The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 316

The text fnrnisbes the basis for auoh a statC1ment of univ-ers&l salvability, In its clel\r enuncinti,)n of the nature of God. By imflication it negatives many theorlea when It RS!;erts that" the same Lord is Lord of all,' and the following olause oontaine mensuro- less rornfort for e'l'ery anxious pmying heart. He ls" rioh unto all that call upon him," I. So1ni: ERRORS OORRBOTED. 1. Polytheism. We might infer the truth of monotheism from the unity of structure visible in the world-Its inhabitants, animals, and plents; from the analogy oh.servable in different kiugdoms of nature; and from the existence of the same laws operating to the remotest star, And the Mosaio Law distinctly enforood the truth, "The Lord our God is one Lord." Nor is the doctrine of the Trinity in unity contradictory. There is the historical faot that wherever Chri!>tianity has prevailed, idolatry has been doomed. The preaching of the fishermen effected what the most potent arguments of Greek philosophy end the keentlllt shafts of ridicule failed to acromplish. 2. Atheism. This is the other extreme; instead of many gods, no God. To attribute to blind force and fortuitous collocation of atoms the order and beauty of design evident in nature and history, is to posit an ineffioient canse for the effects noted. So clearly is this seen, that the favourite attitude of many is to avoid definite assertions, and content themselves with saying, "We cannot be sure; we cannot attain to sufficient knowledge of the Unknowable to prompt our worship.• This is practical atheism, imitated by multitudes who do not deny the authority of the Scriptures, or reject religion on speculative gronnds, yet Jive "without God in the world." Remember that the non-recognition of the Deity does not absolve from religious responsibility. If there be a "Lord of all," he has claims upon your serrice which will not va.nish because of your pleasant dreams and guilty unconcern. 3. Pantheism. He is Lord "of," i.e. "over" all-a Jiving, personal God, above as well as in natnre. He is not to be identified with the universe, nor with his operations. He is different from his acts, as we are not our limbs, our deeds, but are conscious of a li'l'ing will behind these manifestations. The instinct of prayer would be checked at once by the thonght of "calling upon" an abstraction of humanity or unintelligent matter. 4. &cinianism, or the denial of the Deity of Christ. Few stronger passages could be adduced than those in the context to assure us of the apostle's conviction of the di,,anity of the Savionr. In the ninth verse we are taught to "confess Jesus as Lord," and following the emphatic language of the text comes the thirteenth verse, where the prophecy of Joel and the title Jehovah are applied to Christ, the express subject of this chapt.er. All doubt as to the reference is removed by the question, "How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?" since the object or our faith is ever represented as Christ, the manifested God. The only refuge is to deny the competency and inspiration of the apostle, and then we do not get rid of the other Scripture texts which speak of him as the Creator "by whom all things were made," and the Judge "to whom all authority is committed." No declaration of the relationship of the Son to the Father, more available for explanation of the mystery, can we have than "he is the Image of the invisible God." 6. Sectarianism, or Judaism u a system of rites, the embodiment of the narrow bigoted spirit which will admit ooly certain claSl!eB within its pale. Most scornful epithets did the Jews employ with respect to the unprivileged state of the rest o~ mankind; they were "the _drops of the bucket the offscouring of all things." But if the whole world may claim the same Lord, ~ne family dares not arrogat.e to itself all the Divine love and blessing. What is the miserable mperiority of the giant to the dwarf in the view of him who gazes from the mountain-top? The regard of God is to quality, not quantity; he wants the pure gold of repentance and obedience, no matter with what ingredients or amid what l!DJTOundings it may be found. Jesus Christ taught us to abolish caste by the petition, "Oar Fa.ther." In the present conditjon of religions knowledge and feeling, sects may be convenient, almoet iwce1111&ry, but we need not unchristianize those without our borders nor confine our view of aalvation to those who utter the same party shibboleth. IL A'!'BUTH oF OOllFOBTABLE IKPOBT--THE BENEFICENCE OF Gon. 1. His wealth r,errr.ite Mm to do good t<, all. The slowly passing centuries have not enable.i men to fo:.ci out the extent of the Divine riches. The catalogue is cxhaustleee that is being cw:,piloo of the ada.pta.tions, combinations, resources, with which the Creator has furni!!Lt:d ni.an'• home. Then, whi!Bt the mlcroscq>e reveall Innumerable lntlniteslrnnl wowicni, the telescope dileuver• OOUDtlese worlds. And the apoatle delighted In the en. x. 1-21.] TIIE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TUE ROMANS.