Romans 1 - 2

Abandonment

Note: We begin 7 weeks of reading the New Testament Epistles, the majority of which were written by Paul. These form the basis of the teachings of the Christian religion, to the point that any variance from what Paul preaches must be condemned (Galatians 1).  As the first church age messenger, Paul was chosen by God Himself through a pillar of fire (see Acts 9:15) to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles and establish the Ephesian church.

This first epistle is our reading is one in which Paul explains that all (Jews and Gentiles) are sinners and  can only be justified by faith, not works, not adherence to the Law, but faith only. After greeting the believing Romans in chapter 1:1-7, and commending their faith (1:8), and expressing his continual prayer for them and a desire to see them in person (1:9-15), he explains that his purpose of the letter is to bring the Gospel of God (1:1) which is the saving power of Jesus Christ, His Son (1:16-17) to all who will believe on Jesus.

Paul starts with a dire and disturbing picture of the wickedness and sinfulness prevalent in the world (then and now) by describing three general categories of unbelief.  In 1:21 he discusses those who refuse to believe in a living God and instead chose to worship an idol of their own creation.  For this God abandons them to "every shameful thing their heart desires (v. 24).  This idolatry and consequent abandonment by God leads these people to sexual immorality and unnatural homosexuality.  For the second time Paul declares that God abandons these wicked ones to their shameful desires (v. 26). The idolatry and immorality leads the people to a line of thinking that overtly and stubbornly denies the very existence of God.  For this, God once again abandons them to a "reprobate mind" (v. 28) and turns them over to every type of wickedness and evil imaginable. There is nothing left for them but spiritual death and separation from God.

In chapter 2, Paul warns the believers not to get a self-righteous spirit, and not to think that they are above sin by their own merits.  The very things that Paul condemns, some of them are guilty of.  He warns that by not taking advantage of the Grace of God and the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, they are storing up great punishment for themselves (2:5).  So while he stated in 1:16 that salvation first came to the Jews, and then the Gentiles, after the Holy Ghost was given in Acts 2, that now for those who continue in evil, great calamity awaits for the Jew and the Gentile (2:9-11).

Now that Grace has replaced the Law, God no longer judges ones life by the Law rather He looks at the heart and at the faith of the believer and justifies according to their faith in His shed blood.  The covenant under which the Jews were covered and kept is now limited.  The believer keeps the Law because he knows it pleases God, not just because of some formality.  Because Christ dwells in the believer, he is able to keep the Law, but without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to fulfill all the obligations of the old covenant.

At the end of chapter 2 (28-29) Paul describes the "true Jew" as one who is circumcised in their heart. One who has allowed the Holy Spirit to examine and change their life.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.