Jesus and Urban Ruin When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome, his faith perspective could see beyond the granduer of the Roman Empire to realize that the eventual fall of Rome would come.  Ruin is a reality that all great civilizations have had to face.  Ruin comes through economic, political, moral and spiritual corruption.  All governments and kingdoms on earth are subject to decay and death.  All cities go through cycles of building and ruin, with new cities at times rebuilt upon the old cities of the past.  The hope of salvation in Jesus Christ, as well as the faith perspective in Christ’s Eternal Kingdom, is the message of Paul’s letter to Rome that resonates as true and timeless.  Paul writes to a diverse fellowship of Jews and Gentiles that needed a biblical theology that could draw them together.  In our time this drawing together of Jew and Gentile is immanent the closer the end times draw near.  Use the Bible Study Link above to explore this topic.     Currently Dr. Arnold is working on a new book that studies Paul’s letter to the Romans from an urban perspective. The theology of Paul in Romans is one of hope and endurance for the Urban Christian.  The good news of Jesus Christ liberates people from their bondage to sin and decay. Made with Xara Web Designer Romans 8:21 (NIV) ..the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious        freedom of the children of God.   I stand at the door.. Jesus Praying in the Garden of Bricks Demolition of Detroit Ruins 1 Timothy 6:9 (NIV)  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish      and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.