Romans 1:8 - “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

Far and wide the faith of the Christians in Rome was “announced, declared, made known” (as Thayer defines the word translated “spoken”). The same was true of the Christians in Ephesus (Eph. 1:15), Colossae (Col. 1:4) and Thessalonica (I Thess. 1:7-9). People abroad spoke of their love for all the saints everywhere (Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4), of their conversion from false religions to Christ, and of their evangelistic fervor (I Thess. 1:8-10). That generation had none of today’s “real-time” world-wide communications technology. We have it in abundance. Why do we not hear such things of the churches? Is it that in most churches there is no such news to tell? Or is it that we don’t consider faith and obedience newsworthy? What is important to you? What do you talk about when you have the opportunity? “Brackets”? Babies? The latest big deal you closed with a wealthy client? What news did Paul praise? What was there about the Christians that the Holy Spirit saw fit to have recorded for all time? Is any of that in you? Have you restored in your heart the faith and obedience of first-century Christians? Why not now? Stop what you are doing and think about it. What is the “epitaph” of those Christians? As of yesterday, what would be written of you? Let’s work at making the rest of our lives the best of our lives.

Romans 2:4 - “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

As it was in the days of the apostles, so it is today: men reject the gospel because they don’t see God acting directly and immediately in the affairs of the world. To be sure, there are some who claim that He is doing so, and some also reject Him because of what they think He is doing - humans are an inconsistent and confused species. But when the righteous suffer, many are quick to conclude that God doesn’t exist, or isn’t merciful. When the wicked prosper, they are persuaded that their way is right. Paul and Peter (II Peter 3:9) both cautioned Christians against such thinking. Don’t think that God’s delay in punishing you - or your wicked neighbor - for sins means that there are no sins to punish. God’s forbearance has a purpose you may have overlooked. He is giving you - and your neighbor, even in all his wickedness - time to repent. Forbearance (patient tolerance of error) is an element of the love and mercy - the goodness - of God. He loves you enough to give you time to repent. But he is just; His forbearance is not endless. Take advantage of “his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering”: repent and give Him praise for His perfect love toward you. Oh - and tell your neighbor also about this goodness of God for his benefit.

Romans 4:25 - “(Jesus our Lord) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

“Raised again for our justification” does not say that we are saved by His resurrection. The entire chapter speaks of Abraham’s faith in God as an example to us. Verses 23-24 say that, as God called him righteous because of his faith, so He will call us righteous if we believe in Him. We can know that we can believe in Him (i.e. we are justified in believing) because He raised Jesus from the dead. The sacrificial death of Jesus as payment for our sins is the important thing to know about Jesus. He showed this Himself in giving us a memorial of his death (the Lord’s supper). He did not memorialize His birth, baptism, miracles, prayers or His resurrection. But His resurrection is proof that His death is the means of our salvation. The resurrection justifies us in trusting His sacrifice for our salvation (I Peter 1:21).

Romans 10:2 - “I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”

The word zeal is from the Greek word zelos, which means “excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit.” It is a good thing. Paul commended their attitude, but lamented that it was mis-directed, not being guided by correct knowledge. It is logical to conclude that, when correct knowledge is acquired, zeal ought to be added to it. Perhaps you’ve heard it said, “Error marches around the world while truth is getting its boots on.” It’s a sad commentary on the absence of zeal among many who know the truth. Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist, spoke admirably of Martineau, a Unitarian who denied the divinity of Jesus. When questioned by an acquaintance why he should admire one whose doctrine Spurgeon did not believe, Spurgeon replied, “No, but he does!” Zeal is a trait admired by discerning people everywhere. Not only that, it is a characteristic of one who knows the truth (John 17:17) and the God who gave it (II Timothy 3:16-17; John 14:15). Zeal alone won’t save you, but neither will knowledge alone. Do people know that you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the Head of the church and the Savior of men’s souls?

Romans 10:16 - “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”

Isaiah lamented the fact that few had believed the preaching of Christ (Isaiah 53:1). Paul commented by the inspiration of God that the evidence of their not believing is their not obeying what He gave the apostles to preach. Peter agreed: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner” (I Peter 2:7). One is either obedient, or he is an unbeliever. Millions of people claim to believe in God, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and believe the gospel which Jesus brought. Many of them will proclaim in the judgment day that they have preached and worked in the name of Jesus, and yet will hear from the Lord, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). He is already telling all of us the same thing in this and many other passages. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Romans 15:5,6 - Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible often admonishes Christians to unity. We are all to “speak the same thing” (I Cor. 1:10). The unity of brethren is “good and pleasant” (Psalm 133:1). But in what are we to be unified? Disagreements between brothers have caused division in churches - or what may be worse: continuing together in extreme disharmony, always quarreling and seemingly never agreeing on any issue that is discussed. Seldom does a Christian set out to destroy peace and unity. Why, then, is it destroyed? Each brother in a disagreement believes that he is right. A man convinced that he is right will stand firm for his view regardless of the consequences. But in a disagreement that destroys unity in the church of Christ at least one person in the discussion is NOT right. How can we know which, and what can we do about it? Paul answers: “be likeminded one toward another ACCORDING TO CHRIST JESUS.” I believe that I am right based upon the scriptures that I know, and so do you. If we disagree, at least one of us does not know Jesus well enough; we need to open the book and study some more. “Church fusses” will cease when every Christian is determined to “have the mind of Christ,” and study to know what that is.

Romans 16:17-18 - “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

What the Christians in Rome had learned of Christ before Paul ever visited with them was the doctrine that was to carry them through all their days. They were not to tolerate the preaching of a different doctrine; eternal truth needs no update. In a similar letter to the churches in Galatia Paul specified that even apostles and angels are accursed if they preach a different doctrine (Gal. 1:8-9). The command to “mark” those who do does not mean physically to imprint a sign on them, nor does it mean necessarily to make a formal statement regarding the offender. The word Paul used means “to look at, observe, contemplate; to mark; to fix one’s eyes upon, direct one’s attention to.” In short, we are simply to be aware of those who teach what differs from the teaching of the apostles, and to avoid listening to their teaching. There is no word from Heaven indicating that this rule was only for that first generation, or that 20 centuries later it would be necessary to modify it. When you encounter those who preach a new plan for a new century, ask them why they bother to believe in a God who couldn’t once give a plan that would always meet the needs of all His people.