Fresh Encounter

Re:Verse passage – Romans 1:14–17  (day six)

Romans has a history of finding people and changing them. After hearing “Take up and read,” Augustine opened Paul’s writings and encountered Romans 13:13–14. He wrote in his Confessions, “No sooner had I reached the end of the verse than the light of certainty flooded my heart and all dark shades of doubt fled away.” Luther wrestled with Romans 1:17 and felt as though he had walked through the gates of paradise when he finally came to understand “the righteousness of God.” Wesley heard Luther’s explanation of Romans and felt his heart “strangely warmed.” Centuries later, Karl Barth’s reencounter with Romans would redirect his theology.

Different people, different centuries, different circumstances—but the same powerful gospel expounded in Romans.

Paul does not merely say that the gospel explains God’s power. He says the gospel is God’s power for salvation. Romans is therefore more than a theological puzzle to solve or a collection of doctrines to organize. Through this letter, God confronts us with what he has accomplished in the crucified and risen Jesus.

As we begin Romans together, let us read slowly, listen carefully, and remain open. There is no telling what God might change when we hear the good news again.

Obligation

Re:Verse passage – Romans 1:14–17  (day five)

“I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” Verse 14 uses an interesting word to describe Paul’s relationship to the people in the Roman church and to all Roman citizens—“obligated.” It literally means a debtor, or someone who owes a financial debt to another person. How can he be in debt or obligated to these people he has never met (the people in the church much less the people who live in Rome)?  Think about two hypothetical circumstances in which I might be in debt to you. First, you lend me money. I am in debt to you until I pay you back. Second, someone gives me money to give to you. I am in debt to you until I give it to you. This second example is the context to which Paul is referring. He has been given the gospel to give/share with all others. He now lives indebted to everyone/everywhere to give them the gospel. Fact is, we as believers have been given the same gift and same instruction to share it with everyone/everywhere. Most of us (me too) don’t often if ever, have this perspective. We don’t live with that burden and passion to give away and share the gospel as we’ve been commanded. Instead of living as if obligated, the temptation is to live as entitled. How might this perspective shape the way we see, talk to, and serve all of those around us?

The Savior hath given us freely,
Salvation and grace through His name,
He bids us to publish His gospel,
Its words to all creatures proclaim;
We’re debtors to those who are dying,
And never its power have known;
Can we who so richly are favored
Still leave them to perish alone?

They perish, they perish,
Yet Jesus to save them has died;
Go pay them the debt that we owe them,
Those souls who in darkness abide.
Clara M. Brooks

Simple

Re:Verse passage – Romans 1:14–17  (day four)

We tend to want to overcomplicate the gospel. I wonder if we do that because the gospel itself seems too simple, so simple it’s illogical. We devise ways of over complicating the gospel because surely, salvation can’t be that easy. It can’t simply come down to faith – a secret password, birthright, or a resumé of good works has to fit in somewhere. It’s almost offensively simple. The only thing required for salvation and eternal life is faith in Christ.

The fact that it’s that simple tells us a lot about who God is and who we are. We can do nothing to earn salvation because nothing we have to offer can satisfy God’s holiness and righteousness. We are so sinful, so fallen from God’s glorious standard that we could spend our lives scraping up all we can find to offer to God, and it would not be enough to earn a place in his Kingdom. That is the effect of sin. But it says even more about who God is. God is so loving that he offers his people – all of his people – a way to enter his kingdom and live with him for eternity. Knowing we cannot offer anything of our own, he offers himself as the perfect sacrifice. All we must do is trust in him and accept the gift of his sacrifice on the cross. It’s as simple as receiving a gift that has already been bought. The simplicity of the gospel shows us the depth of our sin, and even more so the depth of God’s love for us.

Good News

Re:Verse passage – Romans 1:14–17  (day three)

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

At the time that Paul wrote these words, it would have been hard to swallow for either people group. The Greeks (or Gentiles) would have been annoyed that Paul was saying the Jews have first crack at salvation, while the Jews would have been beside themselves that anyone else could have salvation from God. Paul’s aim here, though, is to humble all his readers and place everyone on level standing.

No single person or people group is more deserving of God’s grace and salvation than any other. The salvation of God is “for everyone who believes.” I am sure that most of us read this and, on the surface, agree. But when we think about it further, we may tend to think, “Wait a minute! What about the evil people? How can salvation be for those that live a life doing wicked and sinful things, only to be given salvation if they believe in Him?” This is where we see the goodness, grace, and mercy of God.

Just take a look at Paul. He was a terrible, wicked man that was okay with murdering those that opposed his views. Mary Magdalene led a sinful life until she met Jesus. Moses was a murderer until he met I AM. The thief on the cross was on the cross for a reason but was given salvation because he simply believed in Jesus while standing at death’s door. That is Good News indeed!

