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Good morning friends,
Today we begin a very exciting new book of the Bible, as we continue tracking the chronological spread of the Gospel, after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension back to heaven. I invite you to read the first chapter of Romans with me today.
Yesterday we concluded Paul’s second letter to the Christians in Corinth. He had told them he was coming to visit them for a third time. We only have one little verse that most Bible scholars believe represents that visit. As Paul leaves Ephesus, from which he wrote 2nd Corinthians, Acts 20:2 says “Then he (Paul) traveled down to Greece where he stayed three months.” As best we can tell, the year was 54ad, and while there in Greece, perhaps Corinth, in those three months, Paul wrote perhaps the most famous and powerful of all his letters, the one we begin today, Romans.
Paul had never been to Rome, but as a Roman citizen he longed to see it. More importantly, he had a driving passion to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ there. Paul had heard a movement of Jesus followers had begun in Rome, perhaps as a result of that first Pentecost, (Acts 2:10) when Jews from Rome had come to Jerusalem for the festival. They had heard the Gospel proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples/apostles, as the Holy Spirit came upon them for the first time. It appears some of these from Rome had believed and been among the 3000 baptized, (Acts 2:41) and as they returned to Rome, they shared their new-found faith in Jesus with others, and the Jesus movement began in the capital of the Roman empire.
Notice how Paul introduces himself in Rom. 1:1… Paul writes, and I paraphrase…“I am Paul, I am a servant of Christ Jesus, I am called to be an apostle, and I am set apart for the Gospel (good news) of God.” How do you normally introduce yourself?
Vs. 2-4 is very important. Paul explains that the Gospel he is proclaiming, had been promised by Old Testament prophets, who pointed forward to Jesus, the Messiah! Then Paul makes a clear statement that Jesus is BOTH fully God and fully man, do you see it? “…regarding His Son, who as to His human nature, was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1:3,4) This truth is fundamental to our Christian faith.
And then in vs. 5 do you see Paul is proud to say that he has been commissioned by Jesus, to bring the Gospel to Gentiles! For Jewish Paul, that was a big deal! It’s another sign of the dramatic transformation of Paul’s life, when he encountered Jesus!
You can hear Paul’s admiration for these Roman Christians in verse 7 & 8, and his statement that “…your faith is being reported all over the world.” Now ponder that just a moment. For more than 200 years, the Spiritual faith of God’s people in America has been reported all over the world, through missionaries and military, and others who travel.
But sadly, the report most of the world hears now about America, is that we’ve become an immoral nation, producing and exporting more pornographic material than any other nation! We’ve become a violent nation, with high homicide rates in many cities; school shootings; and legal abortion, which has slaughtered more than 60 million children! America’s reputation has changed dramatically around the world my friends. What does that mean for you and me, American Christ followers, today?
I love Paul’s honest statement “I long to see you so that…you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” (1:11,12) My friends, I love that this happens when Dawn and I have the privilege of time with you! But, you also see the passion that is driving Paul… to preach in Rome, in vs. 13-15, right? He expects a spiritual harvest there!
Is Romans 1:16 underlined, circled, starred in your Bible? Is it true of you and me, my friends? “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the Gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith...”! And, of course, that’s the main theme of this entire book!
Romans 1:18-32 is extremely powerful. It will penetrate your heart and mind. It may bring you to tears, especially as you reflect on America and how our society has turned away from God.
It’s frightening actually, in its remarkably accurate description of what has happened here, especially in the past 50 years or so. Read it carefully, slowly. Stop occasionally to ponder and pray, and maybe make a note or two in your prayer journal, as the Holy Spirit gives you insight, into how this chapter, written almost 2000 years ago, applies so directly to America today!
May I pick out some specific phrases for you to consider?
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them…” (1:18,19) Do you see both the rejection and suppression of God’s truth in America today? Do you see evidence of God’s discipline and possible judgment of America?
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (1:20) Is there evidence everywhere of God’s power and divine nature?
In addition, is the Gospel of Jesus ABUNDANTLY available in churches, on radio and tv and internet, to almost every person in America? Therefore do you agree “Americans are without excuse”?
Now look closely my dear friends. Paul, beginning with vs. 21, explains how this methodical, moral and spiritual decline, decay, demise… has happened here in America. Even though Paul is writing in 54ad to Rome, it so very, very accurate a portrayal of what has happened here, in our country. Read it carefully. Ponder it. Pray over it. . . and LISTEN to what God says to you.
Do you see “For although they knew God they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (1:21) Many of our great Universities were founded for the training of leaders for our society, beginning with study of the Bible and God’s principles for life. But most have long ago rejected anyone who thinks Biblically from their faculty! The medical community rejects the obvious evidence for God’s love of the sanctity of life, and even their own vow to protect life, as they slaughter fetus’s.
“Therefore, God has given them over in the sinful desires of their hearts, to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” (1:24) It’s true isn’t it? Sexual perversion permeates nearly every segment of our society. And it’s destroying lives, marriages, families, churches, and businesses all across our nation. Sexual dysfunction is pandemic in America!
“God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones… men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” (1:26,27) Homosexuality, which once was unthinkable in our society is now mainstream and anyone speaking in opposition is intolerant and homophobic, and may be arrested. But also, millions of men and women are suffering the horrific disease called AIDS.
In the final verses of Romans 1 take special note of these two phrases: “God gave them over to a depraved mind…” (1:28) and “they invent ways of doing evil” (1:30)!
And then, this final ‘nail in the coffin’. . . “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them.” (1:32) Is that America today? Now consider this. The great Roman Empire, and every society throughout human history, which has followed the path of moral decline and rejection of God, described in Romans 1 and which America is following, has imploded, crumbled, and self-destructed!
Now, I urge you to read this powerful chapter very carefully, and pray… inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to you, about God’s perspective on the condition of our society!
This is going to be a profound journey through Romans together!
I’d welcome hearing your thoughts if you’d care to write me.
Oh God… help us Your people, understand how you want us to ‘walk with Jesus’ in this ever darkening society America.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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