T H E
N E W
T E S T A M E N T
CO PYRIG HT BY W ILLIAM EVANS
R O M A N S (Continued)
S O FAR in our study of the book of Romans, we have completed thé first two general divisions : Sin—The Wrath of God—Despair (1:18-3:20) and Justifica tion—The Righteousness of God—Hope (3:21-5:21). We are now considering the third gen eral division—Sanctification—The Holiness of God—Assurance (6:1-15:13) —which is subdivided as follows : 1. The possibility of a holy life (6:1-23). 2. The method of a holy life (7:1-8:39). (a) The fruitless struggle after holiness (7:1-25). (b) The secret of a holy life—The Holy Spirit (8:1- 39). 3. The sphere of a holy life (12:1- 15:13). We here take up (b) under the designation : 2. T he Method of a Holy Life (7 :1 - 8 :3 9 ) (b) The secret of a holy life—The Holy Spirit (8:1-39). It has been well said that chapter 7, set ting forth the fruitless struggle after holi ness, is like a starless night; whereas chap ter 8 , setting forth the secret of victory, is like a midsummer morning with promise of a brighter tomorrow. Chapter 8 begins with “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation.” There is no mention of the Holy Spirit in chapter 7 ; whereas in chap ter 8 He is mentioned from sixteen to twenty times. Failure comes from absence
of the Holy Spirit in the life; success from the fulness of His presence. In chapter 7 the voice of the Holy Spirit is not heard; whereas in chapter 8 it is heard everywhere. One wonders whether any other part of the Scripture is as full of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in relation to the believer as this chapter. In chapter 7 the law, which cannot sanctify, is mentioned twenty times; whereas in chapter 8 it is mentioned but four times. There need be no defeat in the Christian life if one learns the secret of victory in this chapter, and if the full blessing of the gospel is allowed abso lute sway in the heart. Verses 1-4 describe the believer’s com plete freedom from condemnation, whether from causes without or within. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” The moment a man believes in Christ he passes out of the realm of condemnation and death into the realm of life and acceptance (cf. John 5 :24). Past sin is all atoned fo r; the future is secure because of Christ’s com plete redemptive work. The believer is now “in Christ Jesus.” In Him there is no condemnation; outside of Him all is con demnation. “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” delivers the believer from “the law of sin and death.” A new law is intro-
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