Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 5 · Section 7
6. Morall obseruations.
Observ. 1. To followe the workes of the flesh is enmitie against God.
v. 10. When we were yet enimies, &c. They which delight in such workes as God hateth, are enimies to God: whereupon Origen giueth this note, quomodo reconciliat us est, qui causam mimici secum gerit, &c. how can he be said to be reconciled to God, which yet retaineth the cause of enmitie, &c. he then which continueth in such workes as are hatefull vntounto God, cannot be said to be reconciled by the blood of Christ: as the Apostle further sheweth, That no vnrighteous person shall inherite the kingdome of God, 1. Cor. 6.9.
Observ. 2. Of the reconciling of enemies.
v. 10. When we were enemies, we were reconciled, &c. As God did reconcile vsus to himselfe, beeing yet his enemies, so we are taught herein to be like vntounto our heauenly father, to be willing to be reconciled; and to be at atonement with our enemies: as Abraham made a league with Abimelech, and as Iacob did the like with Laban, who pursued him to hauehave wrought him some mischiefe.
Observ. 3. Wherein we ought to reioyce.
v. 11. We reioyce in God through our Lord Iesus, &c. The Apostle here sheweth wherein the ioy of a Christian consisteth, that whereas the world reioyceth some in riches, some in honour, some in pleasure, some in their strength, humane wisedome, and the like, the Christian man is taught to reioyce in his redemption and saluation in Christ: as our Blessed Sauiour would hauehave his Apostles to reioyce, because their names were written in heauen, Luk. 10.20.
Obser. 4. Of the two kingdomes of grace and sinne, life and death.
v. 17. If by one offence death raigned, &c. The Apostle here pointeth our two kingdomes, the one of sinne and death, the other of righteousnesse and life: there are node in the world, but belong vntounto one of these kingdomes: Therefore it must be our great care, to examine our selues, vntounto which kingdome we are subiects: by nature all are vnderunder the kingdome of darkenesse, and from thence we cannot be deliuered, but by Christ: as the Apostle saith, Coloss. 1.13. who hath deliuered vsus from the Prince of darkenesse, and hath translated vsus to the kingdome of his deare Sonne, we must therefore examine our selues whether we hauehave faith in Christ, 2. Cor. 13.5.
Observ. 5. Why the Lord suffereth his sometime to fall, and to be plunged in sinne.
v. 20. Where sinne abounded, there grace abounded much more, &c. God then sometime seemeth to leaue his children to themselues, that they afterward beeing recouered and restored by grace, may hauehave more experience of the goodnesse and merciemercy of God, and of the excellencie of grace: as Dauid after his fall, repenting of his sinne, celebrateth the multitude of Gods mercies, Psal. 51.1. and Peter after he was converted was bid to strengthe… his brethren, Luk. 22.32. as then beeing more able to comfort others by the experience of Gods merciemercy, which he had himselfe receiued.
Observ. 6. None ought to despaire of forgiuenesse of sinne.
v, 20. Grace abounded much more: Grace is more predominant then sinne, