April 8

Romans 1:1-3:20 We are in the Church Stream and we commence on the book of Romans. The Apostle Paul explains so many details to the believers in Rome. We are reading from the World English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | #7Streams | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Paul's assignment in history is to provide a clear explanation of the gospel that would be shared to all the Believers in Rome.  Remember that when Jesus died and rose, people weren't prancing and celebrating, "oh goodie, goodie. Now we are saved. The perfect sacrifice has been made, my sins have been cancelled by Christ Jesus on the Cross, yippee, now I know God really loves me ... " No, they were devastated by His death, and shocked by His coming back from the dead.  WE, on the other hand, understand Jesus' death because Paul explained what it all meant.  That is why the Church of the first century were so enamored with Paul, eager beyond description; eager as school kids at an ice cream shop to welcome him and sobbing sad tears when he departed.  It was melodrama with meaning.  Keep this in mind: explain the gospel to people and you will be revered in a way that perhaps, in many ways, only missionaries understand being revered. <div>Paul wrote Romans from Corinth late in his 3rd Missionary Journey. The year is 57-58 A.D. [not for nothin' the Olympics were held in Corinth a few years prior so Paul is using suitable words throughout his books, "run the race, finish the course, I buffet my body, I don't box like I'm just punching the air...]. Imagine the ominous sentiment when Paul finished his "Book to The Romans", rolls it up, hands it to Phoebe ["FEE-bee"] of Cenchreae and says, "here, take this to the Believers Rome ... !"  Do we realize what hung upon this journey, of a lady traversing through a world that was not altogether safe for anyone to be traveling through; foreign places, encountering pagans, scungy cultic people were everywhere, there were bandits, warriors, brothels, taverns, ad infinitum? She arrived