The letter to the church at Rome is unique among all of the letters that the apostle Paul wrote by inspiration. Here is the only one written to a congregation that Paul did not help establish and because of that, we find Paul making known to these brethren his earnest desire to come to them. He first had to go to Jerusalem to deliver the offering that the churches of Macedonia and Achaia and others had sent to help the poor in Jerusalem and Judea. Who started the church at Rome is a question that no one can answer except for what is stated in Acts 2:10 that there at Jerusalem were, sojourners from Rome. Among the many reasons Paul wanted to visit the congregation at Rome was that the Christians there needed instruction to forestall any Judaizing activity. Plus, Paul hoped that after visiting Rome, he could continue into what is now Spain to spread the gospel.
The central theme of Romans is the revelation
of the righteousness of God to man, and its application to his spiritual
needs. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes
and obeys! In this letter Paul makes a strong, logical case for the needs
of both the Jews and the Gentiles needing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This
letter has long been a mainstay of Christian theology. The last chapters
include practical information on how to live the Christian life!
A NEW WALK
by Paul D. Fisher
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1)
The apostle Paul, in writing to the Christians at Rome, compared their lives as a new walk in Christ. They had turned their backs on the fleshy lust of sin and death and were living after the spirit of God. Only those who are in Christ Jesus are out of the condemnation of sin and death, but they can be tempted by sin and fall away.
The new walk that the Christian is taking is toward life and God, not after sinful flesh. This gives the Christian a whole different outlook on life. Instead of life centering on self, it now centers on Christ. This gives the Christian a new focus, a life centered or focused on service to fellow-man and God. The greatest help to one's fellow-man is to bring him the simple truth of the saving gospel of Christ.
The new walk causes people even today to
leave sin and death and walk after Jesus Christ. Today,
as in the apostles' day, people are saved by hearing
the word of God (Romans 11:17). Faith comes
by believing God's word to be true (John 8:24). Repenting
of your sins (Acts 17:30); confessing Jesus (Romans 10:9-10) and then being
baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). This makes you a new Christian
and you start that "new walk" toward heaven by living the rest of your
life faithful to God.
In a world of fast-pace changes, it is wonderful to know that a person can still walk with God. This is the only thing that will bring people to God, obedience to God's will, walking after Him in a life of active service. So many in the so-called religious world today fail or ignore this fact, wanting to make Christianity a passive religion. Are you walking in this "new walk" toward God or are you just sitting there hoping that somehow you will get there?