I have been reading Romans again, and every time I do I must pause at the very opening verses. It is all so clear, yet so few seem to see what Paul is really doing. He is not greeting people. He is exalting the God who chooses, the God who calls, the God who saves — and who leaves the rest in the darkness they love.
These opening lines are not polite words. They are the foundation for the whole letter. They kill every thought that we save ourselves by our own decision before Paul even starts talking about justification.
Here are my morning study notes from Romans 1:1–7, written in plain, simple English so anyone can read them — Asian, African, European, anyone — and meet the true God of the Bible.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God…
Question → Was Paul “appointed” by God to be an apostle? What does “set apart” mean?
Yes — completely and sovereignly. Jesus stopped Paul on the Damascus road with blinding light, threw him to the ground, and turned the greatest enemy of the church into its greatest messenger (Acts 9:3–6, 15). Paul did not choose Jesus. Jesus chose Paul while he was still breathing threats and murder (Acts 9:1). “Set apart” means God marked him out for this work before he was born (Gal 1:15; Jer 1:5). Paul had no say in it. Neither do we. Every true believer is set apart the same way — by God’s choice, not ours.
Romans 1:2 …which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures…
Question → Why did God promise the gospel so long before it came? What chance did Gentiles have for thousands of years before the cross?
God planned the long wait. The centuries of waiting make His patience and mercy look even greater (Rom 2:4; 9:22–23).
Gentiles always had the same hope we have. Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, the whole city of Nineveh — God chose them, passed over millions of others, and gave them faith in the coming Saviour (Gen 3:15). Everyone else — Jew or Gentile — was left in the sin they wanted. Salvation has never been by free will or good works. It has always been by free grace to the elect alone.
Romans 1:3–4 …concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God in power … by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Question → If Jesus is God in human flesh, why does Paul say he was “declared” Son of God by the resurrection?
Jesus did not become the Son at the resurrection. He always was the Son. The resurrection was the Father’s great public declaration to the whole universe: “This is My Son in power — He is Lord!” The empty tomb was coronation day. Because He is Lord (YHWH himself), we do not “invite” Him into our lives. He commands. He owns. He saves whom He will.
Romans 1:5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations…
Question → Why does Paul say “among all the nations” if God has already chosen who will be saved? And is the “obedience of faith” a work I must do to be saved?
Two answers.
First — why preach to all nations? Because God commands us to preach the gospel to every person (Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15). We do not know who the elect are, so we preach to all. The external call (the preaching) goes to everyone. The internal, effectual call (the Holy Spirit opening the heart) goes only to the elect — and they always come (John 6:37, 44). God has ordained the end (who is saved) and the means (the preaching of the gospel). Both are true at the same time.
Second — the obedience of faith is not a work that earns salvation. Faith alone saves. But saving faith always obeys. If a drowning man grabs the rope, grabbing is not “work” — it is proof he trusts the rescuer. If he will not grab, he does not trust. Real faith says “Yes, Lord” gladly because we are already saved, not in order to get saved (Jas 2:17). Dead faith saves no one.
Romans 1:6–7 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ … called to be saints.
Question → Does this teach election? Did God choose us or do we choose Him? Were only Jews saved before the cross, or were Gentiles also saved?
Yes — election is written all over these verses. Paul does not say “you who chose me” or “you who accepted the offer.” He says twice: called … called. God calls dead sinners to life, and every single one of them comes (Rom 8:30; John 6:37).
Before the cross it was exactly the same. God chose a remnant — some Jews, some Gentiles (Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, Ninevites). He passed over the rest and left them in their sin. No one has ever been saved by being Jewish or by free-will decision. Only by grace. Only the elect.
When people say “That’s not fair!”, the Bible answers before the question is finished: “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” (Rom 9:20). The Potter has the right to make one vessel for honour and another for common use. No one deserves mercy. That He gives it to any of us is pure grace.
If my salvation depended on the strength of my decision, I would be lost. But it depends on the strength of His choice before the world began (Eph 1:4–5). That is why I have peace. That is why I boast only in the Lord.
Stay in these seven verses. Read them slowly. Let them kill every proud thought that you helped save yourself. Let them give you rest that you can never lose what God has chosen to keep.
Soli Deo Gloria.
