Dear Church - Romans 1

Romans 1
 
Don Green continued our chronological series through the New Testament by preaching through the book of Romans.
 
Doctrine matters; the truth of the gospel matters.
Why?
Don said, “Doctrine determines our ethical behavior.” “What we believe shapes how we behave.”
 
How are you behaving?
 
          Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
 
When we understand the grace we have been given, we will respond by living a holy life in Jesus' name. We will be transformed and not conform.
 
It is so hard not to conform to our society. When you speak the truth of God’s word, you are criticized and condemned for being hateful. Speak God’s truth anyway, but not in a hateful tone.
 
          Colossians 4:5  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
 
The Christians in Rome needed to understand Jesus's truth so they could live out that truth in their city.
 
Paul wrote his letter to the Christians in Rome during his third missionary journey in 58 AD while he was in wintering in Corinth (Acts 20:13). When spring broke and the ships were ready to sail, he hurried to Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:16, 17). Paul actually dictated his letter to the Romans, and Tertius wrote it down (Romans 16:22).
 
Rome was the imperial city of the Roman Empire, the capital city of the world's superpower; think Washington, DC, only bigger. DC is about 700,000; Rome was 4.1 million in AD 14, according to an inscription that was excavated in 1941. Rome would have been the size of LA.
 
Paul did not see the Colosseum in Rome because construction did not start until 72 AD by Emperor Vespasian.
The Colosseum in Rome was built of concrete and sand. It is the largest amphitheater ever built, covering six acres. The Colosseum could hold 80,000 spectators—an NFL-sized stadium. Gladiatorial contests, mock battles, and Christians thrown to the wild beasts were all seen in the Colosseum.
           
Tradition says that Peter began the church in Rome. Citizens from Rome (Acts 2:10) did hear Peter preach on the day of Pentecost in AD 30, the beginning of the Lord’s church.  It is now 28 years later, and the Jews and Jewish Christians have had a rough time in Rome. In 49 AD, the Roman Emperor Claudius issued a decree that expelled all Jews from Rome.
 
          Acts 18:1  After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2  There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
 
Why were the Jews kicked out?  Suetonius, a Roman historian, wrote: “Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, (Emperor Claudius) expelled them from the city.”
It is believed this is a reference to Christ – the Jews rioted and attacked the Jewish Christians, and instead of getting into a religious battle with the Jewish people, Emperor Claudius just kicked them all out. We have seen rioters cause mayhem in a city, and Claudius was not going to put up with it.  The Jews had caused a stir over Christ in Jerusalem, Antioch, Iconium, Thessalonica, and Berea, so it is logical the Jews in Rome reacted the same way when Jesus was preached and proclaimed to be the long-awaited Messiah.
 
          Acts 17:5  But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. …13  When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up.
 
Claudius was not a nuanced politician; he was a dictator; he didn’t have to worry about the 50,000 Jews and their religious arguments.
 
The church would have been all Gentiles for 5 years until after Claudius died in 54 AD, when the Jews and the Jewish Christians were free to return to Rome. When the Jewish Christians returned, there may have been some power struggles or arrogance about traditions and who God accepted.
 
          Romans 10:11  As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
 
          Romans 11:19  You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20  Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21  For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
 
Salvation is for all, which is what the letter to the Romans is about.
 
          Romans 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 
          Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
We are sinners, and we don’t get what we deserve; because of Jesus, we receive eternal life.
           
          Romans 6:1  What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3  Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
 
When you were immersed in Jesus, you received the promise of Heaven.
That is good news we need to share.
 
Do you share the Good News of Jesus with others?
Pray for people who need Jesus.
Ask God for them to ask you questions so a Christ-centered conversation can begin.
 
          Romans 1:16  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.