Should we bother to ask the above question? The answer is positively yes! We might
also want to rephrase the above question, that is, what is the original intent of Paul
when he wrote this book? Is Paul trying to show us the ways to conquer sins, the
ways to get rich, the ways to handle pressures? These certainly are not Paul’s
concern. Then what is Paul’s original intent?
The answer for the main teaching of the Book of Romans is that: “To show the readers
that we are all God’s enemies, and only through the act of righteousness of Jesus Christ
(Romans 5:18), we become a justified sinner. Nonetheless, not every enemy of God
obtains this gift of righteousness, rather it comes from the God who says. “I will
have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have
compassion.” (Romans 9:15) And all these could be sum up in one word, that is
“Gospel”!
But we may ask, what is the act of righteousness of Jesus Christ? It has two aspects
in this work of righteousness. First, Jesus offered his body as a sacrificial lamb.
Second, Jesus has kept all the requirements of the Laws. By these two aspects of
His acts, Jesus has pacified the wrath of God toward his enemies. Then how do
we understand by the words “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I
will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”? In fact, it teaches us
that the Triune God is a sovereign God. And his sovereignty is clearly demonstrated
in respect to the saving of his enemies. Because in Romans chapter nine,
Paul used an illustration of Isaac and Rebekah to explain to us that how
does a sinner got saved? Rebekah was pregnant with twins. Before the twins
were born or had done anything good or bad. God by his sovereignty told
Rebekah that, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
My friends, do you see it? If you in the first place could accept that human’s
condition is enmity with God, then it is very logic to say that by his
sovereignty God could freely distribute his salvation to any one he has mercy!
Since we have become enemies of God in the First Adam, is it feasible for
us to take the initiative to seek after this God and to willingly accept
his way of salvation? Let us put on our thinking cap. Is it possible for the
sinners to seek after God? The answer is absolutely NO! Then it is make
sense to read the response that Jesus gave to Nicodemus in John chapter 3.
“…You should not be surprise at my saying, you must be born again. The
wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell
where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of
the Spirit.” (verse 7-8) (Note: The Holy Spirit has sovereignty too! But
this sovereignty never conflicts with the Father nor the Son. ) And later
in John 15:16 Jesus again emphasize this teaching, “You did not choose
me, but I choose you…”
But you might ask me, how do you interpret Romans 1:16 when Paul
says, “ I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of
God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew,
then for the Gentile.” Doesn’t it teach us that as long as one has
faith then one could be saved? But wait, we have to clarify the
definition of believe? What kind of faith is mentioned here?
In fact, the Bible mentions two kind of believe/faith. After 1:16,
Paul immediately declares, “For since the creation of the world
God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine
nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what
has been made, so that men are without excuse.” ( Romans
1:20 ) Everyone has this knowledge (belief) of God. This is
what we call “General Revelation”, and is embedded in every
human soul, including Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, or atheist.
That is the first kind of knowledge. But 1:16 is second kind
of knowledge (faith/believe). “I am not ashamed of the
Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation
of everyone who believes …” And, the believes here has an
object. What is this object? It is no longer the creation of this
world. It is referring to “Jesus Christ, the God anointed one.”
This knowledge (believe) is called “Special Revelation.”
However, not every human soul on this earth is willing to
accept this revelation. Why? Because this knowledge (believe)
comes from the God who says “I will have mercy on whom
I have mercy.”
There is little doubt that churches today still preach Jesus,
but what worries me is that what kind of Jesus do they preach?
In fact, in the realm of General Revelation, many Buddhist,
Moslem, atheist know Jesus. But they know Jesus only as a great
leader to be followed, who holds high morality standard while
living on earth. Is this the picture of Jesus we find in the Bible?
For those who are saved, Jesus is more than a great leader! On
the way to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who
do people say the Son of Man is?" It is not because Jesus
has a low self esteem, so he needed their answers to bolster
his status! This conversation is the setting for which Jesus
to reveal his “real person” and “real work”. By the help of
the Heavenly Father, Peter answered that he is the Christ,
the Son of living God. But what does that mean? Jesus
therefore explained to Peter, that he has to suffer many
things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers
of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third
day be raised to life ( Matthew 16:13-23 ). These are
the true picture/meaning of Jesus Christ! And this is
the message that a Christian, a church should proclaim
in season and out of season.
Let us come back to Romans 1:16, “ …because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes…” Doesn’t it mean that as long as one believes,
then one will be saved? Our answer ( from Reformed
perspective ) is very simple: this faith/believe is a gift
from God. And the Sovereign God distribute this gift
to any one he will have mercy on whom he will have
mercy. In other words, we uphold the doctrine that says,
Regeneration precedes faith.
What is the main teaching in the Book of Romans?
The answer is “Gospel”. Since it is Gospel, then it is
not the path to Christian victorious living. In fact,
before signing off this letter, Paul goes back to this
theme of Gospel. In Romans 16, there are two
sections that give us evidence. Of course one section
is more clearer than the other. Section one: from
16:17-18, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for
those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your
way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.
Keep away from them. For such people are not
serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites.
By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the
minds of naive people.” ( Note: “…the teaching
you have learned” refers to truth concerning the
Gospel. )
Section two: from 16:25-27, “Now to him who
is able to establish you by my gospel and the
proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages
past, but now revealed and made known through
the prophetic writings by the command of the
eternal God, so that all nations might believe
and obey him— to the only wise God be
glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."
My friend, do you see that? Gospel is the only
reason for us to join the church in the first place,
it is also the sole reason for us to keep joining the
church at the end of the day. Since the Gospel
is the only reason for us to join the church,
then it is not based on some successful
testimonies of the believers that attract so
many “seekers” to the church. Likewise,since
the Gospel is the sole reason to keep us in the
church, then the wicked testimonies of the
believers will no longer cause us to detach
ourselves from the church. May we understand
the differences between these two teachings
and render all the glory to the only wise God
in heaven through our precious savior
Jesus Christ!
Posted on August 3, 2006
