At the time of his conversion, he was deeply distraught because his attempts to live a good moral life had been a failure. Augustine tells his story in his Confessions. It was through reading Romans 13:13-14 that he came to faith in Jesus Christ. One such individual who was touched by Paul’s letter to the Romans was the great church father Augustine (AD 354-430). The message of Romans, by touching the lives of individuals and revitalizing the spiritual life of the church, has restored an understanding of what God did and continues to do in Jesus Christ. Irenaeus’ teaching on salvation and the Christian life reflects the strong influence of Romans on the thinking of one of the most creative thinkers in the second-century church, who in turn has greatly impacted the belief and life of the Christian church.Ī number of instances can be cited where the power of Paul’s letter to the Romans has brought about life-changing experiences for individuals and provided impetus in the church for revival and renewal movements. For He who was to destroy sin and redeem man from guilt had to enter into the very condition of man” ( Ibid., V, 15). On the basis of Romans 8:3-4, Irenaeus stated, “The law, being spiritual, merely displayed sin for what it is it did not destroy it, for sin did not hold sway over spirit but over man. Like Paul, Irenaeus saw the coming of Christ in the flesh as absolutely essential to salvation. Irenaeus’ answer to the question of why Christ came from heaven was “that He might destroy sin, overcome death, and give life to man” ( Against Heresies, III, 18, 7). Irenaeus’ doctrine of salvation was centered in Christ’s life and death, and he emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit as the means of living the Christian life. Irenaeus, who lived in the latter part of the second century, had a true affinity for Paul’s teachings. This influence of Romans on the early church can be seen in the writings of one of the great thinkers of the early church, Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons in Gaul. Because of its content, Romans has had a remarkable influence on the early life of the church and its theology. Most likely the letter has that position due to content, not age. Paul had written at least five letters prior to writing Romans (1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, and 1 and 2 Corinthians). Paul’s letter to the Romans stands first among all his letters, not just because it is the longest, but it is the most ordered, complete, and comprehensive statement from his pen. The position it occupies in the New Testament indicates that the early church saw it as the most significant letter that Paul wrote. Since early in the Christian era, the church has recognized the importance of this letter. The letter to the Romans has had a significant place throughout the history of the church. After he has completed Romans 1, he draws powerful conclusions, beginning with Romans 12, which show how the whole letter has pastoral and practical application for the Christian life, the church, and the world. In the first portion of the letter, the apostle Paul lays a mighty foundation and builds a strong superstructure. Indeed the letter to the Romans is a theological jewel, but Paul’s discussions in the letter are sensible and practical. Paul’s words are loaded with divine truth and require careful study and thought.
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