The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 26

Firstfruih of them that sleep. SpiritUll.l resurrection is the pledge of that which i1 bodily; and the resurrection WllS always mentioned by the first preachers of Ohris• tianity, in connection wit.h the authority and Lordship of Christ. 'l'he lesson is pointed by the added clauses, "with power," e.nd II by the Spirit of holiness." .APPLlOATION. 1. Let us take a just and complete, not a partial, inadequnte view of our Sa,iour's wondrous nA.ture. 2. What a justification nnd encourn.,ement mf\y 1.>e found in this representation for the sinner to commit his eternal int:rcsts lo One s9 qualified, so sufficient, to care for and to save the believing soul I Ver. 5.-Th~ apostolic afrn. There was great dignity in the obaraoter, demee.nou~ nnd lllllgUage of the Apostle Paul. This was not inconsistent with the modesty e.nJ humility which were the ornament of his Christian character. Bnt whilst he feH his personal unworthiness, feebleness, and utter insufficiency for the vast nnd arduous work entrusted to him, his sense of the grandeur of the work raised his conception of his. own high vocation. It were well that all Christian ministers should cherish lowly views of self, and, at the same time, lofty views of the ministry they have received from God. I. OIISERVE THE QUALIFICATIONS BESTOWED UPON PAUL. He describes these in order both to justify himself in the tone of his Epistle, and to secure the respectful attention of his readers. 1. Whence were they derived? They were not the ordinary gifts which Pro,idence bestows upon men to fit them for the work of life. They were traced to Christ (" by whom"), the Gi,er of all blessings to his Church. It was the prerogative of tbe glorified Redeemer to confer gifts upon men. ~• He gave some, apostles," eto, Having redeemed his Church at a cost so great, he could not leave it without providing for the supply of all its needs. 2. In what did they consist? Paul uses two terms. One of these denotes the more general gift, "grace." By this may be understood, not onl~ the enlightening and quickening influences of tho Holy Spirit, which bring the soul into the enjoyment of the new and higher spiritual life, but all that distinguishes Christian character, a.nd fits for an effective and beneficent witness to the Saviour. The othf:I' term is "apostleship." The apostles occupied a place so prominent and so honourable among the servants of Christ, that we cannot be surprised that a. special word is here employed. Paul was "called to be an apostle ; " and he often refers to the memorable occasion when he was arrested upon his errand of persecution, converted to Chrut's faith a.nd service, and commissioned for the great and holy work of his llfe. He claims to be not behind the chiefest of the apostles, and glories in the grace of God which was manifested nnto and in him. . II. OBsi!:BVE THE END BOUGHT BY PAUL. " Spirits are not finely touched but to fine issues ; " and such endowments as were conferred upon Paul must have been iu preparation for no ordinary service. 1. The character of this end was moral, spiritual. It was to overcome the disobedience and rebellion of sinful men; to vanquish these by the grace of the cross of Christ, and. by the power of the Spirit of God. 'l'he obedience which our King and Father requires, he has resolved to secure by means devised by infinite wisdom and provided by infinite love. The gospel ofChrist, received by fl!-ith, is to be the means of reconciling man to God. 2. Faith, then, occupied a place of i:n.mense importance in the teaching of the apostle. '!'his Epistle to the Romans is, in itself, sufficient proof of this. Justification with God, and subjection and consecr~ tion to God, are secured by faith in the Mediator, Christ. Christian obedience is prompted, not by constraint or fear, but by this intelligent and lofty motive. 3. The sphere of this apostolic mission was unlimited, save by the boundaries of humanity, "All nations" were comprehended within the commission he received. A great modem preacher, John Wesley, is said to have claimed "the world as bis parish." .It was a sublime view of his ministry which Paul took; and it was taken, not under the influence of enthusiasm or self-importance, but upon the highest of all authority-that of the Saviour and the Lord of all. 4. '!'he ultimate i6sue of the apostleship of Puul IICemB to be implied in the expression," for his Name." It was the glory of the Son of God which his servant faithfully and consistently sought; there was nothiug personal or selfish, nothing petty or unworthy, in his aims. 'l'he Name of Christ ill m itself above every name, and at that Name every knee.shall bow, This assurance was enough tu animate and sustain the ar,ostJe in all his labcur aud in all his sulfering. Ju all, u (,'b rist l!hon Id be maguificd. ' on. r. 1-32.: THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 19