Devotions

Contend Along With Me in Your Prayers

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Paul tells them again to, in Romans 15:2 “please his neighbor for his good, for the purpose of edification” and that they should, in Romans 15:7 “accept one another, just as Christ also has accepted you”. We are the members of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit has been given to us, and he is our teacher and guide so let us “contend” together for the work of the kingdom. There is an enemy that would distract us, slow us down, and even stop us if he could, but God is for us. Lets not be against each other. Instead, let us in Romans 15:1 “bear the weaknesses of the weak” and encourage each other. 

Bear the Weaknesses of the Weak

Romans 15:1–13
Again Paul emphasizes that “we that are strong” in Romans 15:1 “ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak”. I am sure Paul understood that even those who are strong may have times of weakness and we all may have reason to call on a friend from time to time as in Proverbs 27:10 b “Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother”. And, I am sure Paul would have taught them from Proverbs 7:4 Say to wisdom, “you are my sister,” and you shall call insight, “intimate friend”. But I think these comments from Paul are intended more for those the wise in their own eyes, those that see the plight of those that are feeble minded, or enslaved, or entrapped by idolatrous teachings, or the traditions of men. And if we are so wise, and strong and insightful, then shouldn’t we easily be able to, in Romans 15:2 “please his neighbor for his good, for the purpose of edification”. Shouldn’t we be the ones that in Romans 15:4 “through the encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope” and be able to give hope to others? And shouldn’t we, in Romans 15:5 “be in agreement with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus”. There is another that is accuser and he is our enemy. Paul though says in

Romans 15:7 Therefore accept one another, just as Christ also has accepted you, to the glory of God.

 

I Have Fully Proclaimed the Gospel of Christ

Romans 15:14–21
The message to them is a good message for all believers, take on the gospel of the kingdom. Certainly Paul has his ministry and he describes it simply in

Romans 15:16 with the result that I am a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, in order that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

So, he is to proclaim the good news to the Gentiles, and to raise them to the point “that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable” and I think here that Paul is not talking about being sanctified himself by the Holy Spirit, but he is talking about the work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify the Gentiles. And this brings me back, because they are sealed with the Holy Spirit they have now a teacher and guide so Paul can say in

Romans 15:14 Now I myself also am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to instruct one another.

 

Contend Along With Me in Your Prayers

Romans 15:22–33
Paul has ministered widely to the Gentiles and that work has kept him busy so that he has not been able to go to Rome. Even now, Paul is gathering an offering from the Gentile Churches to take to Jerusalem where the Church has suffered. It doesn’t seem that there was any special circumstance that caused Paul to raise this offering. It was simply in recognition that “In a city like Jerusalem, much of the available employment must have been connected with the Temple and its needs. All the priests and the Temple authorities were Sadducees, and the Sadducees were the supreme enemies of Jesus. It must therefore have happened that many, when they became Christians in Jerusalem, lost their jobs and were in severe and urgent need”.1

This offering was a way of unifying the body of Christ which may easily have been seen as the Gentile Churches and the Church in Jerusalem. But this may also have been that “When it had been agreed that Paul should be the apostle to the Gentiles, one responsibility had been laid upon him by the leaders of the Church—that he would remember the poor (Galatians 2:10). ‘Which very thing’, said Paul, ‘I was eager to do.’2

Whatever his full motivations were, this gift to Jerusalem was an important “obligation” in Romans 15:27 that he was determined to “accomplish” in Romans 15:28. But it wasn’t Paul’s only motivation. He was looking ahead knowing there would be opposition and that there was opportunity for ministry there he asks the Church of Rome to, in

Romans 15:30–31 Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to contend along with me in your prayers on my behalf to God, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

Greet One Another With a Holy Kiss

Romans 16:1–16

The Report of Your Obedience Has Reached To All

Romans 16:17–24

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Romans 15:1-33
  • Romans 16:1-24

References

  • 1. Barclay, W. (2002). The Letter to the Romans (3rd ed. fully rev. & updated, p. 241). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.
  • 2. Barclay, W. (2002). The Letter to the Romans (3rd ed. fully rev. & updated, pp. 241–242). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.
Devotions

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

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There is a spiritual side of being a Christian and we may have angelic encounters, dreams, and visions and we certainly will be led by the Holy Spirit. And there is a future hope in being a Christian when we will be with God for eternity and there will be no more pain or tears. But here in these section of Romans, Paul teaches us how to live the Christian life in this present age. Here, we endure affliction, we overcome evil, we are diligent, enthusiastic, rejoicing in hope. Well, as we read these chapters, we can at least check ourselves. Am I praying?. Am I blessing others? Am I feeding my enemy? Can anyone observe the joy of the Lord in my life? Remember Romans 12:17b “Take thought for what is good in the sight of all people” and let your light shine. 

