Romans 1:1-32

This Gospel of the Grace and Peace of God makes all of the sense in the world when we read in context. The minute we take it out of context is when we begin to experience all sorts of emotional, mental and spiritual problems. In chapter 2 verses 17 through 24 we have more solid, clear evidence of who it was Paul was rebuking and talking to concerning all of the verses found in chapter 1:18-32. Chapter 7 and verse 1 of Romans is where Paul makes it even more clear as to whom these entire first 6 chapters of Romans were being addressed to and how it all boils down to grace versus law.

Friends, verse 18 through 32 of Romans chapter one should never apply to the world that Christ has redeemed and died for. If we are going to get legalistically meticulous, and are going to point finger and sit in judgment against those who don't believe, act and perform like we do, then it can be said that every single religious person on the face of the earth is guilty of every single thing mentioned in Romans chapter 1 verses 18-32. When set above, and exalt our own religious, holier than thou self-righteous dead works over the finished work of grace upon the cross of Jesus Christ, we become fools.

Our foolish heart is in darkness, we aren't glorifying God, are unthankful, have become vain in our imagination, and have exchanged the truth of God's grace for a lie. We then become no different from the Jews who were rebuked by Paul with: "You are inexcusable, whoever you are that judgest". Friends, if we believe that this Gospel of the Grace and Peace of God is only for those who do it all right, then we would be judged for doing it wrong because God's grace does not come by the works of the law but by the Lord Jesus Christ. We become guilty of the whole law and every act of disobedience that is mentioned in Romans 1:18-32.

Our minds become one of reprobates when we trust more in our works than in the finished work of the cross. The fact is that there is not one single religious person on the face of the earth that can sincerely say that they have never been found guilty of all the things mentioned in verses 29 through 32. That's the reason why Paul said what he said in Romans chapter 3 verses 10 through 18. This includes both Jews and Gentiles. This includes everyone that has ever lived is living and is yet to live. This is more of a reason why the whole world needs to be thankful to God for what Jesus did on the cross.

If you ever hear a preacher preaching a sermon of condemnation, fear and guilt to a congregation or to the world out of Romans 1:18-32, we need to take him or her to chapter 2 and verse 1 and tell them: "You too are inexcusable for judging others. For with the same judgment you judge others by the works of the law you condemn yourself; since you too do the same wicked and evil things that you are judging others for." I usually take them to the part where men were accusing a woman of being caught in adultery and I then tell them: "If there be no sins in your life be the first to pick up a stone and throw it."

I believe that when Jesus knelt down and was said to be writing with his finger on the ground, as the accusers of the woman accused her before Jesus, Jesus was writing every single one of their names about how they all had gone to bed with her. Friends, living under grace and law at the same time makes hypocrites out of us. We become fault finders, judges, jury and executioners. Not realizing that with the same judgment of sin that we judge others for we condemn ourselves. It's no wonder we are encouraged to grow in grace. For where sin abounds, grace abounds that much more. Romans 5:20.

We do ourselves and others a great deal of injustice when we pass judgment upon a world that Jesus died for. Even worse than that, we make the work of cross of no value, and insult God's Spirit of Grace when we judge the very world that Jesus died for. We become exactly what Paul described in verses 29 through 32. Evangelical Christianity fits the very description that Paul warned the Jews about when it comes to sitting in Moses seat of judgment. It takes the understanding of God's grace and His unconditional love established in our hearts to be able to see the world with the grace, mercy, compassion and love that Jesus saw it through His own eyes.

To be continued....

Grace N Peace

Eddie Narvaez