The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 29

11 rnbbi, one held In high eeteem and repute among the learned a.nd the powerful ,,f his countrymen: was he likely to devote himeelf to a doctrine which reaarded .Judaiem ne n preparatory <liepensation, whose purpoee was now answered, and° which was tr, paes nway; a doctrine which depreeeecl the letter and the form which ,Jurlaism so dearly and so blindly prized? He wae a scholar, versed to eome extent in Greek learning, and with an intellect capable of expounding and adorning Greek philosophy : was ho likely to accept crude and unlettered inetructore and colleagues, and to abandon os worthless the wisdom of this world? He wae a Roman citizen, entitled to the privileges and immunities attaching to that proud position: was he likely to ally himself with a religion the profeeeion of which would be regarded with contempt by the civic authorities, unless, indeed, it might prove politically convenient to visit its propagation with penalties? II. PAUL BAD, HOWEVER, MORE POWERFUL BEABONS FOR GLORYTifG ~ THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Though he simply said that he was "not ashamed" of it, the language and spirit of the passage imply that it was his joy, his glory, his boast. And in this he was not cherishing fanatical and nnreasonable feelings; he bad reason for his glory- ing. 1. The nature of the gospel was, to the apostle, Bllflicient ground for holding it dear, and for extolling its claims upon the respect of men. The Divine means for recon- ciling rebellious, guilty men to God, the righteous Judge and Ruler; the tidings of the Redeemer's advent, ministry, sacrifice, and glorification, was not only tidings to be received with devout thankfulness: it was a gospel of good news, to be diffused with the earnestness of cordial benevolence. A heart touched with the spectacle of human sin, misery, and helplessness, and capable of appreciating the marvellous provision of infinite wisdom and love, in the redemption by Jesus Christ, could not but be filled with joy, when entrusted with the privilege of offering to the dying sons of men a remedy so Divine. 2. Paul gloried in the gospel as the highest exhibition of God's power. lren are not wont to be ashamed of association with power; they rather pride themselves in and boast of their strength or the greatness of their resources, the might of their party or of their country. Now, the power of the gospel wore the guise of weakness; yet the weakness of God was stronger than men. A thinker, a philanthropist, may have more power than a king or warrior. Certainly, Christianity has shown how the weak things of the world confound the mighty. Spiritual alike in its origin, its instrument, and its sphere, the reality of its power ie shown in its overcoming obstacles, in its achieving moral transformations, in its renewing the usages and principles of society. 3. Paul gloried in the special results which proved the power of tho gospeL He saw in it the power of God "unto salvation." The prowess of the warrior is admired, as the means of human destruction. Too often, men most revere what they most dread. It is the glory of God that he is "mighty to save;" of Christ that he is "able to save to the uttermost;" of the gospel that it brings "so great salvation." Bringing salvation frolll sin, from condemnation, from all that sin involves, of mornl mischief and misery, the gospel is emphatically Divine power. The apostle had felt this power in his own heart and lifo; he had witnessed unnumbered instances of this power, which were only less surprising and startling than that which his own life exhibited. 4. Anothe.r ground of confidence and boasting in the gospel was, to the mind of the apostle, its varied and wirlesprend oflicacy. In the expression "to every one that believeth," we have n state- ment of the condition upon which the delivering and healing power of the gospel is exercised-faith; and we have also an assertion of its universal adaptation. Although writing to tho Romans, the apostle of the Gentiles puts prominently forward the fact that the offer of the gospel was first runde to the Jew. This wus not only the obvious course pointed out by God's providence; it was the express direction of the Author nnd Founder of Christianity. Yet there was in the gospel nothing limited or local; it was, and is, adapted to the spiritual necessities of the whole family of man. Arrr.WAT!ON. 1. Every hearer of the gospel should inquire ,,f himself whether ho bas experioucod its power ovor his hoart nud life. 2. Christinus should s,> cousid0r tho glory of Christianity as to keop themselves frou1 all dnugor ~)f l'l\liug, iu auy ci~uni- 11tanoes or in any socioty, aslmmed of their religion. 3. No opportunity should. oo l0st of commouding tho gospel, with its claim8 nud privileges, to the nccopt:u1co of men, without respoot to thoir mco, their ch1s~, or tbeir chl\ractcr. U nbclief 11louo is iml)t!rVi\lU:t 22 THE EPISTLE OF P,\.Uf, TO THE ROMANS. (en. 1. 1-82,