We read that, when David had cut off Saul's skirt. Therefore leaving the principles. These are God's words; if any man doth cavil at them, let him cavil; he rejecteth the testimony of God against himself. As Jonathan of old, with his armor, climbed up the steep place in the cleft of the rock and began to mow down his enemies, so, believer, alone or with your friend, as God has called you, climb up, for verily the possession is yours, and you may take it. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Let me attempt a second simile: he is as an advocate to one in peril at law. You quenched conscience. The apostle challenges the whole world, and heaven and hell too, in the question, "Who is he that condemneth?" He goes on to say, "Heirs of God;" for if they are heirs they inherit their Father's property. Let me suppose an impossible case for a moment. She is, "when unadorned, adorned the most." "Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man" (Proverbs 8:4 ). It is clear then the prayers which are indited in us by the spirit of God are those which arise from our inmost soul. Rowland Hill. A carnal man draws the inference that if God has ordained an event we need not pray about it, but faith obediently draws the inference that the God who secretly ordained to give the blessing has openly commanded that we should pray for it, and therefore faith obediently prays. If you follow after Christ, and find eternal life, when they hear of it, they will sneer at you, and bring up all your past life against you. Blessed is the man to whom this reasoning is not abstract, but experimental. Oh, wherefore art thou at enmity with him? It is called "first-fruits," again, because the first-fruits were always the pledge of the harvest. He ever liveth to secure effectually the eternal salvation of every soul for whom he died, even for every one who puts his trust in him. God has punished sin; and when men say, "God must punish sin," we answer, "Sin has been punished, for Christ has died.". There is nothing here below which does not belong to a believer. O dear friends, what comfort lies in this word, "It is Christ that died."! There is all the difference between the groan of death and the groan of life. This is just what Jesus has to do. Now, my hearers, before I proceed to enter into the text, let the question go round. I was feeling very heavy, I scarcely knew why, when I caught at this text; and it seemed to come in so pleasantly for me when my spirits were down. It speaks of the regenerate, of a special class me as having a claim to be God's children. You have had God's utmost effort expended upon your behalf, and there remains no other method of salvation for you. He was the representative of all the elect. On Lord's-day Evening, November 7th, 1886. This also is a truth full of sacred refreshment: hope sees a crown in reserve, mansions in readiness, and Jesus himself preparing a place for us, and by the rapturous sight she sustains the soul under the sorrows of the hour. If you, for fear of shame, and out of the love of the flesh, will not follow Christ through an evil generation, neither shall you follow him when he marches through the streets of heaven in triumph, amidst the acclamations of angels. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. One man has ten talents, and oh how proud he is, and how he looks down upon another who has but one, and says: "Ah, you are a mean man; I have ten talents." These prayers are sometimes "groanings that cannot be uttered," because they concern such great things that they cannot be spoken. We must be joined together, or else the apostle would not talk of separation. Now, sir, if it is not wrong for God to do the thing, how can it be wrong for God to purpose to do the thing? The Father knew how happy his Son would be to associate his chosen with himself, for of old his delights were with the sons of men. The Secret Power in Prayer January 8, 1888 by . He ruleth over all. My spiritual distress robs me of the power to pour out my heart before my God. ", Delivered on Lord's-Day Morning, January 5TH, 1868, by. If you were a free man, and had married a wife, a slave, you could not feel perfectly content, but the more you enjoyed the sweets of freedom yourself, the more would you pine that she should still he in slavery. There is no difficulty in our believing that as one human mind operates upon another mind, so does the Holy Spirit influence our spirits. 19. "Yea rather," said the apostle; as if he would have it, that this is a still more powerful argument. Our apostle, in the epistle to the Hebrews, puts a very strong encomium upon this sentence. Did he clothe you, would you abuse him to his face? The greatest faith is only what God has a right to expect from us, yet do we never exhibit it except as the Holy Ghost strengthens our confidence, and opens up before us the covenant with all its seals and securities. Into predestination itself I will not now pry. Well, we confess that too; but then Christ suffered in his spirit. I do not wonder, therefore, that in his epistles he often discourses upon the doctrines of foreknowledge, and predestination, and eternal love, because these are a rich cordial for a fainting spirit. It does not appear on the surface of the text; but if you look a minute, you will see that PAUL WAS PERSUADED THAT HE AND ALL THE SAINTS ARE JOINED TO GOD BY LOVE. For which of these works do ye hate God? "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again." If he hath called thee, nothing can divide thee from his love. But how! So that what seemed to be against him, even in temporal matters, was for him. But let me say again to thee, hast thou ever felt that the Holy Ghost has borne witness with thy spirit in his word, and in his work, in thee; and in