a. How shall they hear without a preacher? He introduced a new religion and way of worship, to which the former must give place. It seems incredible that a man should die like that for a law like that. He was in the end killed. It is a great piece of condescension for a proud heart to be content to be beholden to free grace; we are loth to sue sub forma pauperis--as paupers. This, however, will be put to the test by-and-by. "What shall we then say that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 8 But what saith it? I know that he would have said to me, Give them Christ crucified, and salvation by grace through faith, as plainly as ever you can; for when he was sore sick and in the very agony of death, he repeated as his dying creed, and in his own quaint way he added, "They may talk as much as ever they like, but the whole of it lies in Jack the Huckster's verse. God has condemned the flesh. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? Then, in Romans 9:1-33; Romans 10:1-21; Romans 11:1-36, the apostle handles a difficulty serious to any mind, especially to the Jew, who might readily feel that all this display of grace in Christ to the Gentile as much as to the Jew by the gospel seems to make very cheap the distinctive place of Israel as given of God. Now I take this opportunity of pressing on all that are here to beware of contracted views of "salvation." They would have us proclaim salvation by the works of the law. Lower than that, he descended to being "despised and rejected of men." We should not ignore how scandalously simple this is (whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved) and what an affront this is to every attempt of the flesh to be justified or any attempt to find salvation based on national or ethnic foundation. But they are not even doing the works that God requires in the offering of a sacrifice. This Good News is readily available to anyone who will receive it freely from God through Christ. No; under the law it was nothing but "Do and live; leave undone and die." You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. We also do not need people to enter into heaven to learn Gods will since this information is revealed in His word. Salvation is so close to every one of you tonight. Thus, they are seeking for a righteousness from works, their good works, and they have rejected that righteousness that God has established for them. Who bring glad tidings of good things!. And how shall they hear without a preacher? Eleazar the priest was brought before Antiochus Epiphanes whose aim was to stamp out Jewish religion. This is the faith which saves the soul. (Spurgeon). In thy mouth - This is taken from the Septuagint. The contrast of Christ with Adam takes in man universally as well as the Christian; and man in sin, alas! So also the gospel by no means involves itself in obscurity, but says, Believe and live, quite as distinctly as Moses said, "Do and live." Or, being ignorant of God's way of justification, which he has now appointed and revealed by Jesus Christ. Nothing less, I am persuaded, than this full blessing is the line that God has given to those who have followed Christ without the camp, and who, having been set free from the contracted ways of men, desire to enter into the largeness and at the same time the profound wisdom of every word of God. Paul allegorizes that passage. It is salvation that the gospel exhibits and tenders--saved from guilt and wrath, with the salvation of the soul, an eternal salvation, which Christ is the author of, a Saviour to the uttermost. Thus it is a mistake to suppose that saints may not be benefited by a better understanding of the gospel, at least as Paul preached it. The word of God is to be close to the heart of every Christian. The righteousness of God, then, could now go forth in virtue of His blood. or who hath been his counsellor? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? Go not to the loom to weave a righteousness. Or what is to be done according to that doctrine? And what was all this about? Increase of privileges can never avail without the soul's self-judgment before the mercy of God. This passed away with man when he sinned. Verse 17. No man that rested in Christ, and Christ alone, ever was ashamed of his hope; and none ever shall be. But we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. He selects this language because it expresses his meaning in familiar terminology that is at once suitable and proverbial. God is revealing a righteousness of His own in the gospel. The apostle applies this according to divine wisdom. They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Observe, the gospel is not simply remission of sins, nor is it only peace with God, but "the power of God unto salvation." If God has blessed your ministry or other holy work, the devil whispers, "You are a pretty fellow; you have done wonders"; and up you will go if you are not steadied by the firm conviction that you may not glory, since you are nothing at all in yourself, and your sole help is in Jesus your Lord. They are zealous for God, yes. You will get the foreboding of this world with all of its problems. In fact, when Paul wrote the letters to Timothy and Titus, he spoke of the faith several times (see 1 Timothy 1:19 b; 3:9; 4:1, 6; 5:8; 6:10, 12, 21; 2 Timothy 3:8; 2 Timothy 4:7; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:2). What a title, then, God gives me now in beholding Christ, no longer dead but risen, to have it settled before my soul that I am in Him as He now is, where all questions are closed in peace and joy! Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 Because this word is so important, Paul said it was preached (present tense). c. Establish their own righteousness: This effort shows Israels lack of knowledge and that they are ignorant of Gods righteousness. to deal with the whole posterity of Adam as involved in death because of one, their common father, who could deny the consistency of one man's saving? There is a preaching which blasts the sinner with tempestuously angry words; but always Paul speaks the truth in love. He has set two things side by side; everything is of God, and everything is of human choice. It was not an easy thing; it must often have been made extremely inconvenient; and it must often have made life very uncomfortable. The subserviency of the law to the gospel (Romans 10:4; Romans 10:4): Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. I. I invite your earnest attention to the first point WHAT MOSES SAITH: "Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." "Shall we sin," says he, proceeding yet farther (ver. We should say the best we can even of our worst enemies; this is blessing those that curse us. Justification is not from works of law. Here, again, the apostle takes up what he had but announced in chapter 1 the righteousness of God. Accordingly Romans 8:1-39 pursues in the most practical manner the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. What is the righteousness which is of the law? He says his prayers every day. higher, if so high, in this epistle. He was debtor both to the Greeks and the barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise; he was ready, as far as he was concerned, to preach the gospel to those that were at Rome also (ver. If ever we are to bring men to the Christian faith, our attitude must be the same. Now there is a tremendous failure some place of getting the message out.For how can they call on Him who they don't believe in? for he came to bring everyone who believes and trusts into a right relationship with God. The word of Christ is what brought us out of the world and that to which we were converted. The rest of the epistle takes up the practical consequences of the great doctrine of God's righteousness, which had been now shown to be supported by, and in no wise inconsistent with, His promises to Israel. This last relation was the direct subject of the prophetic testimony, and Jesus had come accordingly. Of whom does it declare all this? He fell and a soldier kicked him. It must not be, assumed too readily. The great point is to note the true picture given us of a soul quickened, but labouring and miserable under law, not at all consciously delivered. Christ is the end of the moral law in that he did what the law could not do (Romans 8:3; Romans 8:3), and secured the great end of it. For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.. But natural conscience, although it may detect evil, never leads one into the inward possession and enjoyment of good never brings the soul to God. Sin had left its crimson stain, but He washed me white as snow." Man became the object, first, of general dealings of God under Noah; next, of His special ways in the calling of Abraham and of his family. The application of this was more evident to the Gentile than to the Jew. Jesus has come down: years ago be left the glories of his Father. This is an important consideration because Paul specifically applies the allusions he makes to Deuteronomy 30 to "the righteousness which is of faith," whereas Moses is clearly talking about the law and obedience to it. The doing supposed must be perfect and sinless, without the least breach or violation. He does not, however, exclude other parts of the word, no, not even the precepts of the law; but his design is, to show that remission of sins stands for righteousness, even apart from that strict obedience which the law demands. It is true Christ is in heaven; but we may be justified and saved without going thither, to fetch him thence, or sending a special messenger to him. 3. ( Romans 10:15 ). By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Why would they not allow such a pretension? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? No fresh revelations from God can nullify those which preceded them; but as the prophets looked onward to what was coming, so is the gospel already come, supported by the past. 7). Though Paul preached against them, yet he prayed for them. Hence therefore, the apostle, with divine wisdom, opens this to us before the blessed relief and deliverance which the gospel reveals to us. I will make you angry with a nation that has no understanding." To my mind this word of Moses is conclusive that none of us can possibly live by the works of the law. as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! If the good news of God goes out to man, entirely blotting out the difference between a Jew and a Gentile, what becomes of His special promises to Abraham and to his seed? Has come down: years ago be left the glories of His father word is so important, Paul it... 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