Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 8 · Verse 1
VERSE. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Ieſus, who walke not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit.
IN this verſe are two things, 1. The Conſolatory propoſition, There is no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt. 2. A deſcription of one of the Termes, namely, Who are in Chriſt, ſuch as walke not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit.
In the Propoſition (as in all of this kind) there are 3. parts. 1. The ſubiect or Antecedent, To them which are in Chriſt, 2. the Predicat or Conſequent, Condemnation, 3. the Bond, negatiuely ſet downe, There is no.
The whole Propoſition in the naturall order, is thus, To them which are in Chriſt, there is no condemnation. This order is inuerted for more Elegancy and force.
The Arguments diſpoſed in this propoſition, are the cauſe, and the contrary effect. The contrary effect negatiuely deliuered of the cauſe. The cauſe, beeing in Chriſt. The contrary effect, Condemnation. The proper effect, Iuſtification, ſet down negatiuely for our greater comfort: becauſe wee are more ſenſible of the euill things we are freed from, which wee hauehave deſerued, then of the good things we hauehave by Grace.
There is therefore now. Anſelmus.Some make this particle (Now) an Aduerbe of Time, in a double relation. Firſt, to the time paſt, thus: before; when you were out of Chriſt, your eſtate was damnable; but now it is otherwiſe. Secondly, to the time to come, viz. Of the glorification of the body, thus, Now there is no condemnation; then there ſhall be no concupiſcence. But it's better taken for a note of inference from ſomewhat going before, thus: Thoſe which are iuſtified, are not vnderunder the Law, but vnderunder Grace. Now then it followes, that there is no condemnation to ſuch.
There is no condemnation. Condemnation is a ſentence or Doome giuen by a competent Iudge, concerning the puniſhment of an offender, the contrary whereof, is Abſolution, Acquitting, Iuſtification. The Iudge is GOD. The delinquent to be arraigned, ſinfull Man, the Court double, Inferior: of Conſcience, Superior: of Chriſt.
To them which bee in Chriſt. In Chriſt, and by Chriſt, differ: by the firſt, effectuall Vocation; by the ſecond, Iuſtification is vſually ſet forth. To bee in Chriſt, is to bee vnited vntounto him: which vnion is ſpirituall, not corporall. Hee in vsus by his Spirit, wee in him by our Faith.
The meaning ariſeth from the coniunction of the Subiect and Predicat by a Negatiue Bond: for though they are ioyned in the Propoſition, yet they are really ſeparated.
To them which are in Chriſt. That is, which beleeue, and ſo are effectually called, there is no condemnation, (not before men, for ſuch are moſt ſubiect to reproachfull cenſures, but before) God; either at the Barre of their owne Conſcience, or at the Barre of Chriſt, at the laſt day. The terror of damnation is vnſpeakeable, ſpecially before the Iudgement ſeat of CHRIST; for, if the iudgement of a guilty Conſcience be ſo fearefull, as wee cannot be ignorant, much more is the iudgement of God, who is greater then our Conſcience.Ioh. 3.20.
doctrine Thoſe which are in CHRIST by Faith, ſhall not bee condemned. Iohn 3.5.16,36. Marke 16.16. Epheſ. 5.23.
Ʋſe. 1.Hee ſaith not, There is no ſinne, or nothing worthy to be damned, but there is no condemnation: for he that ſaith he hath no ſinne, deceiues himſelfe: 1. Ioh. 1.8.And the Apoſtle in the 7. Chapter, confeſſed the remainder of ſinne, which manifeſts it ſelfe too often, in our words, deeds and deſires contrary to the Law: by which, if the moſt righteous man be examined, he muſt appeare worthy to be damned, and hath need enough to vſe Dauids Prayer, Pſalme 143.2.Lord, enter not into iudgement with thy ſeruant.
Vſe 2.There is no Condemnation to Them. Here appeareth the Prudence of the Apoſtle, who, when hee in the 7. Chapter ſpake of the force of inhabiting Sinne, expreſſed it in his own perſon, that we might know there is no man ſo holy in this life who is exempted. But when hee ſpeakes of Comfort to ſuch; hee ſpeakes in the perſon of others, leſt wee ſhould imagine, that onelyonly ſome principall and choiſe Chriſtians did enioy this benefit.
