THE NEW RIGHTEOUSNESS IN UNION WITH CHRIST St. Paul's begins by repeating an objection he must often have heard from Jewish adversaries (cp: Romans 3:8), and suggested here by Romans 5:20 -'Does not this teaching of pardon by God's free favour practically encourage sin?' The objection is stated in t... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE DEAD] rather, 'died,' i.e. in baptism. Those addressed had been adult converts. Their baptism had been a definite act of attachment to Christ and of detachment from the sinful world. Although to crucify sinful and selfish desires is painful, it is done even joyfully by those who are inspired to... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Galatians 3:27. SO MANY OF US AS] RV 'all we who.'... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE BURIED] rather, 'were buried': cp. Colossians 2:12. INTO DEATH] i.e. into a state of death as regards sin. GLORY] i.e. manifestation of love and power: cp. John 11:40. NEWNESS OF LIFE] i.e. a newness consisting in life: cp. John 3:36; John 10:10; John 17:3; Romans 8:2; Colossians 3:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEEN PLANTED, etc.] RM 'become united with the likeness.. with the likeness,' as a slip is united with the tree to which it is grafted.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS CRUCIFIED] rather, 'was crucified,' i.e. potentially, when Christ was crucified; actually, in faith and baptism: cp. Matthew 18:8.; Galatians 2:20. BODY OF SIN] i.e. the body as the servant of sin: cp. Colossians 2:11. DESTROYED] i.e. as regards sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS FREED FROM SIN] As a dead slave has completely escaped from his master's power, so one who has so believed in Christ as to be joined with Him in His death to the sin of the world, should remember that sin has no more, legitimately, to-do with him. So far as its appeal to him is concerned, he shou... [ Continue Reading ]
BE DEAD] rather, 'died.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT HE DIED, etc.] RV 'the death that he died.. the life that he liveth.' ONCE] RM 'once for all.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD] RV 'in Christ Jesus,' a phrase by which St. Paul often expresses our union with the glorified Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
OBEY.. LUSTS] RV 'obey the lusts.'... [ Continue Reading ]
YIELD] RV 'present.' INSTRUMENTS] RM 'weapons.'... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDER THE LAW] RV 'under law.' A code of precepts gives no power of fulfilment. It only (1) shows what is right, (2) reveals man's sinfulness, (3) stimulates him to opposition: cp. Romans 7; 1 Corinthians 15:56; Galatians 4:5. 'To be “under the law,” in St. Paul's language, means to avoid sin from f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW] RV 'law': cp. Galatians 5:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Matthew 6:24. UNTO] i.e. resulting in. OBEDIENCE] personified; the mark of the lives both of the Redeemer and of the redeemed: cp. Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8.; Hebrews 10:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT FORM, etc.] RV 'that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered,' i.e. simple instruction in Christian truth and morality: cp. Acts 2:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE MANNER OF MEN] i.e. I use an illustration drawn from human affairs, because you have not had that deep spiritual experience to which I might appeal differently: cp. Romans 3:5. FLESH] i.e. unspiritual human nature. HAVE YIELDED] RV 'presented.' INIQUITY] lit. 'lawlessness.' UNTO INIQUITY]... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM] RV 'in regard of.'... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLINESS] RV 'sanctification.' EVERLASTING LIFE] i.e. future bliss.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIFT] RV 'free gift.' THROUGH] RV 'in': cp. Romans 6:11; 1 John 5:11. St. Paul has finished his exposition of Justification (Romans 3:19 to Romans 5:21), and now passes to Sanctification. In other words, having shown how the believer is delivered from the guilt of sin, he goes on to show how he is... [ Continue Reading ]