Paul has spent the first two chapters in his letter to the church in Rome, introducing himself. He is not ashamed of the Gospel and is looking forward to meeting them and sharing about faith. Paul understands himself to be a “slave” of Jesus and the Gospel is power for him and righteousness that deals with his colorful past. Other people come to faith for a variety of reasons. He can learn from this international, multicultural church that is a minority in Rome.
Paul argues that all people should be convinced by nature that there is a god. To worship the creation rather than the creator is idolatry. People have moral problems not intellectual problems when dealing with religion. All people can know there is a god through nature. The Jews have special revelations through Abraham and Moses but they too fail to keep the truth revealed to them. We as Christians admit that we too are unable to live up to the truth we know revealed through Christ. We do not always live up to our better selves. We fail to walk the talk. We do rituals that mark our lives but then we have our days when we fall short. And so we come to chapter 3. What’s the value of the rituals and laws? It reminds me of the people who claim – Why marry? It’s just a piece of paper.
Before we go further, let us think right now how we would answer that question. What are some of the advantages of being a person of faith?
“3 Then what advantage has the Jew?
Or what is the value of circumcision? (Romans 3:1)”
List the advantages of your denominational system in your journal and thank God for the foundation it provides for your life.
On the Way to Wonder 