Romans Chapter One
It is clear from Paul's letter that he is writing to those having a basic knowledge of the gospel that require encouragement to continue as they had received - without the law of Moses but with circumcision in the heart. Assuming these believers to whom he was writing believed in the freedom from sin that the gospel brings, as well as the sovereignty of a perfect God that gave the law, we can follow the first few chapters of "Romans" quite closely.
Paul opens (v1) with the assurance that the Gospel he preached them was from Jesus Christ. Apostolic authority in Christ comes from the right to correct another's misconceptions of the one gospel within the faith of the other - there is an allusion to the authority granted by the whole trinity. As a servant of Christ, called to be an apostle (Holy Spirit) and separated (chosen by the Father) unto the gospel; which is in truth the Father's own words (v2) delivered by Christ.
That Christ is descended from David as promised to the jews is indicated (v3)- and then the exhortation follows that Christ was sent to the lost sheep of Israel and to fulfil the law; as opposed to abandoning Israel for another entity. In the fact that Christ, having been declared with power (of the Father) according to the spirit (v4), (and by the new life in Christ for all believers that is the work of Jesus Christ) Paul establishes that the grace of God (v5) comes through the one Christ which is sent to all Israel - identifying the believers with Israel (v6), rather than of the jews physical lineage. This Israel as spiritually translated contains the Romans whom are also the called of Christ.
So to the believers in Rome (v7) who are all loved as God indeed loves His people Israel (spiritual Israel) Paul blesses them with the peace that they are the promised body of Christ. (Not as after the jews and their tradition, because physical jewry stands not as a people before God.)
The believers in Rome had the particular faith (v8) upon the freedom granted by them from God from sin (v8), but in order for them to have a firm root in Christ grounded upon the promises given to Israel His people (of whom Paul preaches) which are the promised gospel of God, Paul prays for them (v10) to be established with their identity in Christ firm as rock. This is not an exclamation that they make an established church - but that they become rooted in the truth of the gospel.
In writing the letter Paul mentions he would impart a spiritual gift (v11) that they be established - rather we can consider that they be rooted into the spiritual temple of God and the truth of the Gospel, (upon which God gives gifts) so that the temple be built into one body. In being comforted by the mutual faith (v12) between the readers and Paul himself, Paul establishes this root of faith. (v13) I.e. Paul has that Godly authority to correct their faith as an apostle: (since his faith furthers the liberty of the believer in Christ) - but only as under the sovereignty of God. (The just faith in the liberty of God to reveal the law and the truth through Christ's body only.)
By the temple being one body in Christ, Paul would long to meet with these Romans so that the whole body be fruitful. Paul has others of the same body (v14) to minister to, Greeks, barbarians, wise, unwise etc. But Paul would grant that sown word, the truthful root of Israel that is Christ, by so granting Christ's faith through the gospel that extends the liberty of God in His sovereignty over all His children. As much as this faith is in Paul (v15), he wishes to extend this knowledge of the sure things of gospel truth to the Romans also. For as Christ is made sin for us, The gospel is the power of God to save...
Power is to save in recognising God's liberty and example in Christ; thereby we recognise His satisfaction in His Son Christ. (v16)- As under sin we would imply, or show of ourselves a statement that God should not be concerned and we make God as we would: rather than blameless as Christ. Recognising that the liberty of God is to remain as He is; Christ fulfilled this simple law, since in making our own faith to satisfy the liberty of God and His person, we must keep His commandments also. Christ's example of Holiness permits us to turn from sin as long as Christ in the same manner has fulfilled the example of obedience, but now more perfectly rooted of faith in truth. By faith in the true God, with the true Gospel, God will look away from our sin whilst He truly remains our God.
The gospel is taken to the jew first then the greek - the law of Moses had to be fulfilled by Christ, in order for God to translate Israel from a physical nation to a spiritual one (v17). Christ came to satisfy the Father by being obedient to His law - to display correct faith, not primarily correct works (but those too). Because we are justified by faith as we will see from Paul's letter, the gospel is also open to the gentiles by faith, not by merely the law.
For in preserving the liberty due God in His sovereignty, then is the righteousness of God transferred from one covenant of faith to another by the translation of Israel; and also from believer to believer as a principal element of an ultrafilter. Those that respect the liberty given them are just: but those who exercise liberty to ungodly license (v19) treasure up to themselves the wrath of God: because they do not respect the liberty of God (v18) to make His laws as well as fulfil them in Christ's example of obedience. Because God is at liberty and it is good for Him to remain so, we are also at liberty. Yet God is sovereign over us.
Having made known liberty to everything that is made (v20) - and the creators requirement of faith upon it, all nature in the wild moves in liberty without law, except man. All mankind recognised some manner of God as (a) God once. Then as they corrupted their own liberty to unlawful license (v21), (license because they recognised not God's sovereignty and laws), they took liberty that was not given, and God left them to receive the just reward for such liberty - guiltiness under the law (v21). By finding "wisdom" in extending liberty to license, they became foolish before God. (v22)
They made God, in whose sovereignty they did not rest, into an image of another wild animal as themselves. (v23), Then turning away and making God to be unclean (by requiring God to suit themselves and their desires), rather than properly recognising an incorruptible creator and His perfection. Being separated from God and the root of truth in God's Christ - they followed their own lusts and received the separation (sin) from God that was imputed to them by God's laws.
By making their liberty to reflect and include their misconceptions of God (v25), they make their own liberty to be sovereign over the sovereignty of God - and did not do God the honour of recognising His own liberty and person. By not retaining the person of God in their knowledge, God lent them towards license (v24), since they were under sin (v27-v31). Whether jew or gentile, in so breaking the law and finding fault with the law, both jew and gentile are all under sin. In knowing their fault through the attention they give to their own liberty without correct faith in the true person of God, and His law, they find their brethren amongst those that do the same.(v32)
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