SECOND PART OF THE EPISTLE. THE PRACTICAL TREATISE. THE LIFE OF THE JUSTIFIED BELIEVER. 12:1-15:13. IN the doctrinal part which we have just finished, the apostle has expounded the _way of salvation._ This way is no other than justification by faith, whereby the sinner is reconciled to God (chaps. 1... [ Continue Reading ]
TWENTY-FOURTH PASSAGE (12:1, 2). THE BASIS OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT. Vv. 1. “ _I exhort you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living victim, holy, acceptable unto God_, _which is your rational service._ ” How are we to explain the οὖν, _therefore_, which joins... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _And be not fashioned after this age, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind_, _that ye may discern what is the will of God, that good, acceptable, and perfect will._ ” We have already said that we are not to seek in this verse, as Meyer does, the idea of the sanctification of the soul... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to aspire beyond that to which he ought to lay claim; but to aspire to regulate himself, according to the measure of faith which God hath allotted to every màn._ ” It is with this that he who forms part of the church... [ Continue Reading ]
The natural tendency of man is to exalt himself. Here is the first point at which the will of God, discerned by the renewed mind of the believer, impresses on his conduct a completely opposite character to that of secular conduct. He recognizes the limit which God imposes on him, and modestly confin... [ Continue Reading ]
TWENTY-FIFTH PASSAGE (12:3-21). THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER AS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. The notion of consecration is still the prevailing one in this passage. This consecration is realized in life: 1st, in the form of _humility_ (Romans 12:3-8); 2d, in that of _love_ (Romans 12:9-21)... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another._ ” The organization of the human body should be an example to the believer to make him perceive the necessity of limiting himself t... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us [let us exercise them], whether prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in teaching; or he that exhorteth, in exhortation; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that rule... [ Continue Reading ]
The χαρίσματα, _gifts_, are different, as we have just seen. But there is a gift which is at the root of all the rest, and which ought to be common to all believers, that of all those who have no other, viz. love. The church, gained by faith in divine love, lives by love. All who believe, love. When... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. As to brotherly love, being full of tenderness one toward another; as to honor, each making others to pass before him._ ” In these two verses the apostle speaks of three dispositions, and first, Romans 12:9... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _As to zeal, being not indolent; fervent in spirit; taking advantage of opportunity._ ” With respectful consideration, Romans 12:10, there is easily connected the disposition to render service, which is here denoted by the word: _not indolent._ This in its turn, in order to overcome the resistan... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer._ ” The fervor of devotion, referred to in Romans 12:11, has no more powerful auxiliary than _joy;_ for joy disposes us to kindness and even to self-sacrifice. But this applies only to Christian joy, to that which is kept up in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_“Distributing to the necessities of saints; eager to show hospitality. Bless them that persecute you;bless and curse not.”_ The saints are not only the families of the church of Rome, but also all the churches whose wants come to the knowledge of the Christians of the capital. The Byz. and Alex. do... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Rejoice with them that do rejoice_, _weep with them that weep: aspiring after the same aim for one another; not minding high things, but associating with men of low estate. Be not wise in your own eyes._ ” The connection between Romans 12:14-15 is the idea of self-forgetfulness. As self-forgettin... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Recompensing to no man evil for evil; being preoccupied with good in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, living peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenging not yourselves; but give place unto wrath; for it is written: Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the L... [ Continue Reading ]
This spirit of goodwill is necessarily _pacific;_ not only does it not do nor mediate anything which can trouble, but it strives to remove what disunites. The first restriction: _if it be possible_, refers to our neighbor's conduct; for we are not master of his feelings. The second: _as much as liet... [ Continue Reading ]
But this notwithstanding, there is in the heart of man an ineffaceable feeling of justice which the apostle respects. He only desires to give this sentiment its true direction. Evil ought to be punished, that is certain. Only, if thou wouldest not thyself become unjust, think not thou shouldest make... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good._ ” The connection: _But if_, in the Alex., would signify: “But, far from avenging thyself, if the opportunity... [ Continue Reading ]
To render evil for evil, is to let evil have the victory; to confine oneself to not rendering evil is, if it may be so said, neither to be conqueror nor conquered, though in reality this also is to be conquered. The true victory over evil consists in transforming a hostile relation into one of love... [ Continue Reading ]