Lessons

The lesson on March 1, 2009 started with the scripture reading of Romans 4:1-8. Romans is a unique book and fundamental on doctrine. Charles Welch who wrote the books entitled “Alphabetical Analysis”, commented in volume 4 on page 115 that “Perhaps no one book in the whole of the Scriptures may be considered to have a greater claim upon all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, than the epistle to the Romans. Where all exhibit the hall-mark of inspiration, comparisons are odious, but inasmuch as a building needs foundations as well as top stones, so we may speak of the epistle to the Romans as essentially fundamental in character.” Romans is a foundational book that teaches us things we must know. When Paul writes in Ephesians 2:19-20 he says “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” Paul is referencing the doctrines we learn in Romans. We learn in Romans about the doctrine of justification and works has nothing to do with it. Churches are full of people who think works matters for salvation! Works is as opposed to faith as the law is opposed to grace. Chapter 4 of Romans picks up on the thought that was expressed in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” We saw that Paul recognized in Romans 3:1 that the Jew had an advantage over the Gentiles, but they are still have come short of the glory of God. The Jew had a preeminence at this point in time but he showed in Romans 3:9 that everyone is a sinner and needs the saving grace of God. The lesson ends with a story about Charlotte Elliott, when Dr. Milan asked if she were a Christian; she felt insulted, and told him to mind his own affairs. But after the man left, she could not get the question off her mind, and she went back to ask the man how to find Christ. He told her to come just as she was. She did, and wrote the beautiful song, “Just As I Am.”