Thursday, February 23, 2012

Breakthrough

Arguably, the book of Romans has been the most influential book throughout history than any other book of the Bible. The book of Romans influenced such men as Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, Augustine, a most ungodly man with a very immoral lifestyle, and John Wesley, a Christian theologian. All of these men were converted to Christ through the reading and teaching of Romans. 

Martin Luther said it changed his life when he read v. 17 “the just shall live by faith.” After striving to be right before God through his own works, the message of Romans gave him a “breakthrough” in which he described as the “opening of Paradise.” He discovered the distinction that the law is one thing and faith is another. He intended only a reform within the Catholic Church but it sparked the Protestant Reformation.

The book of Romans is the key to understanding the whole Bible. Every command, every imperative is rooted in what God has done for us in the Gospel through Jesus Christ. Unless we grasp that grammar, instead of transforming us, the Gospel will drain us. Let us pray for
life-changing reformation as we study through this powerful book of the Bible.