_OUR DEBT TO THE JEWS_ ‘What advantage then hath the Jew?… oracles of God.’ Romans 3:1 I. THE ADVANTAGE HERE NOTICED puts us in mind of our indebtedness to the Jew, more especially in regard to the Holy Scriptures. II. THIS ADVANTAGE REMINDS us that Divine favour and high privilege may be misu... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHAT IS SIN?_ ‘For by the law is the knowledge of sin.’ Romans 3:20 The scriptural definition of sin is that ‘sin is the transgression of the law.’ And it is a most accurate and comprehensive description, for if there were no ‘law’ of any kind, there would be no ‘transgression.’ ‘Transgression’... [ Continue Reading ]
_ATONEMENT_ ‘Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.’ Romans 3:24 This verse and those which follow it are a full statement of the way of salvation. I. THE SOURCE OF SALVATION.—Our salvation is to be attributed not to works of righteousness we have do... [ Continue Reading ]
_JUSTIFICATION_ ‘That he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.’ Romans 3:26 This text brought peace to the mind of Cowper the poet. It suggests— I. THE SOURCE OF OUR JUSTIFICATION.—Salvation has its origin in the grace of God. Only when we understand the heinousness... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GOD OF THE GENTILES_ ‘Is He the God of the Jews only? is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.’ Romans 3:29 These words give us the basis of the Apostle’s missionary career. God is not the God of the Jews only, that is, He belongs equally to all men. On this principle must... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD_ ‘If so be that God is one.’ Romans 3:30 (R.V.) In these words the Revised Version has restored to us a text, an argument, and even a principle which had been concealed. Salvation, St. Paul urges, must be the same for all, because all have the same God to deal with, ‘if... [ Continue Reading ]