由偉大使徒所寫的偉大書信
羅馬書一章1至7節
1耶穌基督的僕人保羅，奉召為使徒，特派傳神的福音。
2這福音是神從前藉眾先知在聖經上所應許的，
3論到他兒子─我主耶穌基督。按肉體說，是從大衛後裔生的；
4按聖善的靈說，因從死裡復活，以大能顯明是神的兒子。
5我們從他受了恩惠並使徒的職分，在萬國之中叫人為他的名信服真道；
6其中也有你們這蒙召屬耶穌基督的人。
7我寫信給你們在羅馬、為神所愛、奉召作聖徒的眾人。願恩惠、平安從我們的父神並主耶穌基督歸與你們！
信息分享
於是，保羅便寫了一封信給羅馬教會。保羅最初可能沒有想過要寫一封這樣長的信，但它最終卻成了歷史中最偉大的基督教信仰宣言。
羅馬教會是由哪位使徒建立的？肯定不是保羅。他寫此信之前，從未到過羅馬(13節)。也肯定不是彼得，他在那個時候也未曾到過羅馬。那麼是誰建立此教會呢？
可能是在五旬節信主，或是保羅帶領信主的一些信徒。在本書的最後一章，保羅提及他認識該教會的27位信徒的姓名。
保羅在書信的一開始，自稱是「僕人」(或奴僕)。當我們知道，當時的羅馬有成千上萬的奴僕，而這些奴僕都是過著受人鄙視的生活，我們就會發現保羅這個自稱是很奇怪的。
然而，羅馬的基督徒卻會明白保羅的意思。保羅這個自稱，乃是反映他完全把自己視為基督的僕人，不論基督吩咐他做甚麼，他都願意去做，即使他要為此而付上沉重的代價。
保羅極愛基督，我們可以從這幾節經文體會到這種感情嗎？保羅首先指出他與基督的關係，然後便向我們講述基督──他重申基督的身分、祂的死和復活，以及服事基督所享有的各種特權。他把羅馬教會的所有信徒都稱為「聖徒」，並祝願眾人同得基督所賜的恩惠與平安。
反思：
保羅曾經見證說：「我活著是為了基督。」
A GREAT LETTER BY A GREAT APOSTLE
Romans 1:1-7
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Message
So Paul wrote a letter to the church at Rome. It was possibly much longer than he first intended but it has become one of the greatest statements of the Christian faith that has ever been written.
Who started the church at Rome? Certainly not Paul. He had never been there when he wrote this letter (v. 13). And certainly not Peter. He had not been there up to this time either. Then who did start it?
Perhaps converts from the Day of Pentecost or some of Paul's converts began this church. In the last chapter Paul mentions 27 people he knew in the church at Rome.
How does Paul start his letter? He begins with his own name followed by the word 'slave'. It is remarkable that in writing to the church in a city where there were thousands of slaves and where the life of a slave meant nothing, that he should call himself a slave.
Yet the Christians would understand what he was trying to say to them. Paul considered himself the complete servant of Christ, always available to carry out his will no matter the cost.
Paul loved Christ very very much. Can't you feel this coming through as you read these verses? Firstly there is Paul's relationship to Christ, then he tells us about Christ himself. He reminds us of Christ's position, of his death and resurrection and of the privilege of serving Christ. He includes all the churches in Rome as members of Christ (v. 7) and sends his greetings to them. Even those greetings are only possible because of Christ.
Remember Paul's testimony: TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST.