righteous acts of God). Third, God's righteousness is a gift from Him to us, which justifies us in His sight. "Justification" is a courtroom term signifying that a judge declares a person to be "right" or "just." And God reveals His righteousness (His nature, His activity, and His gift) by faith. As we delve deeper in this letter, Paul will explain how God is able to declare sinners to be righteous because of Jesus' finished work on the cross. This is the good news.
"Faith to faith" emphasizes that the entire process of being declared righteous comes to us from start to finish by faith. This is why Paul says that "the righteous will live by faith." Paul states in Galatians 2;20 that. "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The live I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
The true Christian life is a walk of faith, faith in knowing that because of what Jesus did for us, we have been made right with God again, and we have been set free from sin and made alive in Him. And now we can live this new life, a life given to and for Him. This is good news indeed.
Comments