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16 THE CONVENTION TEACHER INTRODUCTION There is a happy estate for those who believe in Christ, and walk under the influence of His Spirit. The purpose of God in sending His Son into the world was to redeem men from sin. In this world could be seen the evil minded individuals. Jesus places His Followers to be lights and examples, and so He lives and works in His Followers; and thus they have their blessedness and happiness here as well as hereafter. We must remember that in this world, sufferings are the common lot of all men; and while such sufferings are in the world, the Jews and Gentiles are to keep the hope that they will be delivered from them. The use and importance of hope is given and our belief in the hope brings joy. The Spirit makes intercession for the believer of Christ. Whatever may be the experiences of all things we undergo, they all work for good to the true believer with his expressed love for God, as one acts according to the divine purpose exercised in calling them. Here we have the calling to show that all things work together to advance our eternal happiness, by showing the several steps which the wisdom of God and the goodness of God have settled in order to complete our Salvation. When He shows the great blessedness, confidence, and security of all genuine Christians, whom, while they held fast faith and a good conscience, could allow nothing to separate them from the love of God. EXPOSITION 1. TRUE CHRISTIANS LED BY THE SPIRIT. (VV. 12-14.) (12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. This verse is an inference from the exhibition of the nature and tendency of the flesh; or the carnal mind as hostile to God and destructive to ourselves. We are debtors, not to the flesh, but, as the implication is, of the Spirit. Of the two controlling principles: the flesh and the spirit, our obligation is not to the former, but to the latter. To live after the flesh. Paul says the flesh is still living but also there is danger from it. He differentiates. Our only obligation is not to live after it; otherwise we may owe it much. It is to be the slave, not the Master. (13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. The condition of reality makes the statement stronger that a condition of expectancy would. Expectancy, too, might suggest that Paul expects such a thing regarding some of his readers, which, of course, he does not. What is in Paul's mind is the fact that the world is full of men and women who live according to the flesh, their whole nature being flesh; therefore he tells the Romans, "If you live in that way, you will die." Living according to the flesh heads straight for death, cannot and does not head for anything else, no matter what those who live that way may think. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Remember the Bible honors the body which God created, Christ redeemed and in which the Holy Spirit makes his temple. To live according to the Spirit, is to conquer all the evils of the flesh. Thus the Gospel has accomplished what the law could not, so says Paul - The sanctification of the soul is the destruction of the corrupt passions of our nature and the recovery of man to God. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Here are stated the benefits of the gospel, that is, that produces a spirit of adoption. As are led. The Spirit is represented as influencing and controlling. An evidence of piety is a willingness to yield to that influence and submit to Him. A noticeable evidence of the want of piety is where there is an unwillingness to submit to that influence and where the Holy Spirit is grieved and resisted. All Christians submit to His influence; all sinners decidedly reject and oppose it. The glory belongs to the conducting Spirit when man is saved. The fault is man's when he is lost. Sons of God have evidence of piety. They are adopted into His family, and are His children. This is a name of endearment. They are part of the great family of the redeemed, of whom He is the Father and Protector. II. PRIVILEGES OF GENUINE CHRISTIANS. (VV. 15-17.) (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The slave is under constant fear and alarm, but the [[end page]] [[start page]] 17 THE CONVENTION TEACHER Spirit of religion is that of freedom and of confidence, the spirit of children and not of slaves. Again to fear. This implies that in their former state, under the law, they were in a state of servitude, and that the tendency of it was merely to produce alarm. Every sinner is subject to such fear. He has everything of which to be alarmed, God is angry with him; his conscience will trouble him; and he has everything to apprehend in death and in eternity; but it is not so with the Christian. But ye have received the spirit of adoption, the feeling of affection, love, and confidence which pertains to children, not the servile, trembling spirit of slaves, but the affectionate regards of sons. Adoption is taking and treating a stranger as one's own child. It is applied to Christians because God treats them as His children; He received them into this relation, though they were by nature, strangers; therefore the act is one of mere kindness, of pure sovereign love. Whereby we cry, Abba, Father, as children who need protection and help. This proves the habitual spirit of a child of God; a disposition to express toward Him the feelings due to a father; to call upon Him, to address Him in the words of affection and endearing confidence, to seek His protection and aid. The word, Abba is Chaldean and means father. Why the apostle repeats the words in a different language is not known. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: This refers to the Holy Spirit. Beareth witness that is, gives evidence with our spirit. To our minds, this pertains to the adoption and it means that the Holy Spirit furnishes evidence to our minds that we are adopted into the family of God. To learn whether we have this witnessing of the Spirit is by an honest and prayerful inquiry, whether these fruits of the Spirit actually exist in our minds. (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. If adopted into His family, then heirs, that is He will treat us as sons. An heir is one who succeeds to an estate. Thus here is, that if we sustain the relation of sons to God, that we shall be treated as such, and admitted to share His favors. An adopted son comes in for a part of the inheritance. Heirs of God. This says that we shall be partakers of that inheritance which God confers on His people. That inheritance is His favor here, and eternal life hereafter. This is an honor infinitely higher than to be an heir to the most princely earthly inheritance; or than to be the adopted son of the most magnificent earthly monarch. And joint heirs with Christ. Christ is by eminence the Son of God, and as such, He is heir to the full honours and glory of heaven. Christians are united to Him, they are His friends, and they are thus represented as destined to partake with Him of His glory. They are the sons of God in a different sense from what He is, He by His nature and high relation, they by adoption; but still the idea of sonship exists in both; and hence both will partake in the glories of the eternal inheritance. If so be that we suffer with him. If we suffer in His cause; bear afflication as He did; we show that we are united to Him. That we may be also glorified together. If united in the same kind of sufferings, there is propriety in being united in destiny beyond the scenes of all suffering, the kingdom of blessedness and love. III THE CHRISTIAN'S SECURITY.VV. 31-39.) (31) What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? The safety of believers based on God's infinite and unchanging love is seen--What shall we then say to these things? In view of the safety of the believer, as seen in the power of God in the Christian religion to support us in our trials from the things through which we pass and become conquerors. If God is for us. If God be on our side, or is our friend, as He has shown Himself to be by adopting us, (V. 15), by granting to us His spirit, and by His gracious purpose to save us; if He has delivered us from the law of sin and death, if He has renewed us by His Spirit which dwells within us, if He recognizes us as His children, and His heirs, and has predestined us to holiness and glory. Who can be against us? Who can injure or destroy us? Sinners may be against us, and so may the great enemy of our souls, but their power to destroy us is taken away. God is mightier than all our foes. He can defend and save us. (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all
