Thursday, March 26, 2009

Stott on Romans 1:1-6

Here are a few of my favorite Stott quotes out of his commentary on Romans (verses 1-6): 

The scope of the gospel is all the nations (v.5-6)
"What he (Paul) is affirming is that the gospel is for everybody; its scope is universal. He himself was a patriotic Jew, who retained his love for his people & longed passionately for their salvation (9:11ff.; 10:1). At the same time, he had been called to be the apostle to the Gentiles. We too, if we are to be committed to world mission, will have to be liberated from all pride of race, nation, tribe, caste & class, & acknowledge that God's gospel is for everybody, without exception & without distinction." (p.51-2)

The goal of the gospel is the honour of Christ's name.
"The highest of all missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated & perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God, verse 18), but rather zeal - burning & passionate zeal - for the glory of Jesus Christ... Some evangelism, to be sure, is no better than a thinly disguised form of imperialism, whenever our real ambition is for the honour of our nation, church, organization, or ourselves." (p.53)

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