Wisdom in Romans

Romans is considered by most to be the most theologically important book of the Bible. 

I will analyze what I think are the best verses in Romans. :)

Romans 1: The Gospel Exalted

"Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ² which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, ³ concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, ⁴ who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, ⁶ among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ."

 

The fact that a savior would come was prophesied in the Old Testament several times.  Some prophecies portrayed Jesus as a suffering servant and some talked about what he would appear like in his second coming. 

 

It was prophesied that Jesus would be from the line of David, which he was through Mary.  The beginning of Matthew points that out.  It was prophesied that he would rise from the dead.  It was prophesied that he would reconcile his people to God, as he did, most of them. :)

^"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."

Some in the early church may have been ashamed of the gospel because it was opposed so much.  Stephen was stoned to death for preaching the gospel.  Many were put in prison and beaten, including Paul. 

But why does Paul say he is not ashamed of it, because the gospel is Power. :)  It leads to salvation.  It is the light. 

 Paul says, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

What does he mean by this?  It shows that God is righteous because he finally sent a sacrifice that would fulfill justice and meet the payment due for our sins.  And if we have faith in Jesus' sacrifice, we are saved.  It is not our works that save us.  It is faith, and faith alone. 

Romans 2: The Impartiality of God

"Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

 

For example, we might judge another for being mastered by something, but are we mastered by something in our own lives? 

 

We may judge another for getting angry but do we get angry?

 

I love the quote, "We hate in others what we hate in ourselves." 

 

We judge and despise MOST the sin we see in others that reminds us of the sin in OURSELVES. 

 

When we see some familiar failing in someone else it is like a mirror is held up to us, and without realizing it, we see ourselves.  It is the sin within our own selves that we hate.  But we want to point the finger at the other instead of correcting that behavior in ourselves, because that seems easier.

 

This may be why when two people are too similar they may not get along.  Opposites attract partly because they have different flaws and struggle with different sins.  :) 

 

We can forgive and overlook the person opposite of us more because their struggle is different from our own.  But when we see our own sin in someone else, boy do we try to go to war with that person. 

 

But it is really ourselves that we are mad at, not that other person. 

 

"The kindness of God leads you to repentance."

 

We once debated a topic in Torrey about would you rather be a king that is feared or loved.  One who is feared may appear to have more power, but it is the one who is loved that actually does, because his subjects are loyal to him outwardly and inwardly. 

 

God knows this.  He is the wisest being alive.  He knows that it is kindness that wins people over.  It is love that draws people.  Jesus said, "If I be lifted up (as in die for all men) I will draw all men unto myself."  It was God's love poured out for us that has drawn us to him.

 

In the same sense, it is not when the church judges others that they are drawn to it, that only pushes people away.  It is when the church really loves others that people will be drawn to it. 

 

Something to keep in mind. :)

 

"There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

 

This could be an argument for the rapture. :)  This could be referring to the after life, heaven and hell, or it could be referring to the seven year tribulation, that I think is coming soon.  Perhaps this is saying the church and those who love God will be spared and taken up before it gets bad here on earth.  I hope so. :)

^"For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.... when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them."

This is an argument for those who have never heard the gospel.  Some people ask, "What about those in other countries who have never heard the gospel?"  Well they will be judged apart from the law.  They will be judged by how well they followed their conscious, since the law is somewhat written on their hearts.  This means they should instinctively know what is right and wrong because we are all made in the image of God. 

Also God reveals himself to those who truly seek him.  If they do not have a Bible in their language God can always speak to them in dreams, in a burning bush :), in miracles etc. 

^" You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? ²⁴ For 'the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,' just as it is written."

This reflects a great quote I once heard.  "The main cause of atheism in the world is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.  That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Yes often times Christians are hypocrites.  They want to judge the world while they are living in sin themselves.  Will not the world judge us if we judge them?  Yes.  That is why Paul says, "Judge not lest ye be judged."  Beware of judging anyone, because it will almost always backfire on you.  

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