Paul wrote the book of Romans approximately 24 years (AD 57) after Jesus' death on the cross. He wrote the book to introduce himself to the church in Rome; he initially planned to visit the church on his way to Spain. Paul actually arrives in Rome in AD 61 (see Acts 27 and map below) after a long and stormy journey as a prisoner. The church at Rome consisted of Jewish and Gentile believers and this mix caused them a bit of tension. Much of what Paul writes is aimed at addressing this tension. This letter, as is common with all writings inspired by the Holy Spirit, is rich in theology that is just as relevant for us to day as it was for the church in Rome.
Paul's introduction immediately addresses the Jew-Gentile tension; quickly tying Jesus to God, the old testament to Jesus, and salvation to ALL people through faith in Jesus Christ. Read the following bulleted statements that Paul makes in verses 1-7. (gospel = good news)
1) Paul is a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, sent to preach the gospel of God.
2) This gospel was promised by the old testament prophets as recorded in OT scriptures.
3) Jesus is God's son, who in human nature was a descendant of David.
4) As the Son of God, Jesus possessed the holiness of the Spirit, and was resurrected from death.
5) By Jesus' grace all the Gentiles have been called to obedience through faith.
6) And YOU are among those called to belong to Jesus Christ and thereby be loved by God.
7) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul encourages the church at Rome, telling them that the strength of their faith is reported all over the world. Paul indicates the he has diligently prayed for the church and that he looks with anticipation towards this visit. In verse 11 Paul tells them, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong.... "
Early wood carving of apostle Paul. Example of a first century church in Rome
Paul cuts to the chase in verse 14-16: "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written (Hab 2:4), 'The righteous will live by faith.'"
Paul is still writing his introduction and look at the deep truths he has already provided for this faithful but struggling church: The gospel is for Jews and Gentiles. The gospel is the way to salvation through Jesus Christ. The gospel is God's (yeah, the old testament God's) plan from day one, as foretold by the prophets, and as fulfilled in Christ.
Beginning in verse 18, Paul has concluded his introduction and now he backs up so that he may address the statements made in the introduction in more detail. Paul speaks first concerning God's wrath against the wickedness of those that attempt to suppress the truth. The Truth of God has been made plain to all men, because God's invisible qualities - His power and His nature - has been made evident in all of God's creation. Mankind is without excuse and cannot claim that they were never told of God's plan. The plan of God is self-evident. Paul continues, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images (idols)..."
Doesn't this sound like people today? Intelligent people who claim there is no God, busy people who have no time for God, and even wicked people who thumb their noses at anything to do with God. Paul is telling us that everybody innately understands that a creator exists, they can choose to suppress this truth, but they do not have an excuse. Some powerful stuff to remember as we are talking to our friends and neighbors about the gospel - they innately know that it is the Truth!
(Pause for commercial break: If you have never considered the many ways in which God has revealed his power through His creation get yourself in a small group that is covering the "Truth Project" - awesome curriculum.)
Beginning in verse 24, Paul explains God's strategy for dealing with those who choose not to believe. "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with on another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather the Creator." Paul continues, ".... God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."
While Paul is clearly describing sexually immorality, the concept is just as relevant for any addiction (drugs, alcohol, food, pride, lust, greed, and etc). I presume that Paul choose to discuss sexual impurity because it was a major concern at the time, especially in Rome. If we choose to sin instead of being controlled by God's Spirit, God allows that sin to gain control of our being - to our detriment. Furthermore, states Paul in verse 28, "since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanders, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Even though they KNOW these practices are wrong, they not only continue to do them, but they approve of those who practice them.
My experience with people living today is exactly like Paul's description of people living in the first century. In light of human nature, it doesn't seem that much has changed in 2000 years. This sinful nature is ugly, yet God allows everyone to choose His nature or the sinful nature (because he created man with a free will). Seems like an easy choice to me!
Discussion Questions: Who was the 'Paul' in your life - the one who encouraged you when you were a new Christian? How does God's Spirit help you circumvent sin? What else can we do to stop sin from gaining a strangle hold on our lives? In what ways were the problems (Jew-Gentile) in the church at Rome similar to our problems in churches today? Can you list examples of how the Truth of God is made manifest innately in all humans? Why is it important to understand this?
kNOw, DO, and BE:
1) Do Pray daily, Be in the Word daily, and Do Fellowship with other Believers faithfully.
2) Be in a small group as they form this fall.
3) Be salt and light to those you associate with every day.
