The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 27

ArrLIOATION. 1. All hearers of the gospel a.re summoned to the c,be<lienco c,f faitli. 2. All who ho.ve received the gospel have receivc<l also some trust an<l some grace, which render them responsible for making known the reveakd means of ealvatiou to their fellow-men. Vere. 6, 7.-The Romam, Olvristians. In the great capital of the empire and of the world there was thus early constituted a congregation of Christian worshippers anti. disoiples. Amidst the grandeur, the opulence, the vice, that prevailed in this, as in every metropolis; amidst proud patricians, turbulent plebeians, and wretched slavLe,- there existed already nn obscure but, to us, notable society, composed of Jews, P.omans, and foreigners resident in the city, to whom Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, wrote this letter. The members of this society were not characterized by any outward marks of distinction which would render them interesting to the inhabitants of Rome generaily. Yet, whilst the great and learned and wealthy, who either never heard of the Christian Church in their midst, or who, if they heard of it, despised it,-whilst they, for the most part, are forgotten, that Church is still remembered with deepest interest. Notice the marks by which it was distinguished to the view of the inspired apostle. He wrote' "to all that be in Rome," who were differenced from those around them in certain respects. I. 'l'HEY WEBE CALLED OF CHRIST. They had, for the most part, never seen the Lord Jesus; but their souls had heard his holy, gracious call. 1. They had been addressed by the audible voice of his uttered Word. The call of the gospel had reached their understanding. 2. They had experienced the inner call of his Spirit. To each one of them might the apostle say, "The Word is nigh thee, even in thy heart." 3. They had responded to the call by their faith and obedience; they had not received the grace of God in vain. II. THEY WEBE BELOVED OF Goo. 1. In common with all mankind, they were the objects of Divine pity. " God so loved the world," etc. 2. But there was a special sense in which they were partakers of the love of God. He had revealed his love to 'them, and they loved God, because he first loved them. He loved bis own image reflected in their character and life. 3. This love was especially manifested in their adoption. "Behold what manner of love the Father bath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children ot God ! " III. THEY WERE SEPABATED UNTO HOLINESS. The word " saint" is now appropria tcd to personages of peculiar and distinguished piety. But it serves to remind us that Christians were intended to be pure amidst a sinful world and a sinful generation-I\ condition of the Divine favour, as well as a result of the privileges enjoyed by the people of God. 'l'he term may be thus unfolded. Saints are (I) distinguished from si!!ful society by which they are surrounded; (2) distingi.ilihed from their former selves; (3) filled with the Spirit of holiness; (4) and in character, aa well a.s by profession, witnesses unto a holy God and Saviour. Such "notes" of true, experimental Christianity were, indeed, not peculiar to the Roman Christians; but their conspicuous presence in the society addressed by the apostle was an earnest of the fruits of true religion which should a.bound wherever the gospel was proclaimed and received. Vera. 13, 14.-A yearning heart. The ministry <'o( the gospel of Christ may he fulfilled in either of two ways-by personal visitation and oral teaching and preaching; or by written communications, in the form of letter or of treatise. Paul, like many since his time, adopted both methods, and it would be hard to say in which he was the more efTcctive. When he could not himself visit a city he could write to tl::0110 who dwelt there. This difference between the two methods is observl\ble-that by writing he could only reach those e.lready favourably disposed towards Christian doctrine, whilst by word of mouth he often gained access to the hearts of unbelievers. I. BENEVOLENT PURPOSES MAY DE PROVIDENTLI.LLY HINDERED. God often in mercy frustrates the wicked counsels of malicious men. But not only so ; he sometime• hinders his soi·vants from carrying out designs good in their motives. It happened now nnd again to Pnul that, wishing to visit some country or city on nn errand of mercy, his way WllB in that rnrticular"direction hedged up, nnd his steps were turned else- whithor. 'l'ho a11ostlo a wish to visit Rom'l was natural, disintcrestoc., and proi.;owl'rthy,  THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE HOMANS. [on. 1, l-82.