As we look at Romans, our overarching theme is that the gospel is for all people. Who around you needs to hear the Good News of Jesus?

Share

Re:Verse passage – Romans 1:14–17 (day two) 

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. v. 14

The first chapter of Romans seems a perfect segue from our summer study of discipleship. As we have spent the past three months tackling what it means to be a disciple, Paul thrusts us into work of sharing the gospel. Cultivating our relationship with the Lord and training in our understanding of what it means to follow him should inexorably lead us to the position of sharing with others. Paul states in this passage that he is not ashamed of the gospel. Are we? If the good news has moved us from a place of death to life, why do we hesitate to share? This message is for all, and if we don’t share it, who will?

Monday Re:Vlog – 8/31/26

Re:Verse passage – Romans 1:14–17
(day one)

Join us as  Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastors Aaron Hufty, and  Minister Megan Langan walk us through Romans 1:14–17 in our New Re:Verse Series: “Romans: Good News for All.”

Vocational Ministry

 Re:Verse passage – Matthew 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; Galatians 4:4–7 (day seven)

 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Matthew 4:18

“They were busy in a lawful occupation when he called them to be ministers: our Lord does not call idlers but fishers.” – Spurgeon

Think about the callings found in scripture. David, Moses, Gideon, the disciples. God didn’t call people from the synagogue, He called them while they were faithfully working. Our God meets us where we are at; we need only to listen.

This is true in our personal growth and calling, as well as in our discipleship. Every single one of us are called to make disciples. Some may be called to vocational ministry, but every Christian is called to use their vocation as ministry. Instead of waiting for God to tell you in some grand fashion what you are supposed to do, what if you just went to work tomorrow with the anticipation that God is going to speak there? What would He tell you to do? Who would He tell you to speak with? If you will listen, God will meet you where you are at!

Abiding as Sons and Daughters

 Re:Verse passage – Matthew 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; Galatians 4:4–7 (day six)

We abide as sons and daughters. What a stunning work of God’s grace! There is rest and security in belonging to God’s family. Our identity is certain; our provision and future are secure.

Paul writes that when the right time came, God sent his Son to redeem us so that we might receive adoption as his children. Then God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, teaching us to cry, “Abba, Father.” The Father sends the Son to rescue us and the Spirit to assure us that we belong.

We do not obey to persuade God to accept us. We obey because, through Jesus, we have already been welcomed home. We are no longer slaves anxiously attempting to earn a place in the household. We are beloved children learning to live in the freedom, intimacy, and confidence of our Father’s house.

And if we are God’s children, Paul says, then we are also his heirs. Our future rests not upon our grip on God, but upon his gracious grip on us.

Redirected and Recalibrated

 Re:Verse passage – Matthew 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; Galatians 4:4–7 (day five)
Read this a while back… “The danger of not reading God’s Word and not having a close walk with Christ, is that your ability can become your identity.”  I would extend this thought to include not only ability, but activity as well. This is the truth that Jesus used to call Peter and Andrew (fishers of men). It is the message that Paul was communicating to the Corinthians (neither… is anything) It is also the picture Paul describes to the Galatians (no longer a slave). The gospel reorients our complete perspective about ourselves, others, and the world in which we live. As disciples of Christ, our hearts and minds are constantly being redirected and recalibrated to find, understand, and reflect His grace and glory.
Paul Tripp says it this way, “So you and I aren’t left to our own maturity, character, ingenuity, righteousness, wisdom, or power. Not only that, but the gospel redefines how we understand our whole story, how we think about the meaning of life, how we understand the human struggle, where we get our identity, where we look for peace and security, what we consider in life to be dangerous, what we see as successful living, and so on.”

Role

 Re:Verse passage – Matthew 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; Galatians 4:4–7 (day four)

It’s proper to end this study with a discussion of who we are and who we’re called be. If we’re going to be discipled, we need to know the shape we’re being formed into.

Matthew tells us that we’re called. We aren’t passive actors in God’s world, with life simply happening to us. We’re called to go into the world with intention and share the gift we’ve received. We’re called to seek after the lost, to be “fishers of men.” We have a role to play in this grand cosmic play. 1 Corinthians reminds us that while we have a role to play, we are not the end-all be-all. We can prepare people to encounter Christ, we can introduce them Christ, but we cannot enact salvation in their life. Our role is to point people to Christ, knowing he is faithful to work in their hearts.

Galatians reminds us that because of God’s mercy and Christ’s sacrifice, our identity is now wrapped up in Jesus. We are adopted into the family of God, sons and daughters – not slaves. As we continue to understand our identity in Christ, we will be able to more faithfully live out the role he has given us – faithfully showing others the love and mercy of our Father.

How have you felt this identity and role taking shape in your life lately?