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THE LETTER OF PAUL TO CONGREGATION AT ROME.
WHO WERE THE ROMANS? One part of the U.K. Church which has begun to buck the trend of decline is the church in the big city perhaps in the city centre or less wealthy neighbourhoods. Often these congregations are cosmopolitan, with migrant workers from around the world attending. Isn't that what the new congregation in the capital of the Empire was like in the first century? The 'Romans' were not mainly Italian. Some would be slaves brought to the city to provide labour. There may have been some wealthier ones whose career or business concerns brought them there perhaps. Their faith was new, and their religion a minority one in the pagan Empire, and their backgrounds differered one from another. Traditionally, many scholars believed that the church was predominately comprised of former Jewish believers, because in chapters 12-14 Paul's arguaments presuppose an understanding of The Law. Also, there were a number of synagogues in the city, serving a resident Jewish community. However, there are also passages which talk of what seems to have been former pagan/Gentile behaviour and life style, and, of course, Paul's great passion was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Whatever their background and status, those Roman Christians were in a minority of belief and culture, as we are today.
From these background facts themes begin to emerge.
.> The place of the Law, and of faith.
.> The future of Israel in God's salvation.
.>Now you are aa follower of Jesus, leave behind pagan lifestyle and morals and live as a Baptised Christian should.
.>What is the future of creation - where is it all leading?
.> In his own way and time Paul was as aware as anyone of the suffering/groaning creation, yet he lived in faith producing hope. The late Dr. Kingsley Barrett pointed out in his commentary on Romans that Paul often used the verb 'to save' in the future tense. When we have faith in future salvation, it produces Hope in us, despite current problems, and also helps us live in love. Halleluiah!
Lifestyle, and daring to be different is a very relevant issue for us today, as is our worldview and hopes and fears for the future of the planet.
Pauls' overriding aims.
1) A diplomatic purpose. Paul wishes to introduce himself to this church and pave the way for a visit as a stopping off point on his way to break new ground in new mission fields as yet not evangelised.
2). A doctrinal purpose. Paul was not known in person to the Roman Christians so here he presents his credentials. He outlines his understanding of the Gospel. He is particularly at pains to set out his views on the status and future of the Jewish people. In doing this he was, well over one thousand years later, to provide a foundation for the Protestant Revival, the work of the Wesleys, and twentieth century theologians such as Karl Barth.
PASSAGES FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP
July 20th Romans 8: 12-25
Several key words appear here. Flesh, Spirit, Creation.
As a strict Jew, Paul knew all about being indebted to the flesh. His road to salvation lay in keeping, or paying his dues to, the Law. Now, through faith in Jesus, he has received the Spirit of God and this has opened up to him a much better way to live and please God - walking in the Spirit.
But then in v 18, there's a reality check. However spiritual a person may be, they still have to live in this world - and sooner or later, that will bring pain and suffering. Paul now goes on a little detour from his arguament to try and explain why this is, where it leads to and how we cope with it. He doesn't say, 'There there' bear your pain patiently because one day you'll be out of this nasty world and translated to heaven, the world of spirit'. instead he says that this creation itself has a future after all - but it is a transformed future. One day God will fully redeem it and make it new.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP & PREACHING.
Is our spirituality wide enough to embrace a theology of creation as well as individual salvation?
Can we believe that God is still in control as problems seem to be becoming more and more cosmic?
In all the pain of life today we have a hope, our hope is based on the message of the Bible, summarised in its first and last books, 'in thebeginning God, and in the end God.'
July 27th Romans 8: 26-39
I wonder what was at the top of Paul's mind when he wrote this part of Romans? Was he going through one of his many periods of pain and trial? He speaks a lot about suffering, not least in vs 35-39.
