The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Gift: Paul's Epistle To the Romans"
The epistle of Romans, written by the Apostle Paul, stands as both the doctrinal and personal heartbeat of the Bible. Since all of Scripture is God's Word, we do not suggest that Romans is more important than other portions of the Bible (I Timothy 3:16). However, no portion of Scripture more speaks to vital issues of God's eternal purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ, including…
Paul's personal love for the Roman believers, the fruit of Christ's love in his heart, despite the fact he had never been to Rome at the time he wrote the epistle (Romans 1:8-13; 5:5; 16:1-5).
Paul's providential hindrance from visiting the Roman church as he so desired, despite the central place of Rome in the world during his lifetime and ministry. This resulted in the Roman epistle, again, the very heartbeat of the Scriptures, which might have never existed had Paul been able to visit Rome (he would later be imprisoned on perhaps two occasions, and ultimately die in Rome at the hand of Nero; Romans 15:20-22).
Paul's declaration of the seriousness of sin. All have sinned, all are condemned, and all have no hope in and of themselves to redeem themselves from God's rightful condemnation and judgment (Romans 1:18-3:20).
Paul's affirmation of salvation and justification received by God's grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. No portion of the Bible so pointedly and powerfully declares salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ to be the freest gift ever given, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted. (Romans 3:21-5:21).
Paul's declaration of newness of life in Christ, based on spiritual union with Christ in His death and resurrection. The Apostle declares a literal dying and rising in the innermost depth of our being to have occurred in believers through the new birth, resulting in our service to righteousness rather than sin. We devote ourselves and our earthy members to God in the light of such grace (Romans 6).
Paul's acknowledgement of ongoing challenge in the believer's present life, concerning conflict between our spirits indwelt by "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" and our flesh still indwelt by "the law of sin" (Romans 7:1-8:1-13).
Paul's exultation regarding triumph in the Lord Jesus, both in present and ultimate terms, based on the living presence and working of Christ in our hearts and lives (Romans 8:14-39).
Paul's assurance of God's ongoing purpose and utimate redemption of His earthly people, the nation of Israel (Romans 9-11).
Paul's description of the believer's life in terms of attitude, relationship to people, service, and mercy toward offenders (Romans 12:1-21).
Paul's mandate for the believer to respect earthly authorities as the expression of our respect for God (Romans 13:1-7).
Paul's declaration that the moral tenets of the law of Moses still apply to the life of the believer (Romans 13:8-14).
Paul's declaration that the ritual practices of the law of Moses no longer apply to the believer, although in loving deference to Christians who are weak in their knowledge and understanding of God's grace in Christ, we may sometimes defer from certain liberties for their benefit (Romans 14:1- 15:1-13).
Paul's personal testimony of God's effectual grace and truth in his heart and life (Romans 15:14-33).
Finally, Paul's personal devotion to fellow believers, again, as expressed in the most doctrinal treatise of the Bible. He references by name twenty seven Roman believers, despite the fact he had not been to Rome at the time he wrote the epistle (Romans 16:1-27). This affirmation of both the personal and the doctrine in Romans speaks to the believer's calling to worship God in the same terms, namely, "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24)
The epistle to the Romans, declared by the poet Coleridge as "the most profound writing that exists," shines the dual light of the personal and the propositional in revealing the Lord Jesus. We discover the living Word and the written Word in incomparable ways through writings that would not have existed had Paul have been able to visit the Roman church, as he so desired. Thereby, he wrote the epistle that shines its glory upon us, as it did so long ago upon the Romans. Finally, it is poignant that Paul did make it to Rome, ultimately as a prisoner, and finally, as a martyr. Thus, we give thanks for so great a gift, the epistle to the Romans, that so brightly bears witness to God's "unspeakable gift," the Lord Jesus Christ (IICorinthians 9:15).
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle… to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints."
(Romans 1:1; 7)
Weekly Memory Verse
I am the Lord. I change not.
(Malachi 3:6)
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