By: Curtis Baker
As we begin a new year together here in Slaton, I would like to take up a new course of study with you. When I first began writing this article, nearly five years ago now, my intention was to use the article to study through Biblical texts with you. We started with a series on the Gospel of John, and since then we have gone on to do a number of other things, including both topical studies, as well as historical studies–like our series on how the King James Bible was made. But as we begin a new year here in 2014, I would like to go back to my original intention with this article. I would like to study through a Biblical text once again, and I have decided that Paul’s letter to the Romans might be one of the best places where we could do such a study.
Over the last several months at Hearts Together, we have been studying the book of Romans together in our Sunday morning adult Bible Class. Romans, of course, is often referred to as Paul’s greatest letter, and it is one that has had quite an effect on the history of the Christian Church in the West. Much ink has been spilled over the years as various traditions fought over which reading of Romans was correct, and one particular interpretation of the letter changed both the history of the Church, and Western culture as a whole, in ways that will probably never be duplicated. But despite the rich and controversial history that is tied to this sixteen chapter letter of the New Testament, no matter what background you may be coming from, Romans has riches that are available to anyone who comes to its text with an open mind and a willing heart.
To state it very simply, Paul’s subject in the letter to the Romans is “the righteousness and faithfulness of God.” When Paul speaks of God’s righteousness, he is not merely telling us about God’s moral character, but is also telling us something about God’s purposes. Have you stopped to reflect lately that God actually has a purpose with everything that you see around you? That God actually has a purpose for your existence? Human history is not merely just a project that God undertook out of boredom or curiosity; he had a specific reason in mind for creating the world and placing us in it. According to the early texts in the book of Genesis, God created man and woman in his image in order that they might partner with him in ruling over the earth.
However, a problem has arisen in the plan. As man and woman took their place in the world as those meant to live with and partner with God, they instead chose to live apart from God in order that they could be the masters of their own lives. At first glance, this would seem to be a problem for us, who have separated ourselves from God…and it certainly is. But as Paul argues in the book of Romans, the problem is not primarily our problem; the problem is actually God’s problem. God is the one who created this world; God is the one who created human beings; and it is God’s purposes that are truly lost whenever human beings refused to cooperate with God’s intentions. The question that underlies a lot of the teaching of the book of Romans is, “How is God going to be faithful to his own just nature, and yet also faithful to his original purposes in creation that now seem in jeopardy?”
In short, the answer to that question is what Paul calls, “the gospel.” Gospel, in its original language, simply means, “good news.” According to Paul, the good news that he has to share with us is that despite our messing up God’s purposes for us and the world, God has not abandoned us or his creation. God has made a way to be both just to his own good nature, as well as to carry on with his good purposes for us. That way is made known to us in Jesus Christ, and it is through him that the good news has been proclaimed to the world.
So I hope you plan on joining me as we study through Romans together. Through many twists and turns, we will explore the good news of God through Jesus Christ, and see how what God started, he plans on finishing. Happy New Year!
(Don’t forget to join me for A Message from the Heart radio program Sunday evening at 8:00pm on KJAK 92.7FM, or streaming live at www.kjak.com)
(curtisbaker@hotmail.com)
Write to: P.O. Box 157, Slaton, TX 79364
