JC Blog

The book of Roman is a masterfully written exposition on grace. This letter to the believers in Rome has changed the hearts of many as they read and understand the wonderful truths nestled inside. Paul wrote this letter to these Christians to explain his revelation of grace.

Romans 1 covers Paul's introduction to the book of Romans as well as building a case against the entire world that we were guilty before God. The reason for writing the book of Romans was to share the gospel and teach that our righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ apart from what we can do to earn it.

Romans 2 is written to admonish the Jews that living by the law and circumcision does not make them righteous in God's eyes. This comes as quite a shock, but Paul stresses that living by rules and regulations only brings about judgment and condemnation. Paul concludes that a true Jew is one that has experienced circumcision of the heart by the Spirit of God.

Romans 3 completes the accusation that both the Jews and the Gentiles are guilty before God. Now the prosecution can rest and the defense can begin. Paul switches gears by explaining that the righteousness that the law was powerless to give us, God did by sending Jesus. He maintains that this righteousness comes by faith to all who believe in Christ Jesus apart from the law.

Romans 4 is proof that faith has always been the means for justification. Paul reflects back to the Old Testament patriarchs who were justified by faith, not works, to illustrate his point. Paul uses this illustration to prove that Gentiles were part of this promise given to Abraham. The whole world was blessed through him because he chose to believe God rather than his circumstances and because of this, his faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Romans 5 is powerful and instrumental in understanding that we are completely reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. God did not spare his son, but graciously gave him for us to undo what Adam did in the garden. Death came through one man's sin, but life came more abundantly in every way through the gift of Jesus. Paul stresses that this reconciliation is not something we are waiting for, but in every sense of the word, we are righteous, holy and pure before God.

Romans 6 eloquently teaches that, as born again believers, sin's power over us is broken. Paul maintains that we are freed from sin and made alive to God through Jesus Christ. Our sin nature was crucified with him when we were baptized into his death. Now through Jesus, we have received the gift of God which was eternal life.

Romans 7 shows us the contrast between living bound to the law and living fresh and new by the spirit of God. No longer slaves or in bondage, we are free to belong to another. The struggle with sin may still be evident, but Paul maintains we have no obligation to it. If we live by the Spirit then we will bear fruit according to our new nature.

Romans 8 shows how to live by the Spirit, letting peace rule in our hearts. The Holy Spirit within us testifies that we are children of God. He gives us assurance before God so we are convinced that nothing will ever separate us from His love. This is a passage of hope because we know our future is bright in Christ.

Romans 9 teaches us that it is not natural children that are God's children, but rather children of the promise. The promise comes through faith in Christ not by works of the Law. The Israelites who pursued righteousness by the law did not obtain it. But Gentiles, those who pursued it by faith, obtained their righteousness through Jesus Christ. Chapter 9 is a sobering call that Christ alone saves nothing else is sufficient.

Romans 10 teaches the word of faith. By confessing with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and by believing this in our hearts we are saved. Nothing more, nothing less. Christ is the end of the law so we can be justified and made righteous by faith in Jesus alone. Faith comes by hearing this gospel message and responding to it. Paul encourages us that "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 11 discusses that although Israel as a whole rejected Jesus as their Messiah, there is still a remnant chosen by grace. Their dismissal of Jesus has blessed the world because this salvation message was then opened to the Gentiles. However, they have not fallen beyond recovery, in the end Israel will be saved through faith. God's plan includes bestowing mercy upon all mankind.

Romans 12 encourages us to be living sacrifices in view of the mercy we have received in Christ Jesus. We do this through renewing our minds to the truth of God's word, serving and blessing the body of Christ through our gifts and above all by loving and being devoted to one another. Romans 12 is a call to live a life of peace, faithfully serving the Lord in all things and overcoming the evil of the world by the lives we live through Christ Jesus.

Romans 13 is a charge to clothe ourselves with Christ Jesus and live as his children in this present world. We are to submit to authorities and to pay respect where it is due. We are to awake from our slumber and serve the Lord out of love showing that we are included in the light of the gospel.

