Paul's Letter to the Romans

It's been said that, "an historian making a list of the factors most influential in the development of western civilization would do well to include Paul's Epistle to the Romans along with the invention of gun powder, the rise of nationalism, and the discovery of atomic energy." While in today's secularized society, would likely agree to the above assessment. In terms of legitimate historical impact, the importance of Paul's Romans letter can't be overstated.

From the Church Fathers to Augustine and Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin, the jnfluence of this ancient correspondence is remarkable. As recent as Karl Barth's commentary in the 19th century, humanity's most significant conversations have tended to touch on the ideas and wisdom of the Apostle Paul. A man who was less original in his thought than an elaborator on what he had learned from Jesus and His disciples. C.S. Lewis wisely quipped, "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." Paul was chosen by God to clarify the teachings of Christ and to explain as well as elaborrate tne Gospel in the context of his own culture. A culture so far gone in the direction of self-destruction that a complete restart was the only hope. But of course, no such restart was going to happen without divine intervention. So, Paul preached Jesus' message of "starting where you're at" in order to alter for some an otherwise tragic ending for most. What we get from this relatively brief letter is a

referendum for the rights of all humankind to start immediately, based on the uniquely biblical idea that all persons are created equal before God and live under the certainty of His righteous judgment. The Reformers used the Latin terms Sola Scriptural Sola Fide! Sola Gratia! Sola Christo! Sola Gloria! to exclaim their discovery of this book and the great truth of its substance. A substance that has literally changed the course of the world. So, don't look back and regret the beginning, but start from where you are and with God's help, set out to change the ending.