Romans 1-2

(Originally written July 28, 2006 in Book 7)

Recently I have been paying a lot of attention to philosophy and been completely neglecting any focus on God. I want to be a philosopher so I can reconcile philosophy with faith in God. If I don't pay attention to God I will fail in this quest. I need to spend contemplative time in the Word of God as well as prayer time with Him. I thin a study of the letters of Paul will again inspire me with God's word.

Romans

1:1-6 Paul describes himself as:
1) A slave of Jesus Christ
2) Called to be an  apostle
3) set apart for the gospel of God

He describes the Gospel as:
1) Promised through the prophets
2) about Jesus Christ

He describes Jesus Christ as:
1) The son
2) Humanly descendant of David
3) Holy in spirit
4) declared with the power to be the son of God
5) resurrected from the dead

He offers the resurrection as proof for him being the son of God.

The charge of Paul's apostleship is to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith

The Romans are included in those who Paul is charged to call to obedience.

1:7 - Paul's greeting to the Romans

1:8-16 - Paul longs to visit Rome

He thanks God for the Romans and their faith

v. 12 is interesting "that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith". It is interesting because Paul, a man who wrote about half of the New Testament, is able to be encouraged by another person's faith. My minuscule faith can encourage someone who has great faith. That is a testament to faith's power.

v. 14 is also interesting to me and my call. "I am obligated... to the wise and the foolish".

v. 16 The power of faith: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes". The power of God is at the use of believers in the form of the Gospel.

How should we live? The righteous will live by faith...

1:18-32 "God's wrath against mankind"

Godlessness and wickedness surprise the truth

"What may be known about God is plain to them" v. 20. This means that knowledge of God is in plain sight, but that is only what may be known of Him. Hidden knowledge of God is not possible because what is known of Him is in plain sight because God has made it known to them.

No men have excuses because God can be known solely through creation.

Paul eludes to philosophers in v. 22. "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools". This foolishness caused men to become idolaters.

As punishment for their idolatry God gave them over to their sins. A man's choice of sin can therefore become his own punishment. This is evidence for free will.

v. 24, v. 26, and v. 27 condemns homosexuality, but it is one of many sins that God condemns. It should not be singled out as 'the' mortal sin or worse than any other. It is just another sin in the long list of wicked acts performed by mankind. All sins are equally horrid.

Chapter 2

Everyone is condemned by the judgment they pass on others.

Unrepentant hearts store up judgment against themselves from God.

God does not show favoritism.

Chapter two makes a strong case for innate ideas.

Physical appearances are not what God judges man on. God judges man on the contents of their heart. A heart precedes actions and transcends actions. God judges a man's heart.

Today I read Romans 1 & 2. I need to read more, but I am tired. I need to get back into the habit of reading God's word. Lord help me with this. Let the words sink into my heart. Help me to live by faith.