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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Third. By assuring them that they can be kept good (cc. 6-16). Thus we have despair (1-3) ; hope (4, S) ; assurance (6-8; 12-16). The epistle deals with the three great doctrines: sin (cc. 1-3) ; salvation (cc. 4, 5) ; sanctification (cc. 6-8; 12-16).
is a unity o f the message o f the Old and New Testaments which is clearly evident from Paul’s treatment o f the theme in Acts 28:23-28. A careful study o f the “ fulfil ments” o f Matthew’s gospel sets forth the interdependence o f the one Testament upon the other. Third. -It concerns Jesus Christ (1 :3-7). Four things are to be here noted : first, Christ’s human nature; He was o f the “ seed o f David;” second, His divine nature; declared to be the Son o f God by the resur rection; third, sovereign Lord; fourth, equal with the Father, 1 :4, S, 7. Such a Christ is the foundation o f the gospel according to Paul—the gospel o f God. Fourth. It has its basis in the atoning merits o f the death o f Jesus Christ and the seal o f its truth in His resurrection from the dead (1:4 cf. 3:24-26). Fifth. It has as its condition personal faith—a faith unto obedience ( 1 :5, cf. John 3:36 R.V.) o f the believer in the person and work o f the Son o f God (1:5 cf. 3:26-30). Sixth. It has its glorious result in the justification o f the believer (1:17 cf. 3:24-26, 30). It includes the sanctification o f the believer, also (cf. 8:29, 30). 2. The apostle’s personal interest in and relation to the church at Rome (1 :8-15). (a) The apostle offers thanksgiving for the world-wide faith of the Roman Chris tians ( 1 : 8 ). Note the expression “my God," which is used only by Christ and Paul, indicating the apostle’s intimacy with Christ and his personal appropriation o f and identifica tion with this great truth. How personal is Paul’s relation to the Lord, “He loved me ;” “ He gave Himself for me ■” “ He is my Lord.” The apostle is. not afraid to praise thé saints for good he finds in them. (b) He prays fo r them ( 1 : 9 ). Paul was unceasing in his prayer for his converts and for all Christians. Doubtless he felt it a sin not to pray for them (cf. 1 Samuel 12:23). He “wrestles” in prayer for them (Colossians 2 :1 ). Praying is a
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK 1:1-17
The Introduction falls into three sec tions : The address and salutation ( 1 :1-7) ; The apostle’s personal interest in and relation to the church at Rome ( 1 :8-15) ; The statement o f the theme (1:16,17). 1. The address and salutation (1 :1 -7 ). (a) The writer and thé readers It has been well said that it is God’s call and riot our progress that makes us saints. W e are saints by calling and not by char acter merely or primarily. (b) The substance of the message ( 1 : 2 - 6 ; cf. 3 : 2 1 - 3 1 ). Note the importance o f the message by the length o f the sentence, which begins with verse 2 and ends with verse 6—127 words in all. Verses 2 and 6 are really a parenthetical "statement between the writer ’-^ “ Paul the apostle,” and those written to— “the saints in-Rome.” Here is set forth in broad outlines the gospel as preached by Paul, and with these-verses should be com pared 3 :21-31. Six thoughts are expressed in this broad outline view o f the gospel. First. It is the gospel o f God (1 :1 ; cf. Galatians 1:11-16). It is “not after man” —that is, it is not according to man’s thoughts, human notions, or our common sense. All sorts of little difficulties will Ve raised about the gospel unless we remem ber that it is “not after pian” (cf. 1 Corin thians 1:18 with 2:7 ). W e should not be surprised, therefore, to find some things in the gospel o f God which are difficult to understand. f . Second. The gospel is related to the Old Testament Scriptures, 1 :2. There was a gospel in the Old Testament which was preached to Abraham and to David. There
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