Good news of a savior for all people
October 5, 2009 (Monday)
As the Apostle Paul begins writing the encyclical on “Justification by Faith,” or, as many say, “The Righteousness of God,” he introduces his work by citing the importance of the gospel.
In Romans 1:1-6, he declares the gospel to be a promise fulfilled by God in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God promised a better covenant in which his law would be written on hearts rather than stone (Jer 31:33). God keeps his promises, and we are the beneficiaries. The “Day of Salvation” was promised through the prophet Isaiah (49:8), and came to pass through the life and work of Jesus (2 Cor 6:2). Salvation for all was promised through the Old Testament prophets, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Paul stated a clear fact that the gospel is a message from God. It is a message that Jesus was born to be our Savior, raised from the dead to demonstrate his deity and power, and exalted by the Holy Spirit as he inspired his apostles to proclaim a message of the power of God to save all who accept Christ as Messiah.
The introduction to Romans (1:1-6), asserts that the gospel is a call from God to everyone in the world, regardless of any of the things that separate us from one another, to receive the grace of God. He calls through the Spirit-inspired proclamation of the gospel, and we hear, responding by receiving and obeying the precious word from God.
When we accept Christ as Savior, we are regenerated from within, becoming new people in Christ, born spiritually to a new life and justified freely by the grace of God. A spiritual inheritance is immediately ours, with a guarantee of eternity with God. This guarantee is assured through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the earnest of our inheritance (Eph 1). Thank God for the precious gospel.
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Romans 1:1-7 NIV (Introduction to the book of Romans)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.