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Romans and the Protestant Reformation
Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome played a pivotal role in the Protestant recovery of the gospel during the Reformation. In a real sense Romans 1:17 caused Martin Luther a agony of his mind and spirit due to a faulty understanding of what Paul meant by the expression, the righteousness of God. The verse reads in the Vulgate “For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith.” He focused was on the phrase the righteousness of God which he understood as revealing how righteous God is in his holy Person. An article on Monergism quotes his testimony. The following selection is taken from the Preface to the Complete Edition of Luther's Latin Writings. It was written by Luther in Wittenberg, 1545. This English edition is available in Luther's Works Volume 34, Career of the Reformer IV (St. Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1960), p. 336-337. In the first few lines of this selection, Luther writes, "during that year;" the immediate context indicates he is referring to the year of Tetzel's death (July, 1519). This was two years after posting the Ninety-five Thesis. “For I hated that word "righteousness of God," which, according to the use and custom of all the teachers, I had been taught to understand philosophically regarding the formal or active righteousness, as they call it, with which God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinner. Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God, and said, "As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the decalogue, without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!" Thus, I raged with a fierce and troubled conscience. Nevertheless, I beat importunately upon Paul at that place, most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted. At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, 'He who through faith is righteous shall live.'" There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me. Thereupon I ran through the Scripture from memory. I also found in other terms an analogy, as, the work of God, that is what God does in us, the power of God, with which he makes us wise, the strength of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God. And I extolled my sweetest word with a love as great as the hatred with which I had before hated the word "righteousness of God." Thus that place in Paul was for me truly the gate to paradise.” Genevan Reformer John Calvin said of the book of Romans: “If we have gained a true understanding of this epistle, we have an open door to all the most profound treasures of Scripture.” (cited by Trent Hunter https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/romans-in-the-shadow-of-the-reformation/) He regard it as Paul’s most comprehensive presentation of theology in the light Jesus incarnation, atonement, resurrection and ascension. During the months of October- November our thoughts focus once again on this most important event. Accordingly, we have preached and had services focusing on various passages in Romans. Sermon Text-The Need of the Gospel Romans 3:9-20 “Guilty, Condemned Sinners” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Sermon Text- Romans 3:20-26 The Righteousness of God for Guilty Sinners 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Sermon Text- Romans 1:16-17 Righteousness from God by Faith” For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” ESV 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is written, “But the one who is righteous by faith will live.” Lexham English Bible Sermon Text- Romans 3:21-26; Romans 4:20-25 Gospel Summary in Romans or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. Sermon Text- Romans 5:1-11 Justification Plus The Much More of Declared Righteousness Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. v. 9 ESV Sermon Text- Romans 5:12-21 Through One Man Key verses-17 For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through the one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. Sermon Text- Romans
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Romans and the Protestant Reformation
Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome played a pivotal role in the Protestant recovery of the gospel during the Reformation. In a real sense Romans 1:17 caused Martin Luther a agony of his mind and spirit due to a faulty understanding of what Paul meant by the expression, the righteousness of God. The verse reads in the Vulgate “For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith.” He focused was on the phrase the righteousness of God which he understood as revealing how righteous God is in his holy Person. An article on Monergism quotes his testimony. The following selection is taken from the Preface to the Complete Edition of Luther's Latin Writings. It was written by Luther in Wittenberg, 1545. This English edition is available in Luther's Works Volume 34, Career of the Reformer IV (St. Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1960), p. 336-337. In the first few lines of this selection, Luther writes, "during that year;" the immediate context indicates he is referring to the year of Tetzel's death (July, 1519). This was two years after posting the Ninety-five Thesis. “For I hated that word "righteousness of God," which, according to the use and custom of all the teachers, I had been taught to understand philosophically regarding the formal or active righteousness, as they call it, with which God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinner. Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God, and said, "As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the decalogue, without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!" Thus, I raged with a fierce and troubled conscience. Nevertheless, I beat importunately upon Paul at that place, most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted. At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, 'He who through faith is righteous shall live.'" There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me. Thereupon I ran through the Scripture from memory. I also found in other terms an analogy, as, the work of God, that is what God does in us, the power of God, with which he makes us wise, the strength of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God. And I extolled my sweetest word with a love as great as the hatred with which I had before hated the word "righteousness of God." Thus that place in Paul was for me truly the gate to paradise.” Genevan Reformer John Calvin said of the book of Romans: “If we have gained a true understanding of this epistle, we have an open door to all the most profound treasures of Scripture.” (cited by Trent Hunter https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/romans-in-the-shadow-of-the-reformation/) He regard it as Paul’s most comprehensive presentation of theology in the light Jesus incarnation, atonement, resurrection and ascension. During the months of October- November our thoughts focus once again on this most important event. Accordingly, we have preached and had services focusing on various passages in Romans. Sermon Text-The Need of the Gospel Romans 3:9-20 “Guilty, Condemned Sinners” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Sermon Text- Romans 3:20-26 The Righteousness of God for Guilty Sinners 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Sermon Text- Romans 1:16-17 Righteousness from God by Faith” For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” ESV 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is written, “But the one who is righteous by faith will live.” Lexham English Bible Sermon Text- Romans 3:21-26; Romans 4:20-25 Gospel Summary in Romans or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. Sermon Text- Romans 5:1-11 Justification Plus The Much More of Declared Righteousness Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. v. 9 ESV Sermon Text- Romans 5:12-21 Through One Man Key verses-17 For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through the one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. We are a small congregation following the shelter-in-place orders of the local government officials due to the coronavirus pandemic, and thus have suspended our gathered corporate worship services beginning this Sunday, March 29. This causes a hardship which we hope we can successfully weather. Not all of the congregations can connect digitally to a video presentation, and a prolonged absence of services can disrupt habits of weekly gatherings. Gathered worship services are central to the church's identity and are a direct command of the Lord. In fact, the very concept of the church and the meaning of the word translated "church" in the original language of the New Testament (Greek) is "ecclesia," meaning a called-out assembly. So to cancel services feels like a threat to the church's existence.
