Faith Throughout the Whole World Romans 1:8

Paul the apostle declared to whom this letter was written, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints”, and he added, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ”. In chapter one and verse seven of Romans Paul shared how he and his companions', “faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” where we read:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all,

that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

The verse begins, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, ...” Paul began with the word, “First” or “in the principle place of rank, honor, influence”, “I thank” or “Paul was truly and certainly grateful” “my God” which means “Paul's deity which is the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “through Jesus” which refers to with and by means of “Jehovah is Salvation” who is “the Son of God, the Messiah and God incarnate” “Christ” which means “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “for you all” or “on behalf and for the sake of each, every, the whole and everyone of the church members”. Paul was “grateful” to God for each and everyone of the church members in Rome.

The verse continues, “... that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”. Paul added the words, “that your faith” which means “because and since the church members' conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and is the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” “is spoken” which refers to “is announced, declared and promulgated” “of throughout” or “into and without” “the whole world” which refers to “all, the whole and complete circle of the earth with all it's goods, endowments, riches, advantages and pleasures”. The “trust and faith” of the church members in Rome was “declared” all over the “world”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see his commendation of the “faith” of the church members in Rome. Paul was “grateful” for these members, and heard of their “trust” in Jesus in all the “world” where he traveled. Perhaps as we think about the church members' reputation, we shall be encouraged and challenged to be known as people who not only have “received” Jesus Christ as our “Savior and Lord” but have so fully put our “trust and faith” in Him that it is “spoken of throughout the world” .

Next time Paul tells the church in Rome, “without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.