It is the faſhion of Chriſtians diſtreſſed in Conſcience, to exempt themſelues from the communion of this comfort, as if it belonged to others, not to themſelues, VponUpon this Paul profeſſedly changeth the manner of his ſpeech. Doeſt thou beleeue in Chriſt with a true (though weake) faith? Thou ſhalt be ſaued. Hold faſt this faith: For euen as a halfe-penny is currant lawfull money as well as a ſhilling: ſo is the leaſt true Faith of his weight and allowance before God. Therefore Paul elſewhere ſaith, There is laid vp for Mee a crowne of righteouſneſſe. Yea, for Thee an holy and famous Apoſtle. Nay (ſaith Paul) 2. Tim. 4.8.not for mee onelyonly, but for them alſo who louelove the appearing of Chriſt.
Vſe 3.Miſerable are the vnbeleeuers and impenitent. There is no Condemnation. If Paul had ſtayed here, many would hauehave applauded him. O how would the Drunkard and Blaſphemer, &c. hauehave reioyced, and all the rout of wicked ones! If Thou beeſt ſuch: how doeſt thou wiſh in thy heart that it were true? But heare and tremble thou Profane. There is no Condemnation to them which are in Chriſt. This is the Childrens bread, it is not for Dogs, that is, for Impenitent ſinners. What then ſhall become of them which repent not? Woe vntounto them: For they ſhall periſh, they ſhall be damned, for them is reſerued the blackneſſe of darkneſſe for euer, euen vtter Darkneſſe, where there is nothing but weeping, and gnaſhing of teeth. Who can tell the Miſery, the Flames, the Anger, the Vengeance which ſhall fall downe vponupon the heads of the wicked as a tempeſt of Thunder? When thou art gloſſing and quaffing; thinke of this Damnation. When thou art puffed vp with Pride: thinke of the ſhame and Confuſion following. When thou art Coueting: think of the wrath thou treaſureſt vp againſt the day of Wrath. Of theſe things we dayly ſpeake and write, and yet thou wicked wretch turneſt not, as if it were a triflle to be damned; to be ſeparated from the Saints, from Chriſt, from God, a trifle: as if it were a light thing to hauehave eternall fellowſhip with the Diuell and his Angels. Yet, yet conuert: that if it be poſſible, thou mayſt eſcape Damnation: Yet leaue thy Whoredomes &c. While the doore of grace is open. He which now ſtoppeth his eare: O, how ſhall he in That day call to the Mountaines and Rockes to couer him! Preuent this damnation by repentance; and though other fall into hell, labour thou to bee in the number of them to whom there is no Condemnation.
Ʋſe 4.Great is the Bleſſedneſſe and Securitie of the Godly: I ſay Securitie, not Carnal, whereby the feare of God is ſhaken off, but ſpiritual, wherby the feare of damnation is ouercom. There is no Condemnation to them: they hauehave peace with God, with themſelues. Vnderſtand, you bleſſed of the Father, your happineſſe and reioyce: My life for yours you ſhall not periſh. That tormenting flame, ſhall not touch one hayre of your heads: As the garments of the three men ſmelt not of the fire; ſo you ſhall bee moſt free. Remember this golden, this moſt diuine Sentence, and in all diſtreſſes of Conſcience conquer yee. But thou wilt ſay: Alas, I am led captiue vntounto ſinne, what hope therefore? Indeede in thy ſelfe there is none; but in Chriſt there is plenty. When Satan ſhall trouble thee, looke vntounto Chriſt, in whom thou art by Faith, and Inuincibly relye herevpon: There is no Condemnation to men in Chriſt. See thou haſt good euidence of thy being in Chriſt, and then reſolue that it is as poſſible for Chriſt himſelfe to bee damned, as for thee. For thou art a part and a member of him, which to periſh is impoſſible. Examine thy Faith and Repentance, and labour to feele in thy heart, thy vnion with thy Sauiour. It is not enough to be neere him; thou muſt be in him. If thou finde ſo; Reioyce; be thankefull; and walke worthily.
