Why the Book of Romans Matters – by Des Ford

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Jun 7, 2015 3045

You know, the Acts of the Apostles isn’t about the acts of the apostles at all. It mentions Peter in the early chapters and gives a passing wave to John. But two-thirds of the book is about Paul, who wasn’t one of the twelve. The reason is because Paul is the theologian of the New Testament.

He is the only man who explains the significance of the cross; indeed, our expression “the cross” comes from Paul as regards its doctrinal use. The other Bible writers don’t use it except in writing about history.

Paul is also the one who used the word “gospel” so much; in fact four times as often as the rest of the New Testament put together. He also uses “grace” twice as much as the rest of the New Testament put together.

It’s from Paul that we get such words as “imputation’,’ “in Christ”, “adoption”, “justification”, and “reconciliation”. These are all primarily Pauline terms. I am saying to you that it is impossible to understand the “how” of salvation apart from understanding Paul.

It is also interesting that Paul wrote to seven churches. And the way that these letters are arranged in the New Testament is also fascinating. They begin with Romans, which tells a man how to be right with; God and they end with Second Thessalonians, which tells about the coming of Jesus. I’m glad it’s not the other way. Who’s interested in the coming of Jesus if he’s not ready for the coming?

The book of Romans is to solve the most important of all questions, “How can a man be right with God”? This is the only question that really counts when death comes knocking, isn’t it? Jesus said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all the rest will be added unto you.”

Martin Luther said of the book of Romans: “Every Christian should know it by heart and feed on it as the daily bread of his soul.” Tyndale said, “It is the light and the way to the whole Bible.”

– Des Ford. Rom 8:27–32. Adapted from “Perfect in a Moment”