¹⁷ But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Overwhelming gratitude bursts from the apostle’s pen. Nothing is more contagious than an artist excited about his own masterpiece. One can imagine a master painter standing back and looking at his masterpiece, exclaiming, “I have outdone myself. That is truly amazing.” Paul, as the artist-writer, painted a picture of the reality for grace-infused believers in God’s provision of Jesus Christ. Yet his excitement is not in the idea that he “outdid” himself, for his inspiration is more than the genius of a theologian crafting words; it comes directly from God (see Rom 1:1-6). If anything, Paul is amazed as he contemplates the wonderful truth of God, which he was so privileged to write down and share with others.

The truth of which he writes frequently produces an outbreak of emotion—he simply can’t contain himself. Later in this book, he writes, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:24–25a). In others of his letters he breaks out, “[T]hanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:57); “[T]hanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ …” (2 Cor 2:14); “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Cor 9:15). Paul’s teaching produced in himself, as the teacher, a tremendous attitude of gratitude.

In fact, the first thing from his quill after introducing his letter to the Romans was, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because of your faith…” (Rom 1:8). The recipients of his letter were among the blood-bought people who had come to faith in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. They had experienced the very things about which he writes to them—and that produced thankfulness. Contrast that with those who “even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations…” (Rom 1:21). We would not be far from the truth by saying that any theological musings that do not lead to gratitude are at best useless and miss the point, or at worst are a step away from God. Correct thinking about God will always produce an acknowledgment of our unworthiness and a growing appreciation of His grace. Anything else completely misses the mark of true “theology.” Paul provides the example—he cannot contain his gratitude.

Lord of grace, thank You for Your immeasurable gift of justification in our lives. Help me to never drift even one millimeter from gratitude for all You have done.