We are now landed in the height of our place “in Christ” as shown in this epistle. The full place is summed up in the first three verses. To stop short in Romans 7, is to stop short of the Christian position. That it can be Christian experience is impossible. From the 7th verse to the end of Romans 7 the words I, me, and my, are mentioned nearly fifty times. What is the meaning of the phrases used “I am fleshly, sold under sin,” if Christian experience? What is the meaning of the cry, “Oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me?” Is a man that is “a slave of sin,” who always breaks every commandment of the law, and who is crying out for deliverance out of a condition he is still consciously in, namely, his Adam standing, a Christian? Will you make a Christian an idolater, a blasphemer, a murderer, a thief, a covetous person? Yet this you must teach if you say that the man, who says, “the good (that is, the law) that I would I do not, but the evil that I would not, that do I,” is a Christian. Besides there is no mention of Christ or the Spirit once, till he thanks God, Romans 7:25. It is occupation with self, seeing the holiness of the law in its demands, and finding his utter powerlessness to do good (which is always the law in Rom. 7) though he wishes to do it. That it is the experience of a man dead in trespasses and sins is also impossible, for there is the will to do good; he delights in the law of God after the inward man, and with the mind he himself serves the law of God. We are therefore left to the conclusion that it is the experience of a newborn soul, with the will and the mind turned to God, yet occupied with self, and not yet delivered from the Adam condition and from the law. Directly it accepts the man in glory, instead of the man here, it bursts out in songs of praise, and concludes, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus; for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
First, there is a new standing given in the Head of the new race, to whom no condemnation is attached. Second, there is the positive communication of the Spirit of life in Christ that has set us free from the law of sin and death (comp. John 20:22). Thirdly, what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God has done. Beautiful summary of Romans 5:12-Romans 7! Romans 5:12-21 we have our portion in Christ the Head of the new race, in justification of life; Romans 6, deliverance from the law of sin and death; Romans 7, what the law could not do (Rom. 7:5-24), God has done (Rom. 7:25; 8:8). He has judged sin in the flesh, by sending His own Son, and making Him a sacrifice for sin, that the law’s righteous requirement might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Thus the only ones who fulfill the righteousness of the law, are those that have died to it in Christ’s death, and who are alive to God in Him, in possession of His Spirit of life; and grace is the only power over sin, as the law is the strength of sin. It could neither free from condemnation, deliver, nor produce the righteousness it required in us; it could give the knowledge of sin, and condemn the man to death who gives way to its first motions. But God in grace has condemned the sin and delivered the man: what the law could not do We are now in our individual standing place, and this beautiful chapter brings out all the consequences of this position. First, the Christian is in Christ, in possession of the Spirit of life in Christ, delivered, and sin condemned. Secondly, the Spirit of God indwells him, giving him a new state, and as a distinct Person dwelling in him making him know his place as a child of God (Rom. 8:9-30). Thirdly, God is for him (Rom. 8:31-39). What a chapter! May the Lord give the reader sweet thoughts on it.
What we have first is the Spirit of Christ characterizing our new life as born of God. There is an introduction in power of the Spirit in Romans 8:2, that we have not in Romans 7.
Christ communicated His Spirit of life to His disciples in John 20:22, already born of God. It is not merely in Romans 8:5-8 the flesh and new nature as we have in Romans 7, but we are of the flesh or of the Spirit. It is the mind of the flesh or the mind of the Spirit. The delivered man is characterized and energized by the Spirit of God. They that are of the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, they that are of the Spirit the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Enoch pleased God in his day, as a man of faith walking according to the light he had, in relationship with God revealed as Creator, yet on the ground of sacrifice pointing forward to Christ who was coming, and waiting for the promise. But in his day God was still testing man, as to whether he could recover himself, and so still owned him so far when there was faith, as walking on that ground. It was not proved that they that are in the flesh could not please God, and so the “common appellation” for saints in the old testament is, “the just.” But now everything has come out, man has been weighed in the balances and found wanting; he has: rejected Christ, as well as broken the law. “They that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
But Christians are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be “the Spirit of God” dwell in them. The Spirit communicated to the believer puts him into a new state, taking him out of the flesh, and brings Christ as life into his soul, enabling him to write His death on the old Adam body and condition. It is the Spirit of Christ, because the Head of the new race breathes into us His Spirit of life, and so it is Christ in us. And yet it cannot be separated from the Spirit of God, who is semi further down as a distinct Person dwelling in us. But if Christ be in us, the body is dead for sin; but the Spirit is life for righteousness. The Christ with whom the Christian is one, is a Christ that died; hence death is written on the old Adam body, which henceforth, as dead for sin, becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Without the death of Christ applied by faith to it, it is part of the flesh, the old Adam nature; but now the life of Christ fills it, that has passed through death, and the Holy Spirit indwells it; so that if this last is so, He, as the Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead, when the Lord comes, will quicken our mortal bodies, on account of His Spirit that dwells in us.
