_THE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN_ ‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher power. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.’ Romans 13:1 St. Paul is enforcing obedience to authority as a duty owed to God, and doubtless he realised the deep importance of the advice he was g... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE MINISTRY OF MONARCHY_ ‘He is a minister of God to thee for good.’ Romans 13:4 So speaks the Apostle of the empire-monarchy of his own time, of its head, and of its officers. Minister of God: that name makes sacred the office and the authority to which it is given. If it could dignify in St.... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD’S CIVIC MINISTERS_ ‘For they are God’s ministers.’ Romans 13:6 St. Paul gives the Roman Christians the very highest, the most overwhelming views of their spiritual position, the greatness of their present inward elevation, and of their glory to come—such a glory, he says, that the whole crea... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRISTIAN LOVE_ ‘Love worketh no ill to his neighbour.’ Romans 13:10 Holy Scripture shows that universal kindness and benevolence is the true spirit of Christianity. I. THE OBSTACLE is our natural selfishness, which is our strongest characteristic. The desire to get on is natural; the desire f... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LAW FULFILLED BY LOVE_ ‘Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.’ Romans 13:10 We must be careful to understand the real meaning of the text. It is the assertion of a fact. We must not read it to mean that if a man has this principle of love firmly embedded in his nature, it will help hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE COMING DAY_ ‘The day is at hand.’ Romans 13:12 The Apostle says, ‘The night is far spent.’ Whether this is so cosmically and historically, we know not, though many have guessed and calculated as to the further duration of the night; but individually for each one it is good we should allow, ‘... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHRISTIAN LIFE_ ‘Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.’ Romans 13:12 That is the strength of the Apostle’s image— I. CAST AWAY THE WORKS OF DARKNESS.—The things you have been doing in the dark, the things you have been revelling in, the nam... [ Continue Reading ]