QT 15/06/2026 Mon Romans 1 The Relational Power of Doctrine 教义的关系力量

QT 15/06/2026 Mon Romans 1 The Relational Power of Doctrine
READ https://www.esv.org/Romans+1/

Everyone is searching for connection, purpose, and truth — yet Romans 1 says humanity keeps rejecting the very God who created us. So why does the gospel still change lives across every race and nation? In the next few minutes, discover how God’s truth is not just doctrine for the mind, but power for relationships, salvation, and life by faith.

Epistle to the Romans is often regarded as Paul’s most doctrinal letter. Yet doctrine in Romans is never cold, distant, or merely intellectual. True doctrine leads people into right relationship with God and with one another. The gospel is not only truth to be understood — it is power that transforms lives, unites nations, and restores worship to the Creator.

Paul begins by describing humanity’s universal condition. Though God has clearly revealed “his eternal power and divine nature” through creation, mankind suppresses the truth and turns away from Him (Romans 1:20–21). Sin is not merely ignorance; it is rejection of the God who has made Himself known. The tragic refrain, “God gave them up,” shows the serious consequences of persistent rebellion. When people reject God, they are eventually handed over to the desires and distortions they have chosen.

Yet Romans 1 is not only a warning passage. It is also a triumphant declaration of grace. In the midst of humanity’s rebellion shines the glorious hope of the gospel:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” — Romans 1:16

The gospel is powerful because it reveals the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is offered not to one ethnic group or social class alone, but “to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” In Christ, people from every race, language, and culture are brought into one family through the “obedience of faith.” Doctrine becomes relational because the truth of the gospel reconciles sinners to God and believers to one another.

Paul’s warning remains deeply relevant today. A society that celebrates rebellion against God eventually experiences the painful fruit of that rebellion — impurity, brokenness, dishonour, and spiritual blindness. Romans 1:29–32 reminds believers not to approve or celebrate what God calls sinful. Instead, Christians are called to lovingly urge people to repent and return to the Lord before their hearts become hardened.

At the centre of Romans stands this enduring truth: “The righteous shall live by faith.” — Romans 1:17

Faith is not merely the doorway into the Christian life; it is the very way believers continue to live. We are saved by faith, sustained by faith, and united by faith in Jesus Christ.

Reflection

• Am I treating doctrine merely as knowledge, or as truth that deepens my relationship with God and others?
• Are there areas where I have subtly suppressed God’s truth instead of obeying it?
• How can I demonstrate the unifying power of the gospel toward people from different backgrounds and cultures?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Thank You for rescuing us from darkness and bringing us into relationship with You through Jesus Christ. Help us not to be ashamed of the gospel, but to live by faith each day. Guard our hearts from rejecting Your truth, and teach us to lovingly call others back to You. May our understanding of doctrine deepen our love for You and for people from every nation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 15/06/2026 星期一 罗马书1  教义的关系力量
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/rom/1/

每个人都在寻求联结、意义与真理——然而《罗马书》第一章指出，人类却不断拒绝那位创造我们的上帝。那么，为何福音依然能改变各族各邦之人的生命？接下来的几分钟里，让我们一同发现：上帝的真理不仅是供头脑思考的教义，更是维系关系、带来救赎、并借着信心赋予生命的力量。

《罗马书》常被视为保罗最注重教义的书信。然而，《罗马书》中的教义绝非冷漠、疏远或仅停留在智力层面。真正的教义引领人们与神、与人建立正确的关系。福音不仅是需要理解的真理——更是改变生命、联合万国、并使敬拜回归造物主的大能。

保罗开篇便描述了人类普遍的处境。尽管神已通过创造明确显明了“祂永恒的大能和神性”，但人类却压制真理，背离了祂（罗马书 1:20–21）。罪不仅仅是无知；它是拒绝那位已将自己显明出来的神。那句悲剧性的反复出现的经文“神任凭他们”，揭示了持续叛逆的严重后果。当人拒绝神时，最终便会被交在他们自己所选择的私欲和扭曲之中。

然而，《罗马书》第一章不仅是一段警告。它更是恩典的凯旋宣告。在人类叛逆的深渊中，福音那荣耀的盼望正闪耀着光芒：

“我不以福音为耻；这福音是　神的大能，要救所有相信的，先是犹太人，后是希腊人。”——罗马书 1:16

福音之所以大有能力，是因为它通过信靠耶稣基督显明了上帝的义。救恩并非仅赐予某个特定民族或社会阶层，而是“先是犹太人，后是希腊人”。在基督里，来自各族、各方言、各文化背景的人，都因“相信而顺服”被带入一个大家庭。教义因此变得具有关系性，因为福音的真理使罪人与神和好，也使信徒彼此和好。

保罗的警告在今天依然具有深刻的现实意义。一个颂扬背叛神的社会，终将尝到这种背叛带来的痛苦果实——污秽、破碎、羞辱和属灵的瞎眼。《罗马书》1:29–32提醒信徒，不可认同或颂扬神所称的罪恶。相反，基督徒被呼召以爱心劝勉世人，在他们心硬之前悔改归向主。

《罗马书》的核心是这一永恒真理：“义人必因信得生。”——《罗马书》1:17

信心不仅是进入基督徒生命的门户，更是信徒持续生活的根本之道。我们因信得救，靠信维系，并在对耶稣基督的信心中合而为一。

反思

• 我是否只是将教义视为知识，还是将其视为能加深我与神及他人关系的真理？
• 是否有某些方面，我潜意识里压制了神的真理，而非顺服它？
• 我该如何向不同背景和文化的人彰显福音的合一力量？

祷告

天父，感谢祢赐下福音——这福音是神的大能，要拯救一切相信的人。感谢祢借着耶稣基督将我们从黑暗中拯救出来，使我们与祢建立关系。求祢帮助我们不以福音为耻，而是每天凭着信心生活。求祢保守我们的心，不至拒绝祢的真理，并教导我们以爱心呼召他人归向祢。愿我们对教义的理解，能加深我们对祢以及万国万民的爱。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。