The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 353

tntlon, 11 danger, against which it is prudent to be warned. It was, no doubt, easier to undereto.nd this dissuasion in the earliest days of Christianity than it is now. "This world I" "this age I "-what a fulness, an awful fulness of meanin" this expression m1JBt have had for a Christian of the first century I Not the ma.teria\ w~rld of course but the world of ~ume.n society, of pagan idolatry, and s~nsu_ality, and cruelty, and ~pticism, and despair, was the world present to the apostles mmd. Satan is termed in the New Testament "the prince of this world;" the unbelieving, unchristian population are designated "the children of this world." "The disputer of this world,"" the wisdom of this world," apply to what is unspiritual and godless. The distinction between the heathen world and the Church of Christ must then have been sharp indeed. And no reader could be at a loss to understand Paul's advice to the Roman Christians not to be fashioned according to this world. For in Rome, perhaps above all other places, this world was the acknowledged mistress and sovereign of huma.n society. And, as a matter of fact, the Christian community in this and in other cities of the empire did live a life in utter, manifest, obtrusive contrast to that lived by the multitude of ambitious, pleasure-loving, superstitious, cynical citizens, by whom they were =- rounded. To make this a practical ma.tter, let us ask-How does this dissuasion apply to us? What is the world of which we are to beware? Is there snch a world in our England to-day ? We meet with narrow and prejudiced opinion on these questions.. Some people think it worldly to have anything to do with politics-especially on one side; others, to mix with general society; others, to take an interest in painting, archi- tecture, music, and even literature. To such objections it is enough to answer that, in becoming a Christian, one does not cease to be a man, but rather learns to bring to bear upon human interests and occupations the principles of the highest life and calling. We must beware of narrow and merely technical definitions of" the world." In trnth, to be "fashioned according to the world " is to conform t.o sinful and prevalent prac- tices. What is worldliness? It is injustice, untruthfulness, impurity, avarice, slander. ·some of these vices and sins are to be found amongst those who are very scrupulous in preserving what they call the line between the Church and the world. But bear in mind that a life devoted to selfish aggrandizement or pleasure, a life lacking in love and sympathy, is a worldly life. The same idea is dwelt upon with urgency by the other apostles. John admonishes, "Love not the world;" and Peter requires Christians "not to be faehioned according t.o their former lusts in their ignorance." II. A DIRECTION; i.e. to spiritual renewal. That the followers of Christ might present themselves "a living sacrifice" to God, they were taught that they must become something very different from what they had been in their unbelieving, unregenerate days. The admonition of the apostle is very full and strong. 1. It is to a change. "Repent I" was the first Divine message t.o men-alike from the forerunner and from the Messiah. Christians they could not be, whether Jews or Gentiles, until changed. Religion cannot flatter, though priests may. 2. It is to reneu:al. How characteristic of the religion of the Lord Jesus is this counsel! We have a new covenant, and we need a new nature; we need to become a new creation, that we may live in newness of life, and so prepo.re to dwell in the new heavens and to join in the new song. Christianity is o. gospel of renewal. The fact implies the abandonment and death and crucifixion of the old-the old nature, "the old man," as Paul calls it. Christ takes the individual, the society, in hand, and moulds all afresh from the beginning; implants new principles, new laws, new aims, new hopes. He makes one new mo.n, one new humanity. What a gospel it is! It invites men t.o turn their back upon their old and sinful ways, to abjure their old and sinful self; to enter upon a new course-to become a. new creation. Here, surely, is hope and promise for the downcast. Amendment may be impossible, but not renewal and regeneration ; for the Spirit of God is the mightiest of all powers to transform. 3. It is to a me-ntal, a spiritual re-newal. We are invited to a renovation, which sho.11 be not merely outward and bodily, but shall commonoe with the very centre and sprin~ and root of our being. '!'here is wisdom in this provision. It originatos in the Author and Framer of our bolng, who know whnt wns in mll.ll. Let the heart be renew~, and, the fountain being cloansod, swoot wntor shall flow from it; and, the tree borng made gL-..,.J., frui~ ripe allll wholesome 11hall be borne. Our Lord asks for the hmrt, 1,11.t tho heart only will ho uocopt. "llu rouowed," soya tho apostle olsowhere," iu the spirit of your mind." 352 'l'HE EI'ISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on, xu. 1-21.