As Martin Luther once said, “[Romans] is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.” (Martin Luther, “Preface to the Epistle to the Romans)
So I’m going to dig up my old notes and take another gander at the letter. Hopefully Natina and I will be able to study it together. (I’m looking forward to it.)
I am especially looking forward to Romans 7-8. I love what Paul says here, “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter… There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus… For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption… We also… eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body…“
I love that last part because Paul makes the connection between being adopted as God’s children and receiving our heavenly bodies, which are part of our inheritance as the children of God! This is one of those passages of scripture that make me feel really little and fall in love with the gospel of Jesus all over again. I love that our hope is now built upon our current circumstances but upon what Christ has done to buy us back to Himself, for Himself, by Himself; rescuing me from sin and death, oh how I love this man!
I can’t wright anymore… I need to meditate now… Selah!
-Tom
