INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS
Paul wrote Romans during his third missionary journey (AD 57). He was in Corinth, on his way to Jerusalem to deliver offerings to impoverished Jewish Christians. He wanted to build a bridge between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile believers through this goodwill offering. He then planned to go to Rome and then to Spain as the Lord had entrusted him. However, the Spirit revealed that there would be great danger in Jerusalem. He might not make it to Rome at all. Therefore, he wrote Romans to tell Roman believers who had never met him about the gospel. Paul knew some Jewish believers were preaching the necessity of obeying the Old Testament commands in addition to believing in Jesus as the way to righteousness. So in chapters 1-8, Paul explained that we are justified not by law but by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection alone. He also challenged Gentiles who thought they could live any way they chose, saying, "We are saved by faith alone." So he wrote that the believers should follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. They should not follow their old sinful desires (sanctification in chapter 8). In chapters 9-11, Paul explained that God saved the Gentiles so that the Israelites may become envious, repent and come back to God. In chapters 12-16 Paul wrote of the practical life of the believers in terms of building up their church community as well as how to live as salt and light (Mt 5:13-16). He revealed Jesus' world mission vision to go to the ends of the world (at the time, Spain) through Rome. We can learn pure gospel faith, the necessity of sanctification every day, and practical Christian living through Romans.

Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome. He introduced himself as a servant of Christ Jesus. To call himself a servant, at the time, meant he was a slave to Christ Jesus. Yet he was also an apostle, one who is sent by God. He was a lowly servant, set apart by God for service to the gospel of God.

What is this gospel Paul was set apart for? The gospel is the good news about Jesus, the Son of God. In the Old Testament, God promised to send the Messiah through King David's descendants. Jesus fulfills God's promises: he was not only a descendant of King David, but he was the Son of God and was raised from the dead. Thus, Jesus is Christ our Lord.

What did the gospel do for us? First, we, along with Paul, have received grace and apostleship to call people to come to Jesus. We received this apostleship for his name's sake. Second, we are called to belong to Jesus. Like Paul, we are sinners, unworthy of God's call. But also, like Paul, we are called to be both servants and apostles. What grace!


Application: Father, thank you that you have called us and set us apart for your gospel. Thank you for your grace and your apostleship.
One Word: We are set apart for the gospel of God