Romans 1

Introduction

I remember sitting in the church hall as the people stood and explained the gospel so clearly to me. They clarified the two ways of life. Then they gave me a little orange card - one of the 25 cent ones you could pick up at the local Christian bookstore. On it said, "Do you have your ticket to Heaven?" I probably looked at that card and thought Well, I guess it's right here. From such a young age, I know I certainly trusted in the death and resurrection of Jesus for my salvation, but clearly there was more for me to know, to mature in. I know now that I had faith, but I needed to live by faith.

Since getting older, maturing a little more in my knowledge of the Lord, and seeking to walk in light of the salvation I have received, I have realized how different daily living in faith truly looks. It looks different from those who stop in belief for salvation. Furthermore, it is different from those who live apart from God entirely.

If you wanted an extensive theological discourse on Romans 1, today you will find the simple gospel. I may not blow the minds of those believers who also received Jesus early on. Yet, as Paul states in the passage "I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome" (vs.15). He wants the Roman Christians to hear the gospel. Apparently, we need to hear the gospel even as believers. I guess Paul's question is - for wherever you are in your walk with the Lord - do we consider the way of life?

Because for most believers, it seems a simple gospel. But somehow, the world has made their salvation much too complex.

The Way of Life

At the beginning of the letter, Paul clarifies his own role as an apostle (vs.1) and he speaks of the God he serves, the God who commissioned him to be an apostle (vs.5). He also clarifies their own placement in the kingdom: they are "called to belong to Jesus Christ" (vs.6) and "called to be saints" (vs.7). Paul writes with incredible confidence in who he is, who Christ is and who the Romans are.

It is possible, for this reason, that he is so faithful to continue in prayer for them and to thank God for them. He realizes the greater achievement: the gospel bringing people to salvation. And now, he desires that he might come to them, to be involved in their discipleship and to continue to preach the gospel to them (vs.11-15).

Many believers think of Paul as a "Super-Christian", as if he was greater than the rest of us. The fact is Paul is so convinced by the gospel, that this truth is the only explanation, the only means by which he lives.

I think the problem here - as it would have been for the younger me, who believed she held the ticket to Heaven - is that we think salvation is the only purpose of faith, but clearly faith is the purpose of our lives. It is no wonder that Paul is "not ashamed of the gospel" (vs.16), for he cannot be ashamed of the very reason by which he lives and breathes. Unfortunately, we see the way of eternal life as separate from the way of our present lives.

My question to Christian is do we consider the way of life now? Because the only thing that separates Christians' life here on earth from eternity with our Father is our impending death, which immediate brings us into our new lives with God. Why don't we think faith is for now?

The key verses lie in verse 16&17:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith"

The righteousness of God means God's holy and just nature and moral character. Our right standing with the Father is secured by our saving faith and it extends to the faith that we live in our daily lives. Those who are Christians - "the righteous" - must live in their daily lives "by faith". Faith is not simply to be thrown away. The gospel is not something we can accept and then be ashamed of. Like Paul, Christians are to continue in faith. Paul was not a "super-Christian", he was just a Christian who was choosing to live according to the way of life the gospel had called him to.

So, living by faith for faith means accepting that this gospel affects us all the time. I believe, it also changes us to continue to look like Christ - the process of sanctification. And as we live and love and grow, perhaps we also increase in our faith.

But alongside the struggling and maturing believers, Paul shows the alternative.

The Way of Death

Paul loves using "for" and all his conjunctions to provide explanation and elaboration. His contrast against the way of life is no exception. Alongside the "righteousness of God" is the "wrath of God", which follows from God's righteousness. Paul shows how non-Christians live - those who "suppress the truth". I just wonder if Paul makes such a contrast to show that living by faith is important not only for salvation, but so that we do not fall into unrighteousness ourselves. Needless to say, Paul does not impressionistically paint unrighteous people: he elucidates their sin.

For instance, he shows us some of what they do between verses 18-32. But their core issue is idolatry. They can see that there is a God who is worthy to be served, He is "plain to them, because God has shown it to them" (vs.19). But they have decided to turn away and follow folly. They know God (vs.21), seeing Him in all of creation, but they refuse to honor Him.

I hate to say it, but on paper, those who do not live by faith in their daily lives would look no different than those who claim to know God but do not "honor him as God or give thanks to him" (vs.21). And actually, let's make that verse a little clearer:

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened" (vs.21)

I remember studying the book of Proverbs and realizing something, those who chase the foolish path will only fall further into folly, just as the wise person will become increasingly wise. In fact, our passage directly shows this in verse 22, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools". And remember these people were already foolish, and their hearts were further darkened. Christian, are you chasing after folly, when you could be growing in wisdom?

The scary thing is that all the sin they sought after, God gave them over to. Specifically, to the "lusts of their hearts" (vs.24), "dishonorable passions" (vs.26), and "a debased mind" (vs.28). God let the people have what they wanted. And we must come to terms with this: we rejected God long before He ever rejected us. Christians flippantly deny the extent of our own and so we think we serve a God whose love only extends to grace and never justice. But God was gracious - He gave us life (from the beginning), He gives us life (common grace) and - in spite of ourselves - He offers eternal life (through salvation). He is a life-giving God to a people who deserve absolutely nothing.

The way of death is scary, because we face the frightening aspect of our loving God: His wrathful justice. But people get what they desire - and that desire was not God.

In conclusion.

The hope is that we will remember the start of Paul's letter, where Paul mentions the saints who are "called" by the Lord. This is the doctrine of effectual calling. Mercifully, God changes the hearts and desires of a sinful and wicked and unrighteous people to love himself. Just as He gave some up to their desires, He also calls many to Himself.

But in light of the contrast, I don't think the conclusion is to say that this life is only better for I am saved. No, this life is better for the hope of eternity with our Father and because life is truly better when lived in faith for faith every day. Obedience to God makes everything about this life worth living and knowing God for the purpose of honoring and giving thanks to Him is beautiful.

I'm sad when I see so many Christians who know the way of life and choose to pursue the world: a world that altogether rejects the Father. Paul longs to be with the Roman Christians to disciple them, for he knows the importance of the gospel for their walk of faith. These Roman believers need to know that this shapes who they are now. And it has implications, not only for their salvation, but for how they live in the present age.

It has changed Paul's life, it has changed mine. So, I ask us all to consider the way of life. This devotional series I have entitled "Alive unto God" because this life has been saved by God and now we have lives to be lived for God. We are alive unto God, and just like Paul, we must put them to good in a world that has chosen to put them to evil.