Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.
Romans is Paul's most purely 'theological' letter. He had not yet visited the church there, though he knows several of its members. The letter seems to have been written to outline what he believes as a way of introducing himself. It's proven to be a deep mine of spiritual wisdom throughout the Church's history.
He begins with gracious compliments to them; they will help each other, he says, 'you by my faith and I by yours' (verse 12). In verses 16–17 he states his most fundamental conviction: we are saved by faith in Christ and by nothing else.
As a sign this is not going to be an entirely comfortable read, though, he moves immediately to denounce human wickedness. What's interesting here is that wrong acts are seen as a consequence of something deeper: an alienation from God. He goes back to the creation stories in Genesis, reflecting on the broken harmony there (verse 20). At the root of human sinfulness is idolatry, putting other things before God (verse 23).
So Paul's gospel is very radical. Faith in Christ doesn't deal with individual sins, but with sinfulness – the condition that gives rise to sins.
It's not particularly wise or helpful for Christians to gain a reputation for denouncing things. Paul appears to do so in the first two chapters of Romans, but he's making a wider point: we sin because we are sinners who have oriented our lives away from God. Faith in Christ puts us right with him.
God, show me where I'm putting other things in your place. Deal with the roots of sin in me; let me follow Christ alone.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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