Romans 1:1

Romans 1:1 says, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.  We see first that the writer is Paul.  Some consider Paul to be, if not the greatest Christian of all time, then at least one of the greatest.  Paul tells us who he is, not by earthly degrees and standing, but by his relationship to God.  When asked who we are, this would always be a good place to start.  Our relationship to God is all that will ultimately matter, so it should be of primary importance now.  Paul said he was an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.  As followers of Christ, we to are separated to the gospel and should live accordingly.  The apostles are considered those who were the first called by Christ, but Paul considered himself no less an apostle. Verse two adds, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)  The gospel is no afterthought for redeeming mankind.  The plan for redemption, the gospel, existed before creation, because God gave man the free will to choose or reject His will for their life.  We may have a hard time understanding such love as God has shown us.  Knowing the possibility of people rebelling against Him and following their own will, God not only created us, but had a plan of redemption already in place.  Verse three continues, Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  The redemption plan was, and always will be, salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  Having been a devout Jew, Paul understood the coming Messiah, and after encountering Him, he never doubted Who the Messiah was, and that was Jesus.  Likewise, we can never doubt Him once we encounter Him.  Verse four states, And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:  Paul tells us here how we can be sure that Jesus is the Messiah.  He was declared to be the Son of God, by the spirit of holiness, through His resurrection from the dead.  No other religion can call people to follow their leader because he has overcome death.  Christ alone can make this claim.  Verse five adds, By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:  Here, Paul tells us how we are to live as God's people.  Since by His grace we have received our calling, we are to be obedient to God, a witness to Christ to all nations.  This is and always will be our commission from God.  Verse six continues, Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:  We are the called of Jesus Christ.  All people are called to come to Jesus, but only those who accept His calling are the called.  Accepting Christ as our Savior makes all the difference.