An ever present challenge to our faith in every age is the problem of Theodicy. 'If God is all powerful and all loving, why does he allow so many aweful things to happen?' So many people have lost their faith when they have been overwhelmed by pain, grief or calamity and God seems to allow it. Paul's answer seems to chime in with the old Gospel song, 'Father along we'll know all about it, father along we'll unbderstand why. Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine, we'll understand it all bye and bye.' Of course the problem with all this is that it can seem no more than 'Pie in the sky when you die.' In this centenary of the start of World War 1 it is sobering to think how many good believing people lost faith because of what they experienced in the trenches of France.
Nowadays it may not be enough simply to attribute suffering to 'The Fall'. Twenty first century believers need to be honest and admit that innocent suffering, including suffering on a national and global scale remains a serious challenge to our faith. For Paul, (who it must be admitted lived in a pre-scientific age) a key to keeping faith is to retain Hope. Hope is one of the main themes of these passages.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP AND PREACHING.
We walk not in cast iron certainties but in faith. But as Paul insisted, faith produces hope, and hope is a precious asset in life today. Can we encourage one another to keep faith and hope, even when life seems to give us a raw deal?
How much does our faith in God's future spur us on to strive for a better world, and a relief of sufferingNOW?
In prayer have you known those times when normal words seem inadequate, and yet, by the Spirit you have still been able to pray either in silence, groans, or the Gift of Tongues?
'How oft in the conflict when pressed by the foe, have I fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often when trials like sea billows roll, have I hidden in Thee O Thou rock of my soul.' - William Cushing
If 1 Corinthains Ch 13 is one of the greatest pieces of writing in the New Testament, with its words about the eternal quality of Faith, Hope and Love...Romans 8 runs it a close second, look again at 37-38. Here is FAITH,, making it possible to go against all the difficulties of life, in HOPE.
August 3rd Romans 9: 1-5
Now we are into a different topic. However Dr. Kingsley Barrett saw a link between the previous section and this one. Both are concerned with the character and deeds of God, who is both the source of salvation, (Ch. 8) and who calls both Jews and Gentiles into that salvation (Ch 9 ff)
The church at Rome probably comprised both Jews and Gentiles, but has God's plans for his 'Chosen people' failed? Does Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles believe that Jewish people have lost all of their original advantages? It would seem not.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP AND PREACHING
Radio presenter John Humphreys, a non believer, did a series of programmes in which he discussed faith with some leaders of different faiths. When he came to talk to the Chief Rabbi, he began with words like these. 'O.K. - make me a Jew' To which Jonathan Sacks responded, 'Why would I want to make you a Jew!?'. In our global village, and multi-ethnic society there is, among people of faith, a greater understanding, and often greater tolerance of different traditions.
Whatever our views about salvation through faith in Christ alone, there is no place for hatred and intolerance of others who show genuine spirituality and love for others. Could we use Paul's appreciation of the Jewish faith tradition to deepen our understanding of our own faith and where its rootes lie?
August 10th Romans 10: 5-15
Once more the RCL passes over a whole chunk of material, but continues with the theme of the future of Israel.
In 10: 1 we are given a glimpse of the pain in the heart of the apostle to the Gentiles. Jewish people would consider Paul to have turned his back on them, but, as he shows here, and as Acts of the Apostles makes clear, Paul still had a love for the Jews and a burning desire to see them accept Jesus as the Messiah.
It is impossible for me, a Gentile, to understand the liberation which Paul, a devout Jew, a Pharisee, must have felt when he came to understand that God offered to count us righteous, not when we won the struggle to keep laws and commandments, but when we simply relaxed and accepted salvation as a free gift of grace. We don't earn it, we accept it.
It sounds odd to hear of God seeking to make Jewish people jealous of the Gentiles who have turned to him. Perhaps a more fertile field for us is the underlying conviction that through the work of Christ there is room for all, Jew and Gentile.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP AND PREACHING.
There seems to be something of Calvinism in Paul's writing, the idea that God predestines some for wrath and some for salvation. However, there is a glorious affirmation of the counter doctrine Arminianism in this passage - room for all, Jew and Gentile, and everyone. The Wesley brothers held passionately to the doctrine of divine love and salvation for whosoever wanted it. See how many of Charles's hymns contain that word 'All' Especially Hymns and Psalms 520, 'Father whose everlasting love.'
In worship could this all inclusive doctrine, so central to Methodism be excplained and celebrated?
AND/OR, wrestle with the question, 'What does God's inclusiveness mean in a world divided into a super rich few, and a needy majority? (The richest 84 individuals on the planet have a combined wealth equalling that of the poorest quarter - that is billions!)
August 17 Romans 11: 1-2a & 29-32
The theme of God's irreversible love to Israel and to all continues in this chapter.
Just as some find justification for exclusive, Calvinistic ideas in this debate about the future of Israel, so some have found ideas about salvation being irrevocable. Even if a person turns to Christ and then turns away, God will always count them as one of His own. Perhaps a more helpful reading of this passage would be to simply marvel at God's constant love for all. (V32)
SOME THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP AND PREACHING
Paul, the once devout and exclusive Pharisee, became the Christian apostle to the Gentiles - and potentially for him, that was the whole human race.
As last week we might ask how well we express God's love for all.
August 24 Romans 12: 1-8
It may have felt like walking through cloying mud as we tried to follow Paul in his arguments about the futre of Jews and Gentiles. That was a mission/outreach subject. Now we return to relationship and behaviour within the local fellowship.
The next few chapters are no longer concerned purely with doctrine, but with the working out of that in right living.
Why this sudden change of subject? There may be a link in 12:1, 'Present your bodies as a living sacrifice'. Given the scope of God's plan, Paul calls for a 100% response from believers.
Or could it be that v 3 hints that either Jewish or Gentile believers at Rome were looking down on those of a different racial and religious background. 'I am a member of God's chosen people' or, 'I am a member of the new people of God who have now replaced the former one?'
Whatever, Paul demands that we put on no airs and graces, and each play our own important but limited part in the Body of Christ.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP AND PREACHING
God's grace, salvation by faith not works, are not a soft option. We are not freed from right living, there is a cost to discipleship, every bit as demanding as the Law. How does offering ourselves, a refusal to be conformed to this age work out for this congregation, in this place, at this time? (v 1-2)
Does our church overrate some ministries and undervalue others? Which? How can we remedy this?
In this week's worship can we help people to recognise and value their own gifts and contribution?
Which gifts are missing from our fellowship?
August 31st Romans 12: 9-21
There are echoes of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians here. Believers in that Church prized some gifts more than others, and there was a lack of humble love in the fellowship. So here Paul insists that members love one another, live in harmony, are not be haughty, be forgiving etc.,
SOME THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP AND PREACHING.
How heirarchical does British society remain?
How heirarchical does the Church remain?
Which humble souls can we point to who live out Paul's words by living lives of forgiveness, humility, and generosity?
__________________________________________________________________
Barrie Morley July 2014
Bibliography
New Testament Introduction D. Guthrie IVP 1965
Paul for Everyone Part 1 T. Wright SPCK 2004
Epistle to the Romans C.K. Barrett Black 1957
PAUL'S OVERIDING AIM > A diplomatic purpose. Paul wishes to introduce himself and pave the way for a visit on his way to a missionary journey which would break new ground for the Gospel in t Spain.
> A doctrinal purpose. For whatever reason Paul explained 'His' Gospel in great detail in this letter. This included Salvation by faith alone. BUT Paul's gospel goes far beyond personal salvation for the individual who has faith in Christ. He speaks of the redemption of the whole suffering creation - so the Gospel message is universal and looks forward to complete redemption. it is not just about 'Jesus and me', but as Romans makes clear, is cosmic and eschatological.
It is impossible to underestimate the impact this letter has had on the world. Martin Luther formed his reformation beliefs after studying it, and it was Luther's preface to Romans which John Wesley was listening to when he felt his heart strangely warmed.
