The simple salutation is this: "Paul.  . . to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

      But between the signature of his name and the greeting Paul tells us three things concerning himself; two things about the gospel; three things about Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. Concerning himself Paul says
1. That he is a bondservant of Jesus Christ.
2. That he is an apostle by the call of God.
3. That he was separated to the gospel.

      Of Paul as Christ's love-slave, we learned something in the preceding lesson. His apostleship was by a special call, the call of God and of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:1). Because of the opposition to Paul's claim by Judaizers and other enemies he never mentions his apostleship without some explanatory word. As for his separation to the gospel--this dates back to his birth (Gal. 1:15), necessarily, therefore, before he was born. (Comp. Jeremiah's call to the prophetic office, Jer. 1:5). His separation became manifest in time at his conversion on the road to Damascus. (Acts 26:16-18). And there was a definite separation to his life-work at Antioch: "Separate me Barnabas and Saul unto the work whereunto I have called them" (Acts 13:2).

2. Two things about the gospel.
1. That it was promised afore by God's prophets in the Scriptures.
2. That its theme and subject is "Jesus Christ our Lord."
3. Three facts concerning Jesus Christ.
1. That, according to the flesh, He is of the seed of David.
2. That he was declared to be the Son of God with power; according to the Spirit of holiness, by resurrection of the dead.
3. That through Him Paul (and all the apostles) had received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations for His Name's sake.

      The "grace" of which he speaks was the power and privilege to preach the gospel which was bestowed upon him by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. ("To me who am less than the least of all saints was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.  . ." See Eph. 3:1, 2, 8; and 1 Cor. 2:12, 13.) This gift was bestowed upon the apostles in order that men of all nations, through hearing their inspired message, might render the "obedience of faith." (Comp. Acts 6:7.)

      Now to go back to the salutation: "To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints." There were people in the city of Rome who were "beloved of God" in a special sense: with a love above His love to all the world, (and that was a love so great that He gave up His only begotten Son, John 3:16)--yet with a greater [4] love God loved those persons in Rome to whom Paul writes. These were "saints" by the call of God--not those legendary marvellous characters, but plain, common, ordinary Christians, sore troubled with trials and temptation as we are, set apart (= sanctified, become saints) by faith in Jesus Christ.

      To them Paul sends these words: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." In all his salutations Paul uses these words, differing slightly in two of the epistles. This was not just a common formula, or merely a pious wish: it was a real prayer, meaningful and earnest. Grace first--then peace: that is the order. For only through grace can peace be. It is by grace that we are "justified freely" (as Paul presently tells us, Rom. 3:24); and "being justified by faith we have peace" (Rom. 5:1). This grace and peace comes to us from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, jointly, thus vindicating the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

      After this Paul has a few personal words to the brethren in Rome (Verses 8-15). He thanks God that their faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. Rome was the capital of the whole known world; and thither from near and far, even from the ends of the earth, came travellers and visitors; and (for travel was slow and burdensome and not lightly undertaken) they would not give the city just a hasty glance. In seeing and investigating everything they would come in contact with that strange people--the Christians (for a city set on a hill can not be hid) and would carry back to their countries a report (whether favorable or otherwise) of their faith, and, indeed, also of their manner of life, so different from that of the world round about them. For this Paul thanked God. He also tells the brethren in Rome how unceasingly he had prayed for an opportunity to come to them in person--had purposed often to do so, but was always hindered. He longed to see them, he says, "that I may impart some spiritual gift" (comp. 2 Tim. 1:6) that might strengthen and establish them; and that he from them, as well as they from him, might receive comfort by their mutual love and faith.

      And Paul would want to have "some fruit"--i. e. make converts in Rome as well as in other Gentile cities. "I am debtor," he says, "both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and foolish. So as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome."

      For His Name's sake. The apostles had received grace and apostleship, so that through their work men of all nations might render the obedience of faith. It was "for his Name's sake" that God did this wondrous thing. Whenever God does anything for His Name's sake He acts in grace--that is, not because men deserved it, but because He is what He is. (Note the re-current expression, He "wrought for his [5] Name's sake" in Ezekiel 20.) The whole gospel-dispensation is by God's grace.

      Greeks and Barbarians, wise or foolish: the gospel is adapted to all races, all classes, all kinds of people; and to all sorts we must give it out. And to those who believe among them it becomes "the power of God unto salvation." [6]

[LOR2 4-6]