January 9 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Romans 1:13-16 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

In verse 13, Paul states that one of his reasons for visiting Rome was that he might "have some fruit" among the Gentiles. In other words, he wanted to be able to see souls saved and Christians strengthened in their faith. Paul did not believe that his preaching was in vain. He expected that some people would respond; that his ministry in Rome would bear fruit. What is somewhat unusual is that Paul, who was a Jew, was very concerned for the souls of Gentiles. In the beginning, the first churches were made up of converted Jews. In fact, in Acts 11, the Jewish believers in Jerusalem were very surprised when Peter told them about the conversion and subsequent baptism of the Italian centurion Cornelius. They voiced opposition to Peter having baptized him until Peter explained all the details. Their response at that point was,

"they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18).

Paul referred to himself as the "apostle of the Gentiles'' (Romans 11:13). According to Romans 1:14, he believed that he owed them a debt; not a responsibility to repay them money, but a responsibility to give them the Gospel. In verse 14 he indicates that he owed this debt to all Gentiles. The Greeks were considered the "cultured" Gentiles. The Barbarians were all the "uncultured" Gentiles that were not Greek and perhaps did not speak Greek. Class distinction meant nothing to Paul. Educational and ethnic differences were unimportant. What mattered was preaching the message of salvation. Paul was eager to get to Rome so he could begin preaching there.

Paul was not embarrassed to tell people about the Lord. He knew that the Gospel was true, and that believing it was the only way for an individual to be reconciled to God. The Gospel has the power to save. Men can't save people, and churches can't save people, but the Gospel can. What is the Gospel? Paul defined it this way:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (I Cor. 15:1-4).

Pastor Mark J Montgomery