Romans Chapter 1Paul's Gospel, Paul's Testimony Part 4

Sovereign Grace (vv.5, 7)

Romans 1: 5, 7 ...Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations...7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


We cannot delve into Romans properly unless we understand the meaning of “grace” – a word introduced by Paul early in the epistle. In the matter of justification, Grace is simply mercy shown to undeserving beings who have no desire nor any hope of making themselves right with God through their own efforts. ‘"Grace"… is an attitude on God’s part that proceeds entirely from within Himself, and that is conditioned in no way by anything in the objects of His favor.’ (ISBE)

Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago* {2Timothy 1: 8-9} (* literally “before the age of time”)

We use the word “grace” so much that it is easy to gloss over it and take it for granted. Let us be sure we understand it, because Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, chose this Greek word “charis” so that there could be no misunderstanding as to what was entailed. We are saved by grace alone. That is one of the cornerstones of Paul’s argument, rediscovered by the Reformers after it had been all but buried in dogma by an apostate church. Saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Some people today believe that we are saved by grace, but that we must still do something, such as “accept the free offer of salvation”. They are almost right. We must indeed accept the offer in order to be saved. But, as we shall see, we will not accept the offer unless God moves us to do so in the first place. Do we want to come before God claiming that we did something a brother did not – that we accepted Christ out of our own good sense, our reasonableness, our more sensitive nature, our more moral choice? You go ahead! As for me I will emulate Thomas Hooker.

Thomas Hooker was a great Puritan preacher in the Connecticut colony in the mid-1600’s. After a life of faithful service, he was upon his deathbed, surrounded by friends who sought to encourage and to comfort him. “Brother Thomas,” they said, “Be of good cheer, for you are going to receive your reward.” Thomas replied, “Friends, I am going to receive mercy.”

The more we let go of seeking any merit in our acceptance of Christ the more joy we shall have. It is counter-intuitive to the carnal vestiges of the human mind, for we desperately wish to be, of ourselves, the source of some contribution to our justification, no matter how miniscule – and we will even grasp at the credit for accepting a free, unmerited gift while we were in state of rebellion against the giver. I don’t believe that God leaves that for us. And I believe that He does not for a good purpose, which He states in Romans 8 and 9…

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. {Romans 8:29-30}

So it (election) depends not upon man’s will or exertion, but upon God’s mercy. {Romans 9:16}

…it is a question of glory and fulfillment. God’s glory and our fulfillment of the purpose for which we were both made and redeemed – that we glorify Him, even as we are glorified by Him and in Him.

These statements of Paul’s in this very epistle are the cornerstones of the doctrine of grace, for they properly make God the author of salvation from start to finish, and they make man entirely dependent upon God for any good whatsoever. By this all glory, without exception, is due to God and to no other.