In this letter written about 25 years after Christ’s death, Paul describes the world’s need of redemption through Christ’s saving sacrifice mediated by God’s grace and the opportunity for transformed life that His death has made available to us all, Jew and Gentile alike, through our faith journey. Alyce and I listened to and meditated over this passage and the verses preceding and following.
Paul speaks of eagerness to proclaim the gospel, for, “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, both Jew and Gentile.” But in following verses he reminds us that those of us who do not accept God’s reality have no excuse. His eternal power and divine nature have been amply demonstrated through all that He has made. Yet He gives us the freedom to choose. Thus some choose to worship and serve the creature (ourselves) rather than the Creator. These people give themselves up to a detailed list of evils. They know God’s decree, that those who practice these things deserve to die. They do them anyway! But be careful, Paul warns us, not to judge, as you will be judged by the same measure, for we all may be guilty to some degree, though we may not recognize it.
Paul reminds us that we should realize that God’s kindness (the freedom to choose and the gift of His Son) should lead to our focus on repentance, to be sorry about our behavior and concentrate on changing our ways. God will be the judge and focus on our deeds. The reward of eternal life will go to those patiently doing good, seeking honor, glory and immortality. There will be anguish and distress, wrath and fury, for those doing evil.
Paul emphasizes that outward appearances do not suffice. It is your deeds that count, Jew and Gentile alike. Alyce and I were challenged recently by televangelist Joyce Meyer’s question, “Are you married to God, or just dating?” In other words, how seriously do you take your relationship to God? In the midst of our turbulent life pathways, how often do we allow ourselves to be reminded of God’s kindness (the freedom to choose and the gift of His Son) and turn thankfully to repentance, allowing the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to move us along our faith journey and empower our earthly good deeds?
—Alyce & Dick Rogers
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