Romans 1:1-32

In verse 17 we have come to understand that the righteousness is "therein" revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is revealed in Christ from beginning to end. It started with the faith of Jesus and it ended with the faith of Jesus. Now, as for "the just shall live by faith" what we need to ask is: Who are the just? How many are just and how did they become just? Living by who's faith? I believe that by now we should all know the answer to these questions.

In verse 18 there is something that Paul also said had been revealed. Friends, if the righteousness of God was revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then what was it that once revealed God's wrath? In what covenant was the wrath of God revealed? Where was it revealed from? What was it revealed for? Against what? Was it against "SOME" of the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, or was it against "ALL" the ungodliness and unrighteousness of ALL men? How many were found to be ungodly and unrighteous under the law?

How many are said to have been found godly and righteous under the Gospel of God's grace? Who's sin was it that made all men ungodly and unrighteous before God? What was it that gave Adam's sin more strength? The answer to these questions and more are found in Romans chapter 4 through 8. I am just trying to built up a foundation so that we can connect it all later on, and make sense out of all the out of context religious nonsense that we have all been legalistically taught for years.

I want everyone to know that the answer to the historical account of what took place under the law as described in verses 18 through 32 of Romans chapter 1 by Paul, is found in verse 1 of chapter 2. In speaking to the people at Rome there were many of the circumcision still trying to justify themselves through the works of the law and attempting to convert Gentiles to the law by denying Paul's message of the grace of God that had now come through Jesus Christ. Paul then gave a historical account in verses 18 through 32 of what is was like under the law of Moses.

The same similarities are found in 1 Corinthians chapter 10. The "them" of verse 19 is making reference to the Israelis who were being led by Moses back when. The "without excuse" were those who under the law were denying the power of God. The reason they were without excuse was simply because they had been told and showed all that God had created according to verse 20. They were without excuse because "they knew God," yet they glorified Him not as God" according to verse 21. The "they" of verses 21 through 32 were those Jews who were being led at one time by Moses under the law.

These verses - 18 through 32 - out of Romans chapter 1 were before the cross of Jesus Christ and shouldn't be applied to everyone who is now under God's grace because of Christ. Evangelical Christianity and religion have done a great injustice to the heart's and mind's of people by preaching these verses out of context and using them in a format of condemnation. Paul was simply reminding the religious hypocrite Jews that were still trusting in the law that they were no better than those who had done all of these things mentioned in verses 18 through 32.

They were just as guilty of doing the same things by thinking that they could be justify by the works of the law of Moses and deny the goodnews of the saving grace of God that came through Jesus Christ, by what He did and finished once and for all at the cross. Under the law conditions had been set in order for one to be pleasing to God, accepted with God, blessed of God and forgiven of God. It was a law of "Do it right, and if you do it wrong, look out!". The key words in all of these verses are the words "THEY" and "THEIR." Always used in the past tense. Read chapter 1 verses 18 through 32 and see how many times the words are used.

Again, the answer to verses 18 through 32 is found in verse 1 of chapter 2 and thereafter. The word "therefore" in verse 1 of chapter 2 is just a continuation of what Paul was saying in chapter one. Verses 18 through 32 of chapter 1 of Romans doesn't open into a whole new set of topics. Here's how I put it for verse 1 of Romans chapter 2: "You legalists are without excuse just as the people back in the days of Moses were. The very same things that you accuse those of us who believe that all are saved by grace apart from the law, by saying that we are using grace as a license to go out and indulge in sins, is the very thing you are doing."

"You bunch of two face hypocrites. You judge, point out the sins of others who don't self-righteously serve God like you do, but yet your own closet is full of just about, if not more of the same sins." Friends, the Evangelical Church is the one that ought to be repenting and apologizing to the entire world for accusing them of things that they themselves are also doing, and of things that Jesus has already died for. If there was ever a chapter taken out of context that has been used to condemn people and religiously justify self, it would have to be none other than Romans chapter 1 verses 18-32. Thank God for the understanding of grace versus law.

You will see who it is that Paul had been talking to and addressing in his letter to the Romans. Stay tuned.

To be continued...

Grace N Peace

Eddie Narvaez