The event that changed the world and
brought us ‘BC’ and ‘AD’, the birth and life of Jesus Christ in an obscure corner
of the Roman Empire. Hardly noticed by anyone else, took place some 35 years
before this letter arrived in Rome.
Rome, the teeming capital of power, bustling
with commerce and business activity of all kinds, was also home of much important
writing, so this letter hardy made a splash when it arrived.
There is much to read in Rome. Court documents, official notices, fine poetry and excellent literature, yet this letter has outstayed them all, and is still read for its vital truths. For it is an excellent statement of what God is up in this world, and just why Jesus Christ was born, and what “Jesus Christ Saves” really means to the lost world.
For here St. Paul, who begins the
letter by identifying himself as “servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an
apostle and appointed to tell the Good News” v.1, starts from the beginning and
tells the story. How Adam and Eve fell into sin; “ by one man sin entered into
the world”, and how this sin was defeated when Jesus Christ died on the cross
to pay for it, and what this means for the life of the person who believes in
Him. Then
what happens to their living, their outlook, and their existence. How they can,
and do, live in hope, and how they can defeat the temptations thrown at them by
the devil.
It’s an important letter because it
gives us the truth about our way of salvation. It's the last verses we look at are
so striking. Paul ends by throwing in this caution: “Fellow Christians, I urge
you to watch those who cause disagreements and make people fall for going
against the teaching you learned. Turn away from them. Such men are not serving
Christ, our Lord, but their own bellies. By their fine flattering talk are
deceiving innocent people”. Then he adds this word, “I want you to be experts in
what is good, and not even beginners in evil. It will not be long before the
God of peace will crush Satan under your feet.” Romans 16,17-20. Paul
uses “I urge you”. He means the words to be taken as strong warning. Please pay
attention. I insist you fellow my advice. It is pressing.
A recent study tell that a mere 10 percent of all Christians believe they have the entire truth and says, “there's some good in all religions”. Don’t believe it. Your Lord says, “I am the way, the Truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father But By ME”. John 14,6.
GPD 12/29/14
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