If I were to summarize the essence of the Christian faith, the book of Romans would be a great resource. Authored by the Apostle Paul, this book has been nothing less than transformative across the corridors of history. So much so, that theologians like Martin Luther and John Calvin held it in the highest esteem.
Background for the Book of Romans
First, let’s understand who Paul was. Initially known as Saul of Tarsus, Paul was no ally to Christians. Steeped in Jewish law and zeal, he was an adversary to the very Gospel he would later spend his life proclaiming. But God had transformative plans for him. On the road to Damascus, Paul had an encounter with the resurrected Jesus that changed the trajectory of his life. From a persecutor, he turned into one of the greatest contributors to the Church and the Christian faith. Paul is celebrated for planting churches across the Mediterranean world, and his writings form a substantial part of the New Testament. But, he did not plant the Roman Church to which he addressed this letter. The letter came at a later point in his life — somewhere between 55 and 57 AD — and it was a part of his plan to make Rome a new base for furthering the Gospel to “the ends of the Earth,” notably Spain.
As for the Roman Church, it was swarming with ethnic and religious diversity, housing Jews and Gentiles alike. However, beneath this diversity lay division, mostly rooted in differing views on the Old Testament laws. Paul’s aim was to harmonize the people, to solidify the Church through a unified understanding of the Gospel.
The Gospel — literally “the good news” of Jesus Christ — remains the central theme of the book of Romans. But what is this good news? It is the divine solution to the human predicament of sin that originated in the Garden of Eden. It is the news that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a sinless life, to die on the cross as our payment for sin, and to rise again, conquering death for those who believe. Paul wants to delve into this Gospel from various angles throughout the 16 chapters of Romans. He aims not just to instill a heady knowledge but to fan a flame that would compel you and me to live and share this Gospel.
The Gospel is For You
As we dive deep into the first seven verses of Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are reminded of three crucial truths that not only underscore the Gospel message but also guide our faith and daily living.
- The Gospel is for everyone to believe in.
- Jesus is the focal point of the Gospel.
- The Gospel fosters a conviction that demands our response.
What is evident in this passage is that the Gospel is for everyone, irrespective of where you are, where you are from, or what stage you think you are at in your Christian journey. Paul addresses a diverse congregation in Rome. The church in Rome was a mosaic of cultures, languages, and ethnic backgrounds. But here is what is critical — Paul refrains from partitioning them into different groups of people. See verse 7, where Paul calls all of them ‘Saints’: “To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as Saints.” And by “all,” he means all. So if you are wondering whether the Gospel is for you, well, let me affirm this truth — yes, it is!
The Gospel is About Jesus
Jesus is the center of the Gospel. A Gospel disconnected from Jesus is no Gospel at all. We live in a time when religion is increasingly viewed as an aesthetic, a cultural token, or even as an avenue for social mobility. In such a landscape, Jesus is often reduced to a benevolent social worker preaching a fluffy, toothless gospel. Such a misrepresentation is far from the weighty truth of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Paul does something important in his letter — he links the Gospel to the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament (see verse 2). It is as if he is saying that the Gospel is anchored in the rich soil of the Old Testament. If we see it that way, then the scriptures unfold as an awe-inspiring, coherent narrative that is brimming with life-transforming power, for it all points to Jesus.
The Gospel is a Conviction
The Gospel is also conviction. The Gospel does not just save us when we repent and believe; it changes us and alters how we see the world daily. If you genuinely comprehend the Gospel, it will neither make you complacent nor leave you satisfied with what it has solely done for you. It will propel you to share and serve others with its transformative power. The calling that led Paul to his apostolic mission should stir the same conviction within each of us. As believers, we are all bondservants of Christ, set apart for the gospel (Romans 1:1). We all share in the Great Commission — making disciples is the calling for every Christ-follower.
Now, do not wait for a perfect roadmap to take the next step in your Gospel-driven life. Like Paul, we might not have everything laid out, but the Gospel impels us to move, to obey. Do not wait for perfect conditions; they rarely come. Obedience often precedes peace, not the other way around.
Paul connects Jesus as the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament and the Son of God manifest in power. What we find in the Old Testament is not a disconnected narrative or mere law; it is fertile soil where the seed of the Gospel is firmly planted. If you grasp this, the whole Bible comes alive, singing the same glorious tune of redemption through Jesus.
