Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 2

In Christ Jesus there is neither bond nor free, much less is there

king and private, individual man. You were called and did not come

of yourselves.

Part 2

Paul mentioned being called by Christ to be an apostle, in

verse 1. Now he tells these Roman Christians that they, also, have

been “called to belong to Jesus Christ” (v. 6). Such a call involves

both privilege and responsibility. “To all that be in Rome, beloved

of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our

Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 7). Paul continually points

our attention to the fact that we are “called”. We may think that

we have some rank or authority, we are educated, we are elite in

this life but we in fact are none of those things. We are, the

“called”. Paul puts us together as one similarly to Christ’s prayer

before Calvary. “…for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also

might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these

alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their

word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I

in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may

believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest

me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are

one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect

in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and

hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:19-23).

Among them, at Rome, which believed, it was likely that

there would be some of the consuls and rulers as well as poor and

common men, casting aside the inequality of ranks, however, Paul

05/05/2019 2 | P a g e writes to them all under one designation. It is clearly seen that all

things that are needful and which are spiritual, all things are set

forth as common both to slaves and to free, for instance, the love

from God, the calling, the Gospel, the adoption, the grace, the

peace, the sanctification, all things.

Dignities are temporary positions and are over at the time

of a person’s death, and are often bought with money but our

promises have been given by God, the gift of sanctification and

adoption, is not broken even by death. He that holds on in the

adoption, and keeps an exact watch upon his holiness, is much

brighter and happier than he that is arrayed with the crown in this

life.

As for having a good nature and joy, it is not greatness of

power, not abundance of wealth, not display of authority, not

strength of body, not luxury of the table, not the decorating of

dresses, nor any other of the things in man’s reach that ordinarily

produces them, but spiritual success, and a good conscience

alone. He that has this cleansed, even though he wears rags and

is struggling with famine, has a better spirit than they that live so

delicately. For this cause Paul, living in continual hunger and

nakedness, and being scourged every day was joyful, and went

more gently than they that were emperors. This is why Paul says,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such

there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also

To be continued…

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