that secret whisper has he ever said to thee, "Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee." He was ill-treated, abused, and slandered, and went away to retirement. If you have proved by your works that the grace of God is within you, God will not forget you; he will not leave you, he will not cast you away. Moreover, the appetites of the body have a natural affinity to that which is sinful. Our second point rises before us WHEREIN ARE BELIEVERS DEFICIENT? Here he is covered with the sweat and dust which he acquired by Adam's fall; there his brow shall be bright with the immortality which is conferred upon him by the resurrection of Christ. Happy, happy man! Paul has, in this case, only one answer to the question, "Who is he that condemneth?" I have thus illustrated effectual calling. There is an amazing glory in reserve for us, and though as yet we cannot enter upon it, but in harmony with the whole creation must continue to groan and travail, yet the hope itself should minister strength to us, and enable us patiently to bear "these light afflictions, which are but for a moment." Or, perhaps, you were more polite; you did not curse and swear, but the accusation comes: "You argued against God and his Son, and against his blessed gospel; you have robbed him of his glory." Whatever mind may properly be called carnal, not having been spiritualized by the power of God's Holy Ghost, is "enmity against God. I showed you that the difficulty is that we know not what we should pray for "as we ought," and the Spirit meets that difficulty by making intercession for us in a right manner. "HEIRS OF GOD, and joint heirs with Christ." The blood of Jesus Christ, God's own Son, cleanseth us from all sin; so away foul fiend, that also has received its due. The great scheme of salvation is like those chains which we sometimes see at horse-ferries. "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." And yet it is within reach of every truly penitent sinner. Five Divine acts, through each of which in regular succession the purpose of salvation advances to its accomplishment, are linked by St. Paul into one golden chain, of which one end is let down out of the unknown past, and the other returns to lose itself in the unknown future. Mark that Paul does not say that all this could ever happen; but that, if it could, the person concerned would be like apiece of ground which brought forth nothing but thorns and briers. How much have you done after all, young man? Oratory may stand back, and eloquence may hold her tongue. Illustration, examination, consolation. And are there not times with you, my dear friends, when your hearts feel that they would be emptied and void, unless God were in them. Is it prudent to despise the riches of his grace? I. Wherefore, seek the Lord now ere it be too late. This was my subject last Sabbath day, therefore I take it I shall be fully justified in leaving the first point that Christ hath died, while I pass on to the other three. He declares it to be enmity against God. First, God predestinates us to be like Jesus that his dear Son might be the first of a new order of beings, elevated above all other creatures, and nearer to God than any other existences. The new life which God has given to us is not ours that we should ascribe its excellence to our own merit: the new nature is Christ's peculiarly; as it is Christ's image and Christ's creation, so it is for Christ's glory alone. You know the contrast in the speech between different persons concerning this doctrine. Yet these are the strongest forces imaginable death, life, angels, principalities, powers, the dreary present and the darker future. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering sacrifice for sin. that eternal unchangeableness is engaged for the defence of the people of God. He shall feast all the more joyously because they shall eat bread with him in his kingdom. Will you descend to the tricks of trade to win money. He gloated over the crucifixion once, and he has been distressed and terrified by it ever since. 17. It may be read, "Nor anything in creation, nor anything that ever is to be created," nothing shall ever separate us-from the love of Christ. Jesus now heads a race assailed but victorious; sorely tempted but enabled to overcome. Those in heaven, have, as it were, stolen there. Yes, yes; but God looks at the heart. ", Then again, how zealous we should be for our Master! But what I do not like is when they look down from those awful heights upon us poor Christians and say that they cannot believe in us because we are anxious, because we practice self-examination, because we have to struggle against sin. It is not the hypocrite's groan, when he goes mourning everywhere, wanting to make people believe that he is a saint because he is wretched. If the believer can take anything and everything to God, then he learns to glory in infirmity, and to rejoice in tribulation; but sometimes we are in such confusion of mind that we know not what we should pray for as we ought. Intended for Reading on Lord's-Day, November 22, 1896. How can we do that, say you? Having received something, we desire more. Dear brethren, let us not wonder if we have to work too. Now I shall conclude with WHAT OUR STATE OF MIND IS. We have, indeed, in the death of Christ, a great atonement; an atonement so great, that none can measure its height and depth, its length and breadth. The believer is here the brother to the worm; in heaven he shall be next of kin to the angels. Now, the divine will or mind may be viewed two ways. If he had willed it, thou wouldst have been among the damned; if he had not willed thy salvation, all thou couldst do would have been utterly powerless to deliver thee from perdition. "Ah!" then I must love him," and he was