Here is the full answer to the cry of Romans 7:24. Thus the presence of the Spirit of God in the body puts us into our new Christian state, as being no longer in the flesh. It brings Christ into us, writing His death on our Adam bodies, and is the earnest of the future quickening of the body at the first resurrection when Christ returns.
He is now seen as not only forming and characterizing the new Christian state, but as a distinct Person indwelling us (Rom. 8:11,16,26). Surely then we see that we are not debtors to the flesh for anything; if we live after the flesh we are about to die, but if we through the Spirit do mortify, put to death, the deeds of the body, we shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God. Thus we see that the Spirit not only forms and characterizes the new Christian state, but He is the power of practical Christian life every day. By Him we mortify the deeds of the body, by Him the sons are led. Moreover we have not received a Spirit of bondage again to fear, but we have received a Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him that we may be also glorified together. As we read such wonderful Scriptures the heart naturally breaks out in such a song —
“Happy they who trust in Jesus,
Sweet their portion is, and sure,
When the foe on others seizes,
He will keep His own secure:
Happy people,
Happy, though despised and poor.”
Yes, dear reader, in that poor little cottage home of yours, or in that dark room in the back street, you can sing, if a believer, “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God” (1 John 3:1).
Suffering here is the Christian’s portion, glory there with Christ as His fellow heirs. We have in the following verses, Romans 8:18-29, a sample of what suffering with Christ is. But in view of the glory that shall be revealed unto the children of God, the apostle, and we also, may well reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed unto us. The anxious expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God; for the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him, that is, Adam, who hath subjected, the same; in the hope that the creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. So that whatever the suffering now, there is a glorious future yet for this creation. It groans and travails, but the Lord is coming, then the sons of God will be manifested with Him, and creation shall be delivered; it still groans, and not only it, but we ourselves who are still linked to the creature by our bodies, but having the firstfruits of the Spirit, we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies.
Salvation in this aspect is future; we are saved in hope of this future. The groaning mentioned is a different groaning from that of Romans 7:25. There it was, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” a groaning in the sense of an undelivered soul, not in the liberty of grace; and no doubt not understanding the redemption of the body either; but here it is a groan like Christ groaned at the grave of Lazarus, as feeling on His spirit the ruin of creation, and the dominion of sin and death over it. In this way we are privileged to suffer with Christ, and this is the portion more or less of all Christians; only that our bodies are more or less linked with sin, and not fully redeemed.
In another sense Christians are called to suffer for Christ (see Phil. 1:29; 1 Pet. 4:14); through enduring persecution, either from the world, or trials amongst the saints inside the assembly (see 2 Cor. 1:2). But we must not confound these sufferings with what Christ suffered for us in atonement on the cross. There He stood alone under our judgment, bearing the wrath of God for us, that we might never have to bear it. But here the subject is, suffering with Christ, having the same spirit whilst passing through a groaning creation. And even the presence of the Spirit of God in our bodies makes us groan, but He also helps our infirmities, and though we know not amidst the pressure of things what to pray for as we ought, He makes intercessions within us with groanings that cannot be uttered. But He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercessions for the saints according to God.
But if under the pressure of trials we know not what to pray for as we ought, this we do know that all things work together for good to them that love God, (and now comes the summing up); these are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn amongst many brethren!
Five blessed links of an everlasting chain that connect us with the passed and future eternities follow. Foreknowledge, Predestination, Calling, Justification, Glory! The second is founded on the first. It is not the same as it. See John 6:64-65. Jesus foreknew who would not believe, and should betray Him. Founded on this He added, “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come to Me except it were given him of My Father.”
But oh, the infinite grace of God! every dear Christian is predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. This voice makes itself heard in the soul, in due time He calls us. We are awakened, brought to repentance, He justifies us. Finally He glorifies us! God’s grace has never done with us till we are conformed to the image of His Son. Who is He! The firstborn amongst many brethren; the chiefest amongst ten thousand, the altogether lovely! Song of Solomon 5:10-16.
From Romans 8:31 to the end, we have God for us. This is manifested in three ways: First, He has not spared His Son (Rom. 8:32); secondly, He has justified us (Rom. 8:33); thirdly, nothing can separate us from His love as displayed in Christ Jesus our Lord! The Apostle always argues down from what God is to us. It is not, because we are so and so for Him that therefore He will be so and so for us No, but God is for us, just as we were, nothing but sinners. Who then can be against us? He has not spared His Son, how shall He not then with Him also freely give us all things!
But secondly, Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? The apostle here alludes to Isaiah 1:8-9, where Christ is heard confessing His confidence in Jehovah, as the One who justified Him, when man condemned Him It is most interesting to see how the apostle here quotes the very same passage to bring out the justification of God’s people now! the same justification that applies to Christ, applies to the assembly as one with Him.
But then, thirdly, Christ died, yea rather, has been raised up, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? That love was tested down here by tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword, and nothing stopped its flow. It has gained the victory, and has been brought into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, so that even though passing through all like circumstances, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us, though for His sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. But it is not only that no circumstances can stop us, but not all the powers of the unseen world which are next mentioned: death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, etc., nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What a chapter! The Christian is seen in Christ at the beginning, Romans 8:1-2. Secondly, the Spirit of God is seen in him, Romans 8:9, first bringing Christ as Life into his soul, and secondly, indwelling him as a distinct person as God, bearing witness with his spirit that he is a son, Romans 8:10-30. Thirdly, God is for him, Romans 8:31-39. The Spirit also intercedes for him on earth, and will finally raise up or change his body; whilst Christ intercedes for him in heaven, and nothing therefore can separate him from the love that does this, till He returns to fetch him home.
The second part of the Epistle is done. From Romans 3:22-26, we have seen God’s righteousness as an objective thing in Christ justifying the believer from all his sins through Jesus and His blood. Justification is by faith, not by works, as Abraham’s and David’s examples show. David’s example showing the negative side; sins forgiven, iniquities covered, sin not imputed. Abraham’s showing the positive side: it was a faith resting in a God of resurrection, raising a living Isaac out of Sarah’s dead womb. In the one case, it was a righteous God forgiving sins; in the other case a righteous God fulfilling His promises, which came before law and circumcision, and went out to the Gentiles through Christ, the Heir now come. This ends Romans 4. It is a present blessing to us, for we believe on a God who has raised Jesus from the dead. Peace, present favor, and glory are the result for us, Romans 5:1-11. We enjoy present; tribulation with hope of glory in front, by the Holy Spirit, who also makes us joy in God Himself, revealed in love, as well as in righteousness! This introduces God as a Reconciler as well as a Justifier, and both in present blessing. Believers are now justified by His blood, they have now received the reconciliation (Rom. 8:9-11). Up to this point sins are treated of, Christ was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
From Romans 5:12, to end, Adam and Christ are compared as the Heads of two races. Adam bringing in sin, death, and condemnation to all his descendants, by his one offense; Christ bringing in grace, righteousness and eternal life, leading on to the full result in glory, by His one obedience unto death. This results in a justification of life from sin for the believer, not merely justified from sins. Romans 6 applies Christ’s death for present deliverance from the dominion of sin, as well as for justification; Romans 7, deliverance from the law, as applying to the Adam condition; both expressed for present deliverance, in Romans 6:22; 7:6, by the words, “Now being made free from sin,” and “Now we are delivered from the law” And Romans 8 shows him his full standing in Christ, in the words, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus” His state as not in the flesh but in the Spirit follows; the Spirit indwelling him making him know his place as a son, and being the earnest and pledge of the resurrection of his body, when the Lord comes. Lastly, God is for him, and nothing can separate him from His love. The little word now, applied to justification in Romans 5:9, to reconciliation in Romans 5:11, to deliverance and freedom from sin Romans 6:22, to deliverance from the law Romans 7:6, and to the Christian’s full standing in Christ, in justification of life from sin, Romans 8:1, shows clearly, that all these different lines of doctrine are only several parts of one great salvation, and that salvation is all received in Christ at once, when the poor sinner believes. He needs to be established in its different parts afterward, as this epistle clearly shows, but the different parts of the salvation are not consecutive, but run in parallel lines, making up one complete whole, though the call takes place first! May the Lord bless this to the help of the reader, is the prayer of the writer!