id:

"What is the apostle Paul writing about? Now, if you want to
understand what any given text means, you must know three things, my
friends. First you must know who was writing; second, you must know
to whom he was writing; and third, you must know what he was writing
about." And then he cocked his head at a different angle, and shot
glances around to see how his profound statement was being received.
He looked especially at Robert and Mary, and some of the others
glanced first at them and then at Peter, to see if there was a
prospect of striking fire.

Giving his head a backward jerk, Peter continued:

"The apostle Paul was the writer of this epistle, and he was writing
to the Romans. They were a Gentile church in Rome, and Paul was
writing about how Christians were to live. Now, see here friends, we
are all sinners, every one of us, sinners saved by grace. Paul said in
one place that he was the chief of sinners. I am a sinner, but I thank
God through Jesus Christ the Lord, that Christ died for us, and some
day I expect to land in the glory world. I know there are some who say
that they can't sin, but I am sure I sin and they do, too. No one can
live without sin in this low land of sorrow." And Peter again poised
his head at a quizzical angle, and glanced around to see how his talk
was being taken. He paused a moment, and, before he knew it, Robert
was on his feet, saying:

"I beg to differ with the brother who has just spoken about this
matter of committing sin. Paul says, in the twentieth verse of this
chapter, 'But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,' and in
verse 17, 'For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more
they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.' And the very first verse
says, 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.' It is true that 'all have sinned,' as
verse 12 says, but Jesus came to save us from our sins. Did you never
read Matt. 1:21, 'And thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall
save his people from their sins'? Through Adam's sin we all became
sinners, Paul says, but through Christ 'shall many be made righteous.'
Through Adam we died in sin, through Christ we died to sin and live
unto righteousness. This chapter teaches very plainly that Jesus came
to bring grace sufficient to save us from our sins." And Robert sat
down.

Peter Newby had be