There is entrance into favour, and nothing but favour. At the same time the apostle does allude to that mystery which was not yet divulged at least, in this epistle; but he points from the foundations of eternal truth to those heavenly heights that were reserved for other communications in due time. But what does it say? What saith the gospel? for on your own showing, according to that word to which we all bow, you must admit that one man's sin brought in universal moral ruin and death. Yes, God is sovereign. The expression means that righteousness which God can afford to display because of Christ's atonement. This is now become impossible, by reason of the power of sin and the corruption of nature; but Christ is the end of the law. The apostle has come now to the nature. Moses said, "That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." Now, our flesh likes the complications, because I would like to take some credit and receive some glory for salvation. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. He begins with the great epoch of the dispensations of God (that is, the ages since the flood). The word of faith is to be taken for the word of promise, that is, for the gospel itself, because it bears a relation to faith. All of Pauls teaching of Gods election and right to choose does not diminish mans responsibility. (325) It is the word which requires faith, and is received by faith; or it is the word entitled to faith, worthy of being believed; or it is the word which generates and supports faith. In the same way the apostle disposes of all pretence on the score of ordinances, especially circumcision. No one is lost until he sins and sin becomes full grown (James 1:15). 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. He brings out the peculiar glories of Israel according to the depth of the gospel as he knew and preached it; at least, of His person who is the object of faith now revealed. They could not with Paul disclaim a dependence upon this (Philippians 3:9), Not having my own righteousness. Romans 10:14-17. He did not say, "Do and thou shalt live, and yet there is another way." There was somewhat as yet lacking to the saints there; but even this was ordered of God to call forth from the Holy Ghost an epistle which more than any other approaches a complete treatise on the fundamentals of Christian doctrine, and especially as to righteousness. (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.) Deuteronomy 30:14. Jesus has come down: years ago be left the glories of his Father. The word is close to you, it is even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord, and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved ( Romans 10:8-9 ). Now listen. 2 173). Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. This accordingly leads, as connected with the deliverance of the body, to the inheritance we are to possess. There could be but one satisfactory answer. A passage like this may seem strange to us and unconvincing; and it may seem that some at least of the texts Paul quotes have been wrenched out of their context and made to mean what they were never intended to mean. It must also be noticed, that the word, by which we have a firm and calm trust as to our salvation, had been set forth even by Moses: This is the word of faith. Now, your hope lies wholly in what this Son of God did in his descent and ascent. c. How beautiful are the feet: No wonder those who preach have beautiful feet they partner with God for the salvation of men. As used by Moses in this place, it evidently means that his doctrines were in their mind, or were a subject of meditation and reflection. A good witness, as a reason of his good wish (Romans 10:2; Romans 10:2): I bear them record that they have a zeal of God. I can't accept it." But this one is a special little angel. It is not a mystical, obscure thing; it is near and familiar. Now I take this opportunity of pressing on all that are here to beware of contracted views of "salvation." (ii) A man must believe that Jesus is risen from the dead. When we speak of looking upon Christ, and receiving Christ, and feeding upon Christ, it is not Christ in heaven, nor Christ in the deep, that we mean; but Christ in the promise, Christ exhibited to us, and offered, in the word. 11, 12). And I heard Keith giving his testimony on television the other night and he said that living here in southern California, going to UCLA and all, he was twenty-four years old before he ever heard about Jesus Christ. for he came to bring everyone who believes and trusts into a right relationship with God. Wrapping everything up into one, the gospel says, "Trust thou in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thy sins shall be forgiven thee, and thou shalt be saved." He still loves the Jews, independent as far as God's way of righteousness and all, but God still loves them, and thus, He blesses you, and says, "Oh, come and receive the kingdom and into the joys and the blessings and all." I will read his exact words to you. Gods word provides a system to live by. This, he says, was his heart's desire and prayer, which intimates, (1.) (verses 22-32.) The way of the law was not easy. It is even as close as your mouth. Romans 13:1-14; Romans 13:1-14 urges their duties towards what was outside them, more particularly to the powers that be, but also to men in general. The circumstances under which the epistle to the Romans was written gave occasion to the most thorough and comprehensive unfolding, not of the church, but of Christianity. First, he raises the question, "Has God cast away his people?" "Don't scold," said one. There is no need of dwelling now on "salvation" as employed in the Old Testament, and in some parts of the New, as the gospels and Revelation particularly, where it is used for deliverance in power or even providence and present things. This is the first