Reading With the People of God #10 Kingdomنموونە

Focus of the month: (Kingdom)

7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house. 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’ ”.

- 1 Chronicles 17:7-14

Introduction to Romans

In AD 33, Rome was the center of civilization. The political power of the Roman Empire was centered there, as was Greco/Roman culture and pagan religion. Tiberius Caesar Augustus was emperor.

Annually, to fulfill the Mosaic Law, Jews from Rome and throughout the Empire made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Festival of Weeks or Harvest which was fifty days after Passover. Shavuot, the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, was also celebrated on that day.

Just a few weeks earlier that year, in Jerusalem, hours before the Passover was to be celebrated, Jesus had been crucified on a Roman cross and then quickly buried. Three days later, on the first day of the week, He arose, physically alive and seen by many people before He ascended into heaven. This was the buzz in Jerusalem when Jews from across the Roman Empire converged on the Holy City. Then, as the Pentecost Festival was to begin, the Holy Spirit came down with signs and power where the disciples were gathered. The Roman Jews experienced His power and heard Peter’s sermon. (Acts 2) It is believed this was the birth of the church in Rome as Jews returned home and shared the good news.

Paul, a convert from Judaism himself, had become a missionary to the Gentiles and was used by the Lord to start new churches throughout the Roman Empire. Paul heard of the faith-filled and growing church in Rome and hoped to see them soon; he already felt a bond with them. Meanwhile, he realized the Roman church had not received any instruction in their Christian walk and knew little about the gospel of grace. Around AD 55, Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome.

Like a skilled lawyer apostle Paul clearly lays out the case for the gospel to the Christians in Rome. Paul wants them to understand the tenets of the Christian faith so they will have a solid foundation from which to build. In this letter, Paul covers the themes of sin, salvation, and sovereignty. Though this is the sixth letter Paul wrote, it is placed first in the church letters because it lays the basic theological framework for the New Testament.

Paul’s comprehensive letter to the church in Rome was not only helpful to them when they received it, but throughout the ages, it has had a dynamic impact on its readers, even changing the course of history. When Martin Luther read Romans, he became convinced that salvation was by faith alone, the beginning of the reformation of the church.

Romans was referred to as the Gospel of Christ by the early church. In reading this letter, we are helped to fully understand and appreciate the meaning of the life and work of our Lord; it is a life-changing letter.

* Primer contributed by Jinet Troost