we're safe for the moment

saved from the moment

*Begin with slide: The Epistle of Romans*

Pastor: Since our reading from the Epistle was Paul’s introduction to Romans, I thought today would be a good occasion to talk about Romans in general. To help us grasp what Romans is all about. 

First, it is worth pointing out that Paul didn’t write Romans himself, rather he dictated it to a scribe…

Paul: *Interrupting* Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle /

Pastor: No way! This can’t be happening again!

Paul: What’s that? Tertius are you getting this?!?!

Pastor: Like I had said, Paul didn’t actually write the epistles, he dictated them, the scribe who took-down Roman was named Tertius. Paul must think that’s who we are…

Paul: Tertius, what in the world are you talking about???

Wait a minute! Who are you all?!?!

Pastor: Okay, you’ll never believe this, but somehow this screen has transported us to while you’re writing the letter to the Romans. It’s happened to us before…

I’m sure this must seem pretty odd…

Paul: How do you know I’m writing to the church in Rome?

Pastor: Well, you were just giving the greeting. It’s great we caught you right now, actually, because we’ve been working through your letter in our weekly proclamation…

Paul: Wait. How could you be reading this letter already? I haven’t written it! And what do you mean by your ‘weekly proclamation?’

Pastor: I know this must be hard to imagine, but we are a gathering of believers, worshipping the risen Christ nearly 2,000 years after your time…

Paul: That’s incredible…

Pastor: Yeah. But hey, since we have you could we ask you a few questions?

Paul: Uh, okay…

Pastor: Great!

So, tell us why are you writing this letter to the Romans. I understand you didn’t start the congregation you’re writing to in Rome.

Paul: Yes, that’s true, and that’s a big part of why I am writing the letter to them, I want them to understand the Gospel I proclaim.

Pastor: Okay…

Paul: That isn’t all, though.
See, I want the believers in Rome to welcome their Judean sisters and brothers.

Years before, many of the Judeas had been expelled from Rome. Now that these sisters and brothers are returning, I want to make sure the believers welcome the Children of Abraham.

Pastor: Oh, so you want to make sure these returning folks get a warm welcome?

Paul: Well, that is a part of it, but it is only a small part of it. No, these believers in Rome are obligated to welcome their ancestors in the faith.

Pastor: Why?

Paul: Because salvation comes from the ancestry of Abraham, from these exiled sisters and brothers. 

…You’re a gentile, aren’t you?

Pastor: Well, yeah…

Paul: Gentiles are always doing this. Don’t you understand, Jesus just didn’t come out of nowhere.

No, Jesus is the fulfillment of something God began long ago.

Since Adam first disobeyed God in the garden, God has been reconciling rebellious humans like us.

Jesus is God’s definitive action to reconciling creation. If you take Jesus away from God’s work throughout history, you can’t understand Jesus.

Pastor: What do you mean?

Paul: Well, if Jesus just came, lived, died and even rose; that doesn’t mater in and of itself.

Pastor: …But Jesus dies for my sins..

Paul: No, Jesus did much more than that, Jesus died to overcome Sin and Death.

Here’s why you need to understand Jesus in the scheme of what God has been up to since creation:

God created everything to be in relationship and in harmony, humans and animals, humans and the weather, humans and God.

But when Adam disobeyed and ate that apple, the harmony was broken; and once that harmony was broken, Sin and Death got into God’s good creation.

Ever since then, these two, Sin and Death, have been making a mess of things; even God’s greatest gift: the Law.

But in Jesus, God has even outdone even the gift of the Law. In Jesus, humans are finally reconciled to God, Sin and Death are overcome.

In that reconciliation; yes, your sins have been died for; but better yet Sin and Death themselves have died; and now; now we live in the harmony with God again.

Pastor: hmm

Paul: See, that’s exactly why I want to write this letter to the Romans; to understand what Jesus’ life, death and resurrection really mean.

Pastor: Okay, so it’s not just about welcoming, it’s about theology.

Paul: No! Wrong again!

Until you understand Jesus’ life, death and resurrection you can’t understand yourself properly.

Since Jesus is the fulfillment of what God has done, then you, me - all of us; we’re all something different ourselves too - we’re changed!

No longer are we rebels estranged from God; no we’re raised to new life as friends of God - right now!

That’s why I need to write this letter to the Romans, to proclaim that in Jesus, the gap between us and God has finally been overcome; and now - right now, we’re a new creation!

Pastor: Wow. Thank you, Paul.

Well, seeing as we’ve picked your brain, if you have any questions for us…

Paul: No, I don’t

You know, at first I was surprised that 2,000 years have passed between me and you; but after talking with you all, I’m not really surprised.

See, you all are the evidence, the very proof of what I preach.

Something new has happened in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, how else could this proclamation continue so long? Indeed, God has been reconciled creation - you all are the evidence of that.

You’re ‘weekly proclamation’ is a glimpse of this harmony between God and humanity.

I hope you know that.

Honestly, I’ve been discouraged lately, what with all the difficulties in the congregations I founded, but you all are such an encouragement. Thank you. 

Now, I need to go find Tertius and share the good news with the church in Rome.

*Leaves screen*

Pastor: God’s peace, Paul...

Whatever precise reason Paul wrote Romans is well beyond us. The true reason Paul wrote this letter, though, was to proclaim what we are. So hear what you are: You are a new creation. Sin and Death don't have a thing over you, because you belong to Christ - you are God's friend; and God won't let anything sever that friendship, not Sin nor Death.

Amen