Now followes the Deſcription of them which are in Chriſt: (viz.) All thoſe which walke not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit: and thus he deſcribes them from their proper effect; I ſay, proper; for it is as proper for Gods Children to walke in holineſſe, as it is proper for the Sunne to ſhine, and the Fire to giuegive heate.
Theſe words containe a double Anſwere to each part of the propoſition. (viz.
Affirmatiue.
Negatiue.
If you aske who are not in Chriſt. The Affirmatiue anſwere is: They which walke after the Spirit.
If you aske who are not in Chriſt. The Negatiue anſwere is. They which walke after the fleſh.
If you aske who are Iuſtified. The Affirmatiue anſwere: They which walke after the Spirit.
If you aske who are Condemned. The Negatiue anſwere: They which walke after the Fleſh.
Here we hauehave three things which bee of great reckoning in the Scriptures. 1. Vocation: They which are in Chriſt. 2. Iuſtification: Shall not be condemned. 3. Sanctification: Which walke not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit.
The Generall meaning is: Thoſe which liue holily, mortifying the Fleſh, and obeying the Spirit, are in Chriſt.
The holy life of a Chriſtian, is compared to walking and Trauelling, which is not done without a Guide. Two things may be noted in thoſe words. 1. The manner of the Metaphor. 2. The nature of the Argument. In the Metaphor are two things. 1. The Act. Walking. 2. The Direction or Guide; which is ſet downe two wayes. 1. Negatiuely, Not after the Fleſh. 2. Affirmatiuely: But after the Spirit. The falſe Guide the Fleſh; The true Guide the Spirit.
Queſt.But why ſpeakes the Apoſtle of the falſe Guide?
Anſw.Becauſe moſt men are enclined to this Guide, being wedded to their owne opinions, and taking their owne directions from the wiſedome of the fleſh to be beſt: Therefore he giues them an Item of a falſe Guide.
The Scripture vſually compares liuing to walking: as here. So Gen. 5.24. and 17.1, &c. the Reaſon: becauſe of the ſuting of one to the other, for in diuers things, here is great Correſpondence.
1. Trauellers, ignorant of the way, enquire after the right and neereſt way. So wouldſt thou trauell to heauen? If thou enquireſt for the way of Merit, it is Chriſt. If for the way of our Obedience, it is the Law. There are many by-pathes. Search the Scriptures, the Rule of our Faith and Obedience.Ioh. 5.39.
2. Trauellers, in dangerous and vnknowne wayes, ſeeke for a good Guide: ſo muſt he which would ſafely trauell to heauen: Act. 8 31.For as the Eunuch vnderſtood not without an Interpreter, ſo cannot wee walke that way without a Guide. Two Guides will offer themſelues: A falſe treacherous deceiuing guide, which is the Fleſh, which will boaſt of her cunning and ableneſſe; and a true Guide, which is the Spirit. Both theſe are ſet downe in the Text. Take heede of the Fleſh: Take the Spirit.
3. Trauellers enquire for good Company: loth to goe alone, and yet loth to goe with euill Company, as with a Thiefe or a Robber. So beware thou of ill Company; as of Swearers, Drunkards, Whoremongers, &c. Theſe will drawe thee out of the right way, for they trauell not to Heauen-ward. Let thy delight be in the Saints, and in them that excell in vertue, that thou maiſt the more cheerefully walke, Pſal. 16.being holpen by their Prayers, and vertuous examples. As in a Teame, a good ſure Horſe, being among a ſort of Iades, is many times made ſhuttle and vntoward: ſo looke for no furtherance in thy iourney to heauen, by the ſociety of wicked men.
4. Trauellers, eſpecially in a long iourney, clogge not themſelues with things ſuperfluous, but onelyonly take neceſſaries: ſo ouerload not thy ſelfe with vnneceſſary cares & delights of the world. As a heauy burthen, or a long garment to a Traueller, ſo is the world to vsus in our iourney towards heauen, a hinderance of our ſpeed.
