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JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE ROMANS Day 1 Romans 1 Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this cause, God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. From the first verse, you know this as Paul’s epistle to the Romans. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome on his journey to Jerusalem in 56 A.D. before he was put in prison and sent to Rome where he would die in 64 A.D. Paul gives his credentials to the church of Rome. He was an apostle of Jesus Christ, called to preach the gospel. When you go anywhere or do anything, you present your credentials so that people will know you have the skills necessary to do the job you applied for, if you are seeking employment, or that you can speak about the subject, if you are a lecturer. Paul never hid his qualifications from anyone. You know from the book of Acts that Jesus called him to be an apostle while he was persecuting the Jews. At which time, he became zealous of the calling God placed on his life. Paul wrote thirteen books of the New Testament, letters to the churches. What does Paul write to the church at Rome? First, you see his heart is to pray for the saints at Rome. His thoughts are always on them and the work they do for the ministry of the gospel. He shows them his longing to be with them and speak to them in person and his hope to do so in the near future. Second, he lets them know he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone, first to the Jews, then to the Greeks or Gentiles. Third, Paul gets to the heart of the message. He is not timid about how man displeased God. Paul details every perversion of man and how God gave man up to his own lusts because he would not give any glory to God. Paul also told them, man would reap the consequences of their perversion. As Christians, you know God has not changed. From the moment God created man until today, there is no change in what God expects of you. He gave His law to Moses, written in stone, meaning you can’t change it so it will be more palatable to your senses. Jesus told His disciples not one jot or tittle of the law would change. Now you see how the law is still in effect in your lives. Yes, you are under grace, but grace does not give you the right to sin against God, perverting the law of God for your own pleasure. God never rescinded the Ten Commandments or any part of the law. He said it would be fulfilled, and was in Jesus Christ when He went to the cross for your salvation. It’s time to take the Word of God seriously. It’s time to stop changing the Word for your convenience, and obey God and consider what gives Him pleasure and not what gives you pleasure. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For it is the POWER of God unto salvation. You can’t have the power if you pervert His Word. Let’s pray: Father, Your Word is holy and righteous. Your Word shows me Your heart and Your love for me. Let me never be ashamed of You or Your Word. Let me never pervert my life for my pleasure but keep Your Word close to my heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 26 February 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay