The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 245

xxiv. 35). ~- Jmfiji«l. The virtual inst!\tement in e.ccordl\llce with the purposo, Cillling them, he justifies them. There is a Name which destroys all guilt, and acquits for ever, and upon them this Name is nl\Dled. They are" in Obrist Jesus," and "there is therefore now no condemnation," From darkness into light; from death unto life, And the justification is the pledge and beginning of all blessings in Christ that shall t~nd t,0 the consummation oft-he life. It carries with it the regeneration of our nature• it supplies the power that shall issue in our complete sanotifioation; and it point~ unfalt~ringly through all the tears and darknesses of the intermediate discipline to" the revealing of the sons of God." 3. Glorified. The actual instatement in accordance with the purpose. This "revealing of the sons of God" is so assured to us, that it is spoken of here as though already an accomplished fact. Yes, all things must be made consistent and harmonious at last; the discord must be done away; the blessedness of ihe saved spirit must be wedded to the blessedness of a. saved world, and so " all things be made new." Such shall be the culmine.tion of the process by which God's purpose shall be fulfilled. The lesson insisted on is this : God will let nothing thwart him, Only love him, throw yourself into the current of his good purpose, and all things she.11 be ma.de goo.cl to you. Opposition there me.y be, affliction there may be; 'but God in Christ she.11 triumph-triumph in you. The very hindrances shall become helps, the enemies unwi~ t.ing friends. Yes," we know that all things," etc.-T. F. L. ·_ , ers. :n. 32.-Supplying all our need. The argument of vers. 28-30, and, indeed, of the entire chapter, is now summed up in a triumphant hymn-the victorious battle~ cry with which the conqneror snrveys the vacated field (Gouet). Vers. 31 e.nd 32 refer to God's call according to purpose; vers. 33 and 34 to the solemn justification of believers by God; and vers. 35--39 to their final glorifying e.s involved in the justi- fication. Here the reference is to God's great purpose in Christ, and the apostle challe!lges an answer to his question, "If God is for us, who is against us?" Nay, God's purpose is irrefraga.ble. And what a pledge has he given of his intent to carry out that purpose to the uttermost I "He spa.red not his own Son," Surely, therefqre, in him all things are ours. Let us consider, then, what are the "all things" that we need, and what is our e.ssnrance that God will give them. , L Oun h~ED. Ours is a triple need-of guidance, grace, and glory. 1. Guidance. A venture has been made upon a. new career. ls it a. venture? and may we possibly find ourselves in endless mazes lost? Or are we not sure, rather, of the lee.ding of an unseen hand? "Thon she.lt gnide me with thy counsel." (1) Belief. As an essential requisite of advancement in salvation, God will give knowledge of his truth. How immense is the potency of ideas! A false idea. will sway a. world to its destruction; a true idea will impel men with mighty progress in the way of life. So is it in the way of the Christian life: zeal may hasten men to all vigorous endeavour, but zeal without knowledge may make their endeavours futile, or even ruinous. A prejudice, an error, may dwarf, or even vit'.ate, onr Christian character and work; a. true belief, a real knowledge, will be our strength and conquest. But how liable we a.re to prejudice and error! How insufficient is our intellect for grasping truth I We may so easily follow false lights. No ; "Thon she.It guide me." The God who calls will lead, and he will lead our thought, our knowledge, our belief, if we rightly seek his help. Use of all available means presupposed-self-training, experience, God's Word. A right spirit nl110-hnn,ble, t<:acha.ble, true. Then not far a~tray. (2) Growth. The truth is aa food, and our appropriation of it must be followed by true growth of Christian cha- racter. But the growth needs to be watched and tended; the application of tho trutl:i. to our own hearts needs care. Illustrate food and bodily health; but how much more the spiritual! God gives wisdom to use knowledge, and above all he himself guides the upward !rrOwth. (3) Life. AB with the character, the hidden man of the heart, so with the life, the outer man. Principles ma.y be formed; but the application of principles in practice yet remains. .And how multifarious the applicationel how com- r,lex ! how sometimes conflicting I We need to seek all help that right knowlodgo affords, a well-informed conscience. But also we need the intuitive perception, the pure intent, which itself is often the surest guide; the right spirituBl instinct. In eithor way the li!e ~ball have guidance of the God that leads us. 2. Grace, If we r.eed Oil, vm. 1-89.J THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 243