Have done with every other confidence. See 2 Corinthians 3:7; Galatians 3:23; Galatians 3:24. For what remains unsolved by and in Christ? Moses saith, "I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people," etc. "Are you a Protestant?" Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. These dear ones at this hour look back upon me and say, "Go on: preach the same gospel to others; for we found it blessed truth to die upon." It is Paul's one desire that the Jews may be saved. For belief with the heart is the way to a right relationship with God, and confession with the mouth is the way to salvation, For scripture says, "Every one who believes in him will not be put to shame," for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord over all, and he has ample resources for all who call upon him. They are generally gentlemen in good health, with regular incomes and sweet tempers, and so they soon reach their imaginary sinlessness vain creatures that they are; but you never get any of that among the poor, suffering, tried people of God. It is not meant that Paul knew nothing of this; but that the ground of inference, and the general theory built up, are alike mistaken. A Monument for the Dead, and a Voice to the Living, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------, Delivered on Lord's-Day Morning, January 7th, 1883, by, At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Psalms 19:1-14 is used in the most beautiful manner to insinuate that the limits are the world. His death is instead of the death of our souls: his life is the life of our spirits. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Time was when none of the English, nor French, nor of any other nation believed in the Saviour. Second, he cites Joel 2:32: "All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered." The righteousness which is of faith, what does it say to us? Sin had left its crimson stain, but He washed me white as snow." The weak are not to judge the strong, and the strong are not to despise the weak. Not so, says the apostle. Then, fourthly, we will hear what experience saith; for we may bring in the experience of believers to back up the declarations of God. Undoubtedly divine judgment fell on Him; but this is not "the righteousness of God," as the apostle employs it in any part of his writings any more than here, though we know there could be no such thing as God's righteousness justifying the believer, if Christ had not borne the judgment of God. He shall come to Zion, says the other. It is the going forth of His richest blessing. As positively as the law utters its promise and threat, so positively and unalterably doth the gospel deliver its decree. There are some that find a difficulty here, because the expression "to hold" means holding firmly. Everything Paul touches in this letter he relates to God. I am afraid we say a great deal at times which rather lumbers and cumbers the gospel than makes it clear. Difficulty there is none: only believe and thou art saved. What saith the gospel? You say, "Well, I can't reconcile that with God's divine election." . What is the righteousness which is of the law? A Jew would find it hard to believe that the way to God was not through the law; this way of trust and of acceptance was shatteringly and incredibly new to him. You asked, "Who shall descend into the deep?" Christ's fullness is meant for our emptiness; Christ's righteousness is meant for our sin, salvation is for the lost. Salvation supposes not this only, but a great deal more. He has Gods law; all that remains is for him to obey it. I have had Bible studies in their home in Santa Monica, and Keith was by here the other day. Plug in, Turn on and Be En light ened! He was in the end killed. Nothing shows better the Jewish attitude than the three classes into which they divided mankind. They tried him with their various attainments, depressions, anxieties, quibbles, and questions; but still the huckster would not budge. But there was far more in Jesus. He shows that, on the responsible ground of being His nation, they were wholly ruined. It was not merely "to those at Rome," but "to you that be at Rome." How are they to proclaim the good news unless they are sent to do so? Man is only so much the worse for knowing the truth, if he holds it ever so fast with unrighteousness. First, he cites Isaiah 28:16: "Every one who believes in him will not be put to shame." So also the gospel by no means involves itself in obscurity, but says, Believe and live, quite as distinctly as Moses said, "Do and live." a. And how can they proclaim it unless they be sent?So the basis for missions: having heard, having believed, having known, we are now responsible to send those to tell others of this glorious salvation and righteousness that God has offered to all men, Jew and Greek, who will just simply believe on His son Jesus Christ. Not only was Abraham justified without law, but apart from that great sign of mortification of the flesh. we know how this was in Israel, how it might be, and has been, in Christendom. "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Yes, whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 7). On both sides therefore the apostle is meeting the grand points he had at heart to demonstrate from their own Scriptures. Binding a person, a thing or a place with a spell. At the same time he connects, in a singularly interesting manner, this disclosure of the principles of the eternal judgment of God with what he calls "my gospel." It is part of the honour of Christ that every tongue shall confess, Philippians 2:11. This is further illustrated (Romans 10:10; Romans 10:10), and the order inverted, because there must first be faith in the heart before there can be an acceptable confession with the mouth. If I am thus pitied of God, if so truly and completely a justified man, if I am really an object of God's eternal favour, how can I have such a sense of continual evil? And where? Deuteronomy 30:14. Some thought him half-witted, but the story would show his wind to be sound enough. His soul scarce descended among the shades before it quitted them for ever; that day he died he was in Paradise, and the thief was with him there as a trophy. If you want to live by the law (find life through the law), you must do the law and do it completely and perfectly. Their sound has gone out to all the earth: This quotation from Psalm 19:4 proves that the word of the gospel went forth and Israel heard it. In heaven it will fill us perfectly; but there is no more perfect joy there, nor anything. It means we recognize that Jesus is God, that He is the Messiah, and that His work on the cross is the only way of salvation for mankind. Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel, I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, i. Hast thou not heard the tale? This same term occurs again in verses 14 and 15. Have not submitted. Now it is clear that that obedience could be given only by a man who was desperately in earnest about his religion. I will make you angry with a nation that has no understanding." The second plea is not that the rejection of Israel is only partial, however extensive, but that it is also temporary, and not definitive. Is he one of those that we elected? how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! No man can say that they were not desperately in earnest about their service to God. God has given us His word. i. The wrath of God could not possibly be glad tidings. Now God must have reality in the man himself. Beware of those endeavors of men today to broaden the gate. You see how simple God has made it? Then, from ver. Justification by faith lays the foundation of our title to salvation; but by confession we build upon that foundation, and come at last to the full possession of that to which we were entitled. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man," etc. Why should this be so strange and incredible to you? The Christian must believe not only that Jesus lived, but also that he lives. Even where the law was, not by it but by faith the just lived. Confess with your mouth: Confession has the idea of agreeing with. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. This it was before it was his prayer. This maintains both the glory and the moral universality of Him who will justify the circumcision by faith, not law, and the uncircumcision through their faith, if they believe the gospel. i. "What shall we then say that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? Kurios Serapis is Lord Serapis. It is nigh you; it is nigh you now: it will never be nigher than it is at this moment. If the first book in the Bible showed that it was only the call of God that made Israel what they were, its second book as clearly proved that all was over with the called people, had it not been for the mercy of God. People cannot come to Jesus without the right information about the gospel, but information alone is not enough to save anyone. He shall own that once glorious seat of royalty in Israel. First Moses says: I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, In our concern to understand what the apostle is saying about righteousness, justification, and the like we ought not to overlook his tremendous concentration on God." (Morris) i. For they do not realize that a man can only achieve the status of righteousness by God's gift, and they seek to establish their own status, and so they have not submitted themselves to that power of God which alone can make them righteous in his sight. "Paul, a bondman of Jesus Christ" an apostle "called," not born, still less as educated or appointed of man, but an apostle "called," as he says "separated unto the gospel of God, which he had promised afore by his prophets." If you find him in it will not much matter where you find him, in heaven or in the deep, for he must be almighty everywhere. He has been telling them truths which were difficult for them to hear and bear. "Oh, come over here and sit on Grandpa's lap. Fair-weather sailors, who go out in their little painted perfection boats, are people who have had small temptation and little soul-trouble. For this (Romans 10:11; Romans 10:11) he quotes Isaiah 28:16, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed; ou kataischynthesetai. The old man refused. b. Christ is come, and has changed all. God is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27) because His will is right at our fingertips. Accordingly he tells them now what reason he had to speak thus strongly, not of the more advanced truths, but of the good news. Therefore, Christians must be sent to proclaim it (14-15). That is, it is not merely pardon of past sins, but deliverance from sin, and in due time from all its consequences. But now it is "the wrath of God from heaven;" and consequently it is in view of eternal things, and not of those that touch present life on the earth. 1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. It was his heart's desire; it was not a formal compliment, as good wishes are with many from the teeth outward, but a real desire. Now the doctrine which we saw asserted in the latter part ofRomans 5:1-21; Romans 5:1-21 is applied to both. Turn to Deuteronomy 30:11 . All of Pauls teaching of Gods election and right to choose does not diminish mans responsibility. Suppose you cannot walk on the sea, like Peter: never mind; you are not called to do it. His language conveys the main idea which Paul wished to do, that the doctrine was plain and intelligible. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may bear it, and do it? This is where so many religious people even sincere Christians go astray. If what Christ has done will not save a sinner I am damned; for I have nothing else to depend upon; but if it will save, and sure I am that it will, I am saved as surely as Christ has risen from the dead. He has set two things side by side; everything is of God, and everything is of human choice. Cottrell cites Leon Morris in summary: "The righteousness of faith does not demand that we be supermen; it does not set some impossible task before us. (a.) II. To make his point Paul uses two Old Testament quotations. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets" (verses 20, 21). Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:13-20. Ourselves nothing, Christ everything that is it. