From the Pulpit...

These verses serve two primary purposes in the book of Romans. First, they summarize Paul's high regard for the church and explain why he wrote the letter despite such good standing of the church. Second, the verses form a transition by which Paul moves from the major content of the letter to focus instead upon the ministry which God has given to him personally. Along the way, Paul gives a three-fold commendation of the church that is a model for all godly churches; and he points out the importance of receiving reminders from the word of God to keep us on the straight and narrow.