Romans 14 encourages us to consider everything we do as if we are doing it for the Lord. It is a call to do what leads to peace and mutual edification within the body of Christ. We are not to condemn or look down on those who are weaker in faith, but be fully convinced of what is acceptable in our own minds, for everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Romans 15 stresses unity within the body of believers. We are to take the encouragement from the scriptures and Christ as our example in how we live accepting one another. Paul reminds us that we are competent ministers of the gospel taking in and internalizing the amazing grace that was covered in the previous chapters. Now it is our job to share it with others.

Romans 16 is Paul's final farewell and instruction to the believers in Rome. He is affectionate toward them and gives final coaching to watch out for false doctrine and teachings and those who would cause division among them. He reminds them that Satan will soon be crushed under their feet and that His gospel is able to hold them until the day of Jesus.

As you can see this is an amazing book and will bless all who read, understand and enjoy this wonderful message of Jesus.

Except for Timothy, not much detail is given about these men that Paul shared his life with. Several accounts of people with these names are found in the book of Acts, it is possible that these are one and the same. If this is true then it paints a wonderful picture of how the apostle Paul ministered. He would surround himself with converts to Christianity and disciple them in the Lord for several years.

Although we do not have much account of their lives we do know that Timothy was in charge of the church at Ephesus after his time with the apostle. Paul saw to it that he was trained and equipped for the task at hand. After their time learning from Paul these men went on to big things making a difference for the kingdom of God.

Another interesting piece of information that most people do not realize is that Paul dictated this letter to Tertius. He is actually the one who physically penned this letter as Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, instructed him on the words to write.

What is amazing about these few verses is that it shows the participation in the gospel of Jesus. Once these men came to know the Lord, most likely through Paul, they left everything they had to pursue it. I'm sure they left homes and families to be trained and equipped by Paul. Even though we just have a record of their names, these men were great examples of faith that will always be remembered every time this book of Romans is read.

Today, may you take encouragement from these words as you also make a difference for Christ in your homes, work places and spheres of influences. Remembering that the difference you make is eternal and like these men, not limited to your time here on earth. What you are remembered for can make a lasting impression for the years to come.

I always get excited when I read about women in the Bible or see a women mentioned in the scriptures such as Phoebe. Not much detail is given about her nor is she mentioned anywhere else except in this final chapter in Romans. But she will always be remembered as the person who delivered Paul's epistle to the believers at Rome.

What an amazing task this must have been. Travel was not easy nor safe, but she was given this great letter and sent to deliver it. With it came a personal recommendation from Paul, this tells us a lot about this lady. Paul told them that she was a servant of the church in Cenchrea and many assume that she might have been a deaconess or minister there. The word for servant, translated from the Greek means attendant and is used elsewhere to denote a Christian teacher, pastor, deacon or deaconess. However the word was also used in the case of a servant or someone who did errands as a slave. Whether or not Phoebe was a deaconess or servant one truth remains, she was a great help to the many people.

Paul instructed this church to help her out in whatever means necessary as she also helped others. This is an important truth that illustrators the principal of reaping what you sow. Just knowing that she helped and ministered to others in their time of need would empower the Romans to assist her while in Rome and on her journey. This is why Paul mentioned it. He instructed them that she had been a great help to others and even himself, so in the same way they should assist her when possible. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" ( Luke 6:38 ). This is one of the key principal how the Kingdom of God works, we will reap what we sow. So in helping others, others will be more likely to help us. Paul is advocating that Phoebe has earned their help and respect by the help she had given him.

The same holds true for us today, we are more likely to assist those who willingly help us and vica versa. Like Phoebe were are servants of Jesus and ministers to His church. We are tasks with helping and caring for our brothers and sisters when there is a need. Today, I pray that you become aware of those needs and step in and help when possible. Just like Phoebe, you will be remembered for your servants heart and for caring and ministering to the saints of God. May this truth bless you today as you walk in it!

I find it interesting that Paul not only knew his calling but also understood that he was set apart for the gospel of God.

David wrote something similar in Psalms 139,

The call of Jeremiah came in much the same way...

And of course let's not forget Jesus... Jesus had just returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit shortly after his run in with Satan in the desert where Satan tempted him. Jesus returned to Nazareth, where he grew up and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath and choose to read this passage concerning himself from the prophet Isaiah.

Then what does Jesus say in Luke 4?

