Retweeting Romans

‘Fantastic work out at the gym, time to relax #wornout’

‘Can’t wait for the match on Saturday #comeonyouirons’

‘Exam results tomorrow! #MyLifeintheBalance’

Not exactly ground-breaking information. Yet this is how lots of us use Social Media every day. This is the sort of information we’re compelled to share. And if we’re not sharing such gems ourselves, we’re reading it on someone else’s page.

But what about Paul, the writer of many of the letters in the New Testament?
If he were alive today, how would he be using Twitter or Facebook?

He’d be telling everyone possible the most important information in the world! The sort of information we find in his letter to the Church in Rome.

In chapter 3 he writes this: “…Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

So what about us, how do we use our social media accounts?

Last April I stumbled upon this blog post by the team at Desiring God ministries. They’ve managed to condense the book of Romans into 45 Tweets and the result is a magnificent summary of the book which can be easily shared across the internet.

So if you’re on Twitter or Facebook, take the Romans challenge. Tweet one of these sentences every day for the next 45 days and share something worth talking about!

Romans 1

The resurrected Lord Jesus has commissioned the advance of his gospel for the sake of his name among all nations (Ro 1:1-7).

Serving God in the gospel of his Son and obligated to all peoples, preaching the gospel is marked by eagerness (Ro 1:8-15).

The gospel is God’s power that results in salvation for everyone who believes. Everyone who believes (Ro 1:16-17).

God’s wrath is made known against man’s unrighteousness — all who rebel against God to worship creaturely stuff (Ro 1:18-32).

Romans 2

You presuming upon God’s kindness and refusing to repent is you storing up wrath for yourself on the day of judgment (Ro 2:1-11).

A true Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is really a matter of the heart, by the Spirit (Ro 2:12-29).

Romans 3

Jewish people are advantaged, entrusted with God’s oracles. Their faithlessness doesn’t nullify the faithfulness of God (Ro 3:1-8).

We’re all the same, Jew and non-Jew. We’re sinners. None is righteous, nobody. And we can’t save ourselves (Ro 3:9-20).

All who believe are justified by God’s gift through Jesus, who bore the wrath we deserved. Our boasting is excluded (Ro 3:21-31).

Romans 4

Abraham is faith’s “Exhibit A”. He trusted the one who justifies the ungodly and it was counted as righteousness (Ro 4:1-12).

It all rests on God’s grace, not works. The righteousness counted to Abraham is counted to us who believe in Jesus (Ro 4:13-25).

Romans 5

Since we’re justified by faith like Abraham was, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 5:1-5).

God shows his love for us in that Jesus died for us, us sinners. Now enemies no more. Wrath no more. We are saved! (Ro 5:6-11).

Jesus is the Last Adam, giving us the headship through which grace reigns. Eternal life, not death (Ro 5:12-21).

Romans 6

We’re done with sin. Now we’re in Jesus, united to him in his death and resurrection, dead to sin and alive to God (Ro 6:1-14).

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ro 6:15-23).

Romans 7

In Jesus we’ve died to the law and now belong to Jesus, so that we bear fruit for God (Ro 7:1-6).

Nothing good dwells in the flesh! It’s a mess. But thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Ro 7:7-25).

Romans 8

There’s no condemnation in Jesus. In him we’re free from sin and death, and we’re filled with the Spirit of life (Ro 8:1-11).

And his Spirit testifies of our adoption. We are children of God. We call the Creator of the universe “Abba” (Ro 8:12-17)

One day the whole world will know we’re God’s children. Everything is working towards this everlasting good (Ro 8:18-30).

Really, who could be against us? Since God gave up his Son for us, he will certainly give us all things in him (Ro 8:31-34).

Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Jesus. Not tribulation or distress or whatever you can imagine. Nothing (Ro 8:35-39).

Romans 9

Not all of ethnic Israel are children of promise. It’s not about our works or privileges. It’s about God’s call (Ro 9:1-13).

God has mercy on whom he wills. Who are we to answer back? He’s God. And we’re humbled by the riches of his glory (Ro 9:14-33).

Romans 10

Righteousness comes from God, not ourselves. Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Ro 10:1-4).

There’s no distinction here among peoples. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Ro 10:5-13).

People believe Jesus when they hear of him. They hear when he’s preached. He’s preached when we’re sent (Ro 10:14-21).

Romans 11

God hasn’t rejected his people. There is a remnant that remains, chosen by grace (Ro 11:1-10).

Stand in awe that the nations are grafted in, through Jesus, as the people of God. Note his kindness and severity (Ro 11:11-24).

A partial hardening has come over Israel until the full number of the nations believe the gospel (Ro11:25-32).

Oh, the depths! From God and through God and to God are all things! To him be glory forever! Amen (Ro 11:33-36).

Romans 12

Therefore, be a living sacrifice to God, not conformed to the world, but transformed by the renewal of your mind (Ro 12:1-2).

Think of yourself in sober judgment. Not too highly. Our gifts differ according to the grace God has given (Ro 12:3-8).

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection… (Ro 12:9-21)

Romans 13

No governing authority exists unless God has instituted it. Resist them and you resist what God has appointed (Ro 13:1-7).

Love one another. All the horizontal commands of the law are summed up: love your neighbour as yourself (Ro 13:8-14).

Romans 14

Don’t pass judgment on another’s conscience. We serve the Lord. Whether we live or die, we are the his (Ro 14:1-12).

The kingdom of God isn’t a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ro 14:13-23).

Romans 15

The OT is for our instruction, so that through its encouragement and endurance we might have hope (Ro 15:1-7).

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the Spirit’s power you abound in hope (Ro 15:8-13).

It’s a holy ambition to serve the nations — that is, to preach Christ where he has not been named (Ro 15:14-21).

Paul is headed to Spain and hopes to visit the Romans in the fullness of the blessing of Christ (Ro 15:22-33).

Romans 16

Greetings. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (Ro 16:1-23).

To the only wise God, the one who strengthens you according to Jesus expounded from the OT, to him be glory forever. Amen! (Ro 6:25-27).

 

By the Cornerstone Team