We are going to start a walk through the letter to the Romans. As a way to get started, I wanted to share just a touch of backstory, or context. I am copying from my Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible (NASB), whose Executive Editor is Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. This is an excellent resource and I highly recommend it.
Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome from Corinth, knowing that he would soon come their way. He had always wanted to visit Spain (Rom. 15:28) to the west. However, he also knew that he would visit Jerusalem first (Rom. 15:31), and that was a foreboding thought! Paul was summarily arrested in Jerusalem, and after a long, involved process, was forced to appeal his case to be heard in Rome by Caesar himself. After all, it was only fitting that the Apostle to the Gentiles should appear in the capital of the world.
The Epistle to the Romans above everything else is an explanation of how God justifies the sinner.
… [skipping a few lines]
The verb [justify] is a legal term meaning to declare someone as just or righteous and to recognize him as such. It refers to one who is not subject to condemnation.
One thing to keep in mind with all of Paul’s letters, however, is that Paul is often misunderstood. He is probably one of the most misunderstood people in all history, and certainly in the Bible. While he clearly taught about being justified by God, he did not teach against the law of God as many accuse him. In fact, he was quite often defending himself to that end during his ministry. Read carefully and test what scripture is really saying. Test what you have been taught by pastors and churches against what the scripture actually says. Test scripture against scripture. Do not redefine what scripture says to fit in the perspective you may have been taught previously.
14Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unscrupulous people and lose your own firm commitment, 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, please help us to have discernment and wisdom in reading and testing scripture. Let the Holy Spirit guide our thoughts and minds in understanding properly Your word. Help us rely on Your word rather than the many opinions of men. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.