ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
the Bride of Christ-on the ground of grace, and grace alone. "We are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:15). In verses 17-21 Paul goes a little deeper into these mar- velous mysteries. "As it is written," in Gen. 17: 5, "I have made thee a father of many nations" (Rom. 4:17). This is of deep interest, and must be carefully considered. What does the passage mean? Just this: These promises are made secure by the resurrection of Christ, as well as by the death of Christ. Up to Rom. 4: 16 we have had the atonement set before us, but now we have our Lord's resurrection set forth. Abraham believed in the God of the atonement, and he believed also in the God of resurrection. It is in Christ risen and exalted that all the promises of God are secure. Those promises that God made to Abraham were con- firmed in Isaac. Abraham's body was "dead," as far as repro- duction was concerned, when God promised him that he should have a son. Abraham and Sarah were both "dead" in this re- spect. But Abraham believed God could touch the womb of Sarah. He believed in the God of the resurrection. He believed God when all seemed hopeless. In disappointment, he had given up all hope that he would ever have a child. Then in answer to his wavering faith, God gave him a son. Through that faith a nation came into existence-the nation that gave to the world Christ and the Bible! Through the child of resur- rection God sent the Saviour! Again on the altar of sacrifice God caused the bands that were put around Isaac to be loosed, after Abraham had offered his only son "by faith . . . accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure" (Heb. 11 :17-19). "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it (God's righteousness) was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences. and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4: 23-25). This was written for you, my friend. It was written for me. Page 68]
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