Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is breathed out by God…” (2 Tim. 3:16). “All Scripture” meaning the 66 books of the Bible. While no one book of the Bible is more “God breathed” or is held to a higher standard, the book of Romans seems to have made a huge impact on the history of Christianity and the key leaders of great revival and reform movements. For example in 386AD Augustine of Hippo was converted to Christianity by reading Romans 13:13-14. Augustine turned out to be one of the church’s most influential theologians and leaders.
The great reformer Martin Luther, a simple monk of the Augustinian Order, was struggling with his beliefs on salvation. As he was teaching the book of Romans to group of students he became more and more convinced by the theme of justification by faith alone (Sola Fide). After reading and grasping the truth that “the just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17), Luther was converted and seemed to singlehandedly dissemble the Catholic churches doctrine of a “works salvation.” In 1517AD in Wittenberg, Germany the Great Reformation began and the dark ages dissipated.
The great theologian John Calvin (1509-1564AD) was a pastor during the Reformation period. He has made a lasting impact on most all protestant denominations today with his strong view of the sovereignty of God. Calvin stated, “When one gains knowledge of the Epistle (Romans), he has an entrance open to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture.”
Romans has impacted and shaped the theology of evangelists like John Wesley to Bible translators such as William Tyndale to great commentators as Donald Grey Barnhouse. These men have impacted the world for Christ and when you glean into their testimonies it was the book of Romans that seem to impact and change them the very most.
The book of Romans will stun the intellectual and bring tears to the humble. Romans quotes the Old Testament more than any other book in the New Testament. Romans answers questions of a theological nature like no other book of the Bible. As I said in the beginning of this blog, all Scripture is inspired by God, however, Romans seems to be the theological pinnacle of Scripture. It simply yet profoundly and very succinctly unfolds and explains what the “the gospel” really is and does.
For the next 18 weeks (maybe even a few weeks longer) I am going to be systematically and thematically preaching through this magnum opus of Scripture. Also, I will be providing blog entries on the topics and matters in which I will be preaching. All I can say is “hold on to your hat” because we are about to dive deep into the Word of God. I have preached through several books of the Bible and preached out of Romans numerous times, but I have never preached through Romans. Pray for me because the study and preparation is going to be challenging. Oh, and please pray that I will stay faithful with my blogging on Romans. I want to teach as much as I can through the week to get us ready for Sundays.
MY PRAYER: When we get through Romans we will have a great understanding of the major doctrines of the Bible. We should know why we believe what we believe.
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