Romans--The Gospel of Christ
Romans--The Gospel of Christ This Epistle, which Luther called “The perfect Gospel,” and Coleridge “The most profound work in existence,” stands first of all the Epistles as setting forth the great truths of man’s fallen state, and of justification by faith in the person and work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By birth a Hebrew, by citizenship a Roman, by culture a Greek, Paul was well fitted naturally to write it; but it was in the grace and apostleship received direct from Jesus Christ (Romans 1:5) that he trusted alone for his qualification. “Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace,” may be taken as the Gospel germ of the Epistle to the Romans. The clue to the Epistle is to be found in Romans 1:16 : “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” He was not ashamed of the Gospel, for he had proved its power. The Epistle naturally divides itself into three parts: (1) Justification; (2) Sanctification; (3) Application of the foregoing to daily life, each of which are associated with one of the great Apostle’s irresistible “therefores.”
(1) Justification by faith for access. Romans 5:1 : “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our 233Lord Jesus Christ.” Throughout the Epistle we hear the challenge, “Where shall righteousness be found?” It is found alone in Christ. It was while we were yet “without strength,” “ungodly,” “sinners,” “enemies,” that God commended His love toward us and Christ died for us (Romans 5:6; Romans 5:8; Romans 5:10). We are justified “by grace,” “by His blood,” “by faith.” The results of justification are peace, access, joy in God.
(2) Sanctification by faith in Christ, through the power of the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, R.V.): “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 6:1-23 shows us our position as having been crucified and raised with Christ, that we should henceforth walk in newness of life. Romans 7:1-25 shows us the religious self seeking deliverance from the power of indwelling sin. The personal pronoun “I” which abounded in Romans 7:1-25 disappears in Romans 8:1-39, and the word “Spirit” takes its place, showing Him as the active agent of God, in revealing Christ for our sanctification, making us “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
(3) Application. The dedication of heart and life to God’s service (Romans 12:1): “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” In this practical and personal appeal, and in his clear words in Romans 6:1-2, he for ever refutes the charge that the doctrine of justification by faith countenances laxity in life; and it is a remarkable fact that the Epistle of Faith begins and ends with obedience (Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26). See also the frequent repetition of the word “obedience” throughout the Epistle. The Apostle turns aside in Romans 9:1-33; Romans 10:1-21; Romans 11:1-36 to show us that the cause of Israel’s fall is unbelief, that their rejection is neither total nor final, and that the conversion of the world awaits the conversion of Israel.