Our own local church leaders are absolutely committed to a strong ecclesiology (doctrine of the church) and it seems almost unthinkable, Biblically speaking, to have to suspend services. Many of our forefathers in the faith gave up their lives unto death rather than to cease meeting for congregational worship. And today many of our brothers and sisters around the world who live in societies that persecute the church risk imprisonment, torture, and death by persisting in meeting in underground churches. So for these reasons we feel extremely uncomfortable in suspending our gathered worship services. Already we long for the time when "social distancing" is no longer required and we can gather face-to-face with one another in the presence of the risen Christ among us. When that time comes we will hopefully treasure even more the privilege and joy of gathered congregational worship. Currently we are in the process of updating our church website and working on learning how to put our sermons and other aspects of our customary worship service into a digital format to be accessed remotely; we will provide further notice when that is ready. Please join us in looking to the Lord for his help and blessing as we proceed ahead. Please see the article entitled, "To Cancel or Not to Cancel: That is the Question," from Christianity Today magazine at https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march-web-only/walter-kim-nae-timothy-dalrymple-cancel-church-or-not.html - Wayne Conrad and Jeff Gregory Folks who join Good Shepherd Community Church sign a church covenant. That is, we covenant together to work toward the glory of God and the good of each other in the context of our community of faith. Some wonder whether there is value in such covenants. One of my fellow members, Wayne Conrad, recently recommended an article on membership covenants from Zion Baptist Church in Taylor, MI. This is a very good article on the value of membership covenants. I do highly recommend you click through on the link above to read the article which is presented in catechism format. That said, here are some of my own thoughts on the matter. We live in an individualistic and consumerist culture. We often forget that while we've been united with Jesus, we've also been united to His bride: His church. I prefer to call it His assembly. While this assembly has a universal and timeless expression, the most common expression is that of a local assembly of believers. Even when speaking of a region (such as Galatia), Paul uses the plural form (assemblies). There is great primacy on the local assembly of believers in the New Testament. Jesus spoke of that assembly, in Matthew, as a means of accountability for those who make her up. The New Testament pleads with us to remember that we no longer exist for ourselves, but we now exist for the glory of Jesus and the good of His people. We are to "...consider the interests of each other as much as our own." We are not free to consider ourselves merely as individuals who have a private relationship with Jesus. There is no loving Jesus if there is no loving His bride. Jesus' words in John make it clear that the two go hand-in-hand. Rather we need, and are needed by, the rest of the assembly!! It's one thing to join an assembly. It's an entirely different matter to be an assembly that is committed to the good of each other. A membership covenant is one of the ways that we keep ourselves accountable to seeking the good of one another. It's a way to remember the commitment we have, not just to Jesus, but also to His bride whom He loves gloriously. It's a way to remember that I need you and that you need me. Below are a copy of our own church covenant as well as a paper I presented at a conference about ecclesiology--the doctrine of the church. --Mark _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ We're all familiar with "Amazing Grace," but did you know that John Newton, the writer of that beloved song wrote many others. One of our favorites here at GSCC is "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds". The content of this song brings tears to my eyes every time I sing it. Enjoy. The lyrics are public domain. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds John Newton 1725-1807 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear! It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds and drives away our fear. It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms each heart oppressed; it's manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary rest. Dear name, the rock on which I build, my shield and hiding-place; my never-failing treasury, filled with boundless stores of grace! By you my prayers acceptance gain, although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain since I am God's own child. Jesus, my shepherd, brother, friend, my Prophet, Priest and King, my Lord, my life, my way, my end, accept the praise I bring. Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought; but when I see you as you are, I'll praise you as I ought. Till then I would your love proclaim with every fleeting breath; and may the music of your name refresh my soul in death. Below is a video of a contemporary arrangement we like to sing it in. -Mark "Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, 'Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.'" --1 Samuel 14:6 The history of God's people, for the most part, is the history, at least according to conventional wisdom, of an underdog. We see it from the beginning. From Noah, to Abraham, to King David, to the return from Exile, to Jesus and his disciples, to the early church, and much of church history. The nation of Israel, throughout her history, was the underdog against much more powerful nations. Throughout much of church history, we see Christians being the underdog. What the west has experienced in terms of a cordial relationship with the state is largely an anomaly. Christians, in the west, experienced unprecedented freedom and favor over last 500 years. We often forget that our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world do not have that freedom. They are true underdogs. Recent events in the west, from Europe, to Canada, and now to the United States are signalling that the unprecedented favor and freedom is coming to an end. We see panic and fear filling social media timelines and circles. We hear preachers and commentators telling us its time to shelter up and shield ourselves. The above cited verse is part of a larger context. Israel has found itself cornered and on the defensive. The reign of King Saul is already at the beginning of its end. Israel has no weapons and is dependent upon their dreaded enemy, the Philistines, to keep their weaponry up. They'll fix it, but for a steep price. They are surrounded. There were several responses. Some joined the Philistines. Some went and hid. However, we see the most poignant contrast between Saul and Jonathan. Saul and his army go on the defensive and hide. Jonathan, grabbing his armor bearer, goes on the offensive. For Saul, God was too small. For Jonathan, all enemies were small. After all, "It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few." Jonathan and his armor bearer go and scope out the situation. They spot a garrison and present themselves. The test is this: if the guards say "come up here and we'll show you a thing" that means Jonathan is going to win. If the sign is to wait there, it's time to flee. The former happened. Jonathan and his armor bearer begin scaling the hillside. They slayed 20 men in one pass. The earth then shook and the Philistines panicked. At that point, the rest of Israel's army saw what was happening, and upon seeing that "we're winning," opted to join in the battle. Increasingly, here in the west, we find ourselves becoming more and more of an underdog. This is not something foreign to our brothers around the world. The panic we're seeing is much like Saul and company cowering in the caves. We even see many joining forces with the culture around us. However, a few voices are calling us to march forward, like Jonathan. It is when when God's people have no strength, no visible "light at the end of the tunnel," and are facing apparent defeat that God will show how strong He is. When He acts in these situations, there is only one possibility as to how things turned our way: God acted. As we see our culture become increasingly antagonistic toward the Gospel, let us remember the lesson of Jonathan and the armor bearer. Just because the odds are against us does not mean we need to retreat into a defensive posture. We must remember that "It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few." Let us remember that Jesus, the one who calmed the storm, said, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not stand against it." Let us pray with the apostles, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” The room was shaken and they went out with boldness. Jesus rose from the dead. We've already won. Let's march onward in the proclamation of the gospel. Let's march onward pursuing God. Let's march onward in love and fellowship with each other. It's when things are against the odds that we need to remember that it is "nothing for God to save, whether by many or by few." Let us not worry ourselves about survival. Let us concern ourselves with victory!! I leave you with this song of marching onto victory from Egypt. --Mark Further resources
Pratney, Witnie. "Victory or Survival." Part 1 http://ia600702.us.archive.org/9/items/SERMONINDEX_SID0979/SID0979.mp3 Ibid., Part 2. http://ia600604.us.archive.org/20/items/SERMONINDEX_SID0980/SID0980.mp3 Ibid., Part 3. http://ia600306.us.archive.org/28/items/SERMONINDEX_SID0981/SID0981.mp3 One of the mantras of our day in age is that God accepts who we are. This is usually done to get people to stop addressing behaviors we might be engaged in. However, God does NOT accept who we are. Who we are is just plain not good enough because it's a tainted version of humanity. We lost our authentic humanity when, in Adam, we ate a piece of fruit we were commanded not to. We're now sinners. He accepts who His Son is, however. He, the man Jesus Christ, the Word (who is both with God and is God) who BECAME flesh, succeeded where we failed. In Him, and only in Him, we find acceptance with God. That's the beauty of the Gospel. We have the promise of that authentic humanity restored in the hope (expectation) of the resurrection. We have the removal of our guilt in justification and a taste of that glorious hope in our sanctification. All of which is secured by that same Jesus in His life, death, and resurrection!!! I thank God for His grace freely given which was lavished upon us.
--Mark |
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