“Basic Christianity, Part 30” by Romans
Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUnDKD1NMH4
Youtube Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p83QkV0I6k
We are continuing in our Series, “Basic Christianity.” Tonight, we are continuing in the review and examination of our Christian walk, as a facet of Basic Christianity. In the past three Installments of our Series, we have looked at Walking In Light, and Walking in Truth. Last week, we looked at the second of a two-part review of the Apostle Paul's twin-admonition that we not walk as the Gentiles walk, and that we “walk in love as Christ also loved us.”
Tonight, we will look at those occasions where Scripture teaches five more facets of our Christian walk. They are, walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4), walking after the Spirit (Romans 8:1), walking in good works (Ephesians 2:10), walking worthy of our vocation (Ephesians 4:1) and walking in Christ (Colossians 2:6).
We will not be able to complete all five facets in this one Discussion. We will only get to four of the five facets. And, in all honesty, that is good. I want to share with you as much good insight into each facet as I can. Having said all of that, let us begin.
Our first facet tonight is found in Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Albert Barnes writes of this: “Therefore we are buried ... - It is altogether probable that the apostle in this place had allusion to the custom of baptizing by immersion. This cannot, indeed, be proved, so as to be liable to no objection; but I presume that this is the idea which would strike the great mass of unprejudiced readers. But while this is admitted, it is also certain that his main scope and intention was not to describe the mode of baptism...
nor to affirm that that mode was to be universal. The design was very different. It was to show that by the solemn profession made at our baptism, we had become dead to sin, as Christ was dead to the living world around him when he was buried; and that as he was raised up to life, so we should also rise to a new life.
Into death - Unto death; that is, with a solemn purpose to be dead to sin and to the world. Grotius and Doddridge, however, understand this as referring to the death of Christ - in order to represent the death of Christ - or to bring us into a kind of fellowship with his death.
Should walk - Should live, or conduct. The word “walk” is often used to express the course of a man’s life, or the tenor of his conduct; Romans 4:12 speaks of walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham; 1 Corinthians 5:7 speaks of purging out the old leaven.
In newness of life - This is a Hebraism to denote new life. We should rise with Christ to a new life; and having been made dead to sin, as he was dead in the grave, so should we rise to a holy life, as he rose from the grave. The argument in this verse is, therefore, drawn from the nature of the Christian profession. By our very baptism, by our very profession, we have become dead to sin, as Christ became dead; and being devoted to him by that baptism, we are bound to rise, as he did, to a new life.
While it is admitted that the allusion here was probably to the custom of immersion in baptism, yet the passage cannot be adduced as an argument that that is the only mode, or that it is binding on all Christians in all places and ages, for the following reasons:
(1) The scope or design of the apostle is not to discuss the mode of baptism, Or to state any doctrine on the subject. It is an incidental allusion in the course of an argument, without stating or implying that this was the universal mode even then, still less that it was the only possible mode. His main design was to state the obligation of Christians to be holy, from the nature of their profession at baptism - an obligation just as impressive, and as forcible, from the application of water in any other mode as by immersion.
It arises from the fact of baptism, not from the mode. It is just as true that they who are baptized by affusion, or by sprinkling, are baptised into his death; become professedly dead to sin and the world, and under obligations to live to God, as those who are immersed. It results from the nature of the ordinance, not from the mode.
(2) If this was the mode commonly, it does not follow that it was the only mode, nor that it was to be universally observed; There is no command that this should be the only mode. And the simple fact that it was usually practiced in a warm climate, where ablutions were common, does not prove that it is to be observed amidst polar snows and ice, and in infancy, and age, and feebleness, and sickness.
(3) If this is to be pressed literally as a matter of obligation, why should not also the following expression, “If we have been planted together,” etc., be pressed literally, and it be demanded that Christians should somehow be “planted” as well as “buried?” Such an interpretation only shows the absurdity of insisting on a literal interpretation of the Scriptures in cases of simple allusion, or where the main scope is illustration by figurative language.”
The next facet of our walk is Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Robert Hawker writes, “The Apostle, having in the foregoing Chapters, fully established the Doctrine of Justification by Faith: here enters upon describing the Blessedness of it. He shews the Privileges of the Faithful, from the first Stage of Freedom from Condemnation, to the final Entrance into Glory.
This is a most blessed Chapter, and cannot fail to make the soul of that man blessed, in whose heart God the Holy Ghost bears witness, the gracious contents of it are written. It begins, with stating the happy condition of the believer in Jesus, that there is no condemnation to them that are in union with him: and it ends, in declaring that there can be no separation from him, in grace here and glory hereafter. It opens with shewing the blessedness of a oneness with Christ, which secures from all the condemning power of the law;
and it prosecutes the sweet subject through all the paths of it, from such an union with Christ, and interest in Christ, as preserves the believer from all the remains of in-dwelling corruption, the sorrows of life, and all that may arise, both within and without, to afflict the child of God in going home to his father’s house. And it closeth, with challenging all created power to keep from God in Christ!
