14. READ: ROMANS 1:1-17
[Romans 1:1] "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God--[2] the Gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures [3] regarding His Son, Who as to His human nature was a descendant of David, [4] and Who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. [5] Through Him and for His Name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. [6] And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
[7] "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
[8] "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. [9] God, Whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the Gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you [10] in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's Will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
[11] "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- [12] that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. [13] I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
[14] "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. [15] That is why I am so eager to preach the Gospel also to you who are at Rome.
[16] "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. [17] For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith,'" [Habakkuk 2:4].