Romans 1 Bible Study
By Terry Cheek Th.D.
McDowell County
Thank you for joining me as we return to God’s Word and the exposition of Romans. For this essay let’s begin with verse 5 where we read “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship”. Paul tells the church in Rome that Jesus is the source of his apostleship, but he does not stop there. All of the apostles had received grace and apostleship “for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ”. Paul reminds the church that Grace comes before apostleship and salvation before service. Each one of us has read these words of Christ “Come unto me” before “Go ye unto all the world.” Commitment to the truth of God’s Word must come before commitment to any task we feel passionate about. Our attitude must be “obedience to the faith.” Our assignment is to “all nations.” Our authority is “His name.” We have before the church our Lord’s pressing commission to spread the gospel around the world.
Notice with me from verse 6 that Paul ends the verse with “the called of Jesus Christ” and is speaking it to the saints of Rome. Notice the called are located by Jesus Christ in Rome in Paul’s case. Whether it is in Rome, New York, Chicago, Marion, Morganton, or Spruce Pine the called of God are located by Him. He knows those whom He has predestined.
Picking up with verse seven “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.” Do you realize every born-again blood-bought child of God is a saint in God’s eyes? That is a very deep thought to ponder. You are already numbered among the saints. The word for a saint in the New Testament means “sanctified one,” one who has been set apart by the Holy Spirit and called inwardly by Christ to Himself. If you have put your trust in Christ, you are a saint. You are set apart. There is reason to rejoice and there is also reason to recognize responsibility. This isn’t a responsibility like your career, your family, or your debts. This is a responsibility that we happily embrace because of our relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the son.
I will close this month with this. Finally, in this section, Paul expresses his traditional greeting in verse seven.” Grace to you and peace”. In Old Testament times the Jews greeted one another the same way they do today: Shalom aleichem, “Peace be unto you.” The response to the greeting was Aleichem shalom, “Peace also to you.” Our Jewish friends say prayers for the peace of Jerusalem, and the Jewish benediction for centuries has been this: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Num. 6:24–26). This peace is “not as the world gives,” said Jesus in His final will and testament before leaving the world (John 14:27). Paul wished grace upon them. The Greek word Paul used for grace was Charis, Charis speaks of the grace, favor, and goodwill of God and Christ as exercised toward men: where cháris is joined with eirḗnē, peace, or éleos, mercy, and the like in salutations, it includes the idea of every kind of favor, blessing, and good, as proceeding from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Paul wanted the church to remember the peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Paul wanted them to experience it through the heavenly window of grace.
Until we meet again, in print or in person may God keep you firmly in His grip.
Work Cited
Sproul, R. C. Romans: An Expositional Commentary. Reformation Trust, 2019.
Phillips, John. Exploring Romans: An Expository Commentary. Kregel Publications, 2002.
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Terry is the Executive Director and broadcaster of The Inspiring Word media ministry
You can contact Terry by email at theinspiringword@gmail.com
Or by visiting www.theinspiringword.org
Read more from Terry Cheek here.
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