Romans 1:1-17
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and 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 all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ro 1:1-17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Paul longs to come to the people of Rome. He desires to share with them in the glorious Good News of Jesus Christ. They will be able to encourage one another in the true faith and strengthen one another through the Gospel. St Paul also desires to further the harvest among the Gentiles as he has in other regions.
St Paul always seems to begin with pointing us back to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of promise. He has fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy. He is the Son of the Great King David and he sits now on David's throne. He was declared to be the Son of God by the Holy Spirit. Just as we hear in the various Gospel lessons from the Angels and even at Christ's Baptism.
This Jesus Christ is the one who has called St Paul to be an Apostle. This Jesus Christ has called you to act like Christians. He has claimed you to be his own through his death and resurrection. This is the Good News which each of us should shout from the various roof tops. It is of this child that St Paul talks and of whom the prophets before him praised.
You should not be ashamed of this message. You should strengthen and encourage each other of this truth. You should never shy from it. For it is by Faith you have been saved. You have been chosen to be His messenger.
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