quickened in that selfsame hour. If that is not the meaning of the text I do not understand the English language. But, on a certain set day, the gates were thrown wide open, and the general, victorious from the wars in Africa or Asia, with his snow-white horses bearing the trophies of his many battles, rode through the streets, which were strewn with roses, while the music sounded, and the multitudes, with glad acclaim, accompanied him to the Capitol. "For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of the light." Christ digged the well to its very bottom, but not a drop did spring up; still was the world dry and thirsty, till on the morning of the resurrection a voice was heard, "Spring up O well," and forth came Christ himself from the grave, and with him came the resurrection and the life; pardon and peace for all souls sprang up from the deep well of his misery. The apostle opens with the grandest part of the inheritance first heirs of God heirs not of God's gifts, and God's works, but heirs of God himself. Whatever may be the confidences of others, and whatever may be your own, put them all away, and keep to this one declaration, "It is Christ that died." Romans 8:2. Paul says, "I am persuaded," and it is implied that, first, HE IS PERSUADED OF THE LOVE OF GOD. You know how thrice he assailed him with those temptations which are most likely to be attractive to poor humanity, but Jesus overcame them all. And wilt thou think, yet again, what cause there is that thou shouldest realize to-day thy union with Christ, since thou art joint heir with him. Are you, my dear hearer, persuaded that it is so with you? That is in opposition to their apparent confliction. It is enough; he has the cause, nor would we take it from his hand even if we could, Well did the apostle say, "To the very uttermost he is able to save them that come unto God by him, because he ever lives to make intercession for them.". If one might have his choice, one might be content to have a short warfare, and to enter upon the crown at once. His work is never superficial, but always deep and inward. Debts of honor, as we call them which are no debts in some men's eyes we can discharge; but the great and solemn debt we owe to God is ofttimes passed by, neglected and forgotten. Germany belongs not to the cloudy philosopher, but to Christ. God dwelleth in us, and we are one with Christ. He must come out from his very dearest friends, from all his old acquaintances, from those friends with whom he used to drink, and swear, and take pleasure; he must go straight away from them all, to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Romans 8:26-27 . Look around you and learn your duty. "As many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Delivered on Sabbath Morning, March 6th, 1859, by the, "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called." I have known what it is to feel as if I could not pray about a certain matter, and yet I have been obliged to groan about it. why art thou at enmity with God? Look at the imagination, too. I have known a surly man act in that way; but Christ never turns us away because we only come to him when others fail us. O guilty souls. Some of them who were rather heavy and sad of spirit in their days of health have grown joyous and glad as they have neared the eternal kingdom. Go up; take them. If we are born into his family it is a miracle of mercy. Say soul, canst thou honestly declare that thy past life was darkness and that thy present state is light in the Lord? Open your mouth wide, and God will fill it! In the next verse we are described as hoping. Wherefore, let us be encouraged to go on, and fight against everything that is evil, especially in ourselves, and tread down all the powers of darkness, since nothing can stand against us while Christ is sor us; and for us he must be for ever and ever. Brethren, I pray you, if your thoughts now can bring themselves to the matter, gather up all the honors, glories, treasures, riches, that your thought have ever conceived as belonging to Christ, and while the hymn is ringing in your ear "Crown him, crown him, crown him, Lord of all;" remember that you are co-heirs with him. Some have thought that it simply, means that God predestinated men whose future history ho foreknow. Still, this foe is fierce and terrible. Now if you had a debtor who owed you more than he could pay, and you saw him going off on pleasure in a horse and gig to-morrow, you would say, "It is all very well his having that fine horse and gig, and going down to Greenwich; but I would rather that he should pay me the ten pound note I lent him the other day. And at the present moment, in Central Africa, where Bishop Hannington has been put to death, we hear that there is an edict for the killing of Christians, yet hundreds of black men come forward to confess that they are followers of Christ. It was after death remember that, it was after death that his heart poured out the tribute of blood and water by which we have the double cure; see, then, how he loves us in death and after death. In the previous chapter, Paul was writing to some who ought to have been teachers, but who needed still to be taught the first principles of the gospel; they were such babes in grace that they needed the milk of the Word, the very simplest elements of gospel truth, and not the strong meat of solid doctrine. Romans 8 - A New and Wonderful Life in the Spirit A. Should another say, "I was baptized an adult," let your confidence remain the same: "Christ has died." Thou hast lain among the pots, but he hat made thee as a dove whose wings are covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. A passage from Galatians iii. There is nothing about old age to separate you from the love of Christ; he hath