Letters to the Church

Paul presents his gospel to the assemblies of Rome, a message for all men about God’s salvation and wrath . In his Letter to the Romans , Paul describes the message of salvation that he proclaims among the nations. The “ Gospel of God ” is the “ power of God for salvation ” to all men who accept and believe it. Due to humanity’s sin, two forces are at work in the world - righteousness and  wrath . Through His son, God has provided the solution to humanity’s desperate plight, one that is available to all men through the “ faith of Jesus Christ .”

We are not acquitted before God from the works of the Law but through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – Romans 3:21-26. Having demonstrated that all men violate God’s revealed will, Paul concludes that no one is acquitted before God “ from the works of the Law .” Instead, we are justified “ through the faith ” or faithfulness of Jesus. We are reconciled with our Creator because of the gracious act of the Messiah for us. Since we deserve condemnation and death, all we can do is respond with repentance and faith to what God has done through the obedient death of His Son.

In his Letter to the Romans , Paul describes in detail the message of salvation that he proclaims among the nations. He declares that it is the “ power of God for salvation ” to all men who accept it. Due to humanity’s sin, two forces are at work in the world - Righteousness and Wrath . In Jesus of Nazareth, God has provided the solution to humanity’s desperate plight and made it available to all men through the “ faith OF Jesus Christ .”

The terms “ tribulation ” and “ wrath ” are NOT synonymous in Paul’s letters or the Book of Revelation . “ Tribulation ” is what the disciples of Jesus endure for his sake. “ Wrath ” is the horrific fate that awaits the wicked at the final judgment. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes that God did not appoint them to “ wrath .” Yet, in the same letter, he states that believers are destined for “ tribulation .”

The saints in Thessalonica responded to the preaching of the Gospel by turning from “ idols to serve the living and true God .” Their life orientation changed radically because of their new faith in and allegiance to Jesus Christ. Rather than a comfortable life in Macedonia, they chose a path that virtually guaranteed opposition and persecution.

The proclamation of the Gospel reveals two forces at work in the world - “righteousness” and “wrath,” and they will produce two very different results - “salvation” for some, and “destruction” for others. In the end, “righteousness” will produce salvation, resurrection, and New Creation for those who embrace the Gospel, but the coming “Day of Wrath and God’s righteous judgments” will mean condemnation and destruction for the men and women who reject the “Good News” announced by Jesus and his Apostles.

In his Letter to the Romans , the Apostle Paul argues from plight to solution. The Gospel that he proclaims is the “ power of God for salvation .” Due to sin, two forces are at work in the world – Righteousness and Wrath . In his Son, God has provided the solution to the desperate plight of all men that is now available to all on the same basis - “ from the faith of Jesus Christ .” Moreover, this “ Good News ” was promised beforehand in the Hebrew scriptures and is now being fulfilled as the Gospel is preached.