Romans

Romans is probably the most practical, logical, systematic presentation of the Gospel in all the Bible. Paul wrote it: 1) to teach them (and us) the fundamental doctrine of salvation--ch.1-8. 2) to explain the unbelief of Israel and vindicate the faithfulness of God in His dealings with Israel--ch.9-11, and 3) to give practical instruction concerning Christian living--ch.12-16. Paul's theme is simply the Gospel of God, and his thesis statement can be found in 1:16-17. Then, in the first three chapters, Paul establishes his first main point: All men are sinners. And in today's reading, at the end of the chapter, he takes up the first type of fallen man: The Pagan Man-The Heathen, 1:18-32. (In ch.2-3, he'll deal with: The Moral Man-The Hypocrite, and The Religious Man-The Hebrew. All 3 groups need salvation, for all have sinned and fallen short...3:23).

And it's the Gospel that has the power to save fallen man (1:16). Paul's absolute confidence in the Gospel is based on three things:
1. Based on the Gospel's Supremacy: "not ashamed" --Paul knows it to be far superior to any religion or philosophy ever known on earth. The world in Paul's day was dominated by three lines of thought: a) Greek logic. b) Roman law. c) Hebrew light. But all paled before the Gospel. In the face of all three, Paul could say "I am not ashamed of the Gospel...."
2. Based on the Gospel's Sufficiency: "It is the power of God unto salvation..." You see, this world does not need a better system of education, or more social reform, or more political solutions, or new ideas. It needs what it has always needed--the Gospel!
3. Based on the Gospel's Simplicity: "It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes." Could anything be more simpler than that? The Gospel call is to a simple trust in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as personal Savior from sin.

Prayer:
"Lord, Paul planned to see the Romans soon so that he could minister to them just as he had to others. And Lord, like Paul, I am ready to proclaim the Gospel to any and all. Lord, I am not ashamed of the Good News of Jesus Christ, for it is powerful to get people to believe so they can be saved. Lord help me to always share this life changing Gospel in a clear and simple way. And when I do, I know that Your Word will not return void. In Jesus Name, Amen."

Quote:
"Religions are man's search for God; the Gospel is God's search for man. There are many religions, but one Gospel."
--E. Stanley Jones