Romans is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It was written in the form of a letter that the Apostle Paul sent to the Christians in Rome. Romans is by far the greatest and most powerful book, and thus it comes as no surprise to me that God ordained that Romans appear first among all of the epistles that Paul wrote. Incidentally he wrote thirteen epistles, (letters) to various churches, but unlike the rest of them, Paul did not found, nor ever even visit the church in Rome.( He hasn’t visited the church I attend either, but this influential book resonates there today just the same.)
As testimony to how important I value this book I always recommend to those who are new to the Bible to begin reading it in Romans. I advise that after completing Romans, that you then turn back to Matthew and read the entire New Testament, (rereading Romans when you get there), followed by the Old Testament.
I suggest that when you first read the Bible that you just skim over the parts that you don’t understand such as genealogies that were put in there to establish that Jesus fulfilled prophecies concerning His royal lineage to the line of David in order that the Jews would know that indeed Jesus is the Messiah, or difficult books such as Revelation. Take your time and listen to God as He enables you to understand passages and how they affect your daily life.
In my estimation reading the Bible all of the way through is one of the most worthwhile things someone can do. I also suggest that it be read in a modern translation such as the Living translation. While some of the poetry may be lost, the meaning is more easily understood. Don’t just read it like a book, carefully study it and reflect upon what God is teaching you.
Nothing has contributed more to my personal success in life than Bible study. I believe that Romans is the best place to begin one’s lifelong quest for spiritual truth and direction. Many refer to Romans as a book of “exhortation”, which simply means Paul earnestly offers advice and strongly urges us to take action. What he “exhorts” is that the power of the Gospel gives us hope. It does not recite facts and deeds so much as laying out a life to be lived. We need to take action on what he preaches and live that life for Christ.
While John 3:16 is perhaps the best known verse in the Bible as evidenced at most any televised football game, I believe that Romans is the greatest tool in the Bible for teaching salvation. While the Gospels that come before it record the words, works, and life of Jesus Christ, Romans teaches us the significance of Christ’s death on the cross for our sins. Paul iterates that sin is a universal human condition and that people must live by faith, as Abraham had done. He states that both Jews and gentiles can obtain justification through faith in Jesus Christ; something which he calls “grace”. The overriding theme of Romans is that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation through faith.
Many of you write and tell me that you lack faith. Without faith you cannot know God’s hope, peace, joy, and love. The Bible states that faith comes from hearing the word of God. If your faith is not what it should be and your life is filled with discouragement, worry, and angst, I urge you to “hear” the word of God. Pick up your Bible sometime today and begin reading Romans. Take your time. Thoughtfully consider what God is saying through His servant Paul’s letter to the Romans and to you and me. Faith gives us hope and with statistics indicating that 82% of people in this country have lost hope we need it as a country and as human beings struggling with sin.
This is unrelated to today’s words for the day, but I keep getting letters from some of you telling me that do not agree with me on various things.
Okay, I don’t agree with you either. So where does that leave us?
Hmmm… I suggest that you begin your own project similar to WFTD and tell it like you see it.
As for me I have read the Bible many times and study it daily and I interpret it as God has given me understanding. I tell it like I see it and the chips… well the chips can just fall wherever they may. I’m not altering my message to make some politically correct point in order that everyone will agree with me or like me. I base my belief system on the Bible and my hope is that most of you will get something out of it. If not, don’t get all upset about it and write me a nasty letter personally attacking me, simply unsubscribe and start your own daily devotional…
Oh and one last thing, according to my interpretation of the Bible I do not believe in abortion, stem cell research, homosexual priests/preachers. I don’t agree that pornography is free speech, and I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The Bible tells us that women should not be pastors and teach men; I believe the Bible.
On the political front I think that President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid’s agenda is anti-Christian in nature and by far the worst thing that has ever happened to this country in my lifetime and unless God were to directly intervene, I doubt we can recover if Obama is reelected along with his Democratic majority. That means we as Christians who love God and this country must work hard, contribute money and most importantly vote Obama and all who think like him out of office.
Oh boy….
Romans 1:7
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.