Devotionals: Romans Archives

Set Apart for the Gospel

By Andrew YoungJanuary 1, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus… set apart for the gospel of God…” (Romans 1:1) Bible Reading: Romans 1:1-7 As was customary in his day, Paul begins his letter to the Romans by introducing himself to his readers. A comparison of his letters in the New Testament shows that while this introduction follows a similar pattern, it is by no means standardised. Paul varies the way he speaks of himself depending on his readers and the occasion of his writing to them. It should not surprise us in a letter which sets forth so clearly the gospel – the one “gospel […]

Saints Loved by God

By Andrew YoungJanuary 2, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints…” (Romans 1:7) Bible Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Traditionally, the opening salutation or greeting in letters in the Greco-Roman world contained three parts. It began with the writer introducing himself – as we saw in the first of these devotionals – then with him identifying his readers, and finally, there was usually an added blessing or prayer wish. Here, Paul is writing to “all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (v. 7). He is clearly addressing a particular group of people […]

A Genuine and Prayerful Interest

By Andrew YoungJanuary 3, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“For God is my witness… that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers…” (Romans 1:9) Bible Reading: Romans 1:8-11 The typical pattern of letter-writing in the ancient world continues as Paul begins the body of his letter. The opening introductions and greeting are followed by an expression of thankfulness for the Christians in Rome to whom Paul writes. “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,” he says, and then adds as a reason for doing so, “because your faith is proclaimed in all the world” (v. 8). The spread of the gospel was always on […]

Unashamed of the Gospel

By Andrew YoungJanuary 4, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16) Bible Reading: Romans 1:13-17 In the immediately preceding verses, Paul has mentioned his deep desire to visit his fellow-believers in Rome. Here he continues that thought, impressing upon them first of all the genuineness of his intent. He wants them to know that he had “often intended” to come to them, but had, by some means or other, been prevented from doing so. He wanted to “reap a harvest” among them as he had “among the rest of the Gentiles” […]

Truth Suppressers

By Andrew YoungJanuary 5, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18) Bible Reading: Romans 1:18-23 Paul was eager to preach in Rome not only because it belonged to his commission as an apostle to do so; there was a deeper spiritual or theological reason as well. “For the wrath of God,” he says, “is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). The revelation of God’s wrath against ungodliness and unrighteousness (the two inevitably go together) […]

Given Up by God (1)

By Andrew YoungJanuary 6, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity….” (Romans 1:24) Bible Reading: Romans 1:24-27 When we think of God visiting his wrath on the “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:18), we are inclined to think of events like the worldwide flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – events in which God’s anger is displayed in terrible judgments in the physical realm. However, that is not the only way in which he expresses his displeasure. He does so also, Paul tells us here, by “giving people up” to their own ways (v. 24). When […]

Given Up by God (2)

By Andrew YoungJanuary 7, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:28) Bible Reading: Romans 1:28-32 Abandoning people to the shameful lusts of their hearts is not the only way God “gives up” people for rejecting what can be known of him. He also gives them up to “a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28). In our previous devotional, we noted that there is a certain kind of corrupt human behaviour that stems from the “lusts” or “passions” of […]

Mistaken Moralists

By Andrew YoungJanuary 8, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“Do you suppose, O man – you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself – that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:3) Bible Reading: Romans 2:1-5 There is a distinct change of tone in Paul’s letter as we come to the second chapter. In verses 18-32 of chapter 1 he has been speaking of truth suppressors (pagan idolaters) from a detached, third person point of view. Here, in chapter 2, he addresses a more specific type of person directly. The kind of person he has in view is defined in terms of what […]

Judgment According to Works

By Andrew YoungJanuary 9, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“He will render each one according to his works… For God shows no partiality.” (Romans 2:6, 11) Bible Reading: Romans 2:6-11 Paul has spoken in the opening verses of chapter 2 of the day of God’s wrath when his righteous judgment will be revealed. In the next verses, he takes pains to show that all people will be judged according to the kind of life they have lived. He sets before us two contrasting kinds of life and two corresponding fates. First, there are people who “by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality” (v. 7). These shall […]

Judgment for All

By Andrew YoungJanuary 10, 2017Devotionals: Romans

“For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.” (Romans 2:12) Bible Reading: Romans 2:12-16 Paul has stressed that all people will face the judgment of God and that all will be judged according to what they have done in this life. He underlines that fact by twice mentioning that this holds true for “the Jew first, and also the Greek” (Romans 2:9, 10). In these verses, he expands on that idea. It doesn’t matter, the apostle insists, whether people “sin” with or […]