The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-07-03

The Righteousness and Justice
Of God - Romans 1911, ala,
3:2I.22
BY RALPH ROGERS
Today we are beginning the third
Quarter with q series Of letters &c
churches and pastors. The lesson
today Is taken from parts of the
first three chapters of Romans,
which has been called the profound.
est book In existence. Luther called
II the pureSt Gospel. In this letter
Paul was dealing with the question
Of sin and salvation and sought to
enlighten both the converted Jews
and the converted pagans. The old
Jewish law was kasicaIly sound
but it had failed. As a remedy for
the sins and wrongs of the world
Paul offers Christ.
The letter TO the Romans was
probably dictated to Tertius al
Corinth about 81 A. ID. just as
Paul was planning his trip TO
Jerusalem with the collection for
the poor Of that city. Napoleon
may have been a genius to dictate
seven letters at once, but Paul also
showed his talent when he could
dictate such letter to the Romans
when he had heavy on his big
heart the welfare Of the hungry
people In Jerusalem. The Romans
were hard pressed by the pagan
surroundings In Rome and they
needed the assurance of Paul's
timely message. Those who en-
trust their lives to Jesus win find
that He win accept the consequence
Of their sins. Christ died on the
cross to atone for the sins Of the
whole world. Salvation is q matter
Of believing in Him.
Paul gives q formal salutation
by saying that he ''may be prosper.
ed by the others faith" Thanks
giving and prayer are then add
ed. Paul's success as q minister
was due largely n the faith his
supporters had In him. BY simply
worshipping with these loyal folk
he could be comforted and inspired.
How true II Is that the minister
needs the prayers and confidence
Of his pensioners to succeed
Faith Is q two-way business: other
wise the church fails. One of the
most successful churches is where
the officers assemble before The
worship service to pray for theil
pastor.
Paul states that he is a debtor
to Greeks and BarbarianS, botl
to the wise and 10 the foolish.
He does not mean that he owe
them anything, they have contrib
uted 10 him, but he is under al
obligation to give them the sacred
| gospel. He Is so grateful for thi,
light that he feels he should shar'
II with others. When the lassi,
flashes = Sparkler on the RICH
finger, she is so thrilled that sh,
wants the whole world to know
and share her joy. In much thu
same way, the means of salvation
Is 50 gratifying that one feels i
must be preached. II Is the Chris
tian's sacred obligation to do so
by word and deed.
Some may have accused Paul Of
being ashamed to preach the COS,
pei Of the lowly Na1arene in the
glamorous city Of Rome. Here he
would find all the pomp and page.
antry Of a powerful Caesar. Pau
has shown all along the way thai
he was never ashamed of the Cos.
pei of Christ unto salvation and be
never lost an opportunity to preach
Christ In Ephesus or Corinth OF
Rome as could later be seen. He
took advantage Ut his guards and
whoever would listen, he always
told the wonderful story Of saliva.
ton, One need never be ashamed
to tell Of Christ to Roman or bar.
barian, to Jew. Greek, Chinese or
American. II "is the power of God
unto salvation" History shows
that there is nothing at any time
for which Christianity or the Chris.
tian should be ashamed.
Paul speaks of the righteousness
OF God. This does not mean Gods
justice nor the high moral charact.
er built in men by the Holy Spirit
but rather the right relation to the
requirements of the divine Law
which is accessible to all who
trust in Christ. Many of us have
faith IN the good works we do, OF
In the church to which we belong
or even faith in the Bible. This i
! a;oNaPv Soria4v xvill ~ - nhn-r,