LETTERS FROM PAUL BLOG

It would seem that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter in order to introduce himself to the Christians in Rome. Paul did not start this church; it was probably the result of the spread of the Gospel following the excitement of Pentecost. The church was a mixture of Jewish and Gentile believers and seems to have been experiencing some tensions between the two groups.
   
In Chapters 1-11 Paul speaks of what God has done for all who believe, and in 12-16 he shows how believers ought to live in response to the lavish grace of God. The book of Romans is sometimes considered the “doctrine of Paul”. He is very clear in describing the condition of all men whether Jew or Gentile as opposed to God and that it is only the Grace of God that restores man’s relationship with God. Paul makes the case to that none of us is “Righteous” no not one.

Paul clearly states in Romans that we are not counted Righteous because of the way that we live, rather we live the way we do because God has counted us Righteous. If we want to “Be the Church” we need to live as people who have been declared righteous by our Father in heaven.

MONDAY – Romans 1:1-3:31
 
As in many of his letters, Paul starts by giving thanks for the believers in Rome. He then begins a long section where he details just how mankind has spoiled the perfect life that God gave in the beginning. Paul speaks to the Jews who are proud of the fact that they are “God’s chosen people”. What do you think Paul means when he says that “circumcision is not merely outward and physical?” What does Paul mean when he talks about “God’s faithfulness”, the fact that “no one is righteous” and that “Righteousness comes through faith”?

TUESDAY – Romans 4:1-6:14
 
 In this chapter Paul makes the point that Abraham was counted righteous before he was circumcised. Therefore, it was not anything Abraham did that made him righteous, it was a gift from God to him. What does that say to those today who say that we need to first give our lives to Jesus and then He will count us as righteous? In chapter 5 he states that faith brings peace and joy, these are the gifts of Christ and the gift of Adam to all of mankind was death. What does that mean to you?

WEDNESDAY – Romans 7:1-11:36
   
In the first verses of chapter 7 Paul likens the law to a dead husband, in Christ the law is dead and we are free to marry Christ. Then in verses 7-25 Paul goes into a description of our relationship to the law that is truthfully very hard to understand. Romans 8:28 is a well known passage and one of my favorite verses. This verse does not mean that if we believe no bad things happen to us, rather it means that if we believe, God can use all that happens to us for good in our life. In chapter 9 Paul asks some hard questions, which of these really strikes you today? Chapters 10 and11of Romans talk about the Jew’s relationship to God and their need for the savior.

THURSDAY – Romans 12:1-13:14
    
Chapters 12-16 talk about just how we should live now that we have experienced the grace and mercy of God. Paul gives a picture of what a true follower of Christ may look like. He phrases this in a lot of Do’s and Don’ts which make it sound like law statements but he is really talking about the gospel and the effect it is having on our lives. What is the “debt of love” to you?

FRIDAY – Romans 14:1-16:27
    
Paul talks about the “Weak and the Strong” brother. He is really talking about passing judgment, which is the opposite of the love he says that we are to have for each other. In the last chapter of Romans he gives more personal greetings than he does in any other letter. Since Paul was writing to introduce himself, I would assume these names are to show the Romans that they have some acquaintances in common. How do you think that the book of Romans can help us “Be the Church” today?