TO THE ROMANS: Why did Paul write?

"To get a letter, hand written, on paper, sent to you.  Now that's a treasure1"

So the testimony of Bill O'Reilly recently on his O'Reilly Factor show.  His point -- make the effort and write a encouragintg letter to someone else.

If such items are indeed treasures (do you keep the letters written to you?), such was the preferred method of God Himself in the early days of the church.  As Jesus grew His church around the Roman Empire, the Spirit was active sending such treasures to congregations which dotted the landscapes around the Mediterranean Sea.

THE LETTER TO ROME

In time, perhaps sometime shortly after A.D. 55, a church was born in the empire's capital city.  While in Corinth, and about to head to Jerusalem--though never having been to Rome -- Paul felt the Spirit's inspiring tug to write what we now have in our Bibles as a 16 chapter letter.

But why?  All the letters written to the 1st century churches had targets they were written to hit.  At what bullseye Paul was aiming with his pen?

ROME DIDN'T KNOW PAUL

The Apostle to the Gentiles had not yet met these believers.  Paul knew that the Spirit's itinerary for him would eventually take him there.  His letter would help clarify for those believers who Paul was and why he should be welcomed.

ROMAN BELIEVERS WERE DIVIDING

A careful reading of any letter can tell you the fuller story.  In ROMANS, Paul addresses those things which would naturally divide believers of different backgrounds.  Jewish believers  would take pride in their religious heritage and naturally look down on non-Jewish Christians.  Gentile believers would naturally be dismissive of, and even trample on, Jewish traditions and laws.  Preferred differences and  sectarian prides makes for a divided body of Jesus.  Paul wrote to unify through humbling both sides.

ALL NEED GOD'S GRACE

What could well introduce Paul and bring sides together was that which God could give - GRACE.  Unmerited grace.  Saving, redeeming, wrath-satisfying, pride-diminishing grace.   "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have our introduction into God's grace, in which we stand" (Rom 5:1-2).

There is a remarkable treasure in your copy of the Scriptures.  It is Paul's letter to the Romans.  Make the time to open it, prayerfully read.  Imagine being a young Christian in a young church and needing with others to hear God's voice about your need of grace.

We will be opening this treasure beginning this Sunday at First EFC in Ames.  You're invited to come, or at least, to join us online (www.amesefc.org at 9:00 or 10:35 AM).