October 18-22, 2010

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. (Romans 1:8)

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Germany with Dr. Robert Cornwall and a couple of other Bible teachers and scholars. Our mission was to teach and encourage pastors and full-time ministers. While we were there, we were given the rare privilege of touring the courtroom where the Nuremberg trials were conducted, and then taken to the prison cells where those who were convicted awaited their sentences. A wing of the prison in operation at that time is still used today, and so we walked in the midst of convicted criminals. Few Germans, let alone Americans, ever get to see these places. We only had the occasion because one of the ministers who sponsored the conference was a chaplain in the prison and had connections that opened this door of opportunity. But in a couple of weeks Paul, our special tour guide, is about to afford us the rare opportunity of standing in Rome’s highest courtroom in Israel, and give us a jailbird’s eye view of life in a Roman prison.

But before we go there, let’s take some time to consider Paul’s last days as a free man. One of the first things we notice is that Paul, even though he knew salvation through Christ, still held to and encouraged the Gentiles to commemorate the appointed festivals instituted by God under the Old Covenant. Although Paul had people waiting for him in Troas, Paul did not sail from Philippi until after Passover and the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. Also, Paul carefully planned his traveling itinerary to do his best to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost. Over and over again, Paul taught the Gentiles that salvation did not come through the keeping of the Law, nor through the rite of circumcision. But Paul understood the importance of understanding the reality of those things he had once only known as shadows. He understood that Jesus left this earth looking forward to the day when He would return and sit at the Passover meal with His followers. I’m sure Paul approached the seder meal with greater reverence than ever before, and also taught the significance to those he was with.

Many church traditions have incorporated communion every Sunday using Luke’s passage in his writings of the book of Acts as their Scriptural foundation.

And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. (Acts 20:7)

They have interpreted the words “break bread” as relating to the time Jesus “broke bread” on the night He was celebrating Passover with His disciples. But a simple word study will quickly reveal that this phrase not only refers to the breaking of bread at Passover, but is also used to express sharing a common meal together. My Aussie and Kiwi friends could easily explain this one. If they tell you that they had someone over for “tea,” they’ve just informed you that they had company for dinner. Likewise, in Hebrew and Greek, the word for bread does not merely refer to the substance used to enclose ham and cheese with a little mayo, but for food in general. Like several of the churches where I have the privilege of speaking, this group of believers met on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) to share the Word and a meal.

This week Paul introduces us to several more of his friends. Over the next couple of weeks we will find that some of them remained close companions throughout Paul’s life, while others deserted him in his hours of deepest need. It is obvious that Paul valued friendship and agonized when these relationships failed and was deeply grateful when they didn’t. You may want to keep track of those he mentions by name. Alexander is definitely one to follow! Some people he only speaks about once, while others he has a considerable amount to share.

As we walk with Paul, we enter his world about thirty years after the crucifixion. It’s been close to ten years since Paul began his missionary outreach and was sent by the church in Antioch. Paul has covered many miles, but he still has not been to Rome. How did Christianity spread to Rome? We know for certain that it wasn’t a result of Paul’s ministry. We know that when Paul was in Corinth, he had met the devoted Christian couple of Aquila and Priscilla who had been expelled from Rome because of their beliefs. You can be sure that Aquila and Priscilla told Paul about the believers they had left behind. We also know that there were Jews from Rome who were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers after Christ’s resurrection. You may recall their amazement when they heard the Gospel spoken in their own language. Obviously, there were those who heard, believed, and went back to Rome eagerly sharing what they had experienced. The only names that receive credit for founding the church in Rome is Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit!

As Paul begins to wrap up his current ministry trip and prepares to head back to Jerusalem, his thoughts are drawn to the Christians in Rome. The Holy Spirit continually brings them to Paul’s attention, and he finds himself continually remembering to pray for them. It is obvious that God is placing a deep desire in his heart to meet these brothers and sisters, and Paul feels compelled to send them a letter. As much as Paul’s suffering and difficulties have deepened his faith in the work of Christ, he recognizes that their experiences also have accomplished a commendable quality of faith in them and he desires to mutually share the good things of God.

For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Romans 1:11-12)

Unlike Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul is not dealing with issues in the church. His words are written to strengthen their faith in the Son of God, and to bring greater understanding of grace and the work of the cross. Remembering that it was Jews who brought back the message of Christ the Messiah after they had been in Jerusalem for Pentecost, Paul is careful to address the areas of misunderstanding that are running rampant in the early church. Sin, Abraham and the promise of inheritance, the Law, the cross, the reality of who Jesus really is and was before He became man, the continual fight between conflicting natures, the role of Jews in the past, present, and future, and the hope of the Gentiles are all topics Paul touches upon. This letter is heralded as the most comprehensive of all of Paul’s writings and is revered for “its wonderful combination of doctrinal, ethical and administrative wisdom and power.” Hopefully you are savoring Paul’s words and allowing this correspondence to the Romans to deepen your roots as well.