Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 1. _Being justified by faith_] As he had said, Romans 4:24 . _ We have peace with God_] A blessed calm lodged in our consciences; like as when Jonah was cast overboard, there followed a tranquillity. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Ver. 2. _We have access_] προσαγωγην, Christ leading us by the hand, and presenting us to the Father, with, "Behold, here am I, and the children whom thou hast given me." Ephesians 2:18 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And not only _so_, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; Ver. 3. _We glory in tribulations_] As an old soldier doth in his scars of honour. SeeGalatians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 7:4. _Feri, Domine, feri; nam a peccatis absolutus sum, _ saith Luther: Strike, Lord,... [ Continue Reading ]
And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Ver. 4. _And experience, hope_] Without hope patience is cold almost in the fourth degree, and that is but a little from poison.... [ Continue Reading ]
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Ver. 5. _Hope maketh not ashamed_] As among men, many lie languishing at hope's hospital, as he did at the pool of Bethesda,John 5:1,9, and return as they did from the brooks... [ Continue Reading ]
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Ver. 6. _Christ died for_] A sufficient evidence of God's dearest and deepest love shed abroad in our hearts, as a most sweet ointment.... [ Continue Reading ]
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. Ver. 7. _Yet peradventure for a good man_] For a public person. Lilloe stepped between the murderer and King Edwin his master to intercept the deadly thrust. (Speed's Chron.) A common soldier... [ Continue Reading ]
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Ver. 8. _God commendeth, &c._] Herein God lays naked to us the tenderest heart of his fatherly compassions, as in an anatomy. A young student in history (saith Polybius) should have the whole history of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Ver. 9. _Much more then_] It is a greater work of God to bring men to grace, than, being in the state of grace, to bring them to glory; because sin is far more distant from grace than grace is from glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Ver. 10. _We shall be saved_] Here the apostle reasoneth from regeneration to eternal life, as the lesser.... [ Continue Reading ]
And not only _so_, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Ver. 11. _Not only so_] Not in tribulation only do we glory, _as _ Rom 5:3 but in the whole course of our lives. Yet not without some damps and dumps, while here. While I live (saith... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Ver. 12. _As by one man_] Yet Anabaptists deny original sin, as did also the Pelagians of old, confuted by Augustine. Egranus, a German preacher, said (as Melancthon re... [ Continue Reading ]
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Ver. 13. _Sin is not imputed_] In men's esteem, as Romans 4:15 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Ver. 14. _Death reigned_] From the reign of death, he concludes the reign of sin. Infants are no innocents; the first sheet or b... [ Continue Reading ]
But not as the offence, so also _is_ the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, _which is_ by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Ver. 15. _Many be dead_] Many is here put for all, as all for many,1 Timothy 2:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And not as _it was_ by one that sinned, _so is_ the gift: for the judgment _was_ by one to condemnation, but the free gift _is_ of many offences unto justification. Ver. 16. _Of many offences_] _i.e._ Of all, whether imputed to us, inherent in us, or issuing from us,... [ Continue Reading ]
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Ver. 17. _Abundance_] That is, abundant grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore as by the offence of one _judgment came_ upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one _the free gift came_ upon all men unto justification of life. Ver. 18. _By the offence of one_] We were all in Adam, as the whole country in a parliamentman. And although we chose no... [ Continue Reading ]
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Ver. 19. _Many_] That is, all except Christ, sinners, tainted with sins, guilt, and filth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Ver. 20. _But where sin abounded_] But then where sin that abounded in the life, it abounds in the conscience in grief and detestation of it, as the greatest evil. Bonner objected to Mr Phil... [ Continue Reading ]
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Ver. 21. _That as sin hath reigned_] That is, the wrath of God by sin. _ Through righteousness_] Imputed and imparted. _ By Jesus Christ_] See how sweetly the end answe... [ Continue Reading ]