Romans: Entrance to Treasures of Scripture

In regard to the Argument, that is, the contents of the Epistle to the Romans, Calvin wrote, “It will hence appear beyond all controversy, that besides other excellencies, and those remarkable, this can with truth be said of it, and it is what can never be sufficiently appreciated—that when any one gains a knowledge of this Epistle, he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture.”

Romans: Influence - Western Thought

In the introduction to his commentary on The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, CH Dodd wrote, “The Epistle to the Romans is the first great work of Christian theology. From the time of Augustine it had immense influence on the thought of the West, not only in theology, but also in philosophy and even in politics, all through the Middle Ages. At the Reformation its teaching provided the chief intellectual expression for the new spirit in religion. For us men of Western Christendom there is probably no other single writing so deeply embedded in our heritage of thought.”

The Great Commission: Kingdoms of Christ

“The kingdoms of the world are to become the kingdoms of Christ. They are to be discipled, made obedient to the faith. This means that every aspect of life throughout the world is to be brought under the lordship of Jesus Christ: families, individuals, business, science, agriculture, the arts, law, education, economics, psychology, philosophy, and every other sphere of human activity. Nothing may be left out. Christ “must reign, until He has put all enemies under His feet” (1 Cor. 15:25). We have been given the responsibility of converting the entire world” (David Chilton, Paradise Restored, p. 213).

Plan of God: Restoration/Consummative

“Simple restoration to Eden is never all that is involved in salvation, just as it was not God’s plan for Adam and his posterity simply to remain in the Garden. They were to go into all the world, bring the create potentiality of earth to full fruition. The Garden of Eden was a headquarters, a place to start, But godly rule by King Adam was to encompass the entire world. Thus, the Second Adam’s work is not only restorative (bringing back to Eden) but consummative: He brings the world into the New Jerusalem” (David Chilton, Paradise Restored, p. 61).

History - Money - Basic Principle: Curse

“Indeed, there is a basic principle that is always at work throughout history: “The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (Prov. 13:22), “for evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait on the LORD will inherit the earth” (Ps. 37:9). A God-fearing nation will be blessed with abundance, while apostate nations will eventually lose their resources, as God inflicts the Curse upon rebellious people and their culture” (David Chilton, Paradise Restored, p. 36).

Optimistic Eschatology: Psalms, Again

"If we are to recapture the eschatology of dominion, we must reform the Church; and a crucial aspect of that reformation should be a return to the singing of Psalms (David Chilton, Paradise Restored, p. 9)."

Optimistic Eschatology: Psalms

"The Psalms are inescapably Kingdom-oriented. They are full of conquest, victory, and the dominion of the saints. They remind us constantly of the warfare between God and Satan, they incessantly call us to do battle against the forces of evil, and they promise us that we shall inherit the earth (David Chilton, Paradise Restored, pp. 8-9)."

Training Children: Christian Homes

“Fathers and mothers, your children may be confessors of Christ, and enrolled in the ranks of Christ’s Church;--you may get godly sponsors to answer for them, and help you by their prayers;--you may send them to the best schools, and give them Bibles and Prayer Books, and fill them with head knowledge:--but if all this time there is no regular training at home, I tell you plainly, I fear it will go hard in the end with your children’s souls. Home is the place where habits are formed;--home is the place where the foundations of character are laid;--home gives the bias to our tastes, and likings, and opinions. See then, I pray you, that there be careful training at home (J.C. Ryle, The Duties of Parents, p. 56).”

Training Children: Promises of Scripture

“Promises are the cordials which in every age have supported and strengthened the believer (J.C. Ryle, The Duties of Parents, p. 52).”

Training Children: Sin, Again

“But you must not be discouraged and cast down by what you see. You must not think it a strange and unusual thing, that little hearts can be so full of sin. It is the only portion which our father Adam left us; it is that fallen nature with which we come into the world; it is that inheritance which belongs to us all. Let it rather make you more diligent in using every means which seem most likely, by God’s grace and blessing, to counteract the mischief (J.C. Ryle, The Duties of Parents, p. 50).”

Training Children: Sin

“You must not expect to find your children’s minds a sheet of pure white paper, and to have no trouble if you only use right means. I warn you plainly you will find no such thing (J.C. Ryle, The Duties of Parents, p. 50).”