The Book of Romans is a mission manifesto - stirring up the church at Rome to see that the Way of Jesus in Church is the answer for everybody, everywhere.  That is the simple message of the whole book.  The ancient promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that all the nations of the world would receive gospel blessings through their seed/Seed is at the very heart of the book of Romans.  These gospel promises for the whole world are what drives every part, including the deep questions of chapters 9-11 and the list of international Church workers in chapter 16.

The book of Romans is a pocket mission manifesto - showing how Jesus answers every need and how everybody can be right with God through faith in Jesus.  Church is the answer for everybody, everywhere.

Paul was training the ancient Roman Church to share the message of Jesus with people all over the world - across every culture, every divide.  

For Paul, preaching the gospel and establishing local churches is the only way to get serious about the problems of this passing world and the only way to be rescued from the eternal trouble in the age to come.  The Living God chose Church/Israel in ancient times to reach the whole world, and He is launching this to the whole world in a new way: Paul wants to explain how this works.

When we read his letters we need to listen to him as a zealous, church planting evangelist with a vision to reach all nations with the gospel.

The basic questions that Paul addresses in this letter are exactly the kind of questions that we might face as we take gospel blessings to all the nations of the world :

• What's wrong with the world?

• Do "religious" people need Jesus?

• Surely some people are good enough?

• Can't we fix ourselves?

• What's death all about?

• If we can always be forgiven, does sinful behaviour really matter?

• Why do I keep on sinning even after I am a Christian?

• Does God actually punish wrong doing?

• How am I supposed to live the Christian life?

• What about all the suffering in the world and in my life?

• What role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of a believer?

• What does the future look like?

• Has God’s promise to bless the whole world failed?

• Where does Israel fit into all this?

• Is it fair for God to use some more than others?

• What about people who have never heard of Jesus?

• If even people who oppose God serve Him, then why does He complain about them?

• How should Christians relate to rulers, authorities and governments?

• How are we supposed to cope with so many cultural differences in Church?

• How can we handle disagreements in the Church family?

• How do we all fit together as one Church family?

• Why does evangelism matter so much?

• Does God still care about the nations of the world?

What if the Book of Romans is a very down to earth and practical book for global Church mission...?

What if it is about the constant challenges that every generation will face when they are planting new churches in new places?

If we ask the question, ‘Why hasn’t the gospel reached all people and the world been rescued?’ the answer is not, ‘because the world is really bad’. The answer is that the church has become complacent and disinterested in sharing the great news of Jesus. 

The greatest danger to evangelism is not the evils of the world, but the apathy of Church. 

Paul writes this letter to fire up believers in this great and necessary task of telling all people everywhere about Jesus.