What can we say when we get to the end of a book like Romans. I hope this study has been a blessing to you; it sure has been a blessing to me. Today I would like to finalize and round off our study of Romans by looking at the book as a whole in retrospect. And I would like to begin with the words of William Tyndale (written in 1534) in which he makes the significant point that Romans is "a light and a way unto the whole scripture."

Forasmuch as this epistle is the principal and most excellent part of the New Testament, and most pure …and also a light and a way unto the whole scripture, I think it meet that every Christian man not only know it by rote but also exercise himself therein evermore continually as with the daily bread of the soul. No man verily can read it too oft or study it too well: for the more it is studied the easier it is, the more it is searched the more precious things are found in it, so great treasure of spiritual things lieth hid therein (prologue to Romans in the 1534 edition of the English New Testament, italics mine).

We will do three main things this morning. 1) We will start with the theme of the book. 2) The theme will serve as a reference point to help us outline it. 3) Then with the theme and outline in mind we can make some applications.

1A. Theme (cf. appendix for a sketch of this material from which to build)

There are five main views of the theme of the book (cf. Moo, Romans, 27-30). Scholars see the theme to be 1) Justification by faith (as Luther), 2) Union with Christ, 3) The work of the Holy Spirit, 4) The union of Jew and Gentile, or 5) Christian duty. These are based respectively on the following chapters of the book: 1) 1-4, 2) 5-6, 3) 7-8, 4) 9-11, 5) 12-16. But what is wrong with all of these views? They all make a part the whole. To pin this down we need a definition of a theme. Moo defines it to be a single topic that can stand as a heading for the whole book. (cf. if some unit of 30 verses had 3 verses on the gifts of the Spirit you would not call those 30 verses the work of the Spirit but you would if the first 27 deal with the work of the Spirit in our praying, then the topic would be the work of the Spirit with two divisions). Moo takes the theme to be the gospel and for good reason as we shall see. Also, a theme needs to be more than a subject but a statement about the subject; we need a descriptive theme statement.

In this light, consider the following provisional and brief statement: the theme of Romans is the gospel of righteousness from God that sinners have by faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Just think of it: there is a righteousness that is given to you, that becomes your own by faith in Christ. There is a righteousness that is given to me, that becomes my very own righteousness, by faith in the Lord Jesus. It is not ours; it is God's. It is not our righteousness but God's righteousness given to us-as our own-by faith in Jesus Christ. It is no wonder that Luther made this the theme of the book. For here we have acceptance with God unto eternal life.

Let's see how this theme statement emerges from the text then we can unpack it as we go through the book. This will help us keep the big picture in view.

Paul was set apart for the gospel, for the good news of God (1:1). The broad and general phrase "of God" directs us to the gospel that is both "about" and "from" God. "About" means that our sin brings His righteousness out more clearly (3:5); His saving work in Christ demonstrates His justice (3:26). And "from" God means that it comes by His command (16:26) flowing from His grace (3:24). Paul's gospel is God-centered (it is God's gospel that Paul and all believers may claim as their own, as "my" gospel (16:25). The apostolic gospel is "to all who believe," 3:22). The focal person in God's gospel is Jesus Christ (1:3, regarding his Son…descendent of David, Jesus Christ our risen Lord). It is the gospel promised in the prophets of the OT Scriptures (1:2; 16:25-27; as in the hymn: "tis the long expected prophet, David's son yet David's Lord, by His son God now has spoken- tis the true and faithful word").

God's righteousness is received as our righteousness by the obedience of faith (1:5; 3:22, through faith; 3:21, apart from the law). It is evident that this faith is the fruit of a divine call if we keep the big picture in mind (1:17; 1:5-7). The apostolic word gives a general call that is the context in which God extends an effectual saving call. In Romans 1:5 the apostle's call is cited, in Romans 1:6, 7 God's call is stated that causes us to belong to Jesus Christ and to become saints. This call is explained in Romans 8:29-30 (the fore-loved are foreordained, called, justified and glorified by the effectual working of God the Almighty Alpha and Omega). This is all gospel, good news. Salvation is the work of God from beginning to end; this is good news par excellence!