5. Trauellers going a dangerous way, prouide themſelues of ſome weapon, as a Sword, or a good Staffe; for they may meet with Robbers, which would lighten them of their money. So get thee a good weapon. The way is dangerous: Thou ſhalt be ſure at one corner or Croſſe-way or other, to meet with the Diuell, that old Thiefe, who would bee glad to rob thee of Grace, and is as greedy of it, as a Thiefe of a purſe.
The beſt weapon is Faith: which ſerues for a Weapon to fight withall, and alſo for a Staffe to reſt vponupon. For a weapon: Therefore Saint Iohn ſaith; that Faith is the victory that ouercommeth. 1. Ioh. 5.4.It is a weapon both Offenſiue and Defenſiue.
For an offenſiue Weapon, it is as good againſt the Diuell, as a Piſtoll againſt a Thiefe. 1. Pet. 15.9. Iam 4.7.So ſaith the Scripture: Reſiſt the Diuell ſtedfaſt in the Faith, and he will flee from you. If a Thiefe ſee a caſe of Dags at a mans ſide, hee will not deale with him haſtily; ſo if the Diuell perceiue vsus furniſhed with Faith, he will hauehave ſmall liſt to meddle with vsus.
For a defenſiue Weapon alſo, there is none to this; It is a Target of proofe, or a Shield: So Saint Paul cals it, and exhorts, Epheſ. 6.16.Aboue all, take the ſhield of Faith, whereby ye ſhall bee able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Faith alſo ſerues for a ſtaffe to reſt vsus vponupon. Wee ſtand and are ſtabliſhed by Faith. Rom. 11.20.Children learne to go by the finger, or by a ſtoole; 2. Cor. 1.24.ſuch a thing is Faith to vsus. An old man will not goe out of the dores without his ſtaffe: ſo, if thou neglecteſt Faith, thou canſt neuer bee able to hold on thy iourney, of which wee hauehave an example in Peter, who ſo long as hee kept in his hand, in his heart this ſtaffe, Mat. 14.30.walked on the Sea, but when hee let it fall, himſelfe began to ſinke.
6 Trauellers on foote prepare for their feete, that they bee well ſhodde, leſt beeing wounded by the ſharpe ſtones and thornes, on which they muſt tread, they bee layd vp by the way. If thou trauelleſt toward Heauen, thou muſt tread vponupon thornes, the points of Needles, burning Coles; thou canſt not want ſhooes. Theſe are the preparation of the Goſpell; And your feete ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell of peace, ſaith Paul, Epheſ. 6.15.that is, with a firme reſolution, that come Fire, Sword, what will come, we will hold our way. Thus was Dauid prepared, Pſalme 13.Though I walke in the valley of the ſhaddow of death, I will feare none ill, and Pſal. 119.106.I hauehave ſworne, and am ſtedfaſtly purpoſed to keepe thy Law. So Paul elſewhere manifeſts his reſolution and readines, Acts 20.24. & 21.13.to die for Chriſt.
7 Trauellers carry with them ſome Cordiall and comfortable waters, to cheere their Spirits, when through wearineſſe they begin to faint. So in the way to Heauen, through weakneſſe thou maiſt faint and fall: the water of Repentance is precious, a draught of it will recouer and repaire thy ſpirits, fill thee full of godly care, and confirme thy aſſurance.
Thus much of the manner of the Metaphor: now followeth the nature of the Argument, which is (as was ſayd) a deſcription of ſuch which are in Chriſt by the effect: Such walke not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit, that is, liue holily.
doctrine Our Vnion with Chriſt the cauſe of our good life. Ioh. 15.5. 1. Ioh. 1.6,7.
Vſe 1.Hee ſaith not, there is no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt, becauſe they walke; but which walke: for hereby wee are not iuſtified, nor called, but they which are iuſtified and called, ſo carry themſelues. This walking is neceſſary, not as a cauſe of ſaluation, but as a condition, without which there is certaine condemnation.
