Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross New releases, special offers, book news, all here! http://forthrightpress-subscribe@... COLUMN: HANDS-ON FAITH Romans 1:17 -- The Righteousness of God by Barry Newton Prior to Martin Luther, general consensus agreed Paul was claiming in Romans 1:17 that the gospel reveals how God is righteous "from faith to faith." Luther, however, confessed he "hated ... active righteousness according to which God is righteous and punishes sinners."/1 In struggling with this text he perceived Paul's assertion to be that the gospel reveals God imparts righteousness to people through faith. While it may be that both are true, which message did Paul intend? An appreciation for ancient literary structures casts an objective light on the apostle's intentions. Perceiving Romans 1:16-17 and Romans 3:22-26 as forming an inclusio, like the two ends of an Oreo cookie, informs us what Paul meant to communicate. First, the sandwiched middle message should function to develop a major theme of the two ends thus illuminating what Paul meant by "righteousness of God." Second, when Paul restates Romans 1:16-17 in Romans 3:22-25, this could provide further illumination. To summarize the middle portion of the Oreo, we first encounter a discussion of God's judgment. God is defended for pouring out his wrath on godliness and wickedness because men are without excuse since God has made himself known. Furthermore, the principles by which God judges people are righteous. God will be consistent thus avoiding favoritism. Also, judgment is based upon what you have chosen to do. Finally, God will judge everyone based upon their understanding of truth. What could be more fair than this? Romans 2:17 refocuses our attention upon this gospel with its message of God's judgment, a message we have learned he proudly proclaims. Through a question, Romans 3:5 proceeds to advance his development of the righteous character of God. After reinforcing that the Jews can not circumvent God’s principles of judgment and therefore they stand condemned along with the rest of the world, Paul finally restates Romans 1:16-17 to provide us with the end of the inclusio. It is not just though the Law and the prophets, but the gospel reveals the righteousness of God from the faith of Jesus to all who believe. By making salvation available to all through faith in Jesus’ blood, God demonstrated his righteousness./2 “He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be righteous and the one who makes righteous those of the faith of Jesus.”/3 When considered contextually, can there be any serious doubt what Paul meant by "righteousness of God?" 1\ D. Martin Luthers Werke, Tischreden54, 183. 2\ Romans 3:24-25 3\ Romans 3:26 ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/5v6lzp COLUMN: REALITY CHECK Losing Something and Gaining More by Stan Mitchell "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" (Philippians 1:29). He stood outside the door of my house, a gangly, slender kid of seventeen. The major man in his life, the man he had looked up to, who had taught him to work hard, and be honest - his own father - had disowned him. I had baptized Antonio the night before. It was an easy decision on my part, but I now realized that it was a decision that had cost him dearly. My father was proud of me when I made the same decision, years before. "No son of mine joins a church," the older man had shouted, "I know those Christians. They’re all hypocrites!" It is a common jibe, of course, rather like saying "I know Americans, and some of them are criminals!" Well, of course some of them are. There are criminals in every society, and hypocrites in every religion. But I had never suffered for my Christianity, not really. And in the first days of his walk with God, Antonio was suffering deeply. He was hurt. Who wouldn’t be? And a little stunned, too. I stammered something to him, and was surprised at his reply: "Don’t worry, Uncle Stan" [all young people in Zimbabwe call close adult friends either "uncle" or "auntie"], "you didn't promise me a rose garden, you promised me that Jesus would forgive me." Of course as everybody knows, a rose has thorns, and the Christian life has its setbacks and disappointments. Antonio had just learned this truth early. ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/6e4pg9 You can help get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.html