Therefore, the theme of Romans is packed full and somewhat difficult to narrow down. But for short, we can describe the theme in one word as gospel. It is God's gospel, the good news promised in the OT regarding Jesus Christ, the Son of God and risen Lord, who saves Jew and Gentile (1:16) by calling them to the obedience of faith (1:1-6) through which they receive God's righteousness as their own (1:17). This summarizes a righteousness that is given to sinners on the basis of the death and resurrection of Christ. It is given by grace and through the obedience of faith. And this faith is the fruit of the effectual call of God by Christ through the word of the apostles that brings sinners out of bondage and into freedom.

2A. Outline

What shape then does the book have in its treatment of the gospel? This is the pattern or outline of the book. Sometimes the term "shape" is used in literature to refer to the argument of a book. We want to get a glimpse of the inner structure as to how the various parts interface or fit together. That's the shape of the book. Attention to the shape helps us see the contours in the flow of thought of the book as a whole. (benefit: grasping the theme in outline form helps us decide what wave length we should be on at specific places in the book so we can hear the message fully and correctly).

It's not hard to mark off large sections of Romans. The introduction is 1:1-17 where we have the greeting (Paul, v. 1; to the Romans, v. 7; grace and peace, v. 7), thanksgiving and longing to see them (vs. 8-13), and the theme (vs. 14-17) with a definite break in thought at v.18. The conclusion is all of chapter 16 as evident in light of 15:33. The middle of the book can be broken down into three large sections regarding the gospel: its need (1-3, minus the introduction), its provision (4-11), and its duty (12-15).

Need of the gospel – all have sinned, all store up wrath against the day of wrath

Provision of the gospel – the Lord Jesus the 2nd Adam provides righteousness received by faith

Duty to the gospel – in the obedience of faith live under His authority by His law

3A. Applications

1) We should not deny the seriousness of our sin or the judgment to come but face these things squarely.

A patient is always afraid of a serious diagnosis. A friend once asked me to visit his father who was dying in the hospital. He told me that when he became very ill his father would not go to a doctor. He did not want to hear about his true condition.

Jesus is the great physician, we need to accept what he says of our true condition as sinners bound for God's wrath (which we store up for ourselves against the day of wrath, Rom. 2:5).

We must not succumb to the homo absconditus problem, the hidden man problem. That is, we are mask wearers when we look into the mirror. We hide ourselves from ourselves. Augustine speaks of having placed himself behind his own back: that is where he says, "I placed me." Acknowledging our spiritual poverty and our actual unworthiness is at the core of saving faith. Jesus did not come to save those who are healthy. He came as physician of the soul to save those who are sick to save those who are sin sick. So He teaches that the righteous are those who admit their true unrighteousness.

And we must submit ourselves to His remedy. We must submit ourselves to Him, to the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in your heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is the risen Lord and you shall be saved (Rom.10:9-10).

2) Second, we should not question the justice of God in choosing some and calling them to faith and justification while passing over others (Rom. 9:14-15). Remember, those who perish deserve to perish, they deserve nothing else. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God has revealed Himself through creation, conscience, and His word so that every mouth may be silenced for complaint and self-excuse.

Those who are called to faith and justification do not deserve this extraordinary blessing. Thus, facing the depth of sin squarely in relation to election and reprobation has been a constant refrain in reformed theology:

What hast thou that hast not received? (I Cor 4.7) – from whom, unless from Him who distinguishes you from others in not giving to them what He gave to you? He [Augustine] goes on: Faith therefore from beginning to end is the gift of God; and that this gift is given to some and not to others, no one can at all doubt, unless he wish to contest the most manifest testimonies of Scripture. But why it is not given to all ought not to disturb the believer, for he believes that all came under most just condemnation by the sin of one; and why God delivers one man and not another are matters constituting His inscrutable judgments and His uninvestigable ways. (italics mine, Calvin, Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, trans. by Reid, 1997, pp. 63-64).

Thus after presenting the doctrine of justification by faith in the Insititutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin goes on to discuss eternal election. Many have wondered why election shows up in the Institutes so late coming at the end of the third book and after many other topics have been treated first. One way to view this is to note that after looking at the streams of blessings that flow to believers, Calvin waits until all have been presented and then he introduces election to root everything in the free mercy of God as the ultimate fountainhead.

