t seems as if we are working backwards after hearing the pericope lesson from Romans 15:4-13 during the second week in Advent. We saw how Saint Paul concluded his epistle by revisiting the principle theses laid out in Romans 1:4-5. This week we go to that lesson. Why? Why read the beginning after the end, as it were? Simple: Romans 1:1-6 proclaims the Gospel of Christmas with power to bring to a crescendo our collective anticipation for the Advent of our King and Savior, the Messiah of God, Jesus. Verse 1 introduces Paul, a joyful and willing servant of King Jesus. He is an apostle, which means he has a direct commissioning, a calling from the King to speak with the authority of the King, the King’s own message. This message is good news — the Gospel. The world’s rightful and reigning King, Jesus, not Caesar, has good news for Jews and gentiles. Picture the Apostle as an Ambassador sent out by the Sovereign to declare the King’s proclamation.
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