Acts 20:1-3 and Romans 1 – 3 and My Car

Acts 20:1-3 and Romans 1 – 3

A lot of people think the New Testament was written in the order printed, while in reality, it was printed in the order it is mostly for the sake of the printing process. Today we see Paul leaving Ephesus, then staying in Greece for three months. He was intending to sail back to Syria but decided to return to Macedonia when he heard about a plot against his life.

In Romans 1 – 3, Paul talks about the Good News and how he was sent to preach this Good News. Remember, Paul had not yet been to Rome when he wrote this letter. He explains the Good News about God’s Son and how he was shown to be God’s Son by being raised from the dead.

Paul expresses his desire to come visit those believers in Rome so he can help them grow strong in the Lord and so he can preach the Good News there. A verse many of us have memorized expresses Paul’s feelings about preaching the Good News: “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Paul then spends a lot of time and words showing the Romans that not only the Jews, but the Gentiles can be saved.

Those who “suppress the truth about God” know the truth. Never doubt this. “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Isn’t it neat that through something invisible – God’s qualities, people can see God and know Him.

He points out that it’s a choice – they refuse to worship God. There is a very real result to doing this: God gives them over or abandons them to do whatever they want. This is not a good thing. He speaks of God’s justice requiring that those who do what they do, deserve to die.

He also goes on to point out that all of us are sinners so we shouldn’t be judging others. That’s God’s bailiwick. The Jews think they have a special relationship because God gave them the law, but what is the point of having the law if you don’t obey it? He quotes the Old Testament in chapter 3: No one is righteous—not even one” and states emphatically that “no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.” “People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

Tomorrow, we’ll read Romans 4 – 7.

My Car

Today, I finally got my “new” car home from the Ford garage, complete with new brakes front and rear, a new exhaust system, a new O2 sensor, and a new driver’s side seat belt. It runs great and I’m hoping to be able to drive it for a couple of years at least. I still have to get a Sirius radio for it since my other one went with the pickup truck.

Until next time…