ground. Well, then, suppose I say: "Did Israel not understand?" But after the flood man as such was put under certain conditions the whole race. Chapter 10Now Paul again reaffirms his love and desire for his brethren after the flesh. It became simply a question whether, in fact, God did call Gentiles, or whether He had revealed such intentions. why am I still under bondage and misery from the constant evil of my nature, over which I seem to have no power whatever? But Paul makes it clear: There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. Paul was entirely ready to admit that the Jews were zealous for God; but he also saw that their zeal was a misdirected thing. And the message they proclaim is the good news concerning Jesus Christ (16-17). You, up there in the gallery, however guilty you may have been, or however moral you may have been, it matters not, if your one hope is in what Christ has done, you shall never turn round on your dying bed, and cry, "I made a mistake in trusting Christ." Has God then no delivering power from this? In his final sermon, Moses made some other points. It is true that Israel did not accept the good news from God, and in their refusal they were simply running true to form; history was repeating itself. Instead of waiting for some new truth to fall from heaven, or float up from the abyss, they ought to recognize that truth has already been given. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. If we fail to equip ourselves for a task when every chance is given to us to equip ourselves adequately for it, we must stand condemned. Two things are required as conditions of salvation:-- (a.) f. The Scripture says: Referring, I think, to the general sense of Scripture, rather than to any one passage. It is exquisite the delicate love with which he singles out distinctive features in each of the saints, men and women, that come before him. What baptism sets forth is more than that, and is justly found, not in Romans 3:1-31, but inRomans 6:1-23; Romans 6:1-23. Without faith there is neither justice nor life that God owns; where faith is, the rest will surely follow. For if the law could give a man a righteous standing before God, then it was not necessary for Christ to die. I have had almost thirty years among you, and God has been very gracious to us, so that we have lost very few comparatively by death; but now many are going home, and, according to the course of nature, many of our honored brethren and sisters will soon follow. Surely it would need that I mount to heaven to own my sin, or dive to hell to bear its punishment. He had this, of course, in a revelation that was from God; he had law; he had prophets; he had divine institutions. As your next door neighbor's house is not hard to get at, so neither is salvation by the gospel. The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart "that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Whatever Gods purposes may be, the Jews are still responsible for their own loss. God gave us conscience and the guidance of his Holy Spirit; and often we plead ignorance, when, if we were honest, we would have to admit that in our heart of hearts we knew the truth. First Moses says: I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, Upon our believing, that is, our humble consent to the terms of the gospel, we become interested in Christ's satisfaction, and so are justified through the redemption that is in Jesus. He says, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Obedience to the gospel required under Gods system of grace ("the righteousness which is of faith") is the obedience that trusting faith always produces not the obedience of works of merit. He know what he did know, and to that he held fast, Well, they must take him into the church; they could not well refuse a man with such a confession of faith; and when he was in the church, walking with the brethren, he was happier than the rest of them, at which they greatly marvelled, and one said to him, "Brother Jack, don't you sometimes feel doubts and fears? They beat up on him the other day. In the most solemn way he appeals to man with the demand, whether he thinks that God will look complacently on that which barely judges another, but which allows the practice of evil in the man himself (Romans 2:1-3). Upon what ground? Paul quoted Moses again (Deuteronomy 30:14) to reaffirm the fact that the great lawgiver taught that salvation came by faith. No, you see, this opens the door to every man no matter who you are, predestined or not, elected or not, chosen or not. In the fourth verse this could not be absent; in the first verse it ought not to be present. Hence the action of the Spirit of God in a double point of view comes before us. This last relation was the direct subject of the prophetic testimony, and Jesus had come accordingly. We should take notice of that which is commendable even in bad people. He and his wife, Adrian, are beautiful people. But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it." The law which was given upon Mount Sinai, though it was not a pure covenant of works (for who then could be saved under that dispensation?) It is not a question of His mercy merely; for this weakens the truth immensely, and perverts its character wholly. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man," etc. Hast thou not heard the tale? who would defraud God of that which He delights in the blessedness of bringing in deliverance by that One man, of whom Adam was the image? 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. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. It must not be, assumed too readily. He had bought the truth and would not sell it, and so he stuck to. Then, from ver. (d) In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures it is the regular translation of the divine name, Jahveh or Jehovah. Another, despairing of deliverance by his doings, runs upon his feelings, and cries, "If I am to be saved, surely I shall need to experience joys like those which are felt by spirits before the throne. But now he turns around and says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The work thou hast to do lies within thee: the kingdom of God is within you,Luke 17:21. There can be no one to proclaim the good news unless God commissions someone to do so." A man may be well aware that some habit, some indulgence, some way of life, some friendship, some association must have disastrous results; but he may simply refuse to look at the facts. We have Paul informing us that he transfers sometimes in a figure to himself that which was in no wise necessarily his own experience, and perhaps had not been so at any time. For belief with the heart is the way to a right relationship with God, and confession with the mouth is the way to salvation, For scripture says, "Every one who believes in him will not be put to shame," for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord over all, and he has ample resources for all who call upon him. As to those who have been called home, how have they died? When the substance comes, the shadow is gone. If you were to descend there, what would you do without him whom God has anointed to save? Not a pretty toy for Sundays, but food to live upon; a common-sense hope; a blunt man's religion that he can carry into business. He had no uncertainty; he was as sure of his safety as it it had been a matter of calculation by the rules of arithmetic. It was for this then that Paul describes himself as apostle. Romans 16:1-27; Romans 16:1-27 brings before us in the most. He has put the two things together, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Again, we cannot neglect the emphasis on personal responsibility. But this is not the full extent of salvation. He descended into the grave, so that he dwelt among the dead! In light of what Moses said, Pauls teaching (justification by faith) was not a new concept. To the ends of the world: There is not a part of the promised land in which these glad tidings have not been preached; and there is scarcely a place in the Roman empire in which the doctrine of Christ crucified has not been heard: if, therefore, the Jews have not believed, the fault is entirely their own; as God has amply furnished them with the means of faith of salvation. (Clarke). Oh, how I love that phrase.That is why I love the ministry so much, because I have the privilege to bring to men glad tidings of good things. Beneath it there runs the conviction that there are certain kinds of ignorance which are inexcusable. I confine myself to its doctrinal import, and the full Christian sense of the word; and I maintain that salvation signifies that deliverance for the believer which is the full consequence of the mighty work of Christ, apprehended not, of course, necessarily according to all its depth in God's eyes, but at any rate applied to the soul in the power of the Holy Ghost. Thence thou must fetch thy evidences, not out of the records of heaven. 1. There is water as well as blood, and to that, not to this, the washing here refers. Or to proclaim to them the truth. He quotes from Joel, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. There is nothing now to be done, but a work in us; this must be our care, to look to our heart and mouth. 13:1-14. The meaning of verse 6 is a little more difficult. He that believeth will not make haste (so the prophet has it)--will not make haste to run away from the sufferings he meets with in the way of his duty, will not be ashamed of a despised religion. The man who, being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, or Christian baptism, would assert any license to sin because it is in his nature, as if it were therefore an inevitable necessity, denies the real and evident meaning of his baptism. and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now the fact that Jesus went to the cross is God's witness before the world that there is only one way that a man can come to God, and that is by the cross of Jesus Christ. ii. God, therefore, had not cast off His people, but was employing the interval of their slip from their place, in consequence of their rejection of Christ, to call the Gentiles in sovereign mercy, after which Israel as a whole should be saved. Directions for our behaviour, as members of civil society, Rom. 13). To call Jesus kurios ( G2962) was to count him unique. for what follow are manifestly his words, in Deuteronomy 30:14. the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; which is to be understood not of the law, for Moses himself is not speaking of the law only, but either of the whole word of God, both law and Gospel; or particularly of the Gospel, which holds forth those special blessings and promises of grace, pardon of sin, and circumcision of the heart, which are mentioned in the context, as what should be bestowed upon the people of the Jews in the latter days; and so is rightly applied by the apostle to the then dispensation, and is to be understood of the Gospel; which was nigh both in the ministration of it, by the apostles, to Jews and Gentiles, and in the application and experience of it; it was not only "in the mouth" of the preachers, but also of the hearers of it, by a hearty and sincere confession; and "in [their] hearts", being attended with the power of God, and received in the love of it, was truly believed in, and cordially embraced; that is, the word of faith. He bade them read that chapter, "Let not your hearts be troubled"; and, as they read it, he did not take the verses, and apply them to himself. Perhaps I am doing the same this morning, but I do not mean to do it. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences.
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