The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, as is true also of the Book of Galatians, is an argument against Orthodox Jews who were clinging to the Law of Moses while considering the claims of Christ. Paul is emphasizing that the Lord Jesus, not Moses, is the author of eternal salvation. It is not as we practice the Law of Moses that we are saved, it is as we turn in faith toward Jesus, acknowledging Him as Lord of all and believing that God has raised Him from the dead.

It is not the belief and confession that constitute salvation. If that were true there would be no new righteous creation. It is not that the belief and confession are salvation, it is that if we believe and confess we shall be saved. Confessing the Lordship of Christ and believing in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead orients us correctly toward God and authorizes us to enter the program of redemption from the chains of Satan.

Another example of not being able to tell the whole story in one sentence occurs in the Book of Acts.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

An entire Christian denomination has been built on this verse, a denomination that would compel every believer to be baptized into Jesus' name alone, not including the Father and the Holy Spirit. This denomination goes on to state that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all the same Person. If the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all the same Person, then many of the incidents and statements in the four Gospels are an empty show, including the agonized prayer of the Lord in Gethsemane.

Peter was not introducing a new formula for water baptism, a formula different from that given by the risen Lord Jesus. He was speaking to people who knew about John's baptism and was emphasizing that now we are to be baptized in Jesus' name. Peter was stressing the Lordship and Divinity of Christ.

A major principle of Scripture interpretation is that every attempt must be made to gain the sense of a passage by examining all the author has to say on the subject. To choose "key verses" and use them to support our topical outline is not a sound approach to preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. But it is the prevailing practice.

The Apostle Paul in his protests against the Orthodox Jews stressed grace and faith as distinguished from obedience to the Law of Moses. The other writers of the New Testament emphasized righteousness of behavior.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)

To be continued.