Thoughts on Paul's Letter to the Romans

As I prepare for the four-part sermon series on Romans, "The Greatest Letter Ever Written," here are some preliminary thoughts on this magnificent letter.

• Romans only takes about an hour to read.  A lot of bible scholars suggest that when we read the bible during our personal time, we should read it out loud.  By doing so, it will become more meaningful to us.  Before this Sunday, I encourage us to read the whole letter of Romans.
• The main reason why it's good to read the whole letter first before breaking it down into chapters and verses is because books of the bible and especially letters like Romans have a beginning, a middle, and an ending.  If we receive a letter in the mail, we usually don't jump to the last third to read.  We read the whole letter from beginning to end to capture the flow and the intent of what the author is trying to communicate. 
• While growing up, I was taught the "Roman Road" which are selected verses from this letter to help someone accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  While it's good to help someone to become a Christian, this approach misses out on the much bigger picture that this letter is painting - the picture of God's rescue plan for all of creation.  Personal salvation is an important piece but should be seen in light of this larger context. 
• To show how much we have individualized this letter at the expense of the bigger picture, read Romans 8:18-25 which talks about the rescue of creation (not just me personally.)
• In writing this letter, Paul often alludes to the creation story, the fall, slavery in Egypt, the Passover/parting the Red Sea, the wilderness journey, and the Promised Land.  He retells this story in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This masterful undertaking is why many call this the greatest letter ever written.
• Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome which was probably only 100 people or less!  The Christians in Rome were divided up into house churches.  As we read and study this letter, imagine this letter being read to small gatherings of Christians in various homes.  This will give us a feel for when it was first read.
• Romans is the main lectionary epistle reading for the summer months this year.  Instead of spreading out the readings over the entire summer, I have decided to divide the letter into four parts for the month of July.
• Paul begins the letter with a very dangerous political statement by referring to Jesus as "Son of God."  This was a title used by the Roman Emperor and would have been a direct challenge to him that Jesus is the true king of the world.  Did I mentioned how Paul died?  By our best accounts, it appears that he was executed a few years later by the Romans.  

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