My Daily Pause

I have mentioned previously a brief outline of Romans. Since Paul seemed satisfied with the Roman church, the letter to Rome seems to be a comprehensive study of the foundation of Christianity for the Gentiles. (Romans 15:14-15) The book is laid out so we can see the Plan of Salvation at work:

• We sin (Romans 3:23)
• We need salvation (Romans 1:18-32, 2:1-3:20)
• Christ made it possible (Romans 3:21-8:39)
• Through obedient faith we join his body (Romans 6:3-4, 11, 17-18, 23, 12:4-5)
• Through our gratitude we serve him (Romans 12-15)

When Paul talks about justification through faith, he never even once hinted that it was done through some sort of “faith only” event that cannot be rescinded. He laid out plainly that we have the duty to serve continuously. Romans 12-15 lists those duties out for us as a guide to helping God maintain a healthy church. We have a duty to:

• God (Romans 12:2)
• ourselves (Romans 12:3)
• the church (Romans 12:4-8)
• other Christians (Romans 12:9-13)
• even our enemies (Romans 12:14-21)
• the government (Romans 13:1-7)
• our neighbor (Romans 13:8-14)
• weaker brethren (Romans 14:1-15:13)

Our baptism for the remission of our sin (Act 2:38) is only the first step – the step where the old man is buried with Christ. (Romans 6:3-4) No matter what this earthly life throws at us, we have to remain faithful and diligent in his service. (Revelation 2:10) Christianity is a lot of hard work – it is no wonder that Jesus said to count the cost of following him!