The Transfiguration: Matthew 17

Brief Overview of Romans:

The early church met in homes. These little “house churches” were called “ekklesias” (the Greek word for “gathering” or “assembly”). These “congregations of the saints” devoted themselves to the study of the Scriptures, to prayer, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and the mutual care of one another and their local community. (Acts 2:42-47)

The New Testament contains a number of “epistles” (letters) that the Apostle Paul wrote to Christians scattered throughout Mediterranean region. To the Church gathered in Rome, he wrote the epistle we know as “Romans”. To the Church gathered in Ephesus … “Ephesians”. To the Church gathered in Corinth … “Corinthians” etc.  

In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle presents God’s revelation concerning the righteousness of man and the righteousness that comes from God. With precision and compelling testimony from the Scriptures, he declares that …

• there is no one righteous before God (Romans 1-3:20)
• there is a righteousness that comes from God in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21 – Romans 11)
• the righteous life is lived out by faith (Romans 12-15) 

Among all of the epistles, Paul’s letter to the Romans leads the way as a supreme systematic presentation of all that a Christian should know, believe, do, teach and confess.

On a side note … the Lutheran fathers followed the pattern of Romans in their presentation of the Christian faith. In the Augsburg Confession and the Formula of Concord they proceed in this fashion and order …

• God
• Original Sin
• Jesus Christ, the Son of God
• Justification
• The Righteousness of Faith
• Good Works

Here are a couple of a references from the Lutheran Confessions.

10. Whoever, now, is thus concerned about the revealed will of God, and proceeds according to the order which St. Paul has observed in the Epistle to the Romans, who first directs men to repentance, to knowledge of sins, to faith in Christ, to divine obedience, before he speaks of the mystery of the eternal election of God, to him this doctrine [concerning God’s predestination] is useful and consolatory.

Concordia (Triglotta)
Formula of Concord:  Epitome, XI. Election

1 Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for 2 Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins.

3 This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4

Concordia (Triglotta)
Augsburg Confession, Article IV. Of Justification