Romans 1

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Thought On This Chapter

ROM 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

ROM 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

After Paul got saved he felt like he had a debt to those who were not saved. He says, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians". His debt to tell others about the gospel extended to all. He felt he had a debt to tell the civilized Greek culture and he felt he had a debt to tell the Barbarians how to be saved.

These two groups represent the far ends of the scale. The Greeks were on the one end of the scale and the Barbarians were on the far end. By specifying the two ends of the spectrum, Paul was saying he had a debt to tell all cultures; the Greeks, the Barbarians, and all groups in between.

Paul also says that his debt to tell others about the saving power of Jesus extends to all no matter if they are wise or not. Everyone needs to hear the gospel cultured or not, wise or not. And Paul realized his responsibility. He said, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel..." He gave his all to tell others how to be saved. He felt he had a debt to pay. Jesus saved his soul and gave him eternal life. Some thing that Paul did not earn and could not ever earn. The least he could do for Christ was to tell others.

O for more Christians that understand this principle of their responsibility to tell others.

If your church has a scheduled time where they go out and witness, then you should be involved in it. Even if your health prevents you from going, you should be involved in praying for those to go.

If your church does not have a scheduled time, then ask your pastor about starting one.

Every one of us that are saved have a responsibility and a debt to tell others.

Thought On This Chapter

ROM 1:16 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.

ROM 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

The power of God unto salvation is the gospel of Christ. In fact it is the ONLY way to be saved. The gospel is salvation to every one that believes. Not everyone who joins a group. Not everyone who is baptized or any other form of works. It is by belief. The just shall live by faith. The gospel is for everyone. It is offered freely to all for Jesus died for all. The fact that Jesus died for the sins of man and then was raised for our justification is the gospel. It is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. His righteousness is imputed to us if we will but believe with a repentant heart. He paid the price and took our punishment because we are not capable of paying it ourselves. We are sinners before a Holy God. It took the just dying for the unjust to satisfy God's justice. Man is a sinner on his way to hell but the love of God provided a way of salvation. That is the gospel. And it and only it is the power unto salvation. We don't need different music. Entertainment is not the answer. We don't need a new program. Churches only need to get back to God's one and only program and that is the gospel. And notice what Paul says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ". Because it is the only thing that can save, Paul says I am not ashamed of the gospel.

It is a sad sad thing, but most Christians are ashamed at some level. Some more than others. Most will not tell others about Jesus. And many are too ashamed to even put a gospel track or even an invitation to church on someone's door. Have you ever wondered what would happen if a whole church started passing out tracks? Many churches have a handful of people who will. Some even have a good group doing it. I have seen God be faithful and bless the effort time and time again. Praise the Lord for it! It makes me wonder, how would God bless it if the entire church got involved. I believe that it would be amazing.

Christians let us not be ashamed and lets get involved in getting the gospel out. It is the gospel that is the power unto salvation.

King James Bible Main Index:

Romans 1 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

ROM 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

ROM 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

ROM 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

ROM 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

ROM 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

ROM 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

ROM 1:7 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.

ROM 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

ROM 1:9 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;

ROM 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

ROM 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

ROM 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

ROM 1:13 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.

ROM 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

ROM 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

ROM 1:16 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.

ROM 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

ROM 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

ROM 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

ROM 1:20 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:

ROM 1:21 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.

ROM 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

ROM 1:23 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.

ROM 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

ROM 1:25 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.

ROM 1:26 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:

ROM 1:27 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.

ROM 1:28 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;

ROM 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

ROM 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

ROM 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

ROM 1:32 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.

General Information About the Book of Romans.

Romans is "The Great Doctrinal Platform"

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans to set forth the cardinal doctrines of Christianity. This book was written to a group of Jewish believers at Rome. It was written while Paul was on the Third Missionary Journey approximately 58 A.D.

The main theme of the Book of Romans is Justification by Faith.

The main Key Words in the book are Law (which is found 78 times) and Faith (which is found 62 times).

General Information on Romans continued.

ROM 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

ROM 1:9 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;

Something was going on in Rome. Their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world.

Now stop and think about it for a moment. People will not talk about it if nothing was happening. They obviously had a faith that was worth talking about. It must have been a working faith. A type of faith that gets things done.

And there is a connection in verse 9 that is often overlooked. Paul was praying for them without ceasing. There is a connection between prayer and things happening in God's work.

As Christians we are to spend much time in prayer for the work of God and those that are involved in the work of God.

Things were happening in Rome. Their faith was being talked about all over the world. And all the while Paul was praying for them.

How much time have you spent this week praying for those that are involved in the work of God?