Obligation: (1:14-15):
Paul says that he is obligated to both Greeks and non-Greeks, both wise and foolish. The Greeks and non-Greeks refer to all those who spoke Greek, those who follow Greek culture and non-Greeks refer to all others. Paul realised that he had something of a debt to Rome. The Roman Empire brought world peace and order, a common culture and transportation. Paul used all these in spreading the Gospel, so he can best repay this debt by giving Rome the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul was eager to preach and serve. He was ready to suffer for unpleasant work. World great leaders marched to other countries with the protection of their armies to win and enforce their dominion. But Paul was eager to march with Christ alone to the centre of the then world’s greatest city Rome which was under Satan’s clutches to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. But God’s ways are different. Eventually Paul reached Rome as a shipwrecked prisoner. He was taken in the house arrest. Whatever was his situation, in the house arrest in a rented house “For two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ”(Acts 28:30-31).
The Theme: The righteousness of God: (1:16-17):
Paul says that he was not ashamed. It is true that some people are ashamed. In a sophisticated city like Rome, the Christians were of very small number and insignificant. Some of them are from the lowest class or even slaves. They may be embarrassed to share the Gospel. The present day also many Christians are embarrassed to preach others. Paul says that he is not ashamed.
Paul says that “I am not ashamed” because of the following reasons:
- Rome was a proud and wicked city and Gospel came from Jerusalem.
- The Gospel was identified with the son of Jewish carpenter (a poor man) and many of those who believed are not from a high class of society.
- The Gospel is about the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus who was crucified as a criminal.
- Rome had many great philosophers and Greek philosophy was very prevalent in those days.
- Preaching the Gospel in a city which had the phrase “all roads lead to Rome” was something others would feel embarrassed.
- We sometimes say, my friends would make fun of me. See my house and office is very near. My friends and neighbours would laugh at me.
- See “I am an insignificant person. My preaching will not make any effect or bring results.”
- See “I am occupying a high position and people respect me, If I preach along with these people, they would look down me.”
In this way we make a lot of reasons for not preaching.
The reasons Paul put forward to every believer and to himself is that:
- The Gospel is the power of God to salvation: (1:16): The people of Rome knew what the power is. Although Greece had the philosophy, Rome had the power. Despite all the power, they were powerless to make themselves righteous before the Lord. The ancient philosopher “Seneca” called Rome “a cesspool of iniquity.” But the Gospel is powerful and transforms people’s lives. It causes people who were enemies of God to be God’s friends. The power of Gospel is given to everyone who believes in God. It is the nature of God that “He cannot stop any sinner coming to Him!” Gentiles thought that the message about the cross was ‘foolishness’ (1 Cor.1:23). But the message was not wrong or stupid. It was a message to be proud of. It was an honour for Paul to declare it.
Everyone has sinned against God (Rom.3:23). We all deserve God’s punishment and the punishment is nothing less than death (Rom.6:23). And we cannot save ourselves from that punishment by our own efforts. We cannot even save ourselves by good works or by religion (Rom.3:20). So our situation is hopeless. But God did not leave us in our hopeless state. God sent His son, Jesus, to this world (Jn.3:16). Jesus lived a perfect life, without any sin (Heb.4:15). He deserved no punishment. But when Jesus died on the cross, he suffered the punishment for our sins (Gal.3:13; Rom.5:8; Rom.5:18). If we believe in Him and ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives us but also saves and gives us eternal life through His Resurrection. This is the power of God which gives us the Salvation.
- The Salvation is for everyone, first for Jew and for Gentile: This was not an exclusive message but it is for the whole humanity. Since it came through the Lord Jesus Christ who was born as Jew, the order was first to Jew and then to Gentile. Here there is no preference to the Jew because all have to believe. There is no difference in condemnation or in salvation. Everyone needs the Gospel in order to be saved.
- The righteousness of God: (1:17): The Gospel reveals the righteousness of God. Only by means of our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, God declares a person to be righteous. Here the emphasis is faith. The righteous God saves us, gives His righteousness and make us fit for the eternal life. By trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, our relationship with God is made right. From first to last, God declares us to be righteous because of faith and faith alone. Paul quotes the words of prophet (Hab.2:4). A righteous (believer) would live only by faith, in other words, “by faith only, the righteous would live in this world.” As we trust God, we are saved and we find our life easier because we depend upon Him. He would lead us and guide us to live in this hostile world.
The verse, “the righteous shall live by faith” has transformed Martin Luther’s life. He understood that only through God’s righteousness a man can be justified. God clothes us with His righteousness, when He looks at us, His righteousness is visible. We are justified, our sins are covered under His righteousness. All this could happen only when we put our trust and faith in Him. We are not only saved by faith, but also live by faith. So God’s justification by faith is only the beginning of new life in a Christian. So faith is necessary through the whole of life from the beginning to end.