ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
THE THEME OF THE EPISTLE- "THE GOSPEL OF GOD" 1: 1, 16, 17
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Even the first careful reading of the epistle shows us plainly that the theme of this important document is: "The gospel of God" ( 1: 1 ), which is the gift of God's righteous~ ness, summed up in the key verses, Romans 1: 16, 17. The word "gospel" means "good news." And it is the good news "concerning" God's "Son Jesus Christ our Lord" ( 1:3 ). The Gospel is not confined to the book of Romans. Paul and the other New Testament writers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, unfold the theme in other books. But in Romans we have the foundation. The highest revelation which came from the pen of Paul is set forth in Ephesians and Colossians, but the content of these epistles will be closed to us until we understand Romans. In what ways was this Gospel "promised afore" as we read in Romans 1:2? By types and in sacrifices, and by the direct words of God's "prophets in the holy scriptures." (See Rom. 1:2.) All Jewish believers looked forward to this Gos~ pel. ~ · alachi the promises and predic~ tions of the Gospel are found. The ()Jcl Testament is the foundation for the teaching of the Gospel. So, you see, it is a serious matter to reject the Old Testament. I.be-nec.essify: o this...gift is made known in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all come short of God's standard, but this standard must be reached before we can enjoy His presence: therefore, He offers the sinner the free gift of His righteous~ ness. of God" refers to what God is. We must be in perfect conformity to the glory of God, or miss it alto~ gether. Moreover. the very best of us can not reach this stan~ dard. It is not falling short of another man's standard; it is falling short of God's standard, what God is, as revealed in His attributes. [Page 7
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