Spoken of . . . . Romans 1:8
Substance of Faith
Saving Faith: faith Somehow the gospel got to Roman and they responded to the gospel message. There was a point in which they put their “faith” and trust in the person and work of Jesus. Paul expressed characteristics of their faith in Jesus in the previous verses (v. 5-7). They were the ones that were “brought into the obedience of faith” (v. 5). They are ones who are called to belong to Jesus Christ (v. 6). They are the ones who are loved by God (v.7). They are the ones who are called saints (v. 7). They are the ones who have experienced the grace of God (v. 7) They are the ones who have peace from God (v. 7). They are the ones who acknowledge Jesus as the Lord (v. 7).
Sustaining Faith: your Faith It is unlikely that Paul is speaking only of saving faith here (v.8), but also their life of faith. It is sustaining preserving faith in the midst of the most hostile environment. It is faithful living in a place of fleshly living. It was referring to their readiness with which they had embraced the gospel and the firmness with which they adhered to it (Barnes). Many who heard of the faith of those in Rome were astonished that there would be anyone of faith in the Imperial city. The fact that they have faith at all is the cause of Paul’s thankfulness to God (Jones). They were in the capital of the Roman Empire; in a city remarkable for its wickedness; and in a city whose influence extended everywhere. It was natural, therefore, that their remarkable conversion to God should be celebrated everywhere (Barnes). But not only their conversion, but their continuance in the faith amidst all within the city that would prevent them from living out their faith (Rom 16:19). Their saving sustaining faith was an example to the whole body of Christ and still is today for everyone who reads the Bible. What is being spoken about is the strength of their trust in Jesus Christ. All knew of the vibrant faith of those in the church at Rome. And it had to be vibrant in order to survive what was brought against it. (Pett). The great and wonderful success of the gospel; it had produced faith in the hearts, and obedience in the lives of the Romans, which had made them famous throughout the world: The entertaining of the gospel at Rome, made that place more celebrated and famous than all the victories and triumphs of the Roman emperors (Burkett).
The Source of Faith I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because
Paul here thanks God for their faith. It is God who is the source of saving faith, through the saving work of his son, by the revelation of his word (Rom 10:17) and in the transforming power of his Spirit (John 3:5-8, 6:63). It is not of yourself, but a gift from God (Eph 2:8-9, Acts 10:44-45). Paul rejoices in the fact that Lord opened the heart and minds of those in Rome to respond in faith to message of the Gospel (Acts 16:14, Luke 24:45).
The Statement of Faith all of you
The testimony of a church is based upon the sum totals of the individual testimony of each of its members. Paul speaks of “all of you” referring to all the believers in Rome. The congregation of believers in Rome. It wasn’t just one or two of them but “all’ of them who were living out their dynamic faith in a depraved city. Some churches are famous for their pastor. Some churches are famous for their architecture. Some churches are famous for the high ceiling, or the glass, or the carvings. Some churches are famous for the dome on top. Some are famous for the art. Some are famous for the cemetery out back. Some are famous for the organ. Some are famous for their choir. Some are famous for the celebrities that go there. Some are famous for their money, some for their theology, and some for their fanaticism. The church at Roman was famous for its faith. (MacArthur) Virtually every congregation is known for something. Congregations are known for being evangelistic, liberal, conservative, friendly, cold, dead, wasteful, stingy, or having a high turnover rate of members and preachers. The Romans were known for being on the right track. This is the kind of reputation every believer and every church should have. Their faith was the greatest statement of affirmation of the believers in Rome. They were famous for their faith (Piper).
The Spread of Faith proclaimed
Spoken or proclaimed- Gk katangello It is a combined word kata meaning down from and anngelos meaning a messenger or one who is sent. It is an announcement or proclamation. It is described as an authoritative message which was proclaimed to people Their faith is “carried as tidings” over the known world. Go where Paul will, in Asia, in Macedonia, in Achaia, in Illyricum, he meets “believing strangers from Rome”, with spiritual news from the capital, announcing, that at the great center of the this world the things eternal are proving their power, and that the Roman mission (church) is remarkable for its strength and simplicity of faith, its humble reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ, and loving allegiance to Him (Moulde) (1 Thess 1:8-10) Their faith was of such a character as to excite general attention and remark. Not only the fact that the Romans believed, but that their faith was of such a character as to be everywhere spoken of, was recognized by the apostle as cause of gratitude to God. (Hodge). Paul’s thanksgiving was no doubt amplified and intensified by the circumstances of the Roman community of believers being so favorably located in the very heart of the great Roman capital, where communications with all the world of that day were centered, where the crossroads of the earth met, and where travelers from all the provinces were going and coming every day. As a result of their strategic location, the Roman Christians had a wide stage upon which to enact their deeds of faith; It was natural that the faith of Christians so favorably located in Rome should be widely known, but also implicit in the fact of their extensive reputation is their evangelical behavior. Their faith was not something which they held privately and selfishly, but a passionate conviction of which they spoke to everyone who would hear and which they preached as universally as possible (Coffman). We must remember that this faith that was being reported all over the world was spread without the help of modern media. The Roman church had no modern media at its disposal to “get the message out”! There were no Christian books. There were no Christian magazines. There were no television preachers. In fact, the Roman church did not have a superstar preacher! We don’t know who planted the church, and we don’t even know who the pastor/preacher of the church was at the time that Paul wrote to the Roman church. So how do you suppose that the Roman Christians succeeded, as we know they did, without the tools of modern communication? A revival never needs to be advertised; it always advertises itself. . . . Read the history of the church. When revival breaks out in a little group, it does not matter how small, the news spreads and curiosity is awakened and people come and say, “What is this? Can we partake in this? How can we get hold of this?” Man does not need to advertise it; it becomes known; it spreads throughout the whole world. That is how it happened then and, that is how it will happen today by the work of the Spirit.
The Strengthening of Faith in all the world
Their faith was so remarkable, that it was known and celebrated everywhere. The religious or irreligious influence of a great city will be felt far and wide, and this is one reason why the apostles preached the gospel so much in such places. The reputation of the Roman church spread throughout the Roman Empire where the Christian church was established. All the churches would hear of the work of God in the capital, and would rejoice in it; (Col 1:6, 1:23; John 12:19). It is not improper to commend Christians, and to remind them of their influence; and especially to call to their mind the great power which they may have on other churches and people. Nor is it improper that great displays of divine mercy should be celebrated everywhere, and excite in the churches praise to God. (Barnes) The faith of the believers whom God had assembled at Rome was held up as an example; and the Apostle here declares, not only for their encouragement, but also to excite those more and more to the performance of their duty, that the eyes of all the servants of God throughout the world were upon them. It is not the piety of the saints at Rome, but their faith, that is here noticed. (Haldane). The faith of these Romans, being faith in the Lord Jesus . . . and in the living and true God through him, included, of course, their turning from every species of idolatry; an event which could not fail to be spoken of with wonder through the whole empire, as there were multitudes of strangers continually coming to Rome from the provinces, who, on their return home, would report what they had seen. This event would be especially made the subject of conversation in the churches everywhere, through all parts of the empire, it being matter of joy to them all that Christ was professed in the imperial city, more especially as it was a most happy sign of the general spread of the gospel; the conversion of the Romans encouraging the inhabitants of other cities to forsake the established idolatry, and turn to God. And, indeed, the wisdom and goodness of God established faith in the chief cities, in Jerusalem and in Rome particularly, that from thence it might be diffused to all nations. (Benson).