Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation — Either for things present or past. Now he comes to deliverance and liberty. The apostle here resumes the thread of his discourse, which was interrupted, Romans 7:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is therefore now no condemnation — Either for things present or past. Now he comes to deliverance and liberty. The apostle here resumes the thread of his discourse, which was interrupted, Romans 7:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
The law of the Spirit — That is, the gospel. Hath freed me from the law of sin and death — That is, the Mosaic dispensation.... [ Continue Reading ]
For what the law — Of Moses. Could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh — Incapable of conquering our evil nature. If it could, God needed not to have sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh — We with our sinful flesh were devoted to death. But God sending his own Son, in the liken... [ Continue Reading ]
That the righteousness of the law — The holiness it required, described, Romans 8:11. Might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit — Who are guided in all our thoughts, words, and actions, not by corrupt nature, but by the Spirit of God. From this place St. Paul descr... [ Continue Reading ]
They that are after the flesh — Who remain under the guidance of corrupt nature. Mind the things of the flesh — Have their thoughts and affections fixed on such things as gratify corrupt nature; namely, on things visible and temporal; on things of the earth, on pleasure, (of sense or imagination,) p... [ Continue Reading ]
For to be carnally minded — That is, to mind the things of the flesh. Is death — The sure mark of spiritual death, and the way to death everlasting. But to be spiritually minded — That is, to mind the things of the Spirit. Is life — A sure mark of spiritual life, and the way to life everlasting. And... [ Continue Reading ]
Enmity against God — His existence, power, and providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
They who are in the flesh — Under the government of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the Spirit — Under his government. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ — Dwelling and governing in him. He is none of his — He is not a member of Christ; not a Christian; not in a state of salvation. A plain, express declaration, which admits of no exception. He that hath ears to hear, let h... [ Continue Reading ]
Now if Christ be in you — Where the Spirit of Christ is, there is Christ. The body indeed is dead — Devoted to death. Because of sin — Heretofore committed. But the Spirit is life — Already truly alive. Because of righteousness — Now attained. From Romans 8:13, St. Paul, having finished what he had... [ Continue Reading ]
We are not debtors to the flesh — We ought not to follow it.... [ Continue Reading ]
The deeds of the flesh — Not only evil actions, but evil desires, tempers, thoughts. If ye mortify — Kill, destroy these. Ye shall live — The life of faith more abundantly here, and hereafter the life of glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God — In all the ways of righteousness. They are the sons of God — Here St. Paul enters upon the description of those blessings which he comprises, Romans 8:30, in the word glorified; though, indeed, he does not describe mere glory, but that which is still min... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye — Who are real Christians. Have not received the spirit of bondage — The Holy Ghost was not properly a spirit of bondage, even in the time of the Old Testament. Yet there was something of bondage remaining even in those who then had received the Spirit. Again — As the Jews did before. We — Al... [ Continue Reading ]
The same Spirit beareth witness with our spirit — With the spirit of every true believer, by a testimony distinct from that of his own spirit, or the testimony of a good conscience. Happy they who enjoy this clear and constant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Joint heirs — That we may know it is a great inheritance which God will give us for he hath given a great one to his Son. If we suffer with him — Willingly and cheerfully, for righteousness' sake. This is a new proposition, referring to what follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I reckon — This verse gives the reason why he but now mentioned sufferings and glory. When that glory "shall be revealed in us," then the sons of God will be revealed also.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the earnest expectation — The word denotes a lively hope of something drawing near, and a vehement longing after it. Of the creation — Of all visible creatures, believers excepted, who are spoken of apart; each kind, according as it is capable. All these have been sufferers through sin; and to a... [ Continue Reading ]
The creation was made subject to vanity — Abuse, misery, and corruption. By him who subjected it — Namely, God, Genesis 3:17, Genesis 5:29. Adam only made it liable to the sentence which God pronounced; yet not without hope.... [ Continue Reading ]
The creation itself shall be delivered — Destruction is not deliverance: therefore whatsoever is destroyed, or ceases to be, is not delivered at all. Will, then, any part of the creation be destroyed? Into the glorious liberty — The excellent state wherein they were created.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the whole creation groaneth together — With joint groans, as it were with one voice. And travaileth — Literally, is in the pains of childbirth, to be delivered of the burden of the curse. Until now — To this very hour; and so on till the time of deliverance.... [ Continue Reading ]
And even we, who have the first — fruits of the Spirit — That is, the Spirit, who is the first — fruits of our inheritance. The adoption — Persons who had been privately adopted among the Romans were often brought forth into the forum, and there publicly owned as their sons by those who adopted them... [ Continue Reading ]
For we are saved by hope — Our salvation is now only in hope. We do not yet possess this full salvation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise the Spirit — Nay, not only the universe, not only the children of God, but the Spirit of God also himself, as it were, groaneth, while he helpeth our infirmities, or weaknesses. Our understandings are weak, particularly in the things of God our desires are weak; our prayers are weak. We kno... [ Continue Reading ]
But he who searcheth the hearts — Wherein the Spirit dwells and intercedes. Knoweth — Though man cannot utter it. What is the mind of the Spirit, for he maketh intercession for the saints — Who are near to God. According to God — According to his will, as is worthy of God. and acceptable to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And we know — This in general; though we do not always know particularly what to pray for. That all things — Ease or pain, poverty or riches, and the ten thousand changes of life. Work together for good — Strongly and sweetly for spiritual and eternal good. To them that are called according to his p... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom he foreknew, he also predestinated conformable to the image of his Son — Here the apostle declares who those are whom he foreknew and predestinated to glory; namely, those who are conformable to the image of his Son. This is the mark of those who are foreknown and will be glorified, 2 Timothy 2... [ Continue Reading ]
Them he — In due time. Called — By his gospel and his Spirit. And whom he called — When obedient to the heavenly calling, Acts 26:19. He also justified — Forgave and accepted. And whom he justified — Provided they "continued in his goodness," Romans 11:22, he in the end glorified — St. Paul does not... [ Continue Reading ]
What shall we say then to these things — Related in the third, fifth, and eighth chapters? As if he had said, We cannot go, think, or wish anything farther. If God be for us — Here follow four periods, one general and three particular. Each begins with glorying in the grace of God, which is followed... [ Continue Reading ]
He that — This period contains four sentences: He spared not his own Son; therefore he will freely give us all things. He delivered him up for us all; therefore, none can lay anything to our charge. Freely — For all that follows justification is a free gift also. All things — Needful or profitable f... [ Continue Reading ]
God's elect — The above — cited author observes, that long before the coming of Christ the heathen world revolted from the true God, and were therefore reprobated, or rejected. But the nation of the Jews were chosen to be the people of God, and were therefore styled, "the children" or "sons of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea rather, that is risen — Our faith should not stop at his death, but be exercised farther on his resurrection, kingdom, second coming. Who maketh intercession for us — Presenting there his obedience, his sufferings, his prayers, and our prayers sanctified through him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ — Toward us? Shall affliction or distress — He proceeds in order, from less troubles to greater: can any of these separate us from his protection in it ; and, if he sees good, deliverance from it?... [ Continue Reading ]
All the day — That is, every day, continually. We are accounted — By our enemies; by ourselves. Psalms 44:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
We more than conquer — We are not only no losers, but abundant gainers, by all these trials. This period seems to describe the full assurance of hope.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am persuaded — This is inferred from Romans 8:34, in an admirable order: — Neither death" shall hurt us; For "Christ is dead:" "Nor life;" 'is risen" Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers; nor things pre — sent, nor things to come;" "is at the right hand of God:" "Nor height, nor depth, nor a... [ Continue Reading ]