Romans

Paul was peculiarly fitted for a great work among the Gentiles: —

1. By birth, a Hebrew.

2. By citizenship, a Roman.

3. By culture, a Greek.

Justified —

By His grace. Chap. 3: 24.
By faith. 3: 28; 5:1.
By works. 4: 2.
By His blood. 5: 9.

1: 16. It is God’s word, not our comment on it, that saves souls.

The glory of the gospel is that it comes to the unfit, to those who have thwarted and resisted

God. The survival of the fittest does not, apply.

Justification means that God declares a man just by judicial act.

Righteousness means that God clothes him with His own righteousness which sanctifies as well as justifies.

2: 16. God judges the world by the same rule that He has

given the world to act by — Jesus Christ.

3: 15. A French proverb says,” Evil comes on horseback

and goes away on foot.”

20. The law does not create nor remove, but simply reveals, the evil in man’s heart: just as a plumbline. It does not alter or improve man’s nature or impart power to meet its demands.

The law can pursue a man to Calvary, but no further.

5: Peace for the past. V. 1.

Grace for the present. V. 2.

Glory for the future. V. 2.

Much more being justified by his blood. V. 9.

Much more being reconciled. V. 10.

Much more the grace of God hath abounded. V. 15.

Much more they... shall reign. V. 17.

Much more grace did abound. V. 20.

5: 3. “Glory in tribulation.” G-L-O-R-Y spells glory, not “growl.”

6. We were without strength, v. 6;
ungodly, v. 6;
sinners, v. 8;
enemies, v. 10.

12. Man renews his faculties every seven years. We cannot account for death except by sin.

Were it not for sin, death would never have had a beginning. Were it not for death, sin would never have an ending.

Sin debases a man in this life,, and destroys him in the life to come.

5: 20. The law brings out sin; Grace covers it. The law

wounds; the gospel heals. One is a quiver of arrows; the other a cruise of oil.

6: Distinguish between —

a. Our position — standing in God’ sight.

b. Our condition — experience in daily life. For a, look to the cross of Christ.

For b, look to the Holy Spirit in you.

Justification is the work of Christ. Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit.

18. Such as have received Christ’s bounty are unwilling to fight under Satan’s banner.

23.” The wages of sin is death.” The works of sin are dishonorable, but its wages are mortal.

7: 5. The law proposes life as the end of obedience; the gospel gives life as the only proper ground of obedience.

The law demands strength from one who has none, and curses for failure.

The gospel gives strength to one who has none, and blesses him for using it.

There is no sin so little as not to kindle an eternal fire. Its first-born is death: its last la.>t-born is hell.

11. “Sin deceived me.” Deceitful, else never delightful. Deceitful as to the satisfaction to be found in it, the excuse to be made for it, and the probability of its punishment.

7: 18. “Flesh.” Drop the “h,” as they are apt to do in

London, spell backward, and you have “self.

21. We all carry around with us material that Satan can work upon.

24. “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Certain criminals used to be punished at that time by binding a corpse fast to them.

8: This chapter begins with “no condemnation,” and

ends with “no separation.”

Spurgeon called these glorious doctrines of chapter 8,” golden stepping-stones through the ‘slough of despond.”

8: 3. God has sent his Son in the image of us all that He might make all of us sons in the image of that One.

9. You might as well try to hear without ears, or breathe without lungs, as try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.

. The Indians refused to be baptized by the Spaniards, because they treated them so cruelly. “For,” said they, “he must be a cruel God who has such servants.”

17. Both beggar and heir.

23. The child of God may “groan,” but never “grumble.” He has uo more right to grumble than to swear.

Holy Spirit for us. V. 26.
God for us. V. 31.
Christ for us. V. 34.

29. “Called according to his purpose.” My faith is the reflection of God’s eternal purpose. We are expected when we come to Christ.

38. Paul’s persuasions: —

No separation from the love of God (here). Nothing unclean of itself.... Chap. 14:14. He is able to keep. ... 2 Tim. 1:12.

10: 9. Unbelief. Christ may dwell in the heart where unbelief lurks, but not where it reigns.

10: 17. Faith is the sacrifice of the understanding to God: repentance is the sacrifice of the will.

11: 6. Works may be good crutches to go upon, but they are bad christs to lean upon.

Works magnify man, grace magnifies God. We had better let works go, and build alone upon free grace.

Good works may be our Jacob’s staff — to walk with on earth; but they never can be our Jacob’s ladder to climb up to heaven.

17. Brands plucked from the fire (Zech. 3: 2), become branches (Rom. 11: 17), and bear much fruit (John 15:8).

20. The Jews broken off, because of unbelief. The Gentiles grafted in, because of belief.

12: 3. Humility is to have a just estimate of one’s self.

10.” In honor preferring one another. “Like the ancient Roman who said, “Thank God, Rome has better men than me,” when another was elected to fill his office.

13. Many- love at their tongue’s end, but the godly love at their fingers’ end.

13: 9, 10. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”

1. Love to God will admit no other gods.

2. Love resents everything that debases its object by representing it by an image.

3. Love to God never will dishonor His name.

4. Love to God will reverence His day.

5. Love of parents makes one honor them.

6. Hate, not love, is a murderer.

7. Lust, not love, commits adultery.

8. Love will give, but never steal.

9. Love will not slander or lie.
10. Love’s eye is not covetous.

14: 21. The wicked stumble at every straw in the way to

heaven, but they climb over hills in the way to destruction.

15: 24. “Somewhat filled.” Christ alone can fill.