26 November

Bible in 365 Days                                    

Romans 8-10

Romans 8

The opening sentences of this chapter show a remarkable contrast with the previous chapter. From the fearful sense of condemnation we pass into the consciousness of no condemnation.

Having shown the negative value of the spiritual life as mastery over sin, the apostle now indicated briefly the positive value under the figure of sonship. Children are heirs of the Father's wealth and the Father's home. The Apostle kept plainly in view the ground of our claim. "We are joint-heirs with Christ."

The final fact in God's salvation of man is glorification. The Apostle first suggested and declined a comparison between the sufferings and the glory. So stupendous and overwhelming is the radiant vision of the ultimate issue of the work of grace, that, set in the light of it, the sufferings of the present time are incomparable. The contemplation of the glory issued in a great certainty. "We know," wrote the apostle. "What is the certainty?" Note its present tense. "All things work." Everything is contributing to the consummation. "Things work together." The "good" toward which "all things work together" is that the sons are to be conformed to the image of His Son.

The magnificent consummation consists of three questions, Who are the foes? Who are the accusers? Who are the separators? In answer to the first, the Apostle declared, "God is for us." In answer to the second, he declared that God justifies us. In answer to the third, he declared that none of the terrible things which may form part of the process through which we pass to glory can separate us.

Romans 9

The connection between this very remarkable passage and the preceding climax is close. The great certainty of "no separation" is the experience of one in close communion with the Lord experimentally. What the apostle now declared is the outcome of the fact that the sphere of his life is Christ. When this is remembered, we have the key to what else were inexplicable. No man could have written such words unless he were indwelt and dominated by Christ through the Holy Spirit. The first expression is toward his brethren after the flesh. The description of God's purpose for Israel is very fine.

The word "but" with which the sixth verse opens suggests the contrast between the glorious facts concerning Israel just enunciated and Israel's present condition. The great fact is declared that "they are not all Israel, that are of Israel; neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children." God had made a selection from the seed, Isaac and not Ishmael, Jacob and not Esau. The selection in each case was based upon an underlying purpose of God which the apostle calls "the purpose of God according to election." The underlying principle of the action of God is His mercy and His compassion.

The Apostle took an illustration from the opposite condition. Pharaoh is an example of the result of unbelief and wilful setting of the heart against the right. The figure from Jeremiah of the potter and the clay must be interpreted by the character of God. The quotation from Hosea is used here in a wider sense than by the prophet himself. The writer is referring to such as were, according to the flesh, outside the covenant. The quotation from Isaiah re-emphasizes the fact that not all Israel after the flesh shall be saved, but a remnant only. This again is by divine choice.

In conclusion, he declared the reason of the determining choice in each case. The choice of God is of those who believe.

Romans 10

The Apostle ever had in mind the Master Himself when he spoke of the righteousness of God. The idea of that righteousness, held by Israel was due to their misunderstanding of the written law, their ignorance of its true meaning, because they had not known Christ. Paul knew perfectly well that nothing so soon compels a man to cease seeking to establish his own righteousness as a vision of the righteousness of God. On the way to Damascus he was going about establishing his own righteousness; but a vision of the righteousness of God at once brought him to the position of submission to it.

The Apostle then discussed the way of righteousness according to the plan of God in contrast with the attempt that Israel was making to establish its own righteousness. The great statement is made in the words, "Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth."

A series of questions reveals the importance of the work of preaching the Gospel. There can be no calling on One not believed in; there can be no belief in One not heard of; there can be no hearing without a preacher.

From among the number of those who heard the glad tidings published by the missionary messengers, only some were elect. They were such as not only heard, but hearkened and believed. The last quotation from Isaiah defines exactly the divine attitude: hands spread out continuously toward a rebellious people. The will of God is the salvation of all such, and He has elected to salvation those who believe.