_For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death._ LAW CANCELLING LAW 1. Few words are oftener on our lips than the word law. But we are in danger of using the word as though laws were impersonal forces, independently of a controlling mind. 2. But... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh._ THE REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW I. The Divine purpose for man, whether in the old testament or the new, is the same. The reader who turns from the one to the other seems to have passed into a new world. The things, such as sacrifice... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_That the righteousness of the law might he fulfilled in us._ RIGHTEOUSNESS FULFILLED I. The design of God in thus, by Christ, condemning sin in the flesh. The penalty of the law is fulfilled in us when, as members of Christ’s body by spiritual union, we are freed from condemnation; but it is in sa... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh._ DESCRIPTION OF REGENERATE AND UNREGENERATE The word “flesh” is here to be taken not in the natural sense, but in the moral; and the word “Spirit” is here to be taken for the Spirit of grace and regeneration. First, the universalit... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For to be carnally minded is death._ THE CARNAL AND THE SPIRITUAL MIND I. The carnal mind. 1. The disposition. (1) The expression is an abstract one. The apostle touches a principle which he finds at work, and laying hold of it says, “I wish you to look at it so that you may see its nature and... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Because the carnal mind is enmity against God._ THE CARNAL MIND I. Its attitude towards God. 1. Enmity. (1) Hating the thought of God. (2) Resisting the grace of God. 2. Insubordination--transgressing the law of God. 3. Utter incompatibility with His nature. II. God’s attitude towards it.... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God._ PLEASING GOD Men’s happiness is to please them upon whom they depend, and upon whose favour their wellbeing hangs. It is the servant’s happiness to please his master, the courtier’s to please his prince. Now certainly all creatures depend upon... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit._ WE ARE NOT IN THE FLESH, BUT ALAS: THE FLESH IS STILL IN US “A boat has been sailing on the salt ocean, it has come through many a storm, and, half full of briny water, it is now sailing on the fresh water of the river. It is no longer in the salt w... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness._ THE INDWELLING OF CHRIST I. For the present the indwelling of Christ in believers, by His Spirit, removes the power of death from the sphere of their spiritual nature only. 1. From that nat... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus … dwell in you._ THE INDWELLING SPIRIT The indwelling of God the Holy Spirit is the common mark of all believers in Christ. It is the shepherd’s mark of the flock of the Lord Jesus, distinguishing them from the rest of the world. It is the goldsmith’s... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live after the flesh._ THE CHRISTIAN--A DEBTOR I. How are we to understand this. We are debtors-- 1. To all times. (1) To the past. To such who have preceded us we owe the purity of the Church. Shall we not, in some degree, repay the imme... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live._ SIN AND DEATH, OR GRACE AND LIFE I. If sin live in us, we shall die. 1. To live “after the flesh” is to obey the orders of our corrupt nature; to gratify its sinful desire... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God._ THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT We are led not as brute beasts, but as reasonable creatures; not as though we do nothing, but lest we should do no good thing. Neither are we led against our will, but in the leading made willing to b... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For ye have not received the spirit of bondage … but … the Spirit of adoption._ THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AND OF ADOPTION I. The spirit of bondage. Much of the bondage of our fallen nature is not the work of the Spirit of God at all. Bondage under sin, the flesh, worldly customs, the fear of man--thi... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit._ THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT WITH OUR SPIRITS I. The respective offices of the two witnesses. 1. “The Spirit itself beareth witness.” (1) The subject of the testimony is not that we have been awakened, that we have repented, that a number of mora... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ._ SONSHIP: CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT It is not easy to imagine a more cautious, lawyer-like record than that of Lord Eldon’s, “I was born, I believe, on the 4th of June, 1751.” We may suppose that this hesitating stateme... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory._ A SUBLIME COMPARISON Men exaggerate the importance of what is close at hand, and diminish the value of what lies in the far future. Prudence teaches men to free themselves from this tendency. And... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God._ THE EXPECTATION OF THE CREATURE The Greek for “expectation” is one of those admirable words which that language easily forms. It is composed of three elements: κάρα, the head; δοκέω δοκόω δοκέω to wa... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit … groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body._ THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT I. What they include. 1. Pardon. 2. Regeneration. 3. Communion with God. II. What they inspire. 1. Hope. 2. Aspirat... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For we are saved by hope._ SAVED IN HOPE According to our version “we are saved by hope,” but that is scarcely in accordance with other parts of Holy Scripture. Everywhere we are told that we are saved by faith (Romains 5:1). The original should be rendered “in hope.” Believers are saved by faith... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought._ GOD’S SYMPATHIES WITH MAN’S INFIRMITIES I. What is meant by infirmities. There is a wide difference between an infirmity and a sin. Sin is the deliberate choice of wrong. A man’s failure to com... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God._ ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD I. It is abundantly obvious of many a single adversity--that a great and permanent good may come out of it. This is often verified, as when the disease brought on by i... [ Continuer la lecture ]