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He points out that:
"the period covered by the Scriptures from Gen. 12: - Matt. 1: is as long as that covered
by Gen. i .3 - 11: If Israel should finally fall and fail, the prophets had nothing to tell us
of how God would cope with the resulting problem. It is accordingly the purpose of the
central section of Romans (chapter 5:-8:) to reveal the relationship of man, as such (i.e.
neither Jew nor Gentile) to Adam and to Christ, irrespective of the promises made to the
fathers, and the failure or success of the chosen people (Israel). But this is not the theme
of the O.T. prophecy in general . . . . . much important truth latent in Gen.1:-11: was
`hushed' until the time to speak had arrived . . . . . in that small space of eleven chapters
is written all that can be known of the first 2,000 years of this present creation. What is
written is pregnant with truth, but it must await its appointed time, and just as the gospel
itself revealed teaching hidden in O.T. Scriptures . . . . . so these early chapters of Genesis
hold much basic teaching, throwing light on the position of the believer who is saved and
justified without reference to the law of Moses" (Just and the Justifier, pp.350-352).
Once again we point out the secret of Romans 16: was silenced in age-times. Part
of the divine purpose which relates to the highest heavens concerns a period "before
age-times" (Titus 1: 2; II Tim. 1: 9). This concerns the great mystery or secret of the
prison epistles of Paul which was hidden "from the ages" and "from the generations (of
people)" (Col. 1: 26) and is linked to a divine purpose "before the foundation of the
world" (Eph. 1: 3, 4). Rom. 16: refers to a mystery (secret) not related to a period
"before age-times" but silenced "in age-times". This secret is the theme of the central
chapters of Romans (5:-8:), and its subject is Adam, not Abraham; man, not Israelite or
Gentile; the law of sin, not the law of Sinai; the domination of sin and death, not the
domination of the Canaanites, the Egyptians or Babel.
When the apostle Paul was inspired by God to write the epistle to the Romans, the
prophetic writings, which for generations held their secret, began to speak. The fact that
Rom. 16: was for "the obedience of faith to all nations" links it with Rom. 1: 5 and
establishes the unity of God's purpose.
The final doxology is given in verse 27 (R.V.):
"To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be the glory for ever Amen."
The glory must finally be the Lord's, not that of any created being. As we come to the
end of this wonderful epistle, let us constantly praise and thank the Lord for the heights
and depths of truth revealed in it. Let us hold fast to its teaching, for it is absolutely
fundamental to the Christian faith, and it also gives the foundation for the glorious truth
of the Mystery (secret) to be revealed later in Eph. 3: and Col. 1:
The N.T. warns us that at the end of the age there will be a great departure from the
truth of God (Matt. 24: 11, 12; II Tim. 4: 1-4). This will not affect or mislead those
who are grounded and constantly cling to the teaching of Romans.
To God be all the praise and glory.