The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 76

"Some will he.to tl1ee, some will love thee, Some will flo.tl.er, eome will elight. Ceo.so from mo.n, e.nd look above thee ; Trust in God, e.nd do the right." Me.y we ea.meetly and diligently cultivate this true religion. "For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly ; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh • but he is a Jew, who is one inwardly ; and circumcision is that of the heart in th~ spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."-(), H. 1: Vera. 1-11.-Without e'1:cuse. Hitherto Paul had carried his Jewish reader with him, for the Jews were glad to condemn the Gentiles. From the high tribunal of their Le.w they "judged" the misdeeds of the heathen. And, in the exercise of this censorious spirit of judgment, they would perhaps catch at the idea (eh. i. 20) that the bee.then were without excuse by reason of their possible knowledge of God. But how quickly does the relentless logic of the apostle tum back this truth upon them- selves I "Without excuse," because they might have known God's will? "Wherefore thou art without excuse, 0 man that judgest I" For the very judging implied a knowledge of the wrong, and by that knowledge they were self-condemned. We have here-the false hope of the Jew; the just judgment of God. I. THE FALSE HOPE OF THE JEW. The Jew was greatly privileged, and God had shown him marvellous mercy. On either of these grounds, or both, he looked for exemption from judgment and wrath. 1. The chief hope of the Jew was founded upon the election of grace; he was called from among the nations to subserve a. special purpose of God, e.nd he fondly thought that he was called to security and bliss. He was singled out for service; he thought that he was singled out for inevitable salvation. He reckoned to escape altogether the judgment of God; he proudly deemed himself exempt by his very birth even from a.n inquiry into character. 2. But if perchance not quite so blind to spiritual claims, yet did not God's very goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, the wealth of which had been lavished upon the Jew, incline him to a careless ease, which was virtually presumptuous contempt? God had taught his wrath against unrighteousness, but he had also shown his mercy. Why not riot in the mercy. The old apology of God of the human heart," God is good; he will forgi,e.n II. THE JUST JUDGMENT OF Goo. But "let God be true, and every man a. liar! n Neither pride of birth, nor the affluence of God's love, shall be security a,,u:i.inst just judgment. 1. God's fudgment is true. (Ver. 2.) It proceeds upon the eternal principles of right; therefore an exemption on the ground of privilege, "respect of persons,n is impossible. "The righteous God trieth the hearts" (Ps.. vii. 9). 2. God's tnse judg- ment condemns the evil and i·ewards the good. (1) Now: "is a,,"llinst them that practise such things." (2) "The day shall declare it: n manifested judgment. There is an "end" towards which all things a.re tending-an end which shall also be a beginning. Reason and rovelation point to this. The law of future retribution is the same with the law of present judgment: "to every man according to his works." According to what a man is in himself shall he be regarded by God. And the deeds declare the man. So, then: (a) 'fo the good," eternal life,''" glory, honour, peace;" (b) to the evil, " wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish." 3. Goa's goodness, therefore, does but seek to prepare the way /or tha ea:ercise of fudgTMnl. He must condemn the evil, both now and then, and therefore he will seek to lead men from their evil that he may not condemn. The doctrine of justification is wrapped UJ.? in this ; for if God can but change a man's self, the obliteration of the past is provided for in Christ. The deep damnation of those who think to pervert such saving love; instead of a wealth of love, thera 1hall be a wel\lth of wrath for them I Let us learn the danger : of a blinded conscience-because we, forsooth, a.re " Chris- tle.us," thorefore we are sl\ved I and of a hardened heart-God's very love, if we will not read its meaning, may be our deat.h. Eternally, and without any e.:s:ception, " the righteous Lorri loveth righteousness" (Ps. xi. 7).-T. F. L. Vers. 12-24.-Law and guilt. God, as the Judge, is utterly impartial. But how, then, shall the difforenoes between Jew and Gentile, especiiill.y in respect of the Law, be d(ll\lt with Im that •day\> Sin shall be judged, conde!llDed, iu Jew or Ch!ntil<), VO THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [Olt, u. 1-20.