Romans 5:1-11

"Our hope will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."

We know from Paul's letter to the Galatians that the church in Jerusalem opposed his gospel. The former disciples of Jesus, who were led by Peter and James, the brother of Jesus, were in Jerusalem proclaiming Christ in the temple, where Gentiles were not permitted on pain of death. The followers of these apostles were all Jewish, and most of these followers adhered strictly to the Law of Moses. Therefore, they were upset by Paul's teaching that opposed faith and law. We see this struggle in Paul's letters and find hints of it as well in the Acts of the Apostles (21-26).

Paul writes to the Christians in Rome that they are saved by faith and not by keeping Jewish law. We know this, Paul asserts, because we see the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ, in his death and in his resurrection. In Christ we are reconciled to God, and thus because of the initiative of God we may come to salvation through faith. The opposition to Paul's message was so strong that Paul was unsure of the success of his ministry. But the destruction of the temple when the Romans conquer Jerusalem in 70 CE ensured that Gentile-dominated Christians would gain control of the church, and that Paul's writings would be preserved.

Grace and peace...Bob