That day he was saved from his life of sensual immorality and went on to become the most influential man in church history from then until the Reformation 1000 years later.
Martin Luther… 1516 AD
Was a scrupulous monk, striving thru fasting, prayer and severe treatment of his body to find peace with God.
He wrestled with Romans 1:17 which speaks of a “Righteousness from God revealed thru faith alone”
He later referred to Romans as “the chief part of the New Testament, the purest gospel”
John Wesley, 200 years later (1738)...
Was a prime mover in the 18th Century revival that greatly impacted England.
He was influenced when hearing Luther's preface to his commentary on Romans…
Other great men of Christ who were influenced by Romans were…
Chrystostom, who read it twice a week… 400AD
John Bunyan … Pilgrims progress… 1678AD
Samuel Taylor Coleridge… The profoundest piece of writing.
Frederick Godet… Every great revival will be connected as an effect and cause thru Romans.
Clearly herein lies evidence that all people need to have a sound understanding of this book…
The importance of this epistle cannot be overstated…
Paul had for a long time wanted to go to Rome… Romans 1:11
His purpose was to teach them the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ… Romans 1:16-17
Because by doing so he could “ impart to them a spiritual gift to make you strong”… Romans 1:11
And that is the elders' wish for the people of Medway…
That you be strong in your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Take note of the connecting words
Romans is essentially a legal argument that justifies “justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone”…
As you read thru the verses you will notice the frequent use of connecting words like therefore, because, for, furthermore, since etc.
And whenever to see a therefore you need to ask yourself what it is there for.
It is all part of the legal argument vindicating God’s actions.
Chapter 1 is a good example…
There are no fewer than 15 connecting words in chapter 1 alone.
Here he says…
I am eager to preach the gospel…
FOR it is the power of God for salvation… Romans 1:16
FOR the wrath of God is being revealed against all unrighteousness… Romans 1:17
And chapter 2 starts with another therefore.
So we would urge you to read the passage under consideration numerous times before you come to church to hear the teaching… vs 1-6 & 16-17
And because it is a continuing argument try not to miss any of the teaching.
Background
To assist us in our understanding I want to paint a picture of the times and conditions being experienced at the time of writing.
Rome…
Was the center of the all powerful and brutal Roman empire.
It was a city of over 1 million people… many of whom were slaves…
Much like our country where we have a small elite and vast areas of poverty…
There were many great buildings like the Circus Maximus, the Emperor's palaces, Temples to Jupiter and Juno, Roads and aqueducts, the Forum.
But its beauty was marred by the slums in which so many lived.
It is believed that some of those converted on the Day of Pentecost journeyed to Rome and started the church… Acts 2:10
Paul wrote the letter from Corinth in 57 A.D…
During the time of Nero who reigned from A.D. 54-68…
The first 5 years of his reign are referred to as “The golden age”
With all his building projects and support of the people he became very popular.
So at the time of writing it was a time of relative quietness and peace.
But from there (A.D.61) things went from bad to worse…
Nero’s persecution of the church began with the fire of Rome in A.D.64.
Tacitus the historian says Nero blamed the Christians for starting the fire which destroyed much of Rome.
But the people did not swallow his lies and turned against him.
Eventually by A.D.68 Rome was bankrupt and he committed suicide.
Paul is writing to people that he had never visited before…
In fact no other apostle had ever visited them either…
Therefore he saw a great need for teaching.
At the same time he acknowledges that they are a solid bunch of believers
Whose faithfulness was spoken about all over the place… Romans 1:8
He had tried to visit many times but was prevented… Romans 1:13
So he writes this letter… which is delivered by Phoebe.
Bearing in mind the impact of the epistle over nearly 2000 years you surely see that this was in the providence of God.
Who had a much greater vision for the letter than just Rome.
So we have on our hands a massively important study demanding…
Sound and carefully prepared and delivered teaching.
Attentive listening and understanding
And the necessary life changes that are called for.
Professor F.F.Bruce once said…
Let those who have read thus far be prepared for the consequences of reading further. You have been warned.
Subject matter
Romans is a book of theology…
The Church of Rome was a very sound church… Romans 15:14
Full of goodness
Complete in knowledge
Competent in teaching
So there was no need for correction, just encouragement and teaching…
Their reputation in faith was known far and wide… Romans 1:8
The congregation was mainly gentile with a fair number of Jews…
This of course led to a divide over freedom in Christ and observance of the law…
So there are frequent references to Jew and Greek (Gentiles)
So here Paul gives us a very clear understanding of Justification by faith in Christ Jesus alone, apart from the law.
