20160630 Thursday, June 30 2016
Romans 01: Paul's Letter To The True Church Of Rome

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the Truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them"

The term "Church of Rome" has come to mean the Roman Catholic Church. It was called that because it was the official state religion of the Roman Empire (see The Politics Of Rome and A History Of Jerusalem: Pompey And The Caesars). That Church was created by the Roman Emperor Constantine (see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy; also A History Of Jerusalem: Constantine and Muhammad).

The LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) sent the apostle Paul to Rome (see Why Was Paul Sent To Rome?), which was the "capital of the world" at the time (i.e. the saying "all roads lead to Rome") as a witness of the true Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?). The Romans had been, for centuries before, a very "religious" people, with many "gods" and "goddesses," with names that are still very familiar in the world today (e.g. Apollo, Cupid, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Pluto, Vulcan) - but like the Greeks when Paul was there, many of the Romans accepted the Truth and became true Christians, while others refused to listen, or later became followers of the perversion of "Christianity" that was devised by the Roman political regime.

Paul's epistle to the Romans was a letter to the true Christians at Rome, who, from that ancient time to the present, lived in the city that became the capital of the Church of the Roman Empire, known simply today as the Church of Rome. The true Christians, like everywhere else on Earth at the present time, were a minority among those who call themselves "Christian.".

"1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

1:7 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." (Romans 1:1-7 KJV)

In the Word of God, faith means fidelity, being faithful - a living faith of obedience to the Commandments of the LORD. Merely claiming to be a Christian, with an idle faith, is worthless in the LORD's Judgment (see Why Call Me, Lord, Lord, and Do Not The Things Which I Say?).

"1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 1:9 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; 1:10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 1:13 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.

1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

1:16 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. 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:8-17 KJV)

When people forsake the Law of the LORD, they become subject to all sorts of self-destructive behavior because they have blinded themselves to what is truly right (see Strait And Straight) and what is truly wrong (see Which Way Is Right And Left?).

"1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:18-32 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves" (verse 24, above) mean?
See Sexual Abominations