The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 42

recept.i,,n oft.he power. Man's power of resisting God's grace, through sin; the humble aooept~n<'t' of (n)(].'s graoe, through faith. (2) A realization of the power. God's graoe not merely accepted by the obedient will, but transfused through the whole consolous- ness. 8. Ifs ra.nge. "To every one;" " To the Jew first, and also to the Greek." G,.>d's large lo~ -whether there bad been privilege (the Jews) or non-privilege (the C'n>ntiles), polity or non-polity (ver. 14), culture or non~ulture (ver. 14), And all had til'<.'n prepared of God. Oh, if be might but help towards making the potential into tho sctual ! Rome's cosmopolitanism WI\S as nothing to this. Was it not a "power of God" that he might be proud to preach? II. Gon's RIGHTEomx= The imperial law of Rome. It could not oommand all the oomplex:ities of social intercourse, nor the governance of the man's self; muoh leJs oould it lay its e:rasp on the heart. Nor can man himself make himself righteous; he lacks the heart and the power. But what an empire's laws can never do, what a man's own strength can never do, is done by the gospel of Christ : " For therein is revealed," etc. 1. TM Di:11i1neness of the righteOUS'fUSSs, "Of God." (1) Divine in its origin, All true good from the Creator to the creature. Especially for recovery from a fall, (2) Di"rine in its inspiration. Only as having God with us can we be right with God. (S) Di"rine in its aim. God the supreme end of all thoughts, desires, purposes, and works. 2. The distinctions of the righteousness. To be brought out more fully in the sequel of the Epistle. (1) A status: by the atonement of Christ's redemption. Objec- th·ely. (2) A state: by the constraining love of the redemption. Subjectively. Man seeks to work out bis righteousness in the reverse order ; from a state to a status. Whole Epistle combats this false principle. 3. The reception of the righteousness. "By faith unto faith." (1) Of the prerogative of righteousness through Christ: acceptance pure and simple. (2) Of the power of righteousness through Christ: assiduous, increas- ing, strong. So all is of faith: the beginning, the progress, the perfecting. "As it is written, The rigbt.eons shall live by faith:" by believing with all his heart in the saving love of God. Was it not a "rigbteonsness of God" that he might be proud to preach? What is God's gospel to wi? A name? so many words? so many truths? Or a living power, alre.ady healing, and working towards the perfect life? "Not in word only, but in power" (1 Thess. i. 5). Again, is it a veil, covering our deformity, and a cloak for our sins? Or a purifying power, making us right that it may make us righteous? " In power, and in the Holy Ghost" (1 These. i. 5). Yes ; a gospel of holy power, so shall it be a gospel of "much assurance;" and, as Paul was not ashamed to preach it, we also shall learn what those words mean, "Whosoever believeth shall not be ashamed" (eh. ix. 33).-T. F. L. Vers. 18---32.-TM revelation of wrath. "For." Note the transition. The intro- duction into a status of righteousness presupposes a status of unrighteollJlness, involving wrath. So, then, we have here--man's guilt, God's wrath. L M.A__-o;'s Gun.T. Man's guilt, which is his obnoxious relation to the judgment of God, is established by reference to the well-known state of the Gentile world, branded by w; owll doings as "ungodly " and "unrighteous." 1. Ungodliness. The deepest root of man's corruption. (1) A suppression of the truth of God (vers. 18, 21, 28). God may be known by man; this is man's high prerogative. Not comprehended, but apprehended ; we comprehend nothing. This knowledge of God is. cond~tioned on two fact&-m.an's God-related nature (conscience), and God's se\f-reveahng will. And God does universally reveal himself through bis works; let us not minimize this fact. Again, the law of the knowledge of God is-" To him that bath shall be given." So -,.wis may become hf-y,,,,,,m. But the converse is equally true, acd is illustrated in the hiBtory of the world. "Hold down the truth in unrighteousness." (2) A conversion of the truth into a lie (vers. 23, 25). Man's God-related nature must work, even If inversely. The essence of idolatry- self-submersion tn the creature. The lie of idolatry-a deification of the lawless, the riotous, the sensual. 2. Unrighteousnea,. Cause and effect of ungodliness. Catalogued here so terribly that merely to read it is enough. (1) 'l'he utter diiihonour of their own nature (vere. 24, 26, 27). (2) 'l'ho extremeat perversion 1Jf all BOCial relations (vcrs. 2!:l-31). (3) 'l'ho reprobate rejoicing in evil dood.ti (ver. 32). Such the sin which wrought guilt; guilt, bocauae there was koeiwJ(,(}g,,. .A.nd w, " without excuse." ea. r.1-32.J THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 35