The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 169

tion, but is yet found wherever Christ is known, trusted, and loved. We greet the new Y?ar _with gladness and with hope, becallll? it seems_ to offer us the opportrmity to begm hfe anew. We are thankful for the relief of leavmg the past behind and we oheri~h the hope that ea.eh new year will ~e .one o! greater spiritual pro~ess and happmees than the years that are past. Chnstians wish to forget the thinus that are 0 behmd, and to reaoh forth to those things that are before. Some who have been u!ldec~de~ as to their course ba~e resolved wjth the new year to make a. fres~ begin- wng m bfe, and henceforth to live by the faith of the Son of God, and to his service and glory. The subject ought, therefore, to be appropriate and welcome to such as are hopefully and prayerfully aspiring unto "newness of life." I. The newness of the Christian life will appear from the consideration that it is A LIFE IN CHRIST, This very language must be at first unintelligible to a. person unacquainted with the gospel. That life should be in a person seems monstroUB and meaningless. Yet Christ himself has said," Abide in me, and I in yon;" and bis Apostle Paul has taught us that "if any man be in Ohri.st, he is a new creation." Christ is the Basis upon which the Christian builds, the Foundation of the edifice of his new and higher life. Christ is the Vine-stem into which the Christian is grafted, and from which he draws all his vitality, his vigour, and his fruitfulness. Christ is the Head, in dependence upon whom the Christian is a living, active, and obedient member. The signs and evidences of this life are these : 1. The renewed man learns who Christ is, and what Christ has done and suffered for him. 2. The renewed man admits the claim Christ has upon his gratitude, his faith, his love ; and trusts in him. 3. The renewed man consciously accepts life as the gift of God in Christ. 4. The renewed man, by maintaining fellowship with Christ, advances in the new and higher life. IL The newness of the Christian life is manifest from THE AGENCY DY WHICH rr D EFFECTED, 1. A spiritual agency. 2. A Divine agency. 3. A / reely acting and gracious agency, 4. • A transforming agency. 5. A ceaseless and progressiue agency. IIL The newness of the Christian life is displayed in THE MOTIVES AND l'lllNCIPLES BY WHICH IT IS GOVERNED. 1. 'fhe love of Christ revealed and responded to is the motive power of this life. 2. The law of Christ becomes a law of friendship. 3. The approval of Christ is an animating and cheering power in the heart. 4. Thus self and the world, the common motives to action, fall into their proper place, or are banished from the Christian's soul. IV. NEW ASSOCIATIONS are a feature of the Christian's new life. V. The Christian life tends and points to A FURTHER AND HIGHER REGE!iERATIOB m THE FUTURE. Al'PLIOATION, Newness of life depends comparatively little upon outward circum- stances. There is nothing in the colour of a man's skin, the climate of a man's birth- place, the nature of a man's occupation, his condition whether of poverty or wealth, hie education whether scanty or liberal, his age or his station,-there is nothing in rul these things which can interfere with or hinder him from becoming a new = Christ. Does it seem to any one that for him this is an impossibility, because of the in unfavourable circumstances in which he finds himself? Disabuse yourself of this illusion, for illusion it is. It may not be within your power to become a learned man, or an eloquent mnn, a rich man, or a powerful man ; but the circumstances which may prevent you from becoming learned or wealthy, mighty or persuasive, have no furce to hinder you from becoming "a new man." 'l'he obstacles to this renewal a.re to be sought within, not without; they are to be found in the will, which is often resolved to resist the authority, to reject the truth, and to ignore the love of God. If you take a eavnge from his native woods, olothe him in civilized attire, place him in n lordly palace, surround him with books nnd with music, with paintings and with flowers. does he cease to be a sl\vl\ge? Not until the mind is chl\Dged, The nrnn himself may remain the same, whilst all his surroundin~s are altered. These external ch:rnges do not ml\ko of him a now man, l\nd his lifo hM not in virtue of them becl>tue a new life. So is it with man in relntion to tho kino-dom of Christ. Deprivo a hmn,m being of the liborty which he h~s abused, ~move him from his evil c?ru~iouships, s~ut _out !rom him the temptations to wh1oh ho hns been wont to yield, mtroduco h,.n mto 166 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL 'l'O THE ROMANS. [on. vr.1-23.