We shall never feel persuaded as we ought that our salvation flows from the free mercy of God as its fountain, until we are made acquainted with his eternal election, the grace of God being illustrated by the contrast, viz., that he does not adopt all promiscuously [indiscriminately] to the hope of salvation, but gives to some what he denies to others. It is plain how greatly ignorance of this principle detracts from the glory of God, and impairs true humility…there being no other means of humbling us as we ought (Bk. III, xxi, 1).

3) Paul in effect says, "filled with humility and gratitude, give your entire self, body and soul to Him" when he says, "I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God" (Rom. 12:1). Why is this a reasonable service? Because these mercies flow from electing love and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:28-39).

So live the practical duties of chapters 12-15 that give exposition to the obedience of faith under the holy spiritual and good law of God because He is holy and is making us holy. So work at the graces like humility because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think (12:3). Hate what is evil, cling to the good path, and as you travel this path as brothers and sisters in the Lord, pile up compounding love. The new day has already dawned so live as children of the light. Put on the armor of light. In fact clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ so that it will be evident everywhere you go that you live under His command and for His honor.

4) Therefore, traveling the good road together with our Elder Brother keep looking up in reverence and awe. Give praise. Seal everything with doxology (11:33-36 and 16:25-27).

Summary Exhortation

We should firmly embrace the gospel of God regarding His Son, the risen Lord Jesus who gives the gift of righteousness through faith, which also is His gift. That is good news! So, with deep humility, abundant gratitude, overflowing hope, abiding peace, and crescendos of praise stand with your feet firmly planted on God's holy law and live your life with devotion to Jesus Christ your Savior. Live by the power of the Holy Spirit and unto the praise and glory of God the Father, both now and forevermore, Amen!

Summary Benediction

May the God of endurance and encouragement give you endurance and encouragement (15:5a).

May He give you such harmony that with one voice you may glorify His name (15:5b).

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (15:13).

May the God of peace be with you all (15:33).

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you to the glory of the triune God forever Amen! (16:20, 27).

Five main views and the chapters cited

• 1) Justification by faith (as Luther) 1-4
• 2) Union with Christ 5-6
• 3) The work of the Holy Spirit 7-8
• 4) The union of Jew and Gentile 9-11
• 5) Christian duty 12-16

What is wrong with all of these views?

What is a theme? – a single topic, a heading

How is a theme more than a topic? it needs to be a description or statement

Consider how a theme statement emerges by interfacing the following texts:

• Gospel: 1:1, 16, 16:25-27
• Of God: 1:1
• About God: 3:5, 3:26
• From God: 16:26, 1:17
• In history: 1:2,16:25-27
• Concerning Christ: 1:3
• Revealing righteousness (not ours but ours)
• Received by faith 1:17, 3:21-24
• Received by faith that is itself by grace: 1:5-7, 8:29-30

Therefore, the theme of Romans is packed full and somewhat difficult to narrow down. But we can state the theme in one word, then begin to describe it with three words, and then fill it out by adding the information from the other passages in a variety of ways.

For short, we can describe the theme in one word as gospel. It is God's gospel (gospel of God), the good news promised in the OT regarding Jesus Christ, the Son of God and risen Lord, who saves Jew and Gentile (1:16) by calling them to the obedience of faith (1:1-6) through which they receive God's righteousness as their own (1:17).

• Introduction, 1:1-17 (note the transition indicated in v. 18)
• Need of the gospel, 1:18-3:20 (note the transition indicated in v. 21)
• Provision in the gospel, 3:21-11:33 (note the transition indicated in 12:1)
• Duty to the gospel, 12:1-15:33 (note transition indicated by 15:33 with 15:5, 15:13 and 16:20b)
• Conclusion, 16 (or more sharply the conclusion can be 15:14-16:27, cf. the fourfold closing)

1) Face the seriousness of sin and the judgment to come

2) Do not question the justice of God in calling some and passing over others

3) Give your entire self, body and soul to God as your reasonable service

4) As you travel the good path of practical righteousness keep looking up with reverence and awe. Seal everything with doxology.