Be Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind

Romans 12:1–8
Paul has just spoken about “the deliverer” in Romans 11:26, “the gifts and callings of God” in Romans 11:29, “the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!” in Romans 11:33, and “the mind of the Lord” in Romans 11:34. Then Paul makes a transition from the Kingdom and power of the eternal God to the practical action for us as we live the Christian life. These verses in Romans 12:1-2 are widely quoted, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” and “be transformed by the renewal of your mind”.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and even more than that, they are our connection to this world we live in. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, he was also saying that we should engage our body, mind, and spirit to accomplish what we are praying. It is reasonable for us to give our bodies by living in a way that is “holy and pleasing to God”.

Our mind is the seat also of our will and emotions and Paul says this “renewal of your mind” is “so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God”. It is possible for us to live without any regard for God’s will just like the world that does not know Him. But that is not how we should live. For us as Christians, it is good for us to be kind, it is good for us to love each other. It is also well pleasing for us to have faith in God for our health, and provision and our place in the community. And it is the perfect will of God for us to understand and exercise our specific gifts and callings taking our proper function in the body of Christ.

And to these things, Paul says in Romans 12:3 “not to think more highly of yourself than what one ought to think, but to think sensibly”. We each have a right place, as it says in

Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.

 

Devoted to One Another in Brotherly Love

Romans 12:9–21
Paul continues with very practical instruction in how we are to interact with others. This is about our attitude, our responsiveness, our actions. It is not enough to love God and pray and do good for ourselves. We must go beyond ourselves and in

Romans 12:17b “Take thought for what is good in the sight of all people”.

Paul says:

  • Love without hypocrisy (with sincerity)
  • Abhor evil, be attached to Good
  • Be devoted to one another (fond of, cherish, kindly affectioned)
  • Esteem one another in Honor (prefer, respect, value)
  • Be diligent (do one’s best, “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort”1
  • Be enthusiastic
  • Rejoice in hope
  • Endure affliction
  • Pray
  • Contribute to others needs
  • Bless
  • Do not think arrogantly (humbly associate with all)
  • Do not pay back evil with evil
  • Be at peace with all
  • Do not take revenge
  • Feed your enemy
  • Overcome evil with good

Do What is Good

Romans 13:1–7
Today, we have a concept that government is the voice of the people, to do what the people want. Actually though, government is established by God as his servant “who avenges for punishment on the one who does what is bad”. The point here is that we should do what is right and good.

Romans 13:4 for it (government) is God’s servant to you for what is good. But if you do what is bad, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword to no purpose. For it is God’s servant, the one who avenges for punishment on the one who does what is bad.

 

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 13:8–14
As Paul is teaching them to look beyond themselves to see what others need, there may be some that would take advantage and abuse their kindness and hospitality. Paul also now teaches them to maintain the right personal boundaries. They should not be taking from others which he introduces in

Romans 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another, for the one who loves someone else has fulfilled the law.

Paul says in Romans 13:10 “love does not commit evil against a neighbor”, and “put on the weapons of light” in Romans 13:12, and in Romans 13:13 “live decently”, and finally in

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not make provision for the desires of the flesh.

Lord of Both the Dead and the Living

Romans 14:1–12

The Kingdom of God Is … in the Holy Spirit

Romans 14:13–23

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Romans 12:1-21
  • Romans 13:1-14
  • Romans 14:1-23

References

  • 1. Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Devotions

In All These Things
We Prevail Completely

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There are challenges in this world because sin has subjected everything to a curse. This is seen in the the effort it takes to survive, Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground”, the pain in childbirth, and the the nature of the flesh in Galatians 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another”. And I have not yet mentioned our enemy, the god of this world. But for us, those that have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, “in all these things we prevail completely”. For us, “the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace”. For us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”. For us, nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

The Mindset of the Spirit is Life and Peace

Romans 8:1–8
The law only reminds you after the fact that there is a penalty to be paid. And this is the beauty of what God accomplished through Jesus Christ, in Romans 8:3 “By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh”. Jesus paid the price. The penalty of sin was paid. Now, in Romans 8: 5 “those who are living according to the Spirit are intent on the things of the Spirit”. We have a new heart, a new attention, a new teacher, the Holy Spirit of God. We now have in Romans 8:6 “the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace”. 

