The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 233

He first modelled his figure in clay, and then took the rou~h, eha):!8less m&ea of marble, in which no one could see any traces of the future st.'\tuo s loveliness or eymmotry of form. But the sculptor's love for his work, the skill of his hand, the pa.ti41noe and penieve!'ILiloe of his mind, the hammer and ohisel which he wielded, slowly but surely acoomplished his purpose, until at IRst the statue stood forth in all its beauty. So God has bis ideal for the Christian-likeness to Christ, the image of his Son. He has his plan, the plan of redemption, of sanctification. With that ideal before him he tnkos our human nature, and, by the slow and sometimes painful discipline of Christian experience, he develops the Christian character, until at last the believer is found meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. 3. The Spirit of God is their Bel.per. There are three ways mentioned by the apostle in which the Spirit helps us. (1) He shows us the path of duty. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (ver. 14). The Spirit uses the Word of God, and applies it to our conscience end our heart. (2) Be givu us assurance of our sonship. "The Spirit it.self beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (ver. 16), How does he give us that assurance? By producing in us the fruit of the Spirit. "Hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments " (1 John ii. 3). If our delight is in the Law of the Lord, if we are striving, however imperfectly, to walk in his ways, to follow in the footsteps of Christ, then this is the Spirit's testimony to us that we are the children of God. (3) The Spirit also '111,(1,ktJJ intercessim for us in prayer. We are more accustomed to think of Jesus as interceding for us. But the Spirit's work of intercession is here described in very forcible words, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what to pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself mak:eth intercession for us with groanings which cannot. be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, for he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (vers. 26, 27). Christ int.ercedes for us in heaven ; the Holy Spirit intercedes in us on earth. We know not what we sh~nld pray for aright. But the Holy Spirit reveals to us our need. He helps our infirmities. He creates within us high and holy aspirations; and even when we cannot rightly express our wants, he that searcheth the hearts knows what our desires are; for the Spirit expresses them better than we can. Let us avail ourselves more of this threefold help of the Spirit of God, that we may be guided in the path of duty, that we may receive a stronger and clearer assurance of our relationship as children of God, and that we may be assisted in the prayers we offer at the throne of h~avenly grace. 4. Heaven u thefr home. "For I reckon tha.t the sufferings of this present time are not worthy t.o be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (ver. 18). While enjoying the fellowship of our earthly homes, let us think of the better :iiome on high., the only home that shall never be broken up. II. Tim BESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHILDREN OF Gon. They are summed up in the apostle's brief words, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live aft.er the flesh" ( ver. 12). "H ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye ehllll live" (ver. 13). We are to remember that we are debtors. We are to reflect how much we owe. We are t.o realize God's claims upon us. We are to think of the claims of that heavenly Father who ha.a condescended to adopt ue as his children, and who is constantly ea.ring for us. We are to think of the claims of that loving Saviour who gave himself for ue. We are to think of the claims of that Spirit who has quickened us from the dead, who has been enlightening our minds, and who is renewing ue after the image of God. "All that I am, e'en here on earth, All that I hope t.o be When JesUB comes, and glory dawns, I owe it, Lord, to thee." O..H. I. Ver 28-God'• mi11ig1d. provi,dencea, "And we know that all things work tQgether for g~ to them that love God." T~ was a remarkable statement for the Apostl~ Faul to make especially when we consider how much he had suffered. because of /.is love to God a~d his truth. He had been impriBoned, he had been stoned. he had been beaten with stripes; and yet, after all this, he is able to say that "all things work en. vm.1--39.J THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 231