Comments on Romans 5

ARTICLE TWO

“We glory in tribulations also.”—Rom. v. 3.

Paul was more concerned about his re­ligious welfare than any thing else, and he knew that tribulation was better for him than worldly ease and prosperity, and on this account he gloried in it. Storms cause the roots to strike deeper and to lay hold of the earth and rocks below. So trials cause us to take a firmer hold on Christ.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray.” “Trials make the promise sweet.” We are proud and vain enough as it is, but if we met no disappointments what would we be!

Paul gloried in anything that deepened his humility and strengthened his love to God, and helped him to set his affections there.

“Tribulation worketh patience.” Long or repeated tribulation will work patience, and in this we learn experience. The old Christian can instruct the young one as to the trials of life. You may think that your sun has gone down, that your hope is end­ed, and all your comforts have dried up; but the old soldier can tell you all about it. “Experience” means to know, and the old soldier knows—he knows that the storm will go by, the war will end, and this dark night will give place to a morning sun, and so knowledge of the trials of life “works hope.” If I am down now, I was so once before and was delivered. That part of the wheel that is now down in the mud soon be­gins to ascend. So the Christian that is near despair is not kept there long.

The daily experience of the Christian strengthens our hope; when the skies are dark it keeps from despair or pride. We have reason to glory in the trials of life that make the inner man” strong and bring us to be reconciled to death.

“Hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts” “The love of God” That is, we love God because his love is shed abroad in our hearts. Those who love God are prepared to serve him without shame, or to suffer if need be the tribulations that are directed by the Father’s hand. We are often ashamed of our poor service, but not of him nor of his commands. We are not ashamed because of all that he has done for us, nor for all we hope he will do. “For when we were yet without strength; in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” We were “without strength,” that is, we were unable to do anything to bring about our salvation. He undertook for us, expecting us to do nothing towards delivery—he assumed all the burden.

This “without strength” is a veto to every conditional theory. What can a man without strength do? What need has such a man with a conditional system?

“In due time.” Our sins were like a debt that fell due at a certain time, and at that time he was there with the payment. “The hireling fleeth;” but he was not a hireling, he was the Shepherd of the sheep.

“For the ungodly;” in their room and stead—as their substitute. The commer­cial view of the atonement is the right view. The church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood;” “ye are not your own;” “but ye are bought with a price.”

“Christ died for us.” Two things are made plain in this. One is that he loved us, and the other is, he designed to save us. One might die for a righteous man, “perad­venture for a good man some would even dare to die.” It would be great love that would cause one to die for a good man. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man would lay down his life for his friend.” But God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Here is exceeding love, that Christ died for sinners— “for the ungodly.” He proves his love for us by dying for us. He must have loved us with love inexpressible.

The way he takes to exhibit it, and the death he died, all declare his love for us. “That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, . . . and to know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge.” It is a dictate of reason that God will not suffer the objects of such Love as this to perish at last. Many texts teach that he died for his people with the intention of saving them.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, . . . that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Such love as this, coupled with the desire and the design of saving them, is a pledge that he will do it at last.

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” The argument is, that if the death and suffering of Christ laid hold of us while we were “sinners,” and “ungod­ly,” and has justified us, then the worst is over, the most difficult task is done. If he has brought us along the way till we are justified, no doubt he will easily take us on. The road we have come is the steepest and roughest of all the way; the task yet to do is easy.

“If, when we were enemies, we were re­conciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” If the death of his Son laid hold of us when we were enemies, and reconciled us, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. The worst difficulties in the way of our salvation have been overcome. The argument is like this: If the team has drawn the load to the top of the last hill and yet not tired, much more it will complete the journey. The Savior has come over the steepest and roughest part of the way, he has met the cross and endured it; has gone through the grave and conquered it; and the difficulties yet are as nothing to him, and “much more, we shall be saved by his life.”

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