Trans World Radio – India

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16, 17)

These verses set before us the subject of the epistle. Although each word in the epistle is important, these are significant in their marvelous unfolding of the entire epistle. These words are keys on a mighty organ which, if played, give forth the music of the whole
masterpiece. These are the high notes:

(1) gospel (6) everyone (11) revealed
(2) Christ (7) believeth (12) faith
(3) power (8) Jew (13) just
(4) God (9) Greek (Gentile) (14) live
(5) salvation (10) righteousness

These words form the subject matter of the epistle. Perhaps some might want to add:

(1) Holy Spirit   (5) identification   (9) service
(2) sin                (6) sanctification   (10) separation
(3) imputation  (7) security
(4) law                (8) predestination

However, all of these are included in the first list found in the key verses of the book. The righteousness from God is the major theme.

Dr. Griffith Thomas has given us a fitting word:
We must never forget that the term “righteousness” is much wider than justification, though this is, of course, included. Righteousness really covers all that is necessary to reinstate a sinner as right with God, and therefore includes his position, his character, his privileges, and his prospects. It embraces the past, present, and future, and it means “the state of being right.”

On this thesis he gives the following outline of the epistle:

(a) Righteousness needed by sinful men (1:17 — 3:20)
(b) Righteousness provided by God (3:21-26)
(c) Righteousness received through faith (3:27 — 4:25)
(d) Righteousness experienced in the soul (5:1 — 8:17)
(e) Righteousness guaranteed as permanent blessing (8:18-39)
(f) Righteousness rejected by the Jewish nation (9 — 11)
(g) Righteousness manifested in practical life (12 — 16)

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