The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 104

ii: smitt('n-smit.ten that tho rnce may be justified, But only a rolutive rl~teousnee8, as producti'I"(' again of actual righte<>usnt'ss, can be wrought by the ri~hteoueneee of God; nnd therefore the justifiCP.tion is for penitents, believing in Ohnst. And the TI'Ty fRith itself of penitents in a Christ who died. for sin, is the germ of a new righteou!;Dess of life. So, then, dOOll fuld. justify himself in justifying the ungodly; nnd ro does he justify bis past forbearance, whether as respects the world or the indi,·idue.l offender. Thus in Christ is t.he gre11t problem solved. God is "just, and the Justifier of him that bath faith in Jesus." Is it more tht\n a problem of the intelleot to us? has It wrought it.self out in our heart and life ?-T. F. L. • Vers. 17---30.-u ll7,ere is ths glorying," The Jews were a glorying people;- they gloried in God (see eh. ii. 17), and they gloried in the Law (eh. ii. 23). But, now.? .All glorying was shut out. • • •• • L THE FALSE GLORYING. Man's almost universal petversion of religion. Religion should humble him, but he makes it the oecasion of boasting. Bo eminently with the Jews. 1. Jn the Law. The Law was designed to teach sin, and quicken 'their longings for holiness. It had become an apparatus of self~righteousness. 2. In 'God. God made himself known to them, that through them he might be made ·known to others. And God was one. They, however, rested in him as theirs alone; and 'the very doctrine of the oneness of God was made the badge of separateness, and an in~trument of bigotry. ' • ' II. GLORYING EXCLUDED. God will t.each man humility; as· towards himself; all t.owards man's fellow-men. And the gospel is a potent instrumentality to this end: So, "Blessed are the poor in spirit;" I._ The law of faith: to which "the· Law" must logically lead. We receiv~ as euppliants, ou bended knee. "Not of works, le~~ any man shonld boast" (Eph. IL 9). 2. • The God of all. The very truth they liel\i belied their pret.ensions; the God of all must be a God to all; So, then, the gosperw~ij God's gift of grace to men, to be accepted by man's faith.· None could do more;· :nolj.~ might do less. , • •• • 1 . •• i Our Ohristian knowledge and belief, our :name of Christ, ali occasion of glorying? Yes, in a trne sense (Gal. vi. 14), but not boastfully. For the' one should teach us a deep hnmility, with faith; the other a large, unfailing charity. "He is Lord· 'of alL"-T. F. L. • • ~er. 3L-The ha:rmmiy of La'f/J and faith. God's dispensations· cannot possibly disagree; they may not have the sa.me immediate purport, but they must harmouiz'e. This verse is a triumphant challenge at the close of a conclusive argument; ''rhe harmony of Law and faith. • L LAW. The great aim of the dispensation of Law was to teach man his sin arid helplessness.. 1. "Through the Law cometh the knowledge of sin" (ver. 20). Thi, Law within man fa.des in proportion as his disregard of it increases, and only by an objective Law can he then be taught his guilt. Bo did God: by a presentation of rigbteoUllilellB in the demands of the Law, bring home to man's conscience hie condem- nation. 2. This objective holiness, by its claims upon man's endeavonre, not merely WTougbt condemnation in the conscience, but was designed to produce an intensest consciousness of incapacity. This not so directly intended by the apostle's words now, but fall8 legitimately within their 8COp8. We see, we desire; we cannot attain. IL FilTH. When the dispensation of Law has done its disciplinary work, the dispensation of faith shall take its place. 1. A universal condemnation prepares 'fdr the reception of the gift of gmce. The world is brought to its knees before God, stricken with guilt; and now he may IIJ)e&k words of pardon, to be received °Qy 'faith, God the Giver, man the recipient at his hands; this the relation now. Faith annulling tLe Law? Nay, supplementing it, and justifying its work. 2. And eo the new lifo of faith-faith in the forgiving love of God, a faith which brings hope and inspiration-docs but eu:pplemer,t, in no wi11e contradicts, the state of helplessness realized through tho Law. We are at one with God; the chasm is bridged; and by his own loving help we car, do LiB will. • • Tei us CLri,,tianB? Chrillt'fi perfect lire l!ervefJ for J -~w. How great our gnilt·I bow cm. m. 1-31.) THE EPISTLE OF PAU'L TO THE ROMANS. 99