The Grand Old Story

Paul closes his letter to the church in Rome with what we call a doxology. The term comes from two Greek words that together mean “to speak praise,” As we read this section carefully we realize how much there is in the book of Romans for which to praise God. The three verses that close the letter are liturgical in character and contain many of the major themes that Paul has placed before the church. Let’s look at some of them.
         The gospel that Paul teaches is not one that he received from other men but from God by direct revelation. It centered in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel is not a treatise on how best to live one’s life, but an exhaustive exposition of what God did in and through his Son to repair the damage caused by sin in this world. It begins with the sad truth that the entire human race (both Jew and Gentile) has fallen short of God’s expectation. Sin entered the world with the decision of the primal pair to question God’s one restriction and take of the forbidden fruit. History is a lengthy and detailed account of the tragic result of that fateful decision.
         The human answer to man’s condition was to live a good life, obey the legal requirements of Old Testament law, and thus earn their way back into God’s favor. The plan was doomed to failure in that it misunderstood the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. The gap was simply too wide. God’s answer was to provide a sacrifice and that was the life of his only Son, Jesus, who came among us, lived a perfect life, died on a cross outside the holy city, but rose on the third day triumphant over death. Now he can offer forgiveness to all who acknowledge their need and humbly accept God’s provision. While it sounds like a simple act, it runs counter to the proud stance of human nature. The path back to God is narrow and, as Jesus said, “Few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:14).
         Life for those in Christ consists of a transformation from what they were to what God had planned for them. Sin continues to do its best to block the process, but the Spirit lives within to provide the strength for victory. The Grand Old Story ends back in Eden where those who accept by faith God’s redemptive work live eternally in a joy yet to be experienced.
         The gospel according to Paul is the ultimate revelation of God’s plan to restore man to fellowship with his Maker. It is The Good News.