In the first part of this chapter the apostle meets various objections which might naturally arise in the mind of an unbelieving Jew to the doctrine which he has established in the preceding chapter, that the outward relation of the Jews to Abraham and their outward privileges cannot save them, but... [ Continue Reading ]
ORACLES OF GOD; the Scriptures, revealing salvation through a Saviour to come. As the Scriptures are the voice of God, making known his will and the way in which men can be accepted of him, those who possess them have blessings much greater than those who do not. Hence they should be given to all, a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IF SOME DID NOT BELIEVE? had not faith in God, and as a consequence of their unbelief were unfaithful to God; for both these ideas are included in the original word. SHALL THEIR UNBELIEF; their unbelief and unfaithfulness to God's covenant with them, but which, as the apostle has taught, they... [ Continue Reading ]
LET GOD BE TRUE; God is true, and all that deny it are false. This should always be admitted. AS IT IS WRITTEN; PSALMS 51:4. JUSTIFIED-OVERCOME; seen to be just and right when complained of, and in all that he does. The apostle, as often elsewhere, follows the rendering of the Seventy.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS COMMEND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD; if our sins are made the occasion of showing the truth and justice of God, and are thus overruled for the display of his glory, is it not wrong for him to punish us? I SPEAK AS A MAN; as a short-sighted erring man might speak.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD FORBID; certainly not: if it were, God would not be just or right in punishing any one; for the sins of all are in some way overruled for the display of divine perfection, and the advancement of divine glory. This, however, does not alter the evil nature and tendency of sin, nor lessen the guilt... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH MY LIE; if when I am false, God shows his truth in punishing me as he has declared, and thus glorifies himself, why am I to blame? Because you were false; you felt wrong, and did wrong. When a man commits murder and is hung, the government is made a greater terror to evil-doers, and every ma... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT RATHER; and why should we not rather say, if we carry out the false principle of the objector, LET US DO EVIL, THAT GOOD MAY COME? as evil is overruled for good, why not commit it to accomplish that good? as some say is right, and affirm is taught in the Scriptures. Because it is wicked, and... [ Continue Reading ]
WE; Jews. THEY; Gentiles. BETTER; in condition as to the way of justification. Can Jews be justified in any other way than Gentiles? IN NO WISE; certainly not; because both are sinners, and if saved it must be not by their own works, but by believing in Christ. Thus the apostle returns to his grea... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN; PSALMS 14:1-3; PSALMS 53:1-3.... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH; naturally aright the true character of God, or the blessedness of serving him. NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD; as the chief good.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE WAY; the way of truth, duty, and blessedness. UNPROFITABLE; corrupt, worthless. Hosea 10:1. THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD; none naturally glorify God or do right.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN SEPULCHRE; ready to swallow up and consume, as the grave did the body laid in it. Psalms 5:9. THE POISON OF ASPS; their words are destructive. Psalms 140:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR WAYS; they cause misery and ruin.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF PEACE; of holiness and blessedness to themselves and others.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO FEAR OF GOD; none which leads them to love and obey him, or keeps them from breaking his laws. Psalms 36:1. This is the account given of Jews who were blessed with the Scriptures and all the means of grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW; are certain that this description given in THE LAW, or the Bible, concerning men, applies to those who are UNDER THE LAW, who have the Bible. Of course it describes the natural character and state of Jews as well as Gentiles. MAY BECOME GUILTY; shown or proved from their own conduct, and f... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW; their own works in obedience to law. NO FLESH; no individual of the human race. BE JUSTIFIED; accepted of God or treated as righteous. THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN; when compared with or tried by the law of God, men are shown to be sinners, shut up under righteous condemnation, w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD; that which he has provided in and by his Son Jesus Christ, and which he freely gives to sinners upon condition of faith in Christ. See note to chap Romans 1:17. WITHOUT THE LAW; which justifies men not on the ground that they have rendered to the law the obedience which it... [ Continue Reading ]
BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST; the benefits of whose obedience and death are obtained not by human works or merit, but by receiving him as a Saviour, and trusting in him for salvation. NO DIFFERENCE; between Jews and Gentiles, as to the way of salvation.... [ Continue Reading ]
FREELY BY HIS GRACE; it is wholly of grace, not of debt, that men are saved.... [ Continue Reading ]
SET FORTH; exhibited. PROPITIATION; propitiatory sacrifice. THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD; that the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ may benefit a man, he must appropriate it to himself through faith in Christ's blood; for it was by the shedding of his blood that the propitiation was made. DECLARE H... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THIS TIME; the time in which Paul lived, under the gospel dispensation. JUST, AND THE JUSTIFIER; that is, just while at the same time he is the justifier. These words set forth the only possible condition on which God can forgive sin. In doing so, he must be just to himself, his truth, his law,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS BOASTING; in this way of saving sinners, what ground is there for them to be vain of their own merit or worthiness? None at all. IT IS EXCLUDED; it is not for their sakes, but for Christ's sake, that God pardons, accepts, and saves them. Not to them, but to him be all the glory. BY WHAT L... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE; in view of the whole subject and all the light that is thrown upon it. WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW; man's obedience to law is not the ground of his justification, but the merits of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
JEWS-GENTILES; he will be the God and Saviour of both-of all classes and all nations to whom Christ is made known, on the same condition-faith in his Son. Jehovah is the Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor of all, Jew and Gentile, high and low, rich and poor, bond and free. When they believe in Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
CIRCUMCISION-UNCIRCUMCISION; Jews and Gentiles. BY FAITH; by a righteousness which is of faith, not of law. THROUGH FAITH; by means of their faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE VOID THE LAW; the law of God, as a rule of action, and sacredly binding on all who know it. Does the fact that God saves sinners through faith in Christ, lessen the sanctity and authority of his law as an expression of his will, or the obligations of men to obey it? By no means. WE ESTABLISH TH... [ Continue Reading ]