What intimidates you? 

Honestly, not too much intimidates me.  I am not scared to go into sketchy situations.  I am not nervous about meeting new people; actually, I rather like it.  I do not mind walking into a roomful of strangers.  I am not intimidated by meeting dignitaries, movie stars, or officials.  (Hmmm… I think the person I have most enjoyed meeting was Lee Strobel.  He is a hero of mine, and the only autograph I own and truly value.  It is in the back of my little Bible.)  That said, I have felt intimidated by tackling the book of Romans, I guess because I know it is complex, brilliant, and so very important to get right!  And needless to say, anyone teaching the Word of God must realize that it is both an awesome privilege and a tremendous responsibility.  I always keep in mind James’ words, “Let not many of you become teachers, as such is the stricter responsibility.”

When I mentioned studying and learning the truths of Scripture should be done the same way as eating an elephant—one bite at a time—I meant that. We shall take Paul’s brilliant letter written to the church at Rome, one bite at a time, sequentially, looking at the whole letter, rather than bits and snatches.  Then you get a feel for the man, Paul, and his intense commitment—his love of the Lord, and his total dedication to teaching and training the church in correct Christian doctrine.  Think of it…Paul paved the way with his Holy Spirit-inspired writing on Christian living.  How different history would have looked if Paul were not part of the historical fabric!  One day, we shall sup with this saint in Heaven, and for me--that will be glorious.

The year was A.D. 58—our Lord had ascended into Heaven just 25 years earlier—when Paul wrote this letter from the town of Corinth.  Some believe it to be the most important human document ever written, because of the impact it made on the Christian church then, and down through the ages.  It was this book that dramatically impacted Martin Luther, sparking the Protestant Reformation.  Luther’s impassioned writing on Romans spurred Englishman John Wesley’s spiritual awakening, igniting an evangelical fire in London.  With that in mind, I am quite thrilled to be embarking on this voyage into Romans.

Of Paul’s 14 letters, this is one of the longest introductions; all of the major themes of the book are included in it.  Let’s get started:

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 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. Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.  And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:                         Grace and peace to you from God our Father                                                                and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 1.1-7

I love how Paul introduced himself—not ‘Paul, Roman citizen with his long list of credentials, but ‘Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ.’  No question of his allegiance.  Is there application for you and me here?  I think so.  Of course, you and I are in part the various roles we play—but our stated vocation should be the same as Paul’s, should it not?  “Hi, I’m Chad, servant of Jesus Christ.  Oh, and I also work for Lowe’s.”  Would that not be a trip at your next business-networking event or Chamber mixer? 

‘All the prophets said about him came true in Jesus Christ; clearly, the Son of God, in his inherent divine power arose from the dead!  I am one of his apostles and you also are invited into faith in him … ah yes, my Roman friends, I extend the grace and peace of God to you, made possible through Jesus Christ our Lord.’  A triumphant, uplifting introduction to the letter that will follow, isn’t it?

Welcome to Romans, my dear ones.

Christine