ROMANS 1 The gospel of God (1–17). God has good news! It is promised in the Old Testament and centered in Jesus Christ. He came to earth a Jew, died, and arose again; and He saves all who will trust in Him. He alone purchased salvation, and this message must be preached to the whole world. Why? Because the gospel alone is “the power of God to salvation” (v. 16, italics added). Paul was gripped by the gospel; his whole life was controlled by it. Called to be an apostle (v. 1), he felt himself a debtor