Romans 8.
WE have now reached what is undoubtedly the grand climax of this remarkable portion of God’s holy Word. Many of our readers may not have read this chapter, with those that precede it, eight times consecutively; but we feel sure that a few have perused it much more frequently and that with ever increasing delight.
Suppose however that on this occasion we approach our study as if we had never looked at this Epistle till we decided to read, re-read, and read again this section, and that we were only now beginning to grasp its structure, significance and sublimity.
If this is agreeable to our fellow students, we will rapidly travel over the ground that we have already covered and thus seek to advance a little further toward the unscalable heights of chapter eight.
We commenced then with the gospel. We learned that its source was God and its subject the Son of God. We were prepared therefore to admit at once the claim made for it, viz: —that “it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” As we had portrayed to us the sort of people with whom the gospel has to deal, whether religious or profligate, on the top-rung of the social ladder or at the foot all alike guilty sinners, irretrievably lost; as we saw also the evil traced to its origin, it became perfectly obvious that nothing but the mighty power of God as displayed in the gospel could be of any avail.
We have been taught how the sins-question has been settled. God’s righteousness has been maintained yet His grace flows forth. Such is the efficacy of Christ’s finished work, so great His triumph over death, that the sinner who believes is (a) justified, (b) has peace with God, (c) stands in the favor of God, (d) rejoices in hope of the glory of God, (e) is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, who (f) sheds abroad in his heart the love of God, (g) is reconciled to God, and (h) joys in God.
Having reached such a pinnacle in verse eleven of chapter five we might be disposed to write finis to the story if we did not discover that there were yet two and a half chapters to be read and much more to be told therein. We have found that the sin-problem has been solved, the believer is no longer viewed as in Adam but in Christ, free from condemnation, and set up in this world by divine power to walk “not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”
So amazing is all this that we are prepared for still more wonderful disclosures of the great plan of the blessed God. Not satisfied with our being delivered from our sins, ourselves, and condemnation, and brought into the wonderful blessing described in chapter five, verses one to eleven, He has purposed that we should be introduced into the relationship of children, the position of sons, the dignity of “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus,” and that ultimately we should be “conformed to the image of His Son.” All is before Him now just as it was when the great scheme was devised in the council-chamber of eternity, so that He takes account of us at the present time as foreknown— predestinated—called ― justified—glorified.
Here indeed we have reached the ne plus ultra of divine counsel. Can we recognize in those described in chapters two and three the persons who will be conformed to the image of God’s Son―His brethren, amongst whom He will be firstborn? Can we measure the distance from the abysmal depths of the former to the inconceivable heights of the latter? Can we overestimate the grandeur of the gospel that has revealed all this to us? Can we sufficiently magnify the grace that has led us into the knowledge, the appropriation and the enjoyment of it?
Shall we consider this passage a little more in detail?
1. We are “sons of God” (verses 14, 19). That speaks of position, dignity, glory, and we are introduced into it by adoption’ (verse 15)
2. We are “the children of God” (verse 16). From John’s writings we find that this is the result of new birth. The very mention of children suggests relationship, dependence, simplicity, joy.
3. We are heirs of God, and “joint-heirs with Christ Jesus” (verse 17). The riches of Heaven, yea the wealth of God is ours. Do we realize this? Alas! How many professing Christians are living in spiritual beggary. They want a better position, more money, a share of the world’s fare such as its novels and its pictures. They go to concerts or “listen in” to them in the seclusion of their homes, and yet, if they are believers, they are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus.”
4. We have got the Holy Spirit to lead us into the still unexplored realm of blessing and to be to us individually all that we need while passing through this world. He “helpeth our infirmities;” He translates our unuttered petitions; He interprets our groans (verse 26). He works in unison with God, for He knows our desire and God’s will, while God knows our need and the Holy Spirit’s mind. In this way our prayers are divinely censored, and those that are according to God are divinely endorsed (verse 27). Apprehending this we can say “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose” (verse 28). Nor can we doubt it when we discover that God is working in us and for us here and now just that which He designed in past eternal ages, when He ‘foreknew us and predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son (verse 29).
5. The secret of all is that God is for us (verse 31). He has proved that by giving “His own Son;” He is daily demonstrating it by freely giving us all things (verse 32). Who can accuse us when God has justified us? (verse 33). Who dare condemn us when Christ has died, risen, and now at the right hand of God makes intercession for us? (verse 34). How richly provided for are we! The Holy Spirit down here and Christ enthroned up there alike are making intercession for us (verses 27, 34). Just at this point, dear fellow-believer, as you read once again that last sentence, say: “FOR ME!”
6. Christ and love are practically synonymous for they are never divided. Nothing can separate us from Him, therefore nothing can separate us from His love (verse 35). Tribulation we shall have, persecution we may expect, privation may be our portion, to die for Him our privilege, but when the enemy has done his worst, Christ remains. His love abides, and from that NOTHING can separate us.
Nor is this the whole story. (7.) Across these eight chapters we may write “the love of God.” We enter what we have called the council chamber bf eternity (verses 29, 30), the whole atmosphere is fragrant with love, the source of the gospel is love for “God is love,” the Son of God has come to us with the message of love, He has died to express it, He lives to lead us into the present knowledge and enjoyment of it, and here we are assured (verses 38, 39), that no power in heaven, nor on earth, nor in hell, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Thank God for the very little we know of it now. We trust we know a little more than we did when we commenced our study. We look on to the coming day of glory when in the Father’s house, “conformed to the image of His Son,” we shall revel in the shoreless, fathomless ocean of “the love of God” and shall praise His glorious Name forever and ever.
We had intended that this should be our concluding paper, but if we might claim the kind indulgence of the Editor and readers just a little farther we should like in next month’s issue (D. V.), to consider the practical application of the precious portion that has been under review.
May we find our delight in discovering, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, these priceless treasures, may we make them our very own, and with worshipping hearts may we extol the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
W. BRAMWELL DICK.