The Spirit is Life Because of Righteousness

Romans 8:9–17
When we are born again, when we accept Christ as our Lord, our savior, our redeemer, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. God gives us a new heart. We are connected to him, reconciled to him spirit to spirit. There is now a voice of righteousness, a voice of the Holy one coming from the innermost part of our being. And that voice, our spirit living in unison with the Holy Spirit was always to be the head, leading our body. So, Paul says in Romans 8:13 “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live”. We, our spirit, must take dominion over our flesh and bring it into subjection. The challenge is that our body wants what it wants and it wants it now. This is why Paul says “put to death the deeds of the body” because it will act on its own to get what it wants. 

Creation Awaits Eagerly the Revelation of the Sons of God

Romans 8:18–30
What has happened in the world through sin does not just affect people, it says in Romans 8:22 “the whole creation groans together and suffers agony together until now”. There are many that worship mother nature. There are those that believe what we see now is the way God created the world to be. But that is not what God says. He says in

Isaiah 24:5 and the earth is defiled beneath its inhabitants. For they have transgressed laws; they have passed by statutes; they have broken the everlasting covenant.

The way Paul describes it in

Romans 8:20–21 For the creation has been subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its servility to decay, into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

So what will it look like when creation is set free?

Revelation 21:4–5 And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any longer, and mourning or wailing or pain will not exist any longer. The former things have passed away.” 5 And the one seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new!” And he said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

 

In All These Things We Prevail Completely

Romans 8:31–39
Jesus said to his disciples in

John 16:33 (LEB) I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.”

Paul says it this way in

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Then Paul lists charges against us, condemnation, separation, affliction, distress, persecution, hunger, lack, danger, put to death, sheep for the slaughter and how many other ways could he say we will have trouble in the world and then he says in

Romans 8:37–39 No, but in all these things we prevail completely through the one who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Children of the Promise Are Counted as Descendants

Romans 9:1–13

That He Could Make Known the Riches of His Glory

Romans 9:14–24

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Romans 8:1-39
  • Romans 9:1-24
Devotions

So Also We May Live a New Way of Life

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We have peace with God. We are known by Him. We can know Him in all of His goodness. Well, that is, those who have “been declared righteous”. But it seems too simple. And it is, “believe” as it says in John 3:16-16 For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him”. It is a gift. And from that gift, God asks one thing, live for Him. 

Peace With God Through our Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 5:1–11
People have struggled through the ages, either thinking that they are left to their own devices because they think God is far off or thinking that they must do something to appease God and get his blessing. Paul says that “we have been declared righteous” and “we have obtained access” in

Romans 5:1–2 (LEB) Therefore, because we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

There is this process that we go through of affliction, patient endurance, proven character, hope and then in

Romans 5:5 (LEB) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The love of God was poured out to us when Jesus came and gave his life on the cross, but we experience his love, we come to know and understand it as we go through this process of overcoming in life. 

The Gift, From Many Trespasses, Led to Justification

Romans 5:12–21
We can see the greatness of God in creation, but we can also see that sin entered the world. As Paul says in Romans 5:12 “sin entered into the world … so death spread to all people because all sinned”. In Romans 5:14 it says that “death reigned from Adam to Moses” but by my understanding, people didn’t have a clear understanding of God’s righteousness and holiness until God gave the Law to Moses. The children of Israel were the given a pattern, the temple, that demonstrated our condition, God is Holy and we were caught in sin and death, outside the Holy of Holies. But now, through Jesus Christ, in Romans 5:15 “by much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, multiply to the many”. And because of “the gift”, grace has taken the place where death once reigned in

Romans 5:21 (LEB) so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

So Also We May Live a New Way of Life

Romans 6:1–14
We are born into this natural world and most of what we learn in our childhood is simply natural carnal knowledge, the basics for self preservation. We learn to live with sin in a fallen world. Paul asks them in Romans 6:1 “Shall we continue in sin?” and the answer in Romans 6:2 is “May it never be!” We are not to live in sin. In fact, Paul uses Jesus death and resurrection to describe what has happened to us spiritually. Our body, that is connected physically to this world of sin and was always in control has lost its place. When we accept Christ, our spirit is reconciled, as Paul says in Romans 6:11 “consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus”. Our spirit is now in charge and we now present, in Romans 6:13 our “members to God as instruments of righteousness”.

The Gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord

Romans 6:15–23

The Law is Master of a Person For as Long a Time as He Lives

Romans 7:1–6

The Commandment is Holy and Righteous and Good

Romans 7:7–12

I With My Mind Am Enslaved to the Law of God

Romans 7:13–25

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Romans 5:1-21
  • Romans 6:1-23
  • Romans 7:1-25
Devotions

The Righteousness of God Through Faith in Jesus Christ

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Most people have an idea, a concept of what it means to be good. From the beginning though, God has revealed himself first in the things he has made, and then the Jews were “entrusted with the oracles of God”. Here, Paul says, in Romans 3:21–22a (LEB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—22 that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. The way this is said to the Hebrews is Hebrews 1:1–2 Although God spoke long ago in many parts and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, 2 in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world. And as Matthew 17:5 says, “Listen to Him”. 

Entrusted With the Oracles of God

Romans 3:1–8
Did you ever wonder what it was to be a Jew? Of all the people on the earth, they were chosen and were in Romans 3:2 “entrusted with the oracles of God”. But we, as human beings understand that not everyone entrusted fulfills their trust. Sometimes we find that even a mother is not able to fulfill that closest bond of raising their own child. Sometimes a husband is not faithful to the wife of his youth. Sometimes we fail to fulfill even our own dreams and desires.

Paul though is blunt about his statement, he isn’t just talking about falling short because of the trials of life, he is talking about those that in Romans 3:3 “refused to believe” and because of their refusal, the message has been limited, the power of God questioned. But this is not a failure on God’s part as Paul goes on in this verse by asking the rhetorical question, “Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? and the answer in

Romans 3:4 (LEB) May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written, “In order that you may be justified in your words, and may prevail when you are judged.”

 

The Fear of God is not Before Their Eyes

Romans 3:9–20
Understand that Paul is writing to the the Church in Rome, the ruling power of the day. So Paul is anticipating human nature and by his statements, they may be saying to themselves, “if the Jews have fallen short”. Paul knows how easy it is to judge others and set ourselves up as being better than they are and he now responds with, in Romans 3:9 “What then? Do we have an advantage?”. Again he uses the rhetorical question and the answer is “Not at all” because the Gentiles and even those the Romans would call the barbarians have not sought God.

Romans 3:10–12 (LEB) just as it is written, “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned aside together; they have become worthless; There is no one who practices kindness; there is not even one.

But this is all said so that Paul can come to the point of the message in

Romans 3:18 (LEB) The fear of God is not before their eyes.

Paul has already told them in

Romans 1:19–21 (LEB) because what can be known about God is evident among them, for God made it clear to them. 20 For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

 

The Righteousness of God Through Faith in Jesus Christ

Romans 3:21–31
Many of these that Paul is writing to would have been converted Jews who had this heritage of the Jewish law but Paul is pointing them to something beyond the Jewish Law, apart from it in

Romans 3:21 (LEB) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—

But before we go on, Paul was also writing to Romans who had a different heritage, one of the Roman natural human law. This was a heritage of conquest and power taken by force with swift punishment and “in the wake of the civil war, Caesar famously offered full pardon – Clemency – to anyone who had fought against him”.M1

So everyone would understand Paul’s meaning when he says in

Romans 3:23 (LEB) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

And everyone would understand Romans 3:24 “being justified as a gift by his grace” not something that anyone has done to deserve it but

Romans 3:26 (LEB) in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faith in Jesus.

Abraham Believed God, and it Was Credited to Him for Righteousness

Romans 4:1–12

It Is by Faith, in Order That It May be According to Grace

Romans 4:13–25

Romans 4:16 (LEB) Because of this, it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise may be secure to all the descendants, not only to those of the law, but also to those of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Romans 4:20–22 (LEB) And he did not waver in unbelief at the promise of God, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God 21 and being fully convinced that what he had promised, he was also able to do. 22 Therefore it was credited to him for righteousness.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Romans 3:1-31
  • Romans 42:1-25

References

  • 1. https://ancientarmitage.wordpress.com/tag/julius-caesar/
Devotions

The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation

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Paul has been diligent with the people of the Corinthian Church, yet there are still some that challenge him for proof that Christ speaks in him. He doesn’t take the bait of defending himself, instead he tells them “test yourselves”. It is more important for them to have their hearts right with God than it is for them to decide if Paul is qualified or unqualified as some are saying. Paul’s final remarks to them are “rejoice, be restored, be encouraged, be in agreement, be at peace”. Paul begins his letter to the Romans with “the gospel”, “the power of God”, “the Son of God”, “the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ”. 

