Romans 8.
WE can well understand with what a sense of relief the man whose experience is recorded in Romans 7 would exclaim: ― “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” “He was not out of the wood however. He had learned of the Deliverer, but he had yet to tell the story of deliverance. Most people in this favored land have heard of the Saviour, but myriads have not got salvation. It may be that is the case with someone reading these lines. If so, let us say to you, dear friend, you must take your place as a lost sinner, come to Him, trust in Him, accept Him as your very own personal Saviour and then salvation will be yours. Delay doing so no longer, we beseech you.
In chapter eight we at once meet an altogether new and a remarkable expression: — “in Christ Jesus.” In the early chapters we have had described, a man in his sins. At the close of chapter five we have the description of a man in Adam; while chapter seven gives us a view of a man with sin in him. For all such there could be nothing but condemnation or judgment. We have seen how. God has dealt with the sins question, and also with the sin question. The death of Christ has secured justification as to our sins, deliverance from the power of sin and freedom from every claim of law. Now we find that the erstwhile sinner who could do nothing but sin (chapter 3); who, as in Adam, was under condemnation (chapter 5); under the mastery of sin (chapter 6); and under the dominion of the law (chapter 7) has reached the Deliverer, has obtained deliverance, is now taken account of by God as being “in Christ Jesus,” and is therefore free from all condemnation. It could not be otherwise, to condemn “them that are in Christ Jesus” would be to condemn Him, and that could not possibly be. If we are in Him there is nothing to condemn. The second half of verse one appears to be in interpolation, and belongs, as is quite apparent, to verse four.
Apprehending this, the man, whose experience we have in chapter seven, can say: ― “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Now he has got deliverance. It will be observed that this is a very individual matter he says “hath made one free.” It is equally true for every believer, but it is true in him as, and when, he has learned a similar lesson and can take these words into his lips.
Verse three shows us how much this meant for God and for His beloved Son— “His own Son.” How touching are the words: ― “God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” The lowly Son of God came into Manhood, went to the Cross, and He of whom as Man, it is written that He “knew no sin;” (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)); He “did no sin;” (1 Peter 2:2222Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22)); and “in Him is no sin;” (1 John 3:55And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)); was made that hateful thing, was forsaken by God, endured sin’s awful judgment; settled the sin question and glorified God in the settling of it, in order that in Him as He now is, and where He now is, we might be before God free from condemnation; fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law; and walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit (verse 4).
This introduces us to something else that is new. Only once in the early chapters has the Holy Spirit been mentioned (verse 5). In this chapter He is spoken of eighteen times. He it is who produces the sense of the need of deliverance. He it is who leads to the Deliverer. Indwelling, as He does, every true believer, this real, divine Person seeks to maintain us in the joy of the new-found liberty, and to give us to know something of the illimitable wealth of blessing that belongs to us and to all those who are “in Christ Jesus.” The result is that it is now not “the things of the flesh” but “the things of the Spirit” that occupy us. Having learned that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (verse 8), and being under the control of the Spirit it is that which is pleasurable to God that is now manifest.
The power of the Spirit is infinite. He is “the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead”—that is past. So “He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (verse 11). That is future. The change of title seems to suggest Christ in association with His saints, and to point forward to that which shall take place when He comes for them. (Compare 1 Corinthians 15:51-5751Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑57). Philippians 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21). 1 Thessalonians 4:13-1713But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑17)). For the present He exercises His power on our behalf. He leads us into the knowledge of sonship, the liberty of children, and the reality and delight of knowing God as Father.
This has nothing to do with the popular but quite false theory of the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man. It is peculiar to Christianity and is known only by those who having been “born of God” (John 1:12,1312But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12‑13)) are His children, and who having received the Spirit of adoption enjoy the position and the privileges of sons and are enabled to cry “Abba Father” (verses 14, 15).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)). The Holy Spirit has chosen various penmen whom He has inspired to present the precious truth in different ways, and there are points where the writers meet and dovetail their respective presentations of divine teaching thus making one complete whole. Thus the Apostle John has been used to write of our relationship as children (in every instance whether in the Gospel or in the Epistles that bear his name, “sons” should be rendered “children”); whereas Paul dwells more on our position as sons. John shows that we become children by new birth Paul indicates that we become sons by, adoption. In our chapter they meet and how perfect is the result.
Sonship speaks of position and dignity, and looks on to the day of manifestation (verse 19). “Children” conveys the thought of relationship, intimacy, liberty and confidence. The eldest son of a ruling Monarch is heir to the throne. He lives now in view of a future day in the dignity with which that unique position invests him, and his entire career is colored by it. He is also a child however, no matter what his age may be, and in his relations with his father, in the secret of his home life, he takes free advantage of the liberty which belongs to him as a child, and which the knowledge of his father’s love for him and interest in him begets.
May we be permitted a word of practical application here? We want—do we not? — to be living as sons, conscious of the dignity and reveling in the riches of that position, looking on to the coming day of display, and meanwhile declining the very best that the world offers as being beneath our dignity to accept, and considering any suffering that that may entail as not worthy of mention when compared with that glory which is and which shall be ours.
As to the circumstances of our pathway we take advantage of the children’s privilege. We come to the Father at all times. We tell into His ever-listening ear the story of our joys and trials, our triumphs and defeats, we keep back nothing, there is no reserve, we bring to Him our every burden, and knowing all about us, as He does, intensely interested in us, as He is, and loving us with an unwearied, unbounded, unchanging, ever-watchful, faithful love, He always seeks our greatest good, our greatest blessing, our greatest happiness.
Here again the Holy Spirit is prominent as verse twenty-six so beautifully sets forth. “Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.” Oh, ye heavy laden, tempest-tossed, sorrowing saints! Ye who are crushed with burdens known only to yourselves and to the Lord; ye who fall down before Him and can only groan; Be of good cheer! The Holy Spirit interprets your groan. “He maketh intercession for the saints.” God knows the mind of the Spirit, the Spirit knows the mind of God (verse 27); you, your concerns, your cares, are the subject of divine interest and intercourse, and the result is that if you are very conscious that you “know not what ye should pray for as ye ought,” ye do know that “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (verse 28).
How richly endowed are we! The sunshine of the Father’s love streams down upon us, our adorable Lord makes intercession for us before God, (verse 34), the Holy Spirit is ceaselessly in communication with Heaven on our behalf, and our safe, happy, triumphant conduct to the home-land has been undertaken for us by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, so that we have only to leave ourselves in the keeping of divine love and divine power—in the keeping of God who is for us (verse 31)— assured that all is, all must be, all will be well.
We must leave a brief consideration of the remainder of this chapter, as well as a general summing up of the epistle for our-concluding paper (D.V.).
W. BRAMWELL DICK.