Perhaps the Reader will enter into the better apprehension of the Chapter, if he were to divide it into the several parts, in which the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to direct the Apostle to treat the several subjects here brought forward. From the first to the end of the fourth verse, the blessedness of a freedom from the condemning power of sin is stated: and the believer justified in Christ, is shewn to be in union with Christ, and walking with Christ.
From the fifth to the seventeenth verse, the blessedness of the believer is shewn, in being led by the Spirit of God, manifesting thereby his Sonship. So that, as the remains of in-dwelling sin hinder not the in-dwelling of God the Holy Ghost; neither shall it hinder the resurrection of the body at the last day, nor the everlasting happiness both of soul and body, to all eternity.
The eighteenth verse opens with shewing the unceasing comfort and support the child of God ought to derive, from the assurance of this state of things, under all the afflictions and sorrows of life. From this verse to the close of the thirtieth, the believer is taught how much a justified and sanctified life in Christ is, or ought to be, lifted up above the pressure of the necessary exercises of a life of grace, leading to a sure life of glory in Christ.
And, very blessedly is it proved in this part of the Chapter, that as in all the appointments of the Lord, the Church of Christ in every individual of his mystical body, is chosen to be conformed to the image of Christ in all things, that he might be the first born among many brethren; so all things must, and can do no other, but work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to his purpose.
Everything being now said that can be refreshing and consolatory, to shew the believer his high privileges in Christ, where neither condemnation can affect, nor affliction cast down, his justified state in Christ before God; the Chapter closeth from the opening of the thirty-first verse to the end, to challenge all created power to cause a separation between Christ and his people. And very blessed is that soul taught of God the Spirit, which, from the same cause as the Apostle enjoyed, can adopt the same triumphant language.
Reader! let you and I, as we enter upon this precious Chapter, look up to God the Holy Ghost for this unspeakable blessing, that we may make it our own through his divine teaching; and sweetly, through his grace enabling us, rejoice in the transporting assurance, that being justified freely in Christ, nothing can separate us from Christ, and from the love of God which is in Christ through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I pray the Reader as he begins the Chapter, to remark with me, how blessedly the Apostle hath worded it. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Strictly and properly speaking, there never was; for they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and chosen to be holy and without blame before God in love, Eph_1:4.
But the sense is, that now, by the regenerating power of God the Holy Ghost, they are brought forth to the knowledge and enjoyment of it, from the Adam - state of their fallen nature, and they who were enemies to God by wicked works, are now reconciled in the body of Christ’s flesh through death, to present them holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.
And I beg the Reader not to overlook the Apostle’s words in the opening of this Chapter, on another account: He saith, that there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Neither is there. For in him, as their glorious Head, Husband, and Surety; they are fully justified. But the Apostle doth not say, that there is nothing in them to condemn. For they know, and confess, that from the remains of in-dwelling sin in them, there is much to condemn; yea, they condemn themselves.
But Christ hath taken away the condemning power of sin, in having answered all the demands of the law. And, the believer in Christ Jesus is in a state of complete justification before God in Christ and his righteousness. God the Father justifies, (see Romans 8:33); God the Son justifieth, (see Romans 4:25); God the Holy Ghost justifieth (see 1 Timothy 3:16).
And, I beg the Reader yet further to notice the Apostle’s words, concerning those in whom there is no condemnation. They are said to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Paul cannot be supposed to mean, that a child of God freed from condemnation, is freed from a body of flesh and sin; for he himself, in a few verses before in the preceding Chapter, lamented with a bitter cry under a body of sin, and a body of flesh of his own, in which he said dwelt no good thing.
But I apprehend, the walk of life here spoken of as distinguished from flesh and guided by the spirit, means, a life of faith in Christ; living under an abiding sense of being wholly justified by Him, and having no confidence in the flesh. No Pharisaical righteousness mingled in this walk. Not being puffed up with a fleshly mind. Paul elsewhere expresseth it: To win Christ and be found in him. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus making the believer free from the law of sin and death;
All holiness only in Christ. Christ himself the law, the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. All fulfilled by Christ. All made ours from Christ. So that this Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, communicates the whole efficacy of it as from the head to its members, and they are free from the law of sin and death; and as one with Christ and in Christ, they are freely, fully, completely justified, and accepted as righteous in Christ before God.”
The next facet of our walk we shall review and examine is Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Of this Matthew Henry writes, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. It appears that all is of grace, because all our spiritual advantages are from God. We are his workmanship; he means in respect of the new creation; not only as men, but as saints. The new man is a new creature; and God is its Creator. It is a new birth, and we are born or begotten of his will.
In Christ Jesus, that is, on the account of what he has done and suffered, and by the influence and operation of his blessed Spirit. Unto good works, etc. The apostle having before ascribed this change to divine grace in exclusion of works, lest he should seem thereby to discourage good works, he here observes that though the change is to be ascribed to nothing of that nature (for we are the workmanship of God), yet God, in his new creation, has designed and prepared us for good works:
Created unto good works, with a design that we should be fruitful in them. Wherever God by his grace implants good principles, they are intended to be for good works. Which God hath before ordained, that is, decreed and appointed. Or, the words may be read, To which God hath before prepared us, that is, by blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and with the assistance of his Holy Spirit; and by producing such a change in us. That we should walk in them, or glorify God by an exemplary conversation and by our perseverance in holiness.”
The Expositor's Bible adds, “In his lofty flights of thought the apostle always has some practical... end in view. The earthly and heavenly, the mystical and the matter-of-fact were not distant and repugnant, but interfused in his mind. From the celestial heights of the life hidden with Christ in God, he brings us down in a moment and without any sense of discrepancy to the prosaic level of "good works." The love which viewed us from eternity, the counsels of Him who works all things in all, enter into the humblest daily duties.
Grace, moreover, sets us great tasks. There should be something to show in deed and life for the wealth of kindness spent upon us, some visible and commensurate result of the vast preparations of the gospel plan. Of this result the apostle saw the earnest in the work of faith wrought by his Gentile Churches.
St. Paul was the last man in the world to undervalue human effort, or disparage good work of any sort. It is, in his view, the end aimed at in all that God bestows on His people, in all that He Himself works in them. Only let this end be sought in God’s way and order. Man’s doings must be the fruit and not the root of his salvation. "Not of works," but "for good works" were believers chosen.
"This little word for, " says Monod, "reconciles St. Paul and St. James better than all the commentators." God has not raised us up to sit idly in the heavenly places lost in contemplation, or to be the useless pensioners of grace. He sends us forth to "walk in the works, prepared for us," ~ equipped to fight Christ’s battles, to fill His fields, to labour in the service of building His Church.
The "workmanship" of our Version suggests an idea foreign to the passage. The apostle is not thinking of the Divine art or skill displayed in man’s creation; but of the simple fact that "God made man" (as we read in Genesis 1:27) "We are His making, created in Christ Jesus." The "preparation" to which he refers in this verse, leads us back to that primeval election of God’s sons in Christ for which we gave thanks at the outset.
There are not two creations, the second formed upon the ruin and failure of the first; but one grand design throughout. Redemption is creation reaffirmed. The new creation, as we call it, restores and consummates the old. When God raised His Son from the dead, He vindicated His original purpose in raising man from the dust a living soul.
He has not forsaken the work of His hands nor forgone His original plan, which took account of all our wilfulness and sin. God in making us meant us to do good work in His world. From the world’s foundation down to the present moment He who worketh all in all has been working for this end -most of all in the revelation of His grace in Jesus Christ.
Far backward in the past, amid the secrets of creation, lay the beginnings of God’s grace to mankind. Far onward in the future shines its lustre revealed in the first Christian age. The apostle has gained some insight into those "times and seasons" which formerly were veiled from him. In his earliest letters, to the Thessalonians and Corinthians, St. Paul echoes our Lord’s warning, never out of season, that we should "watch, for the hour is at hand."
In those approaching aeons he foresees that the apostolic dispensation will play a conspicuous part. Unborn ages will be blessed in the blessing now descending upon Jews and Gentiles through Christ Jesus. So marvellous is the display of God’s kindness toward them, that all the future will pay homage to it. The overflowing wealth of blessing poured upon St. Paul and the first Churches had an end in view that reached beyond themselves, an end worthy of the Giver, worthy of the magnitude of His plans and of His measureless love.
If all this was theirs-this fulness of God exceeding the utmost they had asked or thought-it is because God means to convey it through them to multitudes besides! There is no limit to the grace that God will impart to men and to Churches who thus reason, who receive His gifts in this generous and communicative spirit. The apostolic Church chants with Mary at the Annunciation: "For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed!"
Never was any prediction better fulfilled. This spot of history shines with a light before which every other shows pale and commonplace. The companions of Jesus, the humble fraternities of the first Christian century, have been the object of reverent interest and intent research on the part of all centuries since. Their history is scrutinised from all sides with a zeal and industry which the most pressing subjects of the day hardly command.
For we feel that these men hold the secret of the world’s life. The key to the treasures we all long for is in their hands. As time goes on and the stress of life deepens, men will turn with yet fonder hope to the age of Jesus Christ. "And many nations will say: Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways; and we will walks in His paths."
