The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 227

1,. Tms 18 A 0ALCULATION WIIT0H HAS SUSTAINED TITE FAITH AND 0OURAGl!I OF AffLTITC'IlES OF BELmVERs IN CHRIST IN EVERY AGE, 'l'his ho.a been the CRSO n,,, 0nly with tht1 ~e who have been called upon to witness to their Saviour by publi~ lsJx,un;_ aud by public sufferings, with those who have contended upon the high plo.oes of the tield; but also with myriads of lowly, thlthful, patient hearts, that have endured in t:ilence the reproach of Christ, that have borne in silence the cross of Christ, The well-f,,unded hope of glory has animated and sustained such amidst petty persecutions amidst galling misrepresentations, amidst spiritual conflicts, fightings without and fear~ within. The hymns of the Church are a witness to this; in every land and in every age these hymns have expressed the longings of the universal heart of Christendom for the repose, the fellowship, the delights, of the heavenly Jerusalem. And they have been wont to make these longings centre in that Divine Redeemer who is the Sun of the eternal city, and whose presence makes it light and glorious. I. THIS IS A CALCULATION WHICH MAY BE COMMENDED TO ALL CHRISTIANS WHO ABE CAST DOWN A.lID DISTRESSED BY THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE WAY, Some are tried by adversity, and are tempted to say of the circumstances surrounding them, ".All these things a.re against me." Others are smitten by bereavement; their dear and trusted friends are taken from their side by death. Others are persecuted for riaht- eousness' sake. Others endure great spiritual conflicts, and sometimes know not how to bear up against the assaults of the adversary. Others are weary, in body and in mind, under the p r = of cares and responsibilities. To all such it is lawful to say, "' The end of all things is at hand.' The period of probation is nearly over. Hold on a little longer. 'Be faithful unto death.' There awaits you rest after your pilgrimage, and triumph after your warfare, songs after your tears, and glory after your depression. The revelation of which the text speaks is not far off. And, in the glory it shall manifest, all your weariness and woes shall be forgotten. You shall see Jesus, snd in his presence no darkness is." V ers. 24, 25.-" Saved by hope." Hope is an emotion compounded of expectation and desire. We may expect what we dread, we may desire what we are sure is beyond our reach; in either case hope is impossible. Faith is in the unseen present; hope is of the unseen future. .As a feeling, and consequently as a motive power, hope is taken np, heightened, and hallowed by religion. In the New Testament, great stress is la.id upon., and great virtue is attributed to, hope; it ranks with faith and love. L THE OBJECTII OF THE CmnsTIAN's HOPE, 1. God himself; his favour and fellowship. "Hope thou in God" is the admonition given, to which the suitable response is, "My hope is in thee." Hope in God is distinguished from hope in man, in being always secure. 2. Especially God in Christ, who is spoken of as the "Lord Jesus Christ, our Hope." We are enjoined to " hope in Christ; " and his character and promises jUBtify compliance with such injunction. 3. To particularize, the object of hope is stated to be Christ's future appearance; the Christian looks for "the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ." Has not our Lord expressly said, "I will come again"? Now, "he that bath this hope, purifieth himself." 4. 'l'he Christian's hope extends both to the future of this life and to immortal blessedness. This earthly existence is brightened by the prospects opened up to us of Divine aid and guidance, protection and comfort; and such hope is fitted to strengthen and to cheer. Whilst Christianity is especially distinct and emfhatic in its revelation of the glories of the frlture state ; telling of the "hope of eterna life," " the hope laid up in heaven," and imparting a "living hope of an inheritance." II. THE GBOUNDS OF THE CHBlBTIAN's HOPE. 1. The promise of God. Here is a sure and stable foundation which it would be folly and sin to distrust, " I hope," is the godly man's exclamation, "in thy Word." His is t.he "hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began.'' In giving us hie revelation, tb1: design of infinite love wa.e that we, "through patience and comfort of the Scriytures might have hope." 2. The t,eaching of tke Holy Spirit. He is the Inspirer of al good affections and desires; one purpose of his b8stowal upon Christians being that they "might abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." 3. Our e:,;perience of the Lord',faith/ulnaB. "Experience worketh hope.'' It is not a matter of conjecture oH, vm. l-l'9.J 'l'HE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 225