Romans 1:1-17 Getting Right To The Point

Paul’s words to people he knew and didn’t know in Rome echo what God is doing in our lives today:  “God called me … and chose me … God promised the Good News … Through Christ, God gave me special work … I have a duty …”  It’s not just Paul who’s been commissioned.  It’s us today as well.

 

They key message he had for everyone he met was summed up in verses 16-17, and I loved the way my commentary fleshed it out:  “God does not ask men to behave in order to be saved, but to believe.  It is faith in Christ that saves the sinner.”

 

God is a righteous God, and on our own, we can never attain His righteousness.  He revealed His righteousness by punishing sin.  If He didn’t, then people would see Him as two-faced.  But since we had no way on our own to become righteous, God in His mercy and love “revealed His righteousness by making salvation available to the believing sinner through Christ’s death and resurrection.”  That answers the question of how a holy God can forgive sinners and still be holy.  But how do we partake of it?  Paul cited Habakkuk 2:4:  “The just shall live by faith.”  Not works.

 

Father, I’m so thankful that behaving is not a requirement in order to be saved, for I’d have no hope.  Thank You for making believing the requirement, for it is something I can do.  Thank You for what You did for me in letting Your own Son take on my sin and take the penalty of death for me.  I believe!

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford