THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH, Dr. Samuel Lee
THE GOSPEL, GOD'S POWER OF SALVATION TO EVERYONE
Passage: Romans 1:8~17  
Key verse: 16
Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,(A) because your faith is being reported all over the world.(B) 9 God, whom I serve(C) in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness(D) how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times;(E) and I pray that now at last by God’s will(F) the way may be opened for me to come to you.(G)
11 I long to see you(H) so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift(I) to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware,(J) brothers and sisters,[a](K) that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now)(L) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14 I am obligated(M) both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.(N)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel,(O) because it is the power of God(P) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:(Q) first to the Jew,(R) then to the Gentile.(S) 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed(T)—a righteousness that is by faith(U) from first to last,[b] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[c](V)
Footnotes
- Romans 1:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 7:1, 4; 8:12, 29; 10:1; 11:25; 12:1; 15:14, 30; 16:14, 17.
- Romans 1:17 Or is from faith to faith
- Romans 1:17 Hab. 2:4
Cross references
- Romans 1:8 : 1Co 1:4; Eph 1:16; 1Th 2:13; 2Th 1:3; 2Ti 1:3
- Romans 1:8 : S Ro 10:18; 16:19
- Romans 1:9 : 2Ti 1:3
- Romans 1:9 : Job 16:19; Jer 42:5; 2Co 1:23; Gal 1:20; Php 1:8; 1Th 2:5, 10
- Romans 1:10 : 1Sa 12:23; S Lk 18:1; S Ac 1:14; Eph 1:16; Php 1:4; Col 1:9; 2Th 1:11; 2Ti 1:3; Phm 4
- Romans 1:10 : S Ac 18:21
- Romans 1:10 : ver 13; Ro 15:32
- Romans 1:11 : Ro 15:23
- Romans 1:11 : 1Co 1:7; 12:1-31
- Romans 1:13 : S Ro 11:25
- Romans 1:13 : S Ro 7:1
- Romans 1:13 : Ro 15:22, 23
- Romans 1:14 : 1Co 9:16
- Romans 1:15 : Ro 15:20
- Romans 1:16 : 2Ti 1:8
- Romans 1:16 : 1Co 1:18
- Romans 1:16 : S Jn 3:15
- Romans 1:16 : Ac 3:26; 13:46
- Romans 1:16 : S Ac 13:46; Ro 2:9, 10
- Romans 1:17 : Ro 3:21; Php 3:9
- Romans 1:17 : S Ro 9:30
- Romans 1:17 : Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Paul's thanks and prayers to go to Rome (8-15)
Paul thanked God because of the faith of the believers in Rome. It's not easy to pray for others but Paul always prayed for Roman Christians who were unknown to him constantly. He also prayed and planned to go to them many times. It was not just to teach them. He wanted to be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. However, it was not granted until that time. Paul felt a great obligation to preach in Rome, the hub of the world that the gospel may be preached to the ends of the earth.
2. I am not ashamed of the gospel (16-17)
The Romans were ashamed of the gospel of Jesus' crucifixion. But Paul was not. It was because the crucifixion paid all the cost for the sins of all. Now anyone who believes in the love of God, who punished and killed his only Son in our place, is saved. This is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes in the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel. It is not by keeping the law, but by faith, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Prayer: Lord, the gospel is God's power of salvation for everyone who believes. Let me pray, go and preach this gospel to all people of the world.
One Word: I am obligated to all!