Read Romans 1:8-17
Paul uses the phrase “I thank God through Jesus Christ” to emphasize the point that Christ is the one and only mediator between us and God. Through Christ, God sends His love and forgiveness to us; through Christ, we send our thanks to God (1 Timothy 2).
The Roman Christians, at the Western world’s political center, were highly visible. Fortunately, their reputation was excellent; their strong faith was making itself known around the world. When people talk about your congregation or your denomination, what do they say? Are their comments accurate? Would you rather they noticed other features? What is the best way to get the public to recognize your faith?
When you pray continually about a concern, don’t be surprised at how God answers. Paul prayed to visit Rome, so he could teach the Christians there. When he finally arrived in Rome, it was as a prisoner (Acts 28). Paul prayed for a safe trip, and he did arrive safely: after getting arrested, slapped in the face, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake. God’s ways of answering our prayers are often far from what we expect. When we sincerely pray, God will answer: although in His timing and sometimes in ways we do not expect.
Paul prayed for the chance to visit these Christians so that he could encourage them with his gift of faith and be encouraged by theirs. As God’s missionary, he could help them understand the meaning of the Gospel about Jesus. As God’s devoted people, they could offer him fellowship and comfort. When Christians gather together, everyone should give and receive. Our mutual faith gives us a common bond to be a blessing and encourage one another.
Paul showed his love for the Roman Christians by expressing God’s love for them and his own gratitude and prayers for them. To have an effect on people’s lives, you must first need to love them and believe in them. Thank God for your Christian brothers and sisters, and let them know how deeply you care about them.
What was Paul’s obligation? After his experience with Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), his whole life was consumed with spreading the Gospel. His obligation was to the people of the entire world. He met his obligation by proclaiming Christ’s salvation to people: across all cultural, social, racial, and economic lines, both Jews and Gentiles. We also are obligated to Christ because He took the punishment we deserve for our sins. Although we cannot repay Christ for all He has done, we can demonstrate our gratitude by showing His love to others.
Paul was not ashamed because his message was the Gospel about Christ. It was a message of salvation, it had life-giving power, and it was for everyone. When you are tempted to be ashamed, remember what the Gospel is all about. If you focus on God and what God is doing in the world rather than on your own inadequacy, you won’t be ashamed or embarrassed.
Why did the message go to the Jews first? They had been God’s special people for more than 2,000 years, ever since God chose Abraham and promised great blessings to his descendants (Genesis 12). God did not choose the Jews because they deserved to be chosen (Deuteronomy 7) but because He wanted to show His love and mercy to them, for it would be through them that His Messiah would come into the world. God chose them, not to play favorites, but so that they would tell the world about His plan of salvation.
For centuries the Jews had been learning about God by obeying His laws, keeping His festivals, and living according to His moral principles. Often, they would forget God’s promises and laws; often they would have to be disciplined; but still they had a precious heritage of belief in the one true God. Of all the people on earth, the Jews should have been the readiest to welcome the Messiah and to understand His mission and message: and some of them did. Of course, the disciples and the Apostle Paul were faithful Jews who recognized in Jesus God’s most precious gift to the human race.
Jews and Christians alike stood against the idolatrous Roman religions, and Roman officials often confused the two groups. This was especially easy to do since the Christian Church in Rome could have been originally composed of Jewish converts who had attended Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2). By the time Paul wrote this letter to the Romans, however, many of the Gentiles had joined the church. The Jews and the Gentiles needed to know the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.
The Gospel shows us both how righteous God is in His plan for us to be saved and also how we may be made fit for eternal life. By trusting Christ, our relationship with God is made right. From start to finish, God declares us to be right with Him because of faith and faith alone.
In verse 17, Paul is quoting Habakkuk 2:4. Habakkuk may have understood “shall live” to mean this present life only. But Paul extends this statement to include eternal life. As we trust God, we are saved; we find life both now and forever.