For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17

Paul, looking forward to his opportunity to preach to those in Rome, was encouraged by the faith of the Roman church which had been shared through the whole world. Even before he met them in person he knew them by their faith!

More than that, the people who were displaying that faith were accessing God’s righteousness. Righteousness was not a quality that was accessible through action but through the inimitable, unfailing goodness of God, opened up from faith to faith, growing together as faithful individuals join together in a faithful church.

Ethan Kirl