Vſe 2.Heere wee hauehave a touch-ſtone to try whether wee bee in Chriſt, or no, and ſo whether wee ſhall bee damned, or ſaued. When thou ſeeſt the Impe which thou haſt grafted, to budde and leaue, and bring forth fruit, thou ſaiſt it takes well; ſo if thou bring forth Holineſſe, the fruit of the Spirit, thou takeſt well, and art ſurely grafted into Chriſt.
This then anſweres a Queſtion, of which many deſire to be reſolued, viz. Whether they ſhall be ſaued, or no? Examine thy walking; If in the way of Enuie, Blaſphemy, Pride, Drunkenneſſe, Vncleanenes, this is the way of the fleſh vntounto aſſured condemnation: the ſpirit leades not this way, thou art yet out of Chriſt, and therfore far from ſaluation. He that would be ſaued, muſt walke after the Spirit, in righteouſneſſe and holines. As the palpable prophane wretch is heereby excluded: ſo alſo, he that is a meere ciuill man, and no more; for though he ſeeme to be in a good way, as of iuſt dealing, temperance, liberality, courteſie, &c. yet hee walkes in theſe waies after a wrong guide, which is the fleſh, doing theſe things for the praiſe of men, and with the opinion of Iuſtification thereby: beſides, hee neuer deſcends into his owne heart, mourning for, and mortifying inbred corruption, vntounto which the Spirit principally leades, but onelyonly glorieth in outward moralities.
If then thou wouldſt bee ſaued, approue thy ſelfe to bee in Chriſt, by walking after the Spirit. But remember thou muſt walke: now and then will not ſerue the turne, as he that ſets now one ſtep, then another, is not ſayd to walke; ſo thy walking, implies a continuall motion in godlines, and yet not ſuch a motion, as of a Horſe in a Mill; but as proceeding, and getting forward: As in walking, there ſeemes to be an Emulation between the feete, to be one before another; ſo in our liuing, wee muſt ſtriue to be eueryevery day more forward in goodnes, and to be better to morrow, then we are to day.
Vſe 3.There is nothing more irkſome to the children of GOD, then the rebellion of the fleſh, (though wicked men bee not ſenſible of it.) And many times, weake Conſciences are ſo diſtreſſed, by the ſenſe of their corruptions, that they doubt much of their eſtates. Let ſuch wiſely marke theſe words: Hee ſaith not, There is no condemnation to them, in whom there is no fleſh; but which walke not after it: nor, ſaith he, there is no condemnation to them, which are not tempted, or which ſin not; but which walke not after ſinne: for the children of God muſt be tempted, and wee neuer receiue ſuch Grace in this life, as not at all to fall, or ſin; but not to walke after it, but to ſtriue and reſiſt it, and, if downe through weakenes, not to lye and wallow our ſelues, as ſwine in the mire, but by the power of the Spirit, to ſtart vp, to waſh away our ſpots in the Bath of Repentance, and euer after to bee the more vehement and ſtrong againſt our corruption. It is not a willing ſeruice, which they performe vntounto the fleſh, when they are ouertaken, as a man willingly walkes in his Garden; but a moſt vnwilling, for the which, true Conuerts are often heard to ſigh, mourne and lament, and are often ſeene with teares in their eyes.
Concupiſcence will be to thee ſo long as thou liueſt here; but walke not after it, and then all ſhall bee well. When thou walkeſt abroad, thou canſt not hinder the Birds from flying ouer thy head; but thou maiſt hinder them from lighting vponupon thy head, and making neſts: ſo thou canſt not be wholly void of corruption, but if thou bee in Chriſt, thou haſt receiued grace, not to obey it. Thou art (it may bee) much inclined to Anger? Doeſt thou let it remaine with thee till being ſowred, it turneth to malice and rancour, and bringeth forth reuenge? Gen. 15.11.Then haſt thou ſuffered it to neſtle in thy heart, and if thou lookeſt not to it, it will bee thy deſtruction; ſo of Luſt, Pride, Couetouſneſſe: but if thou ſcarre away theſe Harpies, as Abraham the birds from his Sacrifice, and ſuffer not an euill thought to lodge with thee all night; ſurely thou art in Chriſt, and neuer ſhalt be damned.