In this message from Romans 1:1, we begin our study by considering the remarkable nature of God's preserved Word and its power to establish believers in the faith. After tracing the historical flow of Scripture—from Israel's history in the Old Testament, through the Gospels and Acts, to God's calling of the Apostle Paul—we see why Romans occupies such a foundational place in the New Testament. Though not the first epistle Paul wrote, Romans is the first church epistle God places before us because it lays the doctrinal groundwork upon which the Christian life is built.

This message also explores the purpose and structure of Romans, emphasizing how the book establishes believers in the doctrines of justification, sanctification, God's present dispensation of grace, and practical Christian living. Along the way, we examine God's intentional order of the church epistles, the biblical pattern of spiritual growth through doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and Paul's calling as "a servant of Jesus Christ." As we begin this verse-by-verse journey through Romans, we are reminded that God's desire is not merely that we possess truth, but that we be established, matured, and equipped to faithfully serve Christ and build up His body.

Thanks for listening to the Living Faith St. Louis podcast. This episode is part of our weekly sermon ministry from Pastor Blade Sbisa, with occasional guest speakers and special series.
 For more information, visit the LFSTL website.