Hello, my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends,
When you think of PLACES of global power and PEOPLE of global influence, what places and people come to your mind? Perhaps Moscow and President Putin? Or Beijing and President Xi? Or Washington DC and President Trump? In the mid first century there was only one such place: ROME and one such person: the Roman Caesar, who reigned over the vast Roman Empire.
As the apostle Paul faithfully and courageously brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem west to modern day Turkey, Macedonia and Greece, more and more Paul found himself longing to preach the Gospel in Rome.
In the winter of 57/58ad, Paul was, we believe, in the Greek city of Corinth again, and we found him yesterday beginning a letter to the Christians he had heard were in Rome! Paul wrote: “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world… I pray that now at last by God’s will, the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you…” (Romans 1:8-10)
No matter where people lived throughout the Roman empire, they sought news of what was happening in Rome. Usually, of course, the news people received was about political or military accomplishments, neither of which interested Paul. Paul had only one true fascination: the dramatic life change people were experiencing, across the Roman empire, in their encounters with the person and Gospel of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
That’s why Paul wrote to these Roman Christians: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” (Romans 1:11,12)
Pause. Is this the result of what happens when you see or meet Christians from other places in the world whom you’ve never met before? Does it happen when you are reunited with Christian friends who you haven’t been with for an extended time? I live in a part of the world where many of my neighbors and friends travel far to the north to escape the summer heat but then return here to escape the cold of the north in winter. We call them ‘snowbirds’.
Lately it’s been wonderful to be reunited as they return from their many months up north. We are encouraged to be with each other again, mostly because we stimulate each other to spiritual growth in our relationships with Jesus our Savior and Lord. I love hearing what has occurred in the spiritual growth of these friends while they’ve been away. I wish you each could send me a note of what the Holy Spirit of God has been doing in your lives over the past several months, all around the world.
Paul wrote that he longed to visit Rome so that: “I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.” (Romans 1:13-15)
This is fascinating my friends because it is evidence of how dramatically the Holy Spirit has changed Paul’s world view and his passion. As a young man passionately trained to be a Jewish Pharisee, Paul had NO interest whatsoever in any non-Jewish person. In Paul’s young mind the Gentile populations of the world were insignificant to him and to God. Paul was convinced God only cared about the Jews, God’s chosen people.
But Paul’s encounter with Jesus radically changed Paul’s world view, Paul’s understanding of his life mission and Paul’s passion. That’s why Paul was in Greek, Gentile Corinth, in 57ad, writing this letter to Gentile Christians in the great city of Rome.
For Paul the very best use of any day was his privilege to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Gentiles who knew nothing about Jesus and were hell-bound lost in the darkness of our world. Paul knew that the people who lived in Rome were naturally mesmerized by two things:
* The political power of the Caesar, and Roman authority across the empire,
* And also, Roman military power and its feared strength everywhere in the known world.
Because of this, Paul wrote these powerful words to the Roman Christians: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.” (Rom. 1:16,17) Oh my, this statement is so radical! Do you see it?
Paul was declaring the power of God was superior to any Roman military force! For the salvation of a person from lifelong bondage to sin and condemnation to eternity in hell, was far more significant than Roman defeat of an insurrection or invading marauders. Do you agree? Have you experienced Jesus’ deliverance of YOU and are you confident of your eternity in heaven with Jesus?
Do you see Paul was declaring that a sin-liberated life, lived in relationship with Holy God, was possible for any person, Jew or Gentile, anywhere in the world, within or without the borders of the Roman empire. But this privileged life was not attained either by edict of the Caesar, nor payment of any money into Roman coffers, nor any military power.
This miraculous liberated life was attained by faith in Jesus Christ, who would then unleash an avalanche of God’s power into a person, transforming them into a whole new person, living in relationship with Holy God. Can you understand how radical the Gospel was in the mid first century Roman empire? Do you see that the Gospel is just as radical in Beijing or Moscow or Tokyo or Dubai or Washington DC or Dakar or Paris or Rome today?
Oh my, we need to pause and reflect with the “lessons learned” notes today, and a wonderful worship song, and then tomorrow we will dive into one of the most powerful things Paul ever wrote!
Today’s Scripture: Romans 1:8-17.
Choose below to read or listen.
 |  |
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.