A Letter

Paul’s plan to turn the council against one another worked well.  His knowledge of theology saved the day.

As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress. That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to Me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well." (Acts 23:10-11 NLT)

Paul would preach the Good News in Rome, but it would take some time before he could do it in person.  Perhaps this is why he wrote a letter to the Church in Rome before he ever got there.  Paul’s letter to the Romans is perhaps his greatest theological masterpiece.  In it, Paul teaches all of us many of the core tenants of our faith.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7 ESV)

How about you?  Do you know the core tenants of your faith?  Would you be able to share them if someone asked you?  Would you be wiling to share? Could you write them down in, say, a letter?