February 14 Daily Discovery
February 14 Daily Discovery - Read Romans Chapter 1
This passage below is from the King James Version (ekjv.org).
Remarks from the Berean Fellowship follow the passage below.
[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 every one that believeth; 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 shewed 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 fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour 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 for ever. 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, covenantbreakers, 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.
The Gospel of God
Paul had been an enemy of the Church of Jesus Christ. he was persecuting them to the death up until the time that he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was a chosen vessel to bring God's message to the Nations, -all of them!
He was uniquely equipped for this task because he was a "Hebrew of the Hebrews", a Pharisee, and thus commanded a certain respect among the Hebrew people. But he was also a freeborn citizen of Rome,- which afforded him additional privileges that he used his advantage.
The Hebrew religion Jews had developed a very strange Union with Rome. The leadership of Israel had largely apostasized long before this time. If you have read Revelation and know about the relationship of the harlot to the beast; the Harlot that was riding the beast was unfaithful Israel and the beast was Rome.
Unfaithful Israel was riding on the back of the Roman Empire. The Romans were tolerant of all religions but for some reason had some special affinity for the Jews. T he relationship eventually went sour and the beast ended up hating the harlot and destroyed her. (Rev. 17:16) Rome destroyed Jerusalem about 70 A.D.
During the time of the New Testament, Rome ruled the world. Almost every community had a Jewish synagogue.
The Gospel (good news) of the Messiah
The only Scriptures that were available immediately following the resurrection of Jesus Christ were the Hebrew Scriptures, translated into Greek (the Septuagint). What we know as the New Testament had not yet been developed. When Paul took the gospel to a new place he would start at the synagogue. being a Pharisee he would usually be welcomed into the assembly and would be invited to speak, and he would use their Scriptures to preach Christ ( the Messiah) to them.
In most cases this was short-lived and he would then go and preach publicly to the Gentiles. Jesus was the Jews Messiah so the gospel always went to the Jews first.
The gospel of God was the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God. The good news was forgiveness and deliverance from sin because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah.
The Famous Faith of the Romans
The Romans were geniuses at creating infrastructure. Roman roads connected all major communities in many smaller ones as well. All of the nations that were listed in the table of nations in Genesis had received the gospel message before the end of the apostolic era. People during this time were traveling a lot. Paul was a powerful preacher and the most prolific of letter writers and he had contacts all over the world of that day.
The Community of Christ was very well connected even across National borders. There was a common currency and a common language. The Faith of Christ had even entered into Caesar's household, and the reputation of the faith of the Roman Christians had spread across the world.
The Power of the Gospel Message
The Jews had a problem with the gospel. the Messiah that was being preached was not the type of Messiah that they wanted. To them, Christ was a stumbling block. the educated among the Gentile population typically thought the message was foolish.
But for those that would believe the message it was the power of God resulting in their salvation.
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