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Reformation Theology
Paul wrote the book of Romans to address the Roman church which comprised of Gentiles who were not part of God's chosen people in the Old Testament. Yet, in these verses in Romans 11, he goes on to show how salvation of both Jews and Gentiles work not just to save them from their sins, but more importantly in all things, they work for His glory.
In Christ alone. Who is this Jesus at the centre of Christianity and what did He do? What does this mean for us?
This study goes back to these basic, but wonderful truths.
“The Bible recognizes no definition of grace that encourages moral license. Instead, feasting on grace fuels love for God that enables us to fulfill the commandment ... Only the grace of God ultimately displayed in the provision of Christ for sinners can stimulate such loving obedience.”
(ESV Gospel Transformation Bible Introduction)
In this passage, Paul is dealing with the important idea of justification. Romans 4 has Paul answering one important question: how is a man justified? Justified is a legal term, and it simply means to be declared righteous. With justification comes approval and innocence. In Romans 4, Paul uses two examples that the early readers of Romans were familiar with -- Abraham and David -- to show what faith is. We too, can learn so much from this very, very rich text!
Christian history tells us that there were points when the gospel was a faint light in a dark night, and that heresies became more common than truth. This new series on the theology of the Reformation brings us back to the time where there were men who stood up against the prevailing cultural norms and traditions, and insisted that Scripture alone, would be their rule and guide. This was what Martin Luther, a mere German monk, and some of the other reformers fought to recognise again. This was what Martin Luther argued at the Diet of Worms, where he had to stand up to defend his convictions:
“Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God’s word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
