The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 98

for 11haring once more the Divine glory, Two of these views of huma.n na.turo concern man as he is now. The one humbles, the other exalts him. On the one hand, me.n is put before us as he is by nature-fallen, sinful, lost. On the oiher ha.nd, he is put before m: as ON w1U1ts him to be, and RB God has done all he can to make him- pa.rdoned sinner, a holy character, 11.Il heir of everlasting life. These two views are brought t('E---ether in these V8M!8. 'l'he apostle speaks of the righteousness of God whioh is by faith (\f Jesus Christ unto all ana upon all thl'm that believe (vers. 21, 22). And then he adds, as a 1'81L.'IOn for this broad, all-embracing statement, "1:t~or there is no differenoe: for all ha\""e sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (vers. 22, 23). 'l'here is no difference as t.o the fact of universal sin. Aud there is no difference as to the fact of univers&l mercy : " Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (ver. 24). There is no difference as to the need of salvation. There is no difference in the way of salation. Christ is the Saviour of all men who come to him in faith. L THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THB FACT OF UNIVERSAL GUILT. .. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This is not a mere cynical statement. The Bible is not a cynie&l book. It does not look down with contempt upon human nature. But it deals with facts as they are. And yet, if it speaks of human nature as sinful, it is in t.enns of pity and compassion and desire to save. You will often meet with cynical viewl! of human nature. You will meet some who will tell you that all men are equally bad, or that one man is as good as another. You will meet some who will sneer at the idea of virtue, or unselfishness, or honesty being found in any one. They will tell you that no such thing exists. They will tell you that selfishness is the ruling principle of human nature, and that, if men or women are honest, or virtuous, or charitable, it is because it is their interest to be so. Now, it will generally be found that those who speak thus of hnman nature have not a very high moral character of their own. They judge others from their own standpoint. They look at everything from a selfish point of view, and they think that every one else does the same. But this is not the way in which the Bible speaks of hnman nature. It paints it very black, it is true-because it paintE it in it.s true colours. But it speaks of human nature as it is, not to depreciate it, but to elevate it. :Moreover, it allows for the good that is in human nature. It meetB human nature half-way. It recognizes that there is sometimes even in the most fallen nature a d.emre for bett.er things. It represents the f,OOr prodigal e.s coming to himself and saying, "I will arise, and go to my Father.' Jesus says," Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." The Bible is no cynical book. And yet it ays tha.t .. all have sinned." This does not mean that all are equally bad, that all have committed sins of the deepest dye. But it does mean just what is said, that all haf1tl sinned-that there is sin in some degree in all, sin enough to condemn, to destroy. How humbling this is to human pride I And this was just how the apostle meant it. His whole desire in these opening chapters of Romans is to show the need of a. Saviour, of a perfect righteousness. He first of all showed that the heathen needed a righteous- ness. Then, tnrning to the Jews, whom he knew so well, he saw at once their self- righteons spirit. They made their boast in the Law, and yet all the while they were transgressors of the Law. And so he proves that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (ver. 9). "For there is no difference: for all have sinned." It is amazing to see how one professing Christian can look down upon another, just because the other is of a humbler class in society or wears a poorer dress, when, if they were true Christians, they would remember that they are all sinners saved by grace. Yes; the Bible is a. very democratic book. It teaches that God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell upon the face of the earth. It teaches that the rich and poor meet together, and that God is the M.aker of them all But it does not, like many democratic leaders, give the people a false idea of themselves. It does not say, as I once beard a poP,ular speaker say in Gwgow, that" the democracy is always wise and true and just.' It plaets all men upon a common platform, as sinners in the sight of God. It says, "'17.ere i6 r.o dijferenC£: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." IL 'fHEllE 18 NO lJlfl'EllESCE IN THE OFFE!l OF UNIVEnBAL MEl!OY. "Deing justified fr1xly by Lis grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." It is when wo corr.1: iv look at the cr06s of Jesus that we can see how God looks at human nature. lt WIIB certainly no depreciation of human nature that call80d the Son of God to como oe. m, 1-31.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO 'fllE ROMANS. 93