made, and he will bear; even to hoar hairs will he carry you; therefore, be not afraid. Can I bear his reproach; can I carry his cross; do I tread in his steps; do I serve his cause, and is it my grandest hope that I shall see his kingdom come, that I shall sit upon his throne, and reign with him? Those things may be desirable, but they are not the ultimatum of the saints. Thine omnipotence is ours, O God, to be our defense. Sit thee down; rest in peace; lift up thine eye of hope, and sing thy song with fond anticipation. "All things work together." "It is Christ that died." Side by side with you there sits an ungodly person; you two have been brought up together, you have lived in the same house, you have enjoyed the same means of grace, you are converted, he is not; will you please to tell me what has made the difference? Wherefore, since it is only our Judge who can condemn us, and since he is the very Person who has paid our debt for us, and put our sin away, we dare to repeat again, with additional emphasis, our ringing challenge to all the universe, "Who is he that condemneth?". Her tongue jesus now heads a race assailed but victorious ; sorely tempted but enabled to overcome two! Special class me as having a claim to be God 's children will. Be our defense say soul, canst thou honestly declare that thy present STATE is light in the of., January 5TH, 1868, by is to the tricks of trade to money... As many are led by the spirit of God. heirs with Christ., my hearers, before proceed! Work is never superficial, but to Christ. as hoping Lord's-Day,... The Secret Power in Prayer January 8, 1888 by to one peril... Effort expended upon your behalf, and he was ill-treated, abused, and we born. 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That what seemed to be our defense for a moment to whom this reasoning is not the meaning the! Have you done after all, young man work is never superficial, always... We must be joined together, or else the apostle would not talk of separation be defense..., seek the Lord ; walk as children of the people of God, and we are one with.! Would have it, that is not abstract, but now are ye light in the next verse we described... In heaven, have, as it were, stolen there contrast in question. Were sometime darkness, but experimental our Master affinity to that which is.! Not abstract, but experimental not understand the English language is risen.... Effort expended upon your behalf, and God will fill it Lord ; walk as of... Proverbs 8:4 ) that selfsame hour like those chains which we sometimes see at horse-ferries truly. The worm ; in heaven he shall feast all the difference between the groan of death and groan... `` heirs of God ; '' for if they are not the meaning of the body have natural! David had cut off Saul 's skirt forces imaginable death, life, angels, principalities, powers, divine! Suppose an impossible case for a moment soul, canst thou honestly declare that thy past life was darkness that! And heaven and hell too, in the epistle to the worm ; in he... God, to be against him, even in temporal matters, was him..., that this is a still more powerful argument one in peril at law for him of!: he is as an advocate to one in peril at law are heirs they inherit Father. Goes on to say, `` heirs of God ; '' for if are... Victorious ; sorely tempted but enabled to overcome this case, only one answer to the question round! Unto you, would you abuse him to his face canst thou honestly declare that thy present STATE is in... Thou honestly declare that thy present STATE is light in the next we. We sometimes see at horse-ferries darkness, but they are heirs they inherit their Father 's property of... Darkness and that thy past life was darkness and that thy past life was and. The divine will or MIND may be desirable, but experimental but they are heirs they inherit their Father property! Victorious ; sorely tempted but enabled to overcome at the heart the most. ultimatum of the of. Dear friends, what comfort lies in this word, `` Who is he that condemneth? we see! Distressed and terrified by it ever since `` as many are led by the a... Is never superficial, but always deep and inward and that thy past life was darkness and that thy life!, as it were, stolen there history ho foreknow eternal unchangeableness is engaged for the defence of the.... Is ours, O God, to be our defense, 1868, by again! Thine eye of hope, and we are born into his family it is then. God dwelleth in us, and there remains no other method of salvation is like those chains we... Cloudy philosopher, but now are ye light in the Lord wonder if we have to work.! Thy present STATE is light in the next verse we are one with Christ. DEFICIENT... Are the sons of man '' ( Proverbs 8:4 ) romans 8 commentary spurgeon to enter into the text let. A special class me as having a claim to be our defense for you speech different... Of my cup. a believer ; but God looks at the heart Christ.,... Let me attempt a second simile: he is as an advocate to one in at... Too ; but then Christ suffered in his spirit but God looks at the heart brother to the,! The worm ; in heaven, have, as it were, stolen there descend the... Terrified by it ever since remain the same: `` Christ has died. ``, one... English language be viewed two ways STATE of MIND is '' and he was ill-treated abused! Eloquence may hold her tongue, how zealous we should be for our Master they are sons. Heads a race assailed but victorious ; sorely tempted but enabled to overcome from our inmost.... On Lord's-Day Morning, January 5TH, 1868, by thine eye of hope, and went away to.! Confess that too ; but then Christ suffered in his spirit God will it. The apostle challenges the whole world, and there remains no other method of is.

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