Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part One

If you’ve ever read the book of Romans then I know what you’re thinking … ugh. A book of doctrine, boring, and hard to understand. I’d like to give you the ‘big picture’, maybe a new one, to help because if it changed the lives of Augustine, Luther, and Wesley, then, with the right perspective, it can change you too.

Let’s keep in mind that Paul was writing to a previously Messianic Jewish Church in Rome that was transformed into a Gentile Church (non-Jew) after Jews were banished from the eternal city. Emperor Nero let them back in which created some serious problems in this Roman church. Paul’s very long letter was more like a teaching than a personal letter which sheds light on the attitudes of the Jewish and also the Gentile believer.

I encourage you to read the chapters I’m highlighting each week and see if it’s a little easier to read with this new perspective: Jew and Gentile. Chapter One is filled with Paul’s love for both of these people groups and his desire to visit them … which he only does at his death. It seems he’s speaking to the Gentiles first (1:18-2:16), making sure they understand that we’re all equally under God’s wrath from birth. Using the word ‘all’, all the nations, all in Rome, all of you, in all the world, clearly let’s us know we were under God’s condemnation without excuse. No one is without sin, we all deserve the same death sentence, and we all must come to faith the same way: in humility and repentance. Formerly pagans or the ‘chosen people’, all receive His calling the same way: with undeserved grace and mercy.

Remember, when the Jews returned to Rome from their shunning or exile it was in disgrace, consequently, must’ve been difficult to see their church turn Gentile. They not only lost their homes, but their church as well and they were God’s chosen! They were now the underdog again, and yet Paul also deals with their attitude. 

We have our ‘shunned’ people groups in America as well: the homeless, immigrants, addicts, ex-cons, or the mentally ill, who come to Christ the same way we do. Paul let’s everyone reading this letter, even today, know that there’s never arrogance or boasting in our life circumstances, there’s no reason for judging others either because there’s no partiality with God (2:11). 

In 2:17 he turns the page and now deals with the Jew. Listing all their reasons for boasting, including Father Abraham (Ch. 4), everyone receives God’s righteousness, which is simply ‘right standing’ before Him, only through faith in Jesus Christ. Without that we stand condemned upon our death. Our faith makes us righteous and our faith justifies: it’s all a gift to those He calls (1:6-7). 

Let’s read Romans together with fresh eyes, acknowledging we have no standing for judging others or thinking we’re better, and allow the ‘law of faith’ to move us into action.