_What advantage then hath the Jew?_ …chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. MORAL ADVANTAGE I. There is much advantage to those favoured with clearer light and higher privilege, in every respect. They have the advantage-- 1. Of feeling that God cares for them. The hea... [ Continue Reading ]
_For what if some did not believe?_ MAN’S UNBELIEF AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS I. Man’s unbelief; its various forms; impenitence; scepticism. II. God’s faithfulness; His Word remains true; cannot fail of effect; must be glorified. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) GOD JUSTIFIED THOUGH MAN BELIEVES NOT We have here... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say?_ MAN’S SIN AND GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS 1. Our unrighteousness may possibly commend the righteousness of God. 2. This result is involuntary, not meritorious. 3. Hence to suppose that sin is less punishable because good f... [ Continue Reading ]
_And not rather … Let us do evil that good may come._ DOING EVIL THAT GOOD MAY COME I. Almighty God can and often doth overrule evil actions to his own glory and cause bad means to conduce to a good end. 1. This is sufficiently intimated in the beginning of this chapter, which gave occasion to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_What then?_ Are we better than they? No … they are all under sin. NOMINAL CHRISTIANS COMPARED WITH HEATHEN 1. Have much advantage every way (Romans 3:2). 2. Are no better. 3. Are all alike under sin. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) MAN UNDER SIN, inasmuch as-- I. He is under the imputation of sin. And wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law._ THE LAW I. Its claims--are universal. II. Its teachings--distinct and authoritative. III. Its effects--condemnation, complete and without exception. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) LAW AND THE LAW For the most part... [ Continue Reading ]
_But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested._ THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS I. Prepared by God. Devised; approved; conferred by Him. II. Attested by the law and the prophets. III. Secured by Christ. Free grace; redemption; propitiation. IV. Designed for all. All need it; all a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The righteousness of God which is by the faith of Christ unto all and upon all them that believe._ THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS I. Divine in its nature. II. Free in its dispensation--unto and upon all them that believe. III. Unlimited in its offer--there is no difference. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) GOD’S GRA... [ Continue Reading ]
_For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God._ SIN AS A FACT I. The necessity of a clear sense of sin. 1. The gospel is a glorious remedy for a universal and otherwise incurable disease; and the first step must ever be to make us sensible of that disease. For one of its most dangerous... [ Continue Reading ]
_Being Justified freely by His grace._ JUSTIFICATION I. Its mode--“freely.” It is not a matter of wages, it is a free gift. II. Its origin--“His grace.” God’s free good will inclining Him to sinful man to bestow on him a favour. There is no blind necessity here. We are face to face with a generou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation: _ I. Speak of Christ as a propitiation, or show what His being said to be a propitiation for sin may imply in it-- 1. That He was appointed by God the Father to make an atonement for the sins of men. 2. That He was substituted in the room of sinners... [ Continue Reading ]
_To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness._ THE CROSS A MANIFESTATION OF THE DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS I. How. In two ways so closely united that either of them separated would lose its value. 1. By the very fact of Christ’s sacrifice and bloody death. If Paul does not see in this punishment a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where is boasting then?_ It is excluded. BOASTFULNESS--JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN I. Boastfulness was a Jewish national characteristic of a peculiar species, for it took the form of religious conceit. 1. They could not boast of being rich or strong; but when their fortunes were at the lowest they had... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law._ JUSTIFICATION I. The terms of this conclusion. 1. “Justification” signifies, literally, acquittal. In a court of law such acquittal may be made on the ground of-- (1) Innocence. (2) Of a sufficient satisfacti... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is He the God of the Jews only?_ THE DIVINE UNITIES I. One God. II. One law. III. One faith. IV. One ultimate purpose. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) IS HE NOT ALSO OF THE GENTILES?_--_ The universal Father The writings of Paul have met with a singular fate. They were intended to reveal the Father’s un... [ Continue Reading ]