Romans 1:8-16
Faith is invisible. You cannot find it with an x-ray. You cannot photograph it with a camera, and you cannot see it with the naked eye. Faith is a little bit like the wind in that way. We do not see the wind, but we see the effect of the wind in the trees and on the world around us. We see leaves blowing across the yard, and we say, “Look at how windy it is.” Nobody could see the faith in Rome, yet the whole was talking about the faith of the Christians there. The world was seeing faith move through Rome by what faith was doing in the lives of the Roman Christians. Faith was making the Christians strong. They were becoming strong against fear. Their faith was causing them to encourage each other in faith; they were holding each other accountable to living righteous.

Paul wanted very much to go to Rome so he can share with them in the strengthening of their faith in the Christian walk. He believed that right living requires both a right relationship with God and right thinking. Paul knew that wanting to do what is right is not enough if we do not know what is right. Christians need good intentions, but they also need good instructions. Unable to go to Rome, Paul was sending them written instructions about how Christians are to think and to live. He is telling them the good news in written form. He knows that when we respond to the gospel in faith it has the power to heal and to save. The gospel reveals God’s righteousness. God wants His relationship with us to be as a loving father. Before an impartial judge, our situation would be hopeless. As loving father, God offers us a pardon; all we have to do is believe, receive and live by faith. As Christians saved by faith, our faith is invisible, but the evidence of that faith will be visible to the whole world. A righteous life is evidence of faith.