---It
comes to our attention, in the beginning of the letter
to the Romans, that Paul tells the brethren his desire
to go and announce the gospel (1:15), while he had mentioned
before that he wanted to “impart some spiritual
gift, so that you may be established” (1:11).
This last statement seems proper to us, because it deals
with Christians who have believed in the gospel and
that are already saved.
---But the reality is that
Paul begins his letter with the gospel, the gospel for
the Christians in Rome. This is how in three consecutive
verses (1:15, 16 and 17), he mentions the word “gospel”,
emphasizing three specific aspects. In the first, Paul
expresses his disposition to announce the gospel; in
the second, he mentions that the gospel is the power
of God to salvation; and in the third aspect, he states
that in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed
from faith to faith.
---It is the general opinion
that the book of Romans is Paul’s most extensive
and detailed doctrinal relation. In it, fundamental
topics regarding the Christian faith are mentioned:
the law, grace, righteousness, redemption, sanctification,
glorification, the Spirit, etc. It is true that someone
can be a Christian without knowing some of these fundamental
teachings, but it is also true that a mature Christian
cannot ignore them.
---It is no wonder that
Paul is willing to announce the gospel “also”
to the brethren in Rome, whom he did not know by sight(
this “also” makes it clear that it was a daily
task for Paul to announce the gospel to the Christians).
---Can someone be unaware
of the teachings in the book of Romans and be a true
Christian? Still more, can someone pretend to serve
God and ignore the experiences found in Romans?
---The law not only preoccupies
the Jews, but also the Christians, since the law has
many varied experiences in all men, Jews or gentiles.
(This is why Paul mentions the law to the Christian
gentiles in Rome). Every Christian needs to know how
to be freed from the law, because the law, associated
with the flesh, produces sin’s slavery. If we do
not know God’s way of liberating us from the law,
we will not know how to be free from sin.
---Also, we will not be
able to walk firmly if we do not know, by experience,
the power of grace ; the only one able to firmly support
us. By grace, we are lead to walk in victory (she surrounds
us), and are held steadfast by the Holy Spirit. If we
are under the law, the Spirit will have no foundation
to work in us, since we are still in our flesh. Then,
all these things lead us to the experience of living
in the body which is the church.
---This way, Step by step,
Paul shows us God’s answer to our greatest needs.
Then we are able to agree with Paul, that truly the
gospel is “the power of God to salvation,”
not only to the unbelievers, but to the believers as
well.
(Translation: Betsy Calvo, USA).
