- Paul’s Letter to the Romans
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 2
- Paul’s Letters to the Romans Part 3
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 4
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 5
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 6
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 7
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 8
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 9
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 10
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 11
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 12
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 13
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 14
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 15
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 16
- Paul’s Letter to the Roman’s Part 17
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 18
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 19
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 20
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 21
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 22
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 23
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 24
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 25
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 26
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 27
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 28
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 29
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 30
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 31
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 32
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 33
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 34
- Paul’s Letter to the Romans Part 35
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…