The apostle begins this chapter with an objection, which some licentious person might be ready to make against what he had delivered in the close of the foregoing chapter; namely, that where sin abounded, pardoning grace and mercy did much more abound. If, say they, the riches of grace be thus manif... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST, is by baptism to take the name of Christ upon us, to be incorporated, ingrafted, and implanted into the church of Christ, being made visible members of his mystical body by baptism. TO BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST'S DEATH, imports, our being conformed to him in the likeness of... [ Continue Reading ]
To urge Christians to farther measures and degrees of mortification of sin, and living unto holiness, the apostle uses here. double argument, one from our baptism, the other from the resurrection of Christ. Observe, 1. The argument to move us to die unto sin, drawn from our baptism; WE ARE BURIED W... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. supposition, IF WE HAVE BEEN PLANTED TOGETHER IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH; namely, by dying unto sin: If as Christ died, we die, he. natural, we. spiritual death: he for sin, and we to sin; he by way of expiation, suffering, and satisfying for sin; we by way of mortification, killi... [ Continue Reading ]
By the old man we are to understand our corrupt and derived nature, so called, because it is as old as Adam, and divided from Adam; born and bred with us. This old man, or our corrupt and vicious nature, must be crucified, to shew our conformity and likeness to Christ in his crucifixion. The cross b... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS DEAD, that is, spiritually dead unto sin, in conformity to the death of Christ, IS FREED FROM SIN: That is, not only from the guilt, but from the dominion and slavery of sin. Learn hence, That freedom from the bondage and tyranny, from the dominion and slavery of sin is the privilege of... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. supposition, or presupposed condition; the thing supposed, is the baptized persons being dead with Christ; IF WE BE DEAD WITH HIM, that is, by the exercise of daily mortification: If we have fellowship and communion with him in his death, that as he died for sin, we daily die unto s... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle declares both the death which Christ once died, and the life which he now liveth. Observe, 1. The death which Christ died; HE DIED UNTO SIN ONCE, that is, either, 1. He died for sin once, namely, to expiate the guilt of sin, and to make atonements for sinners; or else, 2. He died... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have two parts of our sanctification described, namely, mortification and vivification, dying unto sin, and living unto God. 1. Mortification, or dying unto sin, RECKON YE YOURSELVES TO BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN; that is, look upon the death of Christ, as. strong argument against the reign an... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, The duty which the apostle exhorts the Christians to; and that is, to prevent the regency and dominion of sin: LET NOT REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODIES. But when is sin said to reign? ANSWER, When the bent and tendency of the heart is toward sin, and all the faculties of the soul are on s... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Sin, which has such. kingly and commanding power, will be calling upon you to give up the members of your bodies, and the faculties of your souls, as instruments or weapons for its service: but yield not your consents thereto, turn. deaf ear to the voice of sin, and hear... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having, in the foregoing verses, exhorted them to take care that sin get not any dominion over them by obeying its motions, yielding to its inclinations, and employing the faculties of the soul, and any of the members of the body in the service of sin; in this verse he gives them an enco... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle starts an objection, which some licentious person might be ready to make: "If we are not under the law which condemns sin, but under the covenant of grace which allows the pardon, and promises the forgiveness of sin, why may we not then go on in sin, and continue in sin, forbidden b... [ Continue Reading ]
Two things are here intimated by the apostle; 1. That all men really are, and ought to be reputed servants to that master whose works they do, and whose commands they obey: WHOM YE OBEY HIS SERVANTS YE ARE. Learn thence, That we may infallibly know whose servants we are, and what master we serve,... [ Continue Reading ]
We must understand these words, as if the apostle blessed God, because they were once slaves to sin and Satan: but thanks God, that the time of that bondage was past and over; as if he had said, "God be thanked, that though formerly ye were the servants of sin, yet, since your conversion, you are be... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle goes on to put the Romans in mind of their past state by nature, and of their present state by grace; they were once the servants of sin, but now free from sin, and made by Christ servants of righteousness: All believers are made free by Christ for service, not one free from serving; to... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, you were free DE FACTO, not DE JURE; when you were sin's servants, you were void of righteousness, THAT had no part of your service then; therefore sin should not have on joy of your service now; as righteousness had no part of your service in your carnal state, so there is no reason why si... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle puts them in mind of the several mischiefs and inconveniences which did attend their former vicious course of life: namely, unprofitableness, WHAT FRUIT HAD YOU? Dishonourableness, WHEREOF YE ARE NOW ASHAMED? Perniciousness, THE END OF THOSE THINGS IS DEATH. Behold the complexion of... [ Continue Reading ]
As the former verse represented to us the manifold inconveniences of. wicked life, so this verse acquaints us with the manifest advantages of. holy and religious course of life; and this, first, as to the present benefit and advantage of it, YE HAVE YOUR FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS: Secondly, In respect of... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle having all along throughout this chapter exhorted us to die daily unto sin, and to live unto God, concludes with. motive drawn from the different rewards and punishments in another world; eternal death will be the punishment of sin and sinners, and eternal life the reward of holiness and... [ Continue Reading ]