Test Yourselves to See if You Are in the Faith

2 Corinthians 13:1–10
Paul had introduced the gospel to them (Acts 18:1-17) and “solemnly testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus”. But the culture of Corinth surrounded them. Paul later wrote to them about the sin that was reported among them (1 Corinthians 5:1-5) and had come again to visit them briefly (Acts 20:2-3) described as the painful visit (2 Corinthians 2:1) and had sent others, Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17) and Titus (2 Corinthians 7:6, 13-14) and (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16, 23), to work with them.

I give all of this history because there are still those that seem to be challenging Paul. In 2 Corinthians 13:1 he says, “this is the third time I am coming to you”. His position as Apostle, teacher, leader of the Church is well established yet, he says, “Since ye challenge me to give a “proof” that Christ speaks in me. It would be better if ye would “prove your own selves” (2 Co 13:5)”.1

This next verse is a bit cryptic, but Paul has just said to them, “test yourselves” and now is saying to them, “do what is good” even though some say Paul is unqualified. In other words, keep your heart right with God, keep your eyes on Jesus Christ as Lord, don’t get caught up in what people are saying about others, in

2 Corinthians 13:7 Now we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even though we are seen as though unqualified.

 

The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 13:11–13
Paul’s closing admonition is good for us to remember even though it may seem backwards. We know that God loves us and Jesus Christ gave himself for us, so why doesn’t Paul say, “the God of love and peace will be with you” and then tell us to “rejoice ..?”.

Instead, in 2 Corinthians 13:11 Paul says:

  • rejoice
  • be restored
  • be encouraged
  • be in agreement
  • be at peace

and then he says, “and the God of love and peace will be with you”. Most of us as Christians would quote the two greatest commandments, Love God, Love your neighbor as yourself, but do we recognize that anger, offense, discouragement, division, unrest separate us from God?

Romans Introduction

“This opening is longer and much more formal than in Paul’s other letters—perhaps because he was not personally known to the Roman church, perhaps also because he did not want anyone to doubt his position as an apostle.”2

Set Apart for the Gospel of God

Romans 1:1–7
Paul begins this letter with a very clear statement of his apostleship which is entirely based on “the gospel of God”. This gospel is not something new, but was “promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures” in Romans 1:1. So, this is God’s gospel about a “descendant of David”, “declared Son of God”, “according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ our Lord”.

The Jews would appreciate and understand “That the Messiah would be a descendant of David (which) is taught in the Old Testament (Isa. 11:1, 10; Jer. 23:5–6; Ezek. 34:23–24, etc.) and elsewhere.”3

And the Romans may have understood “declared the Son of God” as a son adopted which in their time was a stronger bond than a son of birth because an adopted son was chosen by the father. However we may read this, the result is clear in

Revelation 5:5 (LEB) And one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.

That I May Impart Some Spiritual Gift to Strengthen You

Romans 1:8–15
Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord is a one time event, but learning to live for God is a lifelong lesson. Paul is a mature man of God and knows the traps and snares that we must learn to avoid. 

The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation

Romans 1:16–25
The Jews have been around for a long time and the Romans would understand at least that the Jews thought they had some claim to a relationship with God. Now, Paul declares “the gospel”, “the power of God for salvation to everyone” in Romans 1:16. But Paul makes this distinction, “to the Jew first and also to the Greek”. Yes, God did a work with the Jews. And Yes, Salvation has come through them by Jesus Christ but it isn’t only for them, it is also “to the Greek” and “to everyone who believes”.

Paul goes on in Romans 1:19-22 to explain that “what can be known about God is evident”, that “his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created” and “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God”. It doesn’t matter if you were born Jew or Greek or as the Romans would say, as barbarian, God is “understood in the things created”.

They Did Not See Fit to Recognize God

Romans 1:26–32
There are people that are greedy, deceitful, slanderers, and the list goes on, that claim they have a right, that they can do what they want and no one can tell them otherwise.

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this (they knew God, they did not honor him as God), God gave them over to degrading passions, for their females exchanged the natural relations for those contrary to nature, 27 and likewise also the males, abandoning the natural relations with the female, were inflamed in their desire toward one another, males with males committing the shameless deed, and receiving in themselves the penalty that was necessary for their error.

Glory and Honor and Peace to Everyone Who Does Good

Romans 2:1–16
Romans 2:9-11 There will be affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, of the Jew first and of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

Circumcision is of the Heart, by the Spirit

Romans 2:17–29

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 2 Corinthians 13:1-13
  • Romans 1:1-32
  • Romans 2:1-29

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 321). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 35). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
  • 3. Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 42). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.