Letter to St Paul Romans

8/14/2019 Letter to St Paul Romans

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ROMAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

1ST DECEMBER, 2009.

Beloved Bro. St. Paul,

I greet you in the most powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Peace of Christ abide

with you now and always, Amen. When your letter got to our community we received it with joy

and welcomed the message of Christ therein. We really shall make every effort within our limit

to facilitate the spread of the gospel of Christ even as you now intend to visit Spain and

Jerusalem after us (15:24-26). Thanks be to God for the great ways he assists us in our daily

journey to meeting him in his kingdom as he promised through our Lord Jesus. May he be

blessed for ever.

Your letter which elaborates that, God justifies all of us mainly by our faith in him, without any

tribal or racial boundary (1:16-17), is very ad rem to us at this point in time when there is a

certain tension between us the gentile Christians (who accepted Jesus as our Lord and savior)

and the Jews who did not and the Jewish Christian fanatics who arrogate salvation only to

themselves and regard the gentile world as doomed. This segregational attitude against us the

gentiles is not the mind of Christ who commanded his apostles to go, preach and baptize all

nations (Matt.28:19).

Thanks to your writing which highlights that the condition for this justification is beyond

artificiality. One of the things constituting problems here is that some fanatics emphasize too

much on the outward prerequisites for justification. They request circumcision from us which

some would never give. Is God saving our circumcised body or our sinful (but purified) souls?

This is exactly what your letter has answered thus: it is through faith from beginning till end,

(1:17) and that circumcision alone does not save, (2:25-29). However, you needed to emphasize

also on good works. Some myopically trumpet their subliminal faith without showing it in their

day to day lives. But it is a pity that some of us are yet to believe in Christ Jesus. We still do

everything we can to convince them. It is good too that you pointed out the moral necessity of

the laws of belief, (2:13). These fanatics mentioned above, also regard themselves very holy and

impeccable admitting of no interaction from us. This is why I appreciate the line which reads,

there is no one who is righteous, (3:10), no, not even they.

I am not at all finding consolation in my weakness and sinfulness. I make concrete effort to

increase in righteousness and decrease in sinfulness. The day I accepted to be incorporated into

the church by baptism by the Holy Spirit (confirmation), I accepted to die to sin and live a new

life in Christ; deep union with Christ (7:4f). What do I stand to gain? I stand to lose nothing and

to gain all. The peace and freedom which trouble and occupy our brother-philosophers are in

Christ Jesus. But they would not understand in their stubbornness of heart.


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I am happy that you never condemned the Law, (7:12). Otherwise some of us may enter into

religio-social conflicts. They may start neglecting the laws of the church and the state. This

would be absurd for even our master- Christ was obedient to his state and religion. I however

dont understand your idea on how sin can use law against us; that, sin came with law; that, sin is

more sinful when it is read from law?, (7:8-11,13). Also, against the conflict of the flesh and the

spirit on you in the face of moral action (7:14-24), is there no way the two can be blended? Must

we just rely on Christ Jesus (7:25) or on the Holy Spirit of Christ (8:1-18) and be saved without

our human efforts? Try to explain these well in your next letter please. I however understand the

inestimable work of the spirit in us. Practically, how do we decipher the voice of the spirit in us?

Brother Paul, it is highly intelligent of you to have found a common ground for us the gentile

Christians and the Jewish. This is achieved by bringing in the eschatology (8:18-25) after the

soteriology which has since occupied us in this letter. In Christian Hope is our salvation. In the

Spirit, our hope is sustained, (8:26-27). Those who see (beatific vision) what they hoped for are

perfectly saved but those who hope for what they are yet to see (beatific vision) are in need of

perfect salvation. Creation as you pointed out is eagerly waiting for the revelation of Gods

children. This Hope is the common heritage and unifying factor of all Christians. Here, we very

much agree even with non-Christian Jews.

In this entire journey, those who love God are advantageous. God remains with them and nothing

can stand on their way against them; nothing in space and time can, (8:31-39). This encourages

us to forge ahead even when we are persecuted and rejected. Some of us daily denounce Christ in

the face of harsh problems of life or superficially attractive allurements of this world. This

portion of your letter is repeatedly emphasized so that they, who are tempted in similar manner,

can stoop to conquer.

Brother Paul, it is true that God uses us according to his purpose in creation toward salvation

(9:6-29), but is it as arbitrary as you present it? Does God call particular ones and condemn the

rest? Does he frustrate one unjustly to favor another justly as in the case of Jacob and Esau,

Israel and rival nations, etc? Is there no way we can understand Gods choice? There is a danger

of falling into determinism here. To this, some of our members now go around and teach that

God has chosen and completed the number of people to be saved. Anyway, we ostracize these

dangerous teachers from among us. I thank God that the spirit led you to cleverly add that

salvation is for all who believe and confess Jesus as Lord there is no difference between Jews

and gentiles (10:9-13). We would have murmured if you were not inspired to say that.

It is good that you explained Gods mercy on the Israelites who inspite of all favors shown them

in history, refused be accept the salvation scheme and plan of God. Gods grace and mercy

supersede our human frailties. He chooses us inspite of us, Glory and honour to Him. Therefore,

I have understood that everyone, both Jews (11:1-11) and Gentiles (13-24); in fact all are saved,

(25-32). Our shortcoming are known and temporally permitted for the purpose of a Cosmo-

redemptive plan of God (11:32). This challenges us to hasten up to perfection and stop excusing


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our frailties with our popular adage-to err is human and to forgive is divine. When God is

saturated, he shall close the door of salvation against the foolish virgins and there shall be no

forgiveness anymore.

Generally, I appreciate the rest practical lessons you presented in the rest part of your letter on

how Christian life should be lived in service to God and to fellow men (12:1-8), love of God andlove of ourselves (9-18, 13:10), Obedience to God, to the state and to one another, (13:1-7)

Duties towards God and towards one another (13:8-14) which include, not judging one another

unnecessarily (14:1-12), not leading one another into sin (13-23), always pleasing others before

pleasing ourselves (15:1-3), and so on.

I will do my best to foster love, unity and peace in my community. I will always be one with the

church in the doctrine and tradition. Be assured of our support in everyway we can, as you need

it to breaking-in further into pagan communities. Today, when schism, racism, tribalism,

nepotism, rancor and the betrayal of the Gospel in materialistic pursuit of wealth and power, are

the order among Christians, your letter registers its relevance and therefore calls for actionagainst the invaders of Gods Kingdom. I in union with Christ, who called you, shall not fold my

hands and watch the gospel of Christ rumpled, muffled and stifled into a garbage by the anti-

Christ, anti-love, anti-truth, anti-unity and anti-peace.

Extend also my own heartfelt greetings to all those that are there with you- Timothy, Lucius,

Jason, Sosipater, Tertius, Gaius, Erastus and Quartus. May the almighty God continue to bless

you all through Christ our Lord, Amen. Remain richly blessed while I remain,

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Bro. Nwosu Raphael.

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Letter to St Paul Romans