We begin our series in the book of Romans. The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome and he begins by discussing his authority as an apostle of the Good News, a message from God.

Paul shows us that this message was prophesied before Jesus came. God sent a Saviour, Jesus, who is a descendant of David. God brought His Son from death to life as a way of showing the whole world that Jesus is the Son of God. These two are prophecies fulfilled.

Paul’s heart desire is to show his love for these people through his constant prayers for them and desire to be there with them. He centralises them on the Gospel on which we stand – that Jesus died for our sins, He has risen and we have eternal life in His name. Jesus’ prophesised resurrection was viewed by more than 500 witnesses, including Paul. Paul describes the Gospel as the power of God which saves.

After hearing the preaching of Stephen, Paul was still full of hatred, desiring to persecute Christians, but by the powerful preaching of the Gospel, Paul encountered Jesus on that road to Damascus. Even before Ananias knew what was to come, God spoke to him and told him that he must pray for Paul to receive his sight and be appointed as an apostle to the Gentiles.

God has a plan and His Gospel is indeed powerful. It may not be at a time or in a season that we would dictate, but, nevertheless, in God’s time, hearts will be transformed, lives would be totally and radically changed by a love that would be reborn for Christ and a trust in the message of the Good News. Christ has washed away our sins and risen for our justification.

Paul speaks about the righteousness that we have through this message, that is, the righteousness of God, given to us as a gift through what Jesus did for us.

May this be a blessing to you, and if you have not already, may you place your faith in the risen Lord Jesus.