The next facet of our Christian walk is found in Ephesians 4:1: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”
In his commentary, Robert Hawker re-introduces a Theme from this verse that I have, from the very beginning of this Series, repeated as paramount to Basic Christianity, namely, Christian Unity. He writes: “In this Chapter the Apostle considereth the Oneness and Unity of the Church in Christ. He sweetly sheweth how, as one Body, the Church is supplied with every suited Grace to each Member. He closeth in an Exhortation to Love and Concord.
It is truly blessed always to trace effects to their cause. The Apostle having opened this chapter in a word of exhortation, takes effectual care at the same time, to show the Church how, and by what means, the blessed properties he recommends are to be accomplished. Not in any strength of our own, but from the gracious influences of the Spirit. It is well worthy the Reader’s observation, that all the exhortations of the Gospel, are accompanied with this direction, that we may always seek strength in divine help, and trust not to human weakness.
There is no possibility of mortifying the deeds of the flesh, but by the Spirit’s strength. Paul knew this, and was as highly taught it as any man. And, therefore, he saith, I can do nothing of myself. But I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me. Reader! it is blessed to know our own nothingness, that we may the more highly prize the Lord’s all-sufficiency.
I desire the Reader’s close attention to the beautiful account the Apostle hath here drawn of the Oneness and Unity of Christ and his Church. He takes up the figure of an human body by way of describing the whole, taken collectively as One, and the several parts which make up the individual members of it. And he draws from the whole the just and proper influence, which cannot but arise out of it, to the mutual comfort and welfare of all when the subject is considered in this oneness of character.
The Church is but One great whole. Christ is the glorious Head. Every member is united to him, and to each other. So that they are knit in one, all intimately linked in one common interest, and alike concerned for the happiness of each other. But what I more particularly beg the Reader to remark in this place, (because it is what the Apostle is more particularly noting,) is, that while the whole Church of God, in all the variety of the members of it, forms but one, the Holy Ghost is the great source giving life to all He who anointed and filled the Head, is the same which anoints and fills the members.
And, this is one of the most blessed of all thoughts. Though You or I have ever so small portions of grace, yet what we have comes from the same Almighty Giver, and is part of the same nature in grace, as the Holy Ghost communicated to Christ himself. In Him, as a fountain. In us, his members as streams. For the Father gave not the Spirit by measure unto, him. But unto everyone of us is given grace, according unto the measure of the gift of Christ.
Reader! do not for a moment lose sight of this! For what can be more blessed ? The same Spirit which dwelt in Christ’s heart when on earth; yea, which dwells in Christ’s heart now in heaven, (for it would be little short of blasphemy to say, that the Spirit which Jehovah said rested upon him, is departed from him, and dwells in ours. When once the Lord the Spirit, hath regenerated our spirit, there the Lord dwells forever. For so Christ said, He shall abide with you forever (see John 14:16).
I will detain the Reader no longer on this most blessed passage, than just to observe how blessedly the Holy Ghost is forever teaching the Church the grand fundamental doctrine of all our faith, the unity of the Divine essence, existing in a threefold character of Person. One God, Father, Son, and Spirit, is manifested by the oneness of design and agency, in all the revelations which Jehovah hath been pleased to make of himself.
And the Lord makes a yet further display of himself, in the several revelations by which, his people shall know him, in being the God and Father of all because all acts of his are in a fatherly way. He hath from everlasting chosen the Church in Christ, predestinated the Church to a sonship in Christ, and brought all the children into their adoption-character in Christ. Hence he is known by them under those divine distinctions, as above all being not only great and Almighty in their - view, but above all in their affections, and praise, and delight.
He is through all, for whatever blessings they receive of temporals, spirituals, and eternals, they eye Him through all. And he is in all, for, from the first call of awakening grace, until grace is finished in glory, they behold Him as the great Author. Pardoning, justifying, sanctifying grace, are given to everyone of Christ’s mystical members, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. What a blessed view the whole opens!”
We will not have time to review and examine the last verse which I intended for tonight. It is found in Colossians 2:6, and it reads: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” I have every intention to use it as the introductory verse of next week's Discussion, and greatly build on it using one of my favorite Bible Study tools, “The World's Bible Handbook” by Robert T. Boyd. Please join me, God willing, for that next week. I will make it worth your carfare.
This concludes this evening's Discussion, “Basic Christianity, Part 30.”
This Discussion was originally presented “live” on April 21st, 2020.
I have designed a website to serve as an Online Book Store for the things I have written and published on Amazon. These are in the form of both Kindle eBooks, and paperback books. Some of you may recall a Series I presented on "The Lord's Prayer" several years ago. My original notes for this and other Bible Studies have been greatly revised and expanded for these publications. For further details on the books that are available, and for ordering information, click the following:
https://arvkbook.wixsite.com/romansbooks
If you purchase and read any of my books, Thank you! I would also greatly appreciate a review on Amazon!