As, however, there is always warmth of feeling in the apostle's argu- ment, so also is there generally logical arrangement in his highest Iri nmphs.
His theme here is the security of believers. The salvation of those who have renounced the law and accepted the gracious offers of the gos- pel is shown to be absolutely certain. The whole chapter is a series of arguments most beautifully arranged in support of this one point. They are all traced back to the great source of hope and security, the unmerited and unchanging love of God in Christ Jesus. The proposition is contained in the first verse. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus ; they shall never be condemned or perish.
1. Because they are delivered from the law; all its demands being fulfilled in them by the mission and sacrifice of Christ, vs. 1 — 4. 2. Be- cause their salvation is actually begun in the regeneration and sanctifica- tion of their hearts by the Holy Spirit. Those who have the Spirit of Christ have the Spirit of life, vs. 5 — 11. 3. Not only is their salvation begun, but they are the children of God, and if children they are heirs, V. 12 — 17. 4. The afflictions which they may be called to endure, are not inconsistent with this filial relation to God, because they are utterly insignificant in comparison with the glory that shall be revealed in them ; and under these afflictions they are sustained both by hope and the inter- cessions of the Holy Spirit, vs. 18 — 28. 5. Because they are predestinated to the attainment of eternal life; of which predestination their present santification or effectual calling is the result, and, therefore, the evidence, vs. 28 — 30. 6. Because God has given his Son to die for them, and thereby to secure their justification and salvation, vs. 31 — 34. 7. Because the love of God is infinite and unchangeable ; from which nothing can separate us, vs. 35 — 39. Thus from the proximate cause of salvation or the indwelling of the Spirit, does the apostle rise with ever-increasing confidence to the great source and fountain of all in the love of God.
Although, according to this view of the chapter, it is one whole, it may, for the sake of convenience, be divided into three sections.