Romans 1, 7-17
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The Apostle Paul first thanks God for the church at Rome. Paul then goes on to pray for the church. This is a typical pattern throughout Paul's writings. It is is right for us to also be thankful to God for the people in our lives as well as for our local church. We are also to pray for one another and the church. Paul then goes on to state his desire to visit Rome with the purpose of imparting a spiritual gift to believers. Notice too, that Paul had wanted to go to Rome on a number of occasions and yet he had not been able to go. The time would come when he would go to Rome, but God knew that this would ultimately lead to Paul's death and God wanted Paul to continue to spread the Gospel. God's will and purposes are always higher than our own. As we spread the Gospel, and tell people about the good news of the Gospel, we impact the spiritual and eternal life of those who truly hear the message. That impact is brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of God to bring about salvation in all who believe. The Gospel call and offer of salvation is meant for all. The direction of the road to salvation is therefore set.
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The Apostle Paul first thanks God for the church at Rome. Paul then goes on to pray for the church. This is a typical pattern throughout Paul's writings. It is is right for us to also be thankful to God for the people in our lives as well as for our local church. We are also to pray for one another and the church. Paul then goes on to state his desire to visit Rome with the purpose of imparting a spiritual gift to believers. Notice too, that Paul had wanted to go to Rome on a number of occasions and yet he had not been able to go. The time would come when he would go to Rome, but God knew that this would ultimately lead to Paul's death and God wanted Paul to continue to spread the Gospel. God's will and purposes are always higher than our own. As we spread the Gospel, and tell people about the good news of the Gospel, we impact the spiritual and eternal life of those who truly hear the message. That impact is brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of God to bring about salvation in all who believe. The Gospel call and offer of salvation is meant for all. The direction of the road to salvation is therefore set.
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