Here are four counts of a calling and recognition of what God had ordained for His good purpose from the moment of their conception.

Paul understood this when he said that he ‘was called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.'

These men knew and understood their calling and purpose and because of it they were able to move forward with what the Lord had ordained for them in the first place. Purpose, passion and direction marking their success -

Now Paul considered himself the chief sinner and we are very familiar with how he persecuted the church and hunted down Christians. But in Romans 1:1 he confesses that he is a servant of Christ Jesus - in some translations literally a slave of Christ ordained or set apart from the very beginning for the exclusive purpose of the gospel. Set apart to preach ‘the almost too good to be true news' of Jesus Christ.

Now Paul is laying the ground work for the amazing things he will be writing about in the book of Romans. How he was set apart for this gospel and what this gospel of Jesus entails, but to reflect and recognize that even though Paul was known throughout the early church as a persecutor of the brethren after his conversion is where he says, that he was set apart for the gospel - meaning called, ordained and appointed from birth.

Understanding ones calling and purpose in life will save a lot of heart ache along the way -

In the four examples that I've shared, all of these men knew their purpose along the way, who knew that God saw and knew them from the beginning lived with the ending in mind to the Glory of God.

David was called, ‘a man after God's own heart...'

Jeremiah was a prophet to the nations, just like the Lord had said he would be...

And what can we say about Jesus? Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Jesus defeated sin and death and he redeemed that which was lost when sin entered into the world. Jesus saves all who believe in him to the Glory of the Father because God sent him as a propitiation for our sins. And Jesus fulfilled the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘he has proclaimed the year of the Lords favor"

In the same way Paul knew and understood that he was set apart for the gospel and because of it Paul and His friends evangelized the known world of that time.

What a difference you and I can make when we understand these principals... First that God knows and loves us and created us with a purpose and a plan right from the beginning. Secondly, when we seek him and understand what the plan is, then we will be successful. Third, when we operate in what the Lord has called us to do, this is truly when we will find contentment and overflow with joy in life...

I will leave you with the Prophet Jeremiah in closing, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD" ( Jeremiah 29:11-14 )

May God bless you and show you the purpose he has for your life 

I have prayed for many people over the years for various things. One girl, in particular stands out because her body was sick and robbing her of life. The doctors could do nothing for her and as we talked, I looked into her eyes and saw that she had no hope. I remember thinking to myself, that this was a great place to be... fed up with the circumstances and hopeless for a solution.

No matter what anyone says, we all have faith. Because of this, we put our faith in what we believe. If we believe we will receive the answer from the doctor, then we will exercise our faith by seeking that answer, from the doctor. If we believe we have a chance at the million dollar jackpot, then we will buy a lottery ticket. If we believe the building we are in, is on fire, then we will leave the building. When we believe something, it show by how we appropriate our faith in that belief.

In this example from Abraham, he used his faith to believe God. The difference between us and Abraham, is that 'against all hope, Abraham in hope believed'. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be." ( Romans 4:18; Amp ). His human hope was gone because there was no possible way physically, that he should father a child by Sarah. Both well pass the age or capability. But the scriptures say, that he didn't hope with his limited understanding, instead he hoped through the supernatural hope imparted by God.

He took what had been spoken to him as fulfilled even before it had begun. To do that, faith first has to rise on the inside. Hoping with a supernatural hope in the promise of God. When we base our faith in God's word and what he has promised, then our faith is based in truth. Thank God that Abraham operated in faith because he saw the fulfillment of God's promise and we were also blessed through it. The circumstances surrounding him, ceased to exist when he clung to that hope, riding on God's word.

In the same way, the lady, whose eyes held disappointment and hopelessness, lit up at hearing this very scripture because all of a sudden her hope wasn't based on anything but God and his word. As we spent a couple hours pouring over this passage in Romans, faith rose on the inside of her until she couldn't contain herself. As we prayed together for her body to heal and the sickness to leave in Jesus' name, she showed that she believed God's word by her faith. And her faith made her well that very hour. Every day she grew strong and healthier until it was physically evident that her health was completely restored. She choose to operate in faith, believing God for the impossible according to human standards. She hoped in hope, and saw fulfillment of what had been promised her in the scriptures.

Today, I encourage you to find just one promise in God's word and believe it with all your heart, mind and strength. Whatever you are needing from him. Find it, read it, meditate on it until you believe it with all your heart. When you start operating in faith, based on truth, then you will be blessed and completely changed by it. And like Abraham, your faith and the fulfillment of the promise will also bless many others as well! Amen.

Last summer I ran the Bix7 in Davenport Iowa. It is a huge race, people come from all over the world to run this seven mile course. It is a difficult course to run because the route is so hilly. The first half mile of the race is straight uphill. Only to be accompanied by a series of ups and down throughout the entire way. Multiplied by the amount of people you are running next to and that the race is run in the heat of July, this course is an accomplishment to finish for every short distance runner.

I started my training a little late for the race and as I started off that morning I was nervous that my preparation hadn't been enough. I ran the first five miles with no difficultly, but as I venture on the sixth mile I hit an incredible upward slope that slowed my pace to a steady walk. I was tired, hot, thirsty and I didn't want to run anymore. I thought about how easy it would have been if I had just ran the two mile race and waited at the finish line for my husband. I knew that I had two miles left to go, but those miles seemed like twenty. It was hard to think of the finish line when all I could see was this gigantic hill in my path and people racing by. Step by step I climbed the hill knowing that I had to get to the top if I was to finish the race.

I rounded the crest of the hill and started the downward descent towards the finish line. The last stretch was lined with people, families and bands, clapping, cheering and playing for the runners. As I passed all of these people my pace increased and my strength returned and I found the power to finish the race. It was the energy of the people cheering for me that encouraged me to lay aside the pain and tiredness that I felt and finish the race I had started. They kept saying "You are almost there, keep running!", "the end is in sight, keep going!" and because of it, I focused and ran the last few paces encouraged by their presence.

As I ran this last stretch, I kept thinking about what the writer of Hebrews said in the twelfth chapter, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" ( Hebrews 12:1 ). This comes on the very heels of what is known as the Faith Hall of Fame. Great men and women of faith were listed in chapter 11 to encourage and remind us to live by faith. Then the writer goes on to say that now we are surrounded by these great faith pioneers and everyone who has gone before us. They have enveloped us and a are cheering us on to run the race we started. They can see the finish line and they are shouting, "You are almost there, keep running!", "the end is in sight, keep going!".

To run and finish our race sometimes this means we have to strip off the things that hold us back. Sometimes we have to deny what we feel in order to continue moving forward in life. We were called to run a race for Christ and the course is not always easy, but keeping the eternal perspective in view will help you overcome every mountain that stands your way. The writer of Hebrews went onto say, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" ( Hebrews 12:2-3 ). He gives us the secret to running without hindrances. Look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. We have to look away from everything that will distract us and keep us running in circles and we have to focus on the finish line, which is Jesus.

Jesus is our joy and our longing, but he is also our example. Imagine what would have happened if he had quite along the way. But the scriptures say that he endured dreadful hostility and harsh opposition and looked forward with joy to the redemptive work he was going to do. We have to keep this in perspective so that we will not lose heart and grown weary along the way. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds ( Hebrews 12:3 Amp ). We have to use Jesus as our example of what we can endure so that we will run with perseverance. Let us look forward to the end with joy.

Your race is different than my race. Paul said in I Corinthians, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" ( I Corinthians 9:24-25 ). There is a crown at your finish line. Paul is encouraging us to run like the winner of the race. He went onto say, "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" ( I Corinthians 9:26-27 ). Paul knew his mission and focus in life and because of it he trained and ran with that end in mind. He disciplined himself to win the race with perseverance. He is encouraging us to do the same, to train, to equip ourselves to run and win our race. And now he is with that great cloud of witnesses surrounding us saying, "You are almost there, keep running!", "the end is in sight, keep going!".

Today we are celebrating the beginning of 2010. It is our New Years, a time for reflection on the past years events and resolutions for the New Year. My theme for 2010 is to run with perseverance. To leave behind everything that holds me back and to look forward with Joy to Jesus. He is my author and finisher and I am his runner with the gold medal in mind. Today, I pray that you understand the race in which you were also called and that you will run with perseverance this race, surrounded on every side with cheering fans! The end is near... keep going, you are almost there!