“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. 9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospe] of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, 10 asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish 15 —hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:8-17

Paul was at the top of his expository game when he wrote the Epistle to the Romans. There is no better explanation of the gospel’s salvific message of grace through faith ever written. It remains one of the best books of the New Testament because it is the most complete development of Paul’s theology. Most likely, this letter was written sometime around 57 CE when Paul was in the city of Corinth. Paul was writing to a church (Rome) that he did not establish nor a congregation that he had the opportunity to visit – though he so wanted to see them.

We must read this letter carefully to fully enjoy Paul’s message – his explanation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It will be a wonderful read for immediately, in chapter 1 verse 17, we hear one of the most foundational pieces of scripture for Martin Luther. After searching long and hard and spending many a night sleeping on a concrete floor trying to discover if he was worthy of G-d’s love and grace, and still not finding it, Luther suddenly came to a new understanding of God’s righteousness. As he read again Paul’s letter to the Romans and in particular this verse 17, he finally understands that it is through faith that we are justified – not through works.

If we think about it, there really is nothing we could do to make ourselves worthy of the Grace, the costly Grace, the amazingly amazing Grace of Jesus Christ. It is all up to Christ. What do we owe G-d then? Trust, love, obedience……no works can convince G-d of these — only our contrite hearts that we have rent through repentance.

Pastor Dave

“After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. 25 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,

26 ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn—and I would heal them.’

28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” Acts 28:23-28

Paul’s preaching in this final text in Acts includes a quote from Isaiah 6. It is not an exact quote, yet the implication is understood. Paul is calling out the Jewish people – they have seen the Messiah, but not all have accepted this revelation. The people are split – some have seen and believed, others have seen and refuse to believe. Yet, is our experience any different? We too are called to take the saving message of the Gospel out to a people who are split on the message – some will hear it and believe, some will hear it and dismiss it.

We cannot, however, allow this realization to stop us in our efforts. Paul persevered – with “all boldness and without hindrance.” Can we do the same? When the world wants to separate us from the Church, when the devil begins to gnaw away at our trust and faith, when others tell us we are wasting our time, will we persevere with all boldness and without hindrance?

With Christ, all things are possible…..

Pastor Dave