Today’s gateway arch is reminiscent of a Roman-era Triumphal Arch. This particular gateway arch spans a major thoroughfare in a prominent capital city of Europe.
And so we come to the book of Romans. We have seen already that the Gospel of Mark was written specifically to Roman peoples throughout the Roman empire. The book of Romans was written specifically for followers of Jesus who were living in the capital city of Rome.
The city of Rome was the preeminent capital city of the world! Culture flows outward from major cities … in particular, capital cities. Therefore, if someone had a desire to impact the entire empire, the entire world, the way to accomplish this would be to go through Rome.
Additionally, all roads led to Rome! Just as our gateway arch in our background photo spans a major thoroughfare, so also the city of Rome straddled the entire empire. What better way to spread the Good News of Jesus than on Rome’s “information highway.”
Just as our background gateway today is reminiscent of a Triumphal Arch, so also the book of Romans stands as a “Triumphal Arch”! Jesus triumphed over sin and death! The barrier of sin has been broken down! The gateway to Heaven has been opened! Jesus is victorious! The book of Romans declares: We are triumphant!
“All roads lead to Rome”
Throughout the book of Romans there winds a “roadway” … which leads directly to Jesus Christ!
Milepost #1:
Romans 3:10-12 – “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Milepost #2:
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Milepost #3:
Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death.”
Milepost #4:
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Milepost #5:
Romans 6:23b – “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Milepost #6:
Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Milepost #7:
Romans 10:13 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Jesus Christ in Romans
Jesus is the focus of the entire book of Romans. It is only by Jesus’s work on the cross that a person can receive salvation and be granted access to Heaven. It is not our own good works which are the gateway to get us to Heaven. It is Jesus’s work on the cross which opens the gateway to Heaven!
– Romans 1:2-4 – “The gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding His Son, who as to His human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
– Romans 1:16 – “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
