Paul was eager to get to Rome to encourage the Roman believers and be encouraged by them. Even in the face of opposition and persecution, the report of their faith had spread far and wide. So, while he waited for the opportunity to meet them face to face, he sent them a letter. Little did he know that he would get to Rome one day, but it would be in chains.
Paul was on mission for Jesus. He had been sent out to proclaim the Good News of the gospel, God’s rescue plan all along. He would never forget his encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus over twenty years ago. How could he? It was the moment everything changed. It was the moment he became a willing servant of Jesus Christ. Now he was traveling the entire region with the life-saving message of salvation.
Paul was given the privilege and authority to deliver this message so that people everywhere could be reminded of the power of God’s gospel. This message is for all who are loved by God and who are set apart for His purposes. That included the Roman Christians who received this letter and all believers everywhere who would one day read it … including you and me.
“Every Christian is called out of the world, out of bondage, out of death, and out of sin, and into Christ and into His body…All who are truly part of the church have been called out, separated by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
R.C. Sproul
Mighty power to save!
Paul was eager to preach the Gospel of God. It wasn’t just an obligation; it was an honor and a privilege, and he took it seriously no matter what trials he faced. He knew the gospel had the mighty power to save everyone who believed. And it still does today! Only God’s love and power can overcome our sinful nature and give us new life. Apart from Christ, our attempts at righteousness are nothing but filthy rags. In the gospel, God’s righteousness is revealed so all people can be saved.
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 ESV
God always promised that one day He would send a Deliverer to redeem His people once and for all. He described in detail through the prophets who this Deliverer would be. Then Jesus came! Many heard Him preach with power and authority. Many saw Him heal and raise people from the dead. And many were witnesses to His death and three days later the empty tomb. Jesus Christ was declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection. Paul knew it was true and it was all that mattered to him.
“His victory over death was the supreme demonstration and most conclusive evidence that He is the Son of God.”
John MacArthur
Many of the Christians in Rome had come from Jerusalem and had likely witnessed Jesus’ death and resurrection. And many more had been there when the Holy Spirit arrived on Pentecost just as Jesus had promised. When they read the beginning of Paul’s letter they were filled with excitement as they recalled the power of the gospel that saved them. And it was this power that would keep them if they remained focused on Jesus.
The power to be bold!
It is this same power that saved you and keeps you even as the resistance to the truth of the gospel makes it scary to be bold with your faith. The gospel brings conflict, and because conflict makes people uncomfortable, the truth is often watered down or hidden. This is nothing new; Satan’s tactics never are. But if you can remember the incredible power that raised Jesus from the dead and now lives in you by the power of the Holy Spirit, you can boldly live out your faith and speak truth and light into the darkness of this world.
“God has beloved ones in the darkest parts of the earth. There is all the more reason for them to be saints because they are surrounded by sinners.”
Charles Spurgeon
Memorize this verse and call it to mind as you face a world that is increasingly hostile to your Christian faith:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… Romans 1:16
And remember, press forward in faith!
“Faith is all in all, both in the beginning and progress of Christian life. It is not from faith to works, as if faith put us into a justified state, and then works kept us in; but it is all along from faith to faith; it is faith pressing forward, and gaining the victory over unbelief.”
Matthew Henry
Read ahead: Romans 1:18-25
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