The Writings of Romans

Imagine a beautiful day in the Roman city marketplace. All of a sudden a fight breaks out! There are religious leaders who are pointing their fingers at a group of citizens. The religious leaders feel that they have a right to play judge, after all, they are well acquainted with God and consider themselves an authority on the subject of God. They want to step into God’s role as judge and expose the wrong things these citizens have done, things that brought shame. The religious leaders point their fingers while those being accused hang their heads. Meanwhile a crowd is forming. Some join the religious leaders, and some scatter, knowing that they are just as guilty as the ones being accused. Another group forms. They stand back and observe. Some are frustrated, while others just laugh the scene off. They don’t believe in any of the claims the religious leaders are making. They don’t even believe in God. But neither do they want to identify with those being condemned. 

Then a familiar character enters the scene. The apostle Paul has been watching all along, and finally he has had enough. He steps in as an impartial observer, but he’s ready to speak the truth. He breaks up the fight and calms the crowds. They all wait in silence. Whose side will he take? Will he defend those being accused? Will he stand in unity with the religious leaders? Instead, the first thing Paul does is point off to the distance, to those who are just standing back and watching. Paul states out loud, “You are not excused from this. You stand there claiming to be impartial, but since the beginning of time God has revealed Himself to you, just look at creation around you. This all didn’t just happen by chance. Your unbelief will lead you down a dangerous path.” 

And upon mentioning the dangerous path, Paul turns to those being accused. He lets out a sigh, and then proceeds to address them, “What happened to you? You went down a road of destruction and have made no effort to turn away from the wrong you are doing. In fact, you are bringing others along with you. Some of you know better! You know what God’s Word says about the things you are doing, yet you do them anyways.” 

That was the moment the religious leaders had been waiting for. “Aha!” They cheer in unison. Victory! But before they could let out another word, Paul spins around and points a finger at them. There is passion in his eyes. A hush overtakes the crowd as he begins to speak, “Who do you think you are? Don’t you realize that by accusing these people you have made yourself a hypocrite? You claim to be religious, but in condemning them, you have just condemned yourself. You are claiming that God will judge these people, but don’t you think He will also judge those who try and take His place as the one and only judge? By playing God you are shutting Him out of your life. You need Him just as much as they do,” Paul pointed to the accused, “and as much as they do,” Paul pointed to the onlookers, “and as much as they do,” and then Paul pointed to himself “and as much as I do.”

This is why Paul writes the letter of Romans. If you had to write a letter explaining the full gospel of Jesus Christ how would you write it? Paul divides his letter into four simple parts. First he teaches how everyone has sinned and is separate from God and only God’s grace through faith, like Abraham had, can make you right in God’s eyes. Paul knows it is important for people to understand the seriousness of faith and repentance and what it means related to the wrath of God, the law and death. But then Paul has a problem. Many Christians were not Jews. What happens to the Jews, God’s chosen nation and how do non-Jews become part of God’s family? Paul specifically answers this. Finally Paul teaches Christians in the final section of his letter how to live as a Christian. This one letter has had more influence than perhaps any other book of the Bible. It takes time to read and understand but is well worth the effort.