God's Good News and Anger at Sin

Romans Chapter One

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❤️ of the Matter:

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The BIG 📸:

1. Introduction and Greetings: Paul introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, and sends greetings via letter to the believers in Rome. He reminds us of the good news promised by God's prophets long ago. The good news is Christ, who validated his claim as the son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit! 💭 Remember when letters were a thing? It’s become an ancient art form rarely practiced in this day and age. I use email, text, and read on a Kindle. I’m all in on the digital. I wonder if those who prefer actual books also write letters, or is it one foot in and the other out?

2. Desire to Visit Rome: Paul expresses his strong desire to visit the Roman Christians, highlighting the mutual encouragement they would provide each other in faith. 💭 The role of community in our walk cannot be over-emphasized. We need other believers in our lives to do life with!

3. The Power of the Gospel: Paul emphasizes the gospel's transformative power, which brings salvation to all who believe, regardless of whether they are Jews or Gentiles, through faith.

4. Unrighteousness and God's Wrath: Paul outlines humanity's sinful condition. He argues that everyone knows God because it is seen through all that God has made, but humankind has chosen to suppress this truth and indulge in wickedness, leading to God's righteous wrath.

5. Relegating God to Our Ideas: Again, Paul emphasizes everyone knows God, but they refuse to worship him as God or give thanks. Instead, everyone relegates God to their ideas of what God is like, which only multiplies confusion and darkness. 💭 This makes me think of 2 Timothy 3:5, which talks about having a form of godliness but denying its power. That scripture has always made me think of cross necklaces, rhetoric at the podium of achievement, etc. The necklace is cute, but do you know him because the gold will not save you? Invest as much time getting to know him as you did for whatever craft brought you to the podium. Your ideas about God may seem right, but ultimately, they may lead to death. Don’t relegate God to your thoughts. Get to know God through His word!

6. Idolatry and Immorality: Paul condemns the worship of creation over the creator and immoral behavior prevalent then and now. He highlights the consequences of turning away from God. 💭 This Pantheistic worldview takes the form of worshipping creation rather than God who created it. In this particular instance, they appear to be worshipping humankind which at some point distorted their desires and led them down a dark path of sin.

7. Consequences of Rejecting God: Paul explains how God, at times, abandons people to pursue their sinful desires, resulting in adverse effects and moral degradation. 💭 What a frightening place to be. The consequences of rejecting God can lead him to abandoning you to the sinful desires that you crave.

Paul's primary message in Romans Chapter 1 is to establish the universality of sin, the need for God's grace and righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, and the consequences of rejecting God's truth. 

The 🍞 of Life:

God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 1:2-4

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. - Hebrews 10:24-25

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” - Romans 1:16-17

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. - Romans 1:19-20

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. - Romans 1:21

having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. - 2 Timothy 3:5

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. - Romans 1:25

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. - Romans 1:28

Take a Deeper Dive 🌊:

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To Thy Matchless Glory👑