“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”  Romans 15:4 NLT 

Footsteps #381 Romans 15:1 is an admonition for unity for Jews and Gentiles in the church of Rome, with v3 holding up the example of Jesus which should be to us all a supreme motivation for a life permeated with unselfish love. Love becomes the debt we owe everyone.  

Paul had begun in chapter 1 with justification and now ends with the hope that is the fruit of Justification by faith. Ours is the choice between an endless hope or a hopeless end. The person who as hope has everything. With hope the poorest man is rich and without hope the richest man is poor. The death of hope leads to the hope for death. 

In his varied benedictions in chapter 15 he has called God the ‘God of patience’(v5), ‘God the Father’ (v6), ‘The God of hope”, and the “God of peace.” The God of patience means the God who helps His children to endure steadfastly. The word for “patience,” hupomone, means “fortitude,” “steadfast endurance.” The word for “hope” may also be translated as “encouragement.” The God of encouragement is the God who encourages. The God of hope is the God who has given hope to humankind. Likewise, the God of peace is the God who gives peace and in whom one may have peace. 

After Numerous personal greetings in Chapter 16, Paul ends his letter (vs 25-27)  in a glorious acknowledgment of praise to God. God is the one in whom all Christians, can safely put their trust to confirm their standing as redeemed sons and daughters of God, justified by faith and now led by the Spirit of God. 

We know that Paul was inspired by the Lord to write this letter in response to a specific situation at a specific time. What we don’t know are all the details regarding what the Lord had revealed to Paul about the future. 

Yes, Paul did know about the “falling away” (2 Thess. 2:3), although how much he knew, the text doesn’t say. In short, we don’t know if Paul had any inkling of the role he and his writings, especially this letter, would have in final events. In this text (along with Galatians) Protestantism was born, and in them, those who seek to stay faithful to Jesus have had and will have the scriptural foundation upon which to base their faith and commitment, even as the world wonders “after the beast” (Rev. 13:3). There are two messages that go out to all the world at the end of time. The message of the beast is salvation by works and is encapsulated in a manmade system of worship, while the everlasting gospel (justification by faith alone) is preached to every nation, tribe tongue, and people (Rev 14:6). These two forms of salvation began with Able and Cain and have manifested themselves through the ages. 474