Thursday, October 12, 2017

Very brief on themes in Romans

Richmond, rush hour, heading home, but I was not listening Rush; it was Mahavishnu Orchestra and Christian radio that day. See, I have a problem. I know from past history that vehicle CD players can scratch disks (many in my case), so I am only going to use doubles scratched already or copies. I have a limited library in that case. CD's scratched by a previous car stereo and copies. My off-road focus is iTunes at present. Not CD's.

Encountering page 262.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

I continue with a review of the 'Encountering' text, focusing on discussing the theological teaching from the images.

Other very important points from the text:

The Apostle Paul states that the righteousness of God has been revealed (Romans 1). (260). The atoning and resurrection, gospel work of Jesus Christ applied, provides salvation and legal justification by grace through faith (alone). In particular my words,  with a Reformed slant, but based on 260).

Romans reasons that those in Jesus Christ, receive God's righteousness (262). The righteousness of Jesus Christ, infinite God and perfect man. Works and the law could not guarantee human righteousness and therefore could not justify (Romans 4). Abraham too was justified as righteous by faith, not works. (Romans 4).

Those in Jesus Christ receive the imputed righteousness (Romans 1-2, 3) of Jesus Christ and therefore are legally justified by God. This is instead of facing God's wrath and through Christ's death on the cross, human sin is atoned for. (262). This leads to everlasting life and a sanctification (Romans 6-8) of the sinful human nature toward the perfect human nature of Jesus Christ. To be completed at resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).

Romans 6: 22

English Standard Version

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

New American Standard Bible

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

King James Bible

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Salvation (justification, sanctification, my add) is by grace through faith, not works, and human beings can do nothing to merit God's acceptance. (263). Sanctification (6-8) is to increase obedience in the Lord. (263). Sin should be diminished, not promoted. (263).