Introduction. The book of Romans was written to explain exactly how the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” (Rom. 1:16). After giving irrefutable proof in the first three chapters, God left us with no other choice but to agree with great sadness and grief: “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” After this bad news comes the good news (gospel)! God now offers a “new” covenant for all.
A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. “Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.” (Gal. 3:15-16). As Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He said of the fruit of the vine, “this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Mt. 26:28). This covenant was ratified by the blood Jesus shed on the cross. After His resurrection, Jesus commanded the apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (whole creation). Its conditions and promises were then proclaimed for the first time in Peter’s sermon in Jerusalem. When asked for the conditions, Peter told the Jews who believed: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38).
This covenant was confirmed at that time and God’s side of the covenant was fixed. Hence: “No one annuls or adds to it.” God is offering grace, redemption, propitiation, and justification leading to eternal life with Him in heaven. (Rom. 3:23-26). This is why the gospel alone is “the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” Paul summed this up: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Eph. 2:8).
In order for each individual to agree to and enter into this covenant, God’s conditions cannot be “annulled or added to.” There is a single condition to man’s side of the covenant: “faith.” “We conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” (Rom. 3:28). We are saved by God’s grace (His side of the covenant summed up) through faith (our side of the covenant summed up).
Although both of these passages sum up our side of the covenant with one word (“faith”), what we are to believe and how we are to respond based on that faith is not open to man’s ideas. God explained exactly what it meant in Romans 4-8. He began by using Abraham as “the father of all those who believe”, explaining exactly how He had made Abraham righteous by faith.
A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. “Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.” (Gal. 3:15-16). As Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He said of the fruit of the vine, “this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Mt. 26:28). This covenant was ratified by the blood Jesus shed on the cross. After His resurrection, Jesus commanded the apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (whole creation). Its conditions and promises were then proclaimed for the first time in Peter’s sermon in Jerusalem. When asked for the conditions, Peter told the Jews who believed: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38).
This covenant was confirmed at that time and God’s side of the covenant was fixed. Hence: “No one annuls or adds to it.” God is offering grace, redemption, propitiation, and justification leading to eternal life with Him in heaven. (Rom. 3:23-26). This is why the gospel alone is “the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” Paul summed this up: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Eph. 2:8).
In order for each individual to agree to and enter into this covenant, God’s conditions cannot be “annulled or added to.” There is a single condition to man’s side of the covenant: “faith.” “We conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” (Rom. 3:28). We are saved by God’s grace (His side of the covenant summed up) through faith (our side of the covenant summed up).
Although both of these passages sum up our side of the covenant with one word (“faith”), what we are to believe and how we are to respond based on that faith is not open to man’s ideas. God explained exactly what it meant in Romans 4-8. He began by using Abraham as “the father of all those who believe”, explaining exactly how He had made Abraham righteous by faith.