Martin Luther
1954, Zondervan Publishing House
Walk through Romans (not part of the book) – short walk
Romans 1:1-7 Paul to the Christians at Rome, greetings
Romans 1:8-16 I thank my God for all of you
Romans 1:17 The righteousness of God
Romans 1:18-30 The wrath of God
Romans 2:1-3:20 No excuses
Romans 3:21-31 The righteousness of God again
Romans 4:1-25 Abraham
Romans 5:1-20 Peace with God
Romans 5:21-31 Adam & Christ
Romans 6:1-23 A new life
Romans 7:1-25 Freedom from sin
Romans 8:1-39 The indwelling Spirit
Romans 9:1-11:36 Israel
Romans 12:1-15:33 The transformed life
Romans 16:1-27 Conclusion
Romans 1: 2 "the gospel he promised beforehand… "
He adds these words in order that his readers might not think that his Gospel is a reward for our merits or also a figment of human wisdom. The most convincing and persuasive proof of the Gospel is the fact that it was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. The Gospel proclaims to us only that which it was to proclaim according to the divine promise. This proves that God’s counsel of salvation was foreordained in detail before it was carried into effect. So all glory for this doctrine must be ascribed to God and none to our merits and efforts; for before we ever existed, it was already ordained, according to the testimony in Proverbs 8:23 “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”
Romans 1:17 "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.' "
The righteousness of God is the cause for our salvation. ..It is called the righteousness of God in contradistinction to man’s righteousness which comes from works. This human righteousness of works Aristotle clearly describes in the third of book his Ethics. According to his view, righteousness follows man’s works, and is brought about by them; God’s judgment, however, is different, for according to it, righteousness precedes works and good works grow out of it.
Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
These are prayers which no man can describe by words, and which no one can understand except God alone. It is not an evil sign, but indeed the very best, if upon our petitions the very opposite happens to us. Conversely, It is not a good sign if everything is granted to us for which we pray.
The reason for this is the following: God’s counsel and will tower high above our own counsel and will, as we read in Isaiah 55:8,9 “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Hence, when we ask anything of God and He begins to hear us, He so often goes counter to our petitions that we imagine He is more angry with us now than before we prayed, and that He intents not to grant us our requests at all.
All this God does, because it is His way first to destroy and annihilate what is in us (our own wisdom and will) – before He gives us His gifts (1 Samuel 2:6). Through this most gracious counsel He makes us fit for His gifts and works. Only then are we qualified for His works and counsels when our own plans have been demolished and our own works are destroyed and we have become purely passive in our relation to Him.
Romans 14:1 "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters"
That is, no one should judge the opinion or conviction of the other. The strong has his own opinion which is determined by his reasons. Just so the weak has his opinion. Romans 14:5 “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” That means that everyone should remain sure and certain in the opinion which his conscience suggests.
We fail to take into consideration that we should do all things (good works) not under the pressure of coercion, or driven by the goad of anxious fear, but moved by a cheerful and fully free will, if they are to please God.
So in one and the same work, which is allowed, one sins and the other does well because of the difference of their conscience. Therefore the Apostle says; “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” That is, let everyone be sure and firm and at peace. On account of the scruples of the weak, the strong should not change his conviction, nor should the weak for the sake of the strong act against his conviction. Let the weak permit him to act as he thinks, but let the weak be true to his own conscience.
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