Rom. 1:8 ... I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world."
Paul's letter to the church in Rome is generally reckoned to be the most profound book of the New Testament, and the most systematic presentation of the gospel. It differs from the rest of Paul's epistles in that he had never been to Rome and had nothing to do with the founding of the church there. However, he was planning to visit Rome on his way to Spain, (Rom. 15:24). Paul felt a great urge to be with the disciples there in order that "I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles," (v.13). It is not known who founded the church at Rome, but we do know that "visitors from Rome" were present in Jerusalem on the Pentecost when the church was established, (Acts 2:10). It is likely that some of them were among the 3000 who obeyed the gospel that day and were added by the Lord to the church, (Acts 2:47). When they returned to Rome, they would have taken their new-found faith with them, thus introducing the church to the Roman capital. The Christian community in Rome seems to have been very active in the years before Paul came to them with their first apostolic ministry. The historian Suetonius mentions the zeal of people devoted to one Chrestos, (probably Christ). It is reported in Acts 28:15 that as Paul was being conducted as prisoner up the Appian Way from southern Italy, "the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there (Rome) as far as the Appian Forum and Three Taverns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage."
Paul must have often thanked God for the strong faith and great zeal of the church in Rome, for the lead text above finds him opening this letter with another expression of thanks to God for them. They were to be highly commended because their faith was "being proclaimed throughout the whole world." Although one would expect the church in the first city of that vast empire to be known far and wide, it is still to their great credit that their faith was remarkable. And here is a lesson for each congregation of the Lord's church today. We face the challenge to develop our faith to the level where its expression is obvious. Faith that is worthy of the name makes itself evident in the deeds that it accomplishes in Christ's name.
Some think that a major emphasis in this epistle is that God's grace dominates everything, paling man's participation in the divine drama to nothing. But one must observe that as early as the fifth verse of the letter Paul mentions "the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles." God's grace is the only context in which man's salvation and union with God are possible, but within that context man must participate by "obedience of faith." That is, faith must lead us to obey God's instructions and commands. That is what the brethren in the church at Rome had done to the extent that the results were known across the empire. The same can, and should be, the case with each congregation of Christians today. Although a given congregation, especially a small one, may not obtain a reputation that is known around the world, or even across the nation, it can still make a good name for itself that is known beyond its local setting. And to do that, it must devote itself to building up strong faith among its members that expresses itself in sustained obedience to the requirements of God in all things.
