The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 25

If the gospel wall tho matter of a Divine promise, repeated by prophet after proph~ through n long course of ages, and if the fulfilment of that proraille was tb'.l rrreateet event in the history of mo.nkind,-how immensely important must this gospel b; to ll81 A stranger to the Ohristian religion might naturally think it an unaccountable, even an unreasonable, thing, that o.n assembly of English people in the nineteenth century should spend an hour in solemnly meditating upon words spoken by religious teacherw who, thoueo.nde of years ago, lived in a remote strip of land in Asia, between the deserl and the sea. He might naturally ask-What possible bearing can such wordil have upon the principles which govern your life, the aims and hopes that inspire your heart? Our answer is plain. God, in the ancient days, gave to mankind a promise which their circumstances rendered unspeakably timely, welcome, and precious. A sinful race, in rebellion against the Divine authority, deserving and daring punishment, neroed nothing so sorely as an assurance of the King's compassion, as the revelation of a way of salva- tion, of reconciliation, of loyal obedience, of eternal life. Under the prophetic diapen- eo.tion, this want was met; this declaration, this promise, was given. In the coming of Christ, in hiR life of benevolent ministry, his death of sacrifice and redemption, his victorious rising, hie spiritual reign, the ancient words of prediction and promise found an echo corresponding with, but stronger than, themselves. .And now the gospel is preached-that the counsel of God has been fulfilled, the grace of God has been dis- played, the power of God has been put forth. We have not to tell of what God u,i1J do, but of what he has done. We have not now to raise men's hope, but to require their faith. To receive.this revelation is to come under a new principle, a new power, to become a new creation, to live a new life. Remember that the promise refern, not only to the facts which, in one sense, constitute the gospel, but to the blessings which the gospel secures to those who accept it. If the gospel of Christ has, as we believe and teach, Divine authority, then there is, by the Lord Jesus, forgiveness for sins, renewal for the heart, grace for all need, and immortal life and joys ; there is all that man can ask and God can give. In Christ provision is made for every want of sinful, ignorant, and helpless man. All the blessings of the gospel are offered of God's free mercy to the repenting and confiding applicant. What spiritual need is there which experienee does not show may be satisfied by the gospel of Christ, by Christ himself? None I All blessings are assured to his faithful people. Vers. 3, 4.-The theme of the gospel. Observe how the apostle's mind is bnrdened with the one great subject of his ministry. He has proceeded only a very few wards with his Epistle, and behold I already he is introducing, by the force of an overr!laster- ing impulse, a full statement of the main facts and doctrines regarding the Lord JesUB Christ. I. We have here a complete and concise DESIGNATION OF THE BEING who was the theme of the gospel which Paul preached. The human name, "Jesus," "the Salvanon of the Eternal," is followed by the official name of the Mediator, 11 Christ," "the .Anointed of God," and this by the title denoting his just relationship to w Church, "our Lord." II. The HUMAN NATURE of Christ is clearly asserted. If, according to the flesh, he wo.s born of the seed of David, he was (1) of human descent. His humanity began to be at his birth. He was "very mnn," passing through human experiences, !Uld undergoing human weo.knesses and griefs, though sinless. But we are here reminded('.!) th:1.t he wo.s of royal lineage, This WIIS in accordance with the predictions of Old Testament Scripture. And, as he himself assured the people, he was not only D:1.Yid's Son, but David's Lord. Ill. The DrvIKE DIGNITY of the Saviour is simply but gloriously affirmed. In the very so.me sentence in which he is cnlled the Son of an earthly king, he is d~siguatt.'d 11 Son of God." Thie he wo.s manifested, declared, as being. We cannot fathom this mystery; but it may be reasonably received, and cannot be reasonably rejected. This combination of the two elements in our Redeemer's nature renders hi.w. au all-sufficient Medio.,~or between God and man. IV. Here is BUPEBNATUBAL ATTESTATION to Christ's nature and mission boldly asserted. Ilesurreotion from the dend was not only a miracle wrought by him WI an acoompnuimcut of his mi~sion; it was exemvlified in hie own Person, for ho WW! tht UOJ,J4lffl, Q 18 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [OR, 1, 1-3i,