Dec 6

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution All about the gospel
    Not only did Paul have a burning passion for the believers at Rome, he also could never satisfy his unquenchable thirst to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was didicated to it - not just in word but also with all his being - "as much as was in him". Is this our passion? Is this the one thing that we must do - the one thing that outweighs all of our other desires? Wow! Oh to be like Paul with his incredible passion! Read more »

Dec 3

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution A debtor
    Paul considered himself a "debtor" - one who was bound or completely obligated to serve not just the cultured and the refined of his day - but the barbarians. Not just those considered to be wise and prudent in their matters of business, but even the unwise. It is quite obvious that Paul was no respecter of persons - and was simply call to be all things to all men, so that he could by all means save some. Is this our mentality? So often, we look to invest our time and resources… Read more »

Dec 2

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution Missing you
    Paul made it very clear that his earnest desire was to go to and be with the church in Rome. But notice the intention for his visit - it was so that he could invest in them spiritually. Not just to see them, though that was his longing, but also to establish them in the mutual faith they shared. Is this our consuming passion? All of us enjoy great times with good friends, but is there something deeper that compels us to each other? Is there a mutual edification of the body that occurs whe… Read more »

Nov 29

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution God is my witness
    Paul continues to express his thankfulness to the believers at Rome, and goes on to communicate how he is seeking to support them in their ministry. He begins vs. 9 with "For God is my witness" - as if God wanted to put an extra exclamation point to the following statement that He was witnessing to. When we see the statement God is a witness to, a rush of conviction fills my soul. Do you realize that God (yes, that's right - the God of the universe, the God Paul so faithf… Read more »

Nov 25

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution One and Many
    Paul here inspired by the Holy Spirit of God communicates one of the most magnificent truths ever to impact believers during the church age. We are the "body of Christ"! This body mystery had yet to be revealed to the saints in the Old Testament, and was still a very new concept to many first century converts. In the first three verses Paul uses the word "one" seven times. Whether we admit and realize it or not, true believers are connected in a supernatural way. It is t… Read more »

Nov 19

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution First things first
    After Paul's opening paragraph introducing the letter to his audience - Paul begins addressing "first" things "first". It is interesting to see what exactly Paul (inspired by God) does first in this letter to the Romans. First and foremost, Paul "thanks God through Jesus Christ for them ALL". Do we begin by giving God thanks first? Many believers have mastered the art of saying "please", yet struggle with two simple words: "thank you".… Read more »

Nov 15

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution Roman Recipients
    Paul here addresses his audience - it is to "all" that comprise the church in Rome. Then he goes on to describe these individuals starting first with the fact that they were "beloved of God". It is always important for us to remember that first and foremost, we are loved by the incredible God of the universe. That alone is enough. We should need no more than that alone to find our significance and sufficiency in this life. As a product of His love, Paul points out for th… Read more »
  • richva
    richva added a text contribution Called
    This is the second time in six verses that Paul has alluded to the calling that comes from God to the ministry and to His family. Remember in verse one, Paul introduces himself as 1) a servant, and 2) called to be an apostle. He again has addressed the significance of apostleship in the previous verse, and is now speaking again of God's call on the life of the believer. Read more »
  • richva
    richva added a text contribution What a combo!
    Paul continues to speak of what we have received from the spirit of holiness - when we became a child of God, we received both 1) grace and 2) apostleship. With one comes the other. With the incredible grace that can only be found in the incomprehensible love of our God also comes a responsibility to go and be an ambassador of that love. As we are forgiven and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are able to obey His commands and be the light he desires among all nations - bringing glory to His h… Read more »

Nov 10

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution The Promised Seed
    Paul, speaking of his mission - spreading the gospel (good news) of God, goes on to convey that he is just another cog in the wheel that God has been turning throughout history to accomplish His plan. The gospel of Christ and the church age were new to Paul and part of the new covenant Jesus established with His death, burial, and resurrection; however, many prophets before had taken part in conveying the message of the promised Messiah. Even so, how often do we participate and join with God i… Read more »

Nov 9

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution Paul, a servant
    It is incredibly interesting to me that Paul - perhaps the most useful individual of the New Testament - inspired and sent by God to accomplish more than any other one individual in the church age, would begin this epistle as Paul, "a servant". Just a common servant of Christ - nothing special in his own eyes, but most descriptively a servant of Jesus Christ. It is of great importance that Paul in this introduction points to his servitude before announcing his apostleship. Or the fa… Read more »

Nov 8

  • richva
    richva added a text contribution Introduction to Romans
    Romans: an epistle of Paul, is one of the foundational letters of the New Testament explaining how individuals can have a relationship with the all-powerful God; creator of heaven and earth. The main thrust of this letter written to believers living in Rome, is "justification by faith". God clearly communicates through this letter that justification (being just-as-if-i'd never sinned) comes solely through faith in Christ alone. Read more »