What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Ver. 1. _Shall we continue_] _Quasi dicat, _ that were most unreasonable, and to an ingenuous nature, impossible. To argue from mercy to liberty, is the devil's logic. Should we not after deliverance yield obedience? said holy... [ Continue Reading ]
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Ver. 2. _Live any longer therein_] Fall into it we may and shall; but it is not the falling into the water that drowns, but lying in it; so it is not falling into sin that damns, but living in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Ver. 3. _Baptized into his death_] _Hoc est baptizari pro mortuis, _ saith Beza, to be buried with Christ in baptism, Colossians 2:12, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, Romans 6:11 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Ver. 4. _We are buried_] Burial is a continuing under death, so is mortification a continuation of dying to sin, _Mors... [ Continue Reading ]
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also _in the likeness_ of _his_ resurrection: Ver. 5. _For if we have been planted_] Burying is a kind of planting. The Dutch call the burial place God's Acre.... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with _him_, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Ver. 6. _The body of sin_] For whole evil is in man, and whole man in evil. _ Is crucified_] Which is a lingering but a sure death. _ Should not serve sin_] As... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that is dead is freed from sin. Ver. 7. _Is freed from sin_] Anacreon saith the like, ο θανων ουκ επιθυμει; death is the accomplishment of mortification. It doth at once what death doth by degrees. Herbs and flowers breed worms, which yet at last kill the herbs and flowers. So sin bred death... [ Continue Reading ]
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Ver. 8. _We shall also live_] Then we are said properly to live, when our regeneration is perfected in heaven. To live here is but to lie a dying.... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Ver. 9. _Death hath no more, &c._] Christ, being the life essential, swallowed up death in victory, as the fire swalloweth up the fuel, and as Moses' serpent swallowed up the sorcerers' serpents.... [ Continue Reading ]
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Ver. 10. _He died unto sin_] That is, to abolish sin, asRomans 8:2 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ver. 11. _Reckon ye also_] By faith, reason and reckon yourselves wholly dead in and through Christ, who once died perfectly to sin, as a common person.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Ver. 12. _Let not sin therefore_] As if the apostle should say, we preach purity and not liberty, as the adversary suggesteth, Romans 6:1; cf. Romans 3:8. Let not sin reign; rebel it will; but do not activ... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither yield ye your members _as_ instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members _as_ instruments of righteousness unto God. Ver. 13. _Unto sin_] As Satan's general, who hath his trenches, 2 Corinthians 10:4; his comm... [ Continue Reading ]
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Ver. 14. _Sin shall not have dominion_] Rebel it may, but reign it shall not in any saint. It fareth with sin in the regenerate, as with those beasts, Daniel 7:12; they had their dominion taken away, yet their... [ Continue Reading ]
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Ver. 15. _Shall we sin, because, &c._] Some Antinomian libertines would persuade men that God is never displeased with his people, though they fall into adultery, or the like sin, no, not with a fatherly displea... [ Continue Reading ]
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Ver. 16. _His servants ye are_] Sinners, though not drunk, yet are not their own men, but at Satan's beck and check, whom they seem to... [ Continue Reading ]
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Ver. 17. _That form of doctrine_] Gr. "That type or mould;" the doctrine is the mould, hearers the metal, which takes impression from it in one part as well as anot... [ Continue Reading ]
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Ver. 18. _Versus est planus, _ saith Pareus.... [ Continue Reading ]
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Ver. 19. _After the manner of men_] That is commonly, _Crassius... [ Continue Reading ]
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. Ver. 20. _Free from righteousness_] That is, utterly void of grace, and did therefore sin lustily and horribly, earnestly opposing with crest and breast whatsoever stood in the way of their sins and lusts.... [ Continue Reading ]
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things _is_ death. Ver. 21. _Whereof ye are ashamed_] Where sin is in the saddle, shame is on the crupper. Men would have the sweet, but not the shame of sin; and the credit of religion, but not go to the cost o... [ Continue Reading ]
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Ver. 22. _Become servants to God_] _Phrasis vulgatissima est, Deum colere. Non secus atque agri fertiles inprimis et optimi, sic Dei cultus, fructus fert ad vitam aeternam u... [ Continue Reading ]
For the wages of sin _is_ death; but the gift of God _is_ eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ver. 23. _For the wages of sin_] The best largesse or congiary (οψωνιον) that sin gives to his soldiers is death of all sorts. This is the just hire of the least sin. _a_ The Jesuits would persuade... [ Continue Reading ]