The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 35

his personal obligation to seek the spiritual good o( every man whom be oou.ld reach, Ho, e. Jew, counted himself under obligation to do llOilletbing for the barbarian.a; be, a leo.med and Intellectual man, counted himeelf under obligation to do something for the unwise and Ignorant as well as for the wise and the cultured. We, too, need to think more of our own personal indebtedness to Christ. Then we too, like St. Pan!, shall be a.nxJone to carry the gospel to rich and poor, learned and unlearned, Jew and Gentile.-0. H. L Ver. 16.-" Noe ash<vmed of ehe gospel." When these words were written by St. Paul, Christianity did not occupy in the world the position that it does now. In the mind of the ordinary Roman, the Jew was regarded almost always with contempt. And when the Christian was at a.II distinguished from the Jew, it was only to be the subject of more reproachful terms. Some of the most eminent and well-informed of the Roman writers speak of the Christian religion as a pernicious and detestable supersti- tion. The humble origin, too, of the early founders of Christianity was not calculated to impress favourably the worldly mind. If the gospel which told of Christ crucified was a stumbling-block to the Jew, it was indeed foolishness to the Greek and to the Roman too. Yet Paul had not been ashamed of this gospel at .Athens; he was not going to be ashamed of it at Rome. He had proclaimed the message of the Nazarene in the city of Plato and Socrates ; he would preach it also in the city of Cicero and Seneca. Paul is not afraid to teach where they have taught. He was right. The nam.e of Jesus is a greater name than Plato's. The religion which Jesus taught has moulded and purified the world. The apostle assigns two reasons why he is not ashamed of the gospel. These are- I. ITs PURPOSE. This is indicated by the words "unto salvation." The Greek preposition which is translated "unto" expresses purpose, or tendency, or aim. The purpose of the gospel is the salvation of all who will receive its message. To effect this purpose, the Son of God left the glory of the eternal, and descended into the misery and weariness of a life on earth. For this, he suffered the assaults of the tempter ; for this, he passed through the agony of Gethsemane; for this, he bore with patience the lingering torments of the cross. "The Son of man is come to seek and to sa,e that which was lost." The purpose of the gospel is salvation. Let us understand fully the meaning of that great word. Salvation is indeed deliverance from guilt, deliverance from condemnation. But the purpose of the gospel is something more than this. It is to save us also from the power of sin in our hearts and lives. Many professing Christians forget this. 'l'bey think that faith in Christ is simply to deliver them from punishment in the day of judgment, while they do not allow it to have present, practical influence upon their lives. Let us not deceive ourselves. There is no true sah·ation where there is not an evidence of present departure from sin and present following after holiness. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Faith, if it is real, will show itself. Salvation is a. present thing. "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanse/h us from all sin." The purpose of the gospel is to save us now There are many who long for some power that might save them from themselves, from some evil propensity or passion, from the influence of bad companionships. This salvation it is the purpose of the gospel to effect. "Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." IL ITs POWER, The gospel, sn.ys the apostle, is "the powor of God." Here is an encouragement for our faith. This is tho second reason why St. Paul wn.s not ashamed of the gospel. Its purpose, no doubt, seemed a very difficult one, but the apostle had no fear for its success. Its earliest messengers were humble meu. But the success of thoir message was in higher and mightier hands than theirs. That sin should be ovorcome, nnd men delivered from its power, was the purpose of the .Almighty God, n.nd his purpose nevor fails. In tho history of nations we see the gospel proving itself to be the power of God, The mornl miracles of Christianity, as Prebendary Row hM ahown, are the stron~est eviience of its Divine origin and power. It bas changed bnrba.rism to civilization. It has ernn.ncipated the slaves. It has put an end to the cruol sacrifices performed in honour of tho heathen gods. It hns accomplished moral and sooinl rovolutions thn.t to tho human eye seemed utterly impossible, So rueo In tho history of individuals. Mou who ha.Yo suuk so luw beneath tho power of degrading 98 'rHE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THl!: ROMANS. [cm. 1.1-311,