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Why would they not allow such a pretension? You know what Cardinal Bellarmine said: he was a great antagonist of Luther, and thought that we might trust in our works; but, looking it all over, he admitted that inasmuch as no man could be quite sure that he had done enough good works, it was perhaps best on the whole and safest to trust altogether to the blood and merits of Jesus Christ. The whole work is done. It is not our effort which wins us goodness. There is mutual confirmation. No, He has already come and brought salvation down from heaven to men. May you experience the joys of His power, of His presence, of His glory, as God day by day showers you with His goodness and with His love. The hope of salvation by works is black despair; yet we have a set of men on the face of the earth who are always wanting us to preach up this hopeless hope, and urging us to lay this heavy burden upon the shoulders of dying men. And how shall they preach unless they are sent? (that is, to bring, Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? "The just shall live by faith" (not by law). That is the first necessity for the sinner with God. The point is best understood by examining the source of Pauls information. This is what Moses saith: hear it and be humbled. It was a message that went out from God to sinners as such. What baptism sets forth is more than that, and is justly found, not in Romans 3:1-31, but inRomans 6:1-23; Romans 6:1-23. Therefore it is here for the first time that we find salvation spoken of in the grand results that are now brought before us in Romans 5:1-11. Strange as it was, this too was foretold. The best of them are but filthy rags: stow them all away in the coal-hole, and look to the merits of your Lord for salvation. Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. This, however, will be put to the test by-and-by. I need not speak about it this morning: I believe it, and rejoice in it: but it is not at all contrary to this precious truth. There was somewhat as yet lacking to the saints there; but even this was ordered of God to call forth from the Holy Ghost an epistle which more than any other approaches a complete treatise on the fundamentals of Christian doctrine, and especially as to righteousness. On the contrary, he says Gods word is as close to a person as his own mouth and heart. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. "For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. Romans 12:1-21 looks at the mutual duties of the saints. But Paul makes it clear: There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. First, in 10:8b, he uses rema ("the word") to explain faith. He believed God and His word, with special approval on God's part; and his faith was counted as righteousness (ver. Hence, as God's wrath is revealed from heaven, it is against every form of impiety "against all ungodliness." Alas! In the argument so far as it has gone there is a paradox. Verse 17. So faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. All then that believe, though uncircumcised, might claim him as father, assured that righteousness will be reckoned to them too. It is not even enough to believe in him, as being the Son of God, and the anointed of the Lord; but we must believe on him The faith that saves is not believing certain truths, nor even believing that Jesus is a Savior; but it is resting on him, depending on him, lying with all your weight on Christ as the foundation of your hope. i. His witness to our spirit is this, that we are children of God. Notice, first, what Moses said. But this great work of Christ was not and could not be a mere vindication of God; and we may find it otherwise developed in various parts of Scripture, which I here mention by the way to show the point at which we are arrived. Righteousness can be gained by sinful men, but it can only be secured by faith and not by deeds. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? He says, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." He suffered agonizing pain, but his peace was as deep as the sea. Unlike verse 5, Paul does not say, "Moses says" or "Moses writes." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, alone is capable of performing the mighty works of salvation required by humanitys sinfulness, and He has already done them. If what is possible? Nothing of this is intended in the class that is here brought before us. "The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? What he meant was: "Christ is the end of legalism." It is not believing (not to be reckoned so) if it be not with the heart. Not, of course, that the Roman saints were in this condition; but that God, writing by the apostle to them, seizes the opportunity to lay bare man's state as well as His own grace. (i) There is the ignorance which comes from neglect of knowledge. Having shown first, then, the sources and the character of the blessing in general as far as regards deliverance, the apostle sums up the result in the end of the chapter: "That as sin hath reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life," the point being justification of life now through Jesus Christ our Lord. ii. No, you must not: the gospel is simple; salvation is as plain as a pikestaff; familiar an homespun; easy as the A B C of your childhood. Verse 18. They are both true, so you can't reconcile. I was found by those who did not seek Me; Surely it would need that I mount to heaven to own my sin, or dive to hell to bear its punishment. They grasped the meaning of this offer all right, when it came to them unexpectedly and unsought." 1. This plainly shows that Christ's descent into the deep, or into hades, was no more than his going into the state of the dead, in allusion to Jonah. Do some great brave wonderful marvelous thing. It was undeniable that the Gentiles did not seek the Lord, nor ask after Him; and the prophet says that Jehovah was found of them that sought Him not, and was made manifest to them that asked not after Him. To man this is the hardest of all obedience; but when once secured, it leads peacefully into the obedience of every day. Best understood by examining the source of Pauls teaching of Gods election and right to choose does not,! `` Well, i ca n't reconcile that with God ( i ) there is a paradox as God wrath! 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