OUR fellow-readers of Romans 1-8 will have observed that at verse 11 of chapter 5—at which point we concluded our previous study—we have a distinct break in the Epistle, and that verse 12 Commences a new section. Before proceeding further, we might indicate the following divisions of the book.
(1) chapter 1—1:17. Introduction.
(2) chapter 1:18—verse 11. The SINS question.
(3) chapter 5:12―8:39. The SIN question.
(4) chapter 9—11. God’s dealings with Israel.
(5) chapter 12―15. Practical exhortations,
(6) chapter 16. Postscript.
We have already seen that number one forms the introduction to the whole, and that number two shows us how the question of sins has been so completely met by the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that now God is “just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (3:26). Now we are to learn that God has gone to the root of all the mischief, and has dealt with the question not only of SINS but of SIN; not alone the effect, but the cause; not merely the fruit, but the tree itself. Apart from this, we, who have believed the Gospel, could not have been delivered from sin’s awful power; nor could the whole creation be freed, as it shall be, from its fearsome bondage. Here we learn that we are sinners not only in practice but by nature, and that the former is the result of the latter.
To deal adequately within the compass of one short paper with the three portions now before us, would be impossible. We must therefore confine ourselves to a few suggestive notes calculated to assist us in our more intensive study. It has been pointed out by others that we have in
chapter 5:12-21. Two Heads.
chapter 6. Two Masters.
chapter 7. Two Husbands.
Verse 12 of chapter 5 reveals the secret of all the misery that is in the world today. Death, that devastating fiend, has stalked abroad unhindered, bringing sorrow in its train. What caused it? The intrusion of sin. Men may object as much as they please to this word sin. They may tell us it is an ugly word, and indeed it is, and it is an ugly thing producing ugly results, but it exists and is the prime cause of the ruin of the race.
We have to observe in the first place that verses 13-17 inclusive, form a parenthesis, and in order to understand this part of our chapter, we should read verse 12 and 18 together. From verse 12 to 21 we find four keywords placed in striking contrast.
“By one man SIN entered into the world, and DEATH by sin” (verse 12). This carries us back to the tragedy of Eden recorded in Genesis 3. Men who draw large salaries for preaching this, may, and do, seek to deny it, but the grim fact remains, and here it is emphasized by the Holy Spirit in terse, trenchant, unmistakable language. It is also confirmed by our conscience and by our experience. By his sin Adam became the head of a fallen race, hence the further statement in this verse, “And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
The caviler may ask, “Why should one man’s offense constitute all his race sinners?” As well ask, “Why should this house be on fire?” while the building is burning. Accept the fact, and escape from the building. So with regard to this divine statement, accept the fact and inquire if there is a way of deliverance. Thank God there is. If “by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous” (verse 12). We are sinners not because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners, and can do nothing but sin. God has not attempted to mend that state of matters, but He has ended it in the cross of Christ. Christ, as the second Man, has by His obedience shown Himself competent to become the Head of a new race, and to that new race every person belongs who truly believes in Him. The first race under the headship of man is characterized by SIN and DEATH. The new race under the headship of Christ is marked by GRACE and LIFE.
Here then, we have the general principle, now we come to the details. Chapter 6 shows that if Christ has died to sin, and He has, so have we, and our baptism is the proof of it (verses 1-4). We have died, we have been buried, and now it is our privilege to seek the “walk in newness of life.” We reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin on the one hand, on the other hand we reckon ourselves to be alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We were the slaves of sin, now we are the slaves of righteousness, bondmen to God. The end of the former was death; the end of the latter will be eternal life (verses 16-23). This is not merely a fine theory or a doctrine only to be admired. It is something which, if apprehended, will revolutionize our life, hence the exceedingly practical exhortation of verse 13, “YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD!” We may revert to this in a later paper if the Lord permit.
In chapter 7, we find the difficulties of the man who was under law. The problem was, how could he be delivered from it. If the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives, then obviously, only by death can he be freed. If a woman has a husband, no matter what sort of a husband he may be, she is bound by the lives, to him as long as he lives, and only death can sever the bond. Now see the application in verse 4. “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
The remainder of the chapter is mainly occupied with the miserable experience of the man under law. He wanted to keep it, he tried to keep it, but he could not. The law told him what he must do and what he must not do, but it did not give him the power either to do the one or not to do the other. This man resolved to do right, and he found he could not do it. He determined not to do wrong, and that was exactly what he did. There was nothing wrong with the I aw, but everything was wrong with himself. Thus, by bitter experience, he learned the humiliating lesson that “in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” (verse 18).
At long last, he arrived at the end of himself, and uttered the despairing cry, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death” (verse 24, margin). This is believed to refer to a fearful form of Roman punishment by which a prisoner was chained to a dead body. Anything more loathsome or horrible one could not conceive, but for the poor wretch there was no deliverance unless it came from outside, or he himself died. No sooner did the man in our chapter cry out in despair, than immediately he exclaimed, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He has now learned of the mighty Deliverer, of how the great deliverance has been effected, and in verse 2 of chapter 8 we hear him triumphantly saying, “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus HATH MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death.” Hallelujah!
We must leave the further consideration of this till another time (D.V.), but meanwhile we can surely thank God from full hearts for His glorious gospel, so simple, so comprehensive, so complete. May we understand it better, and may we be enabled to walk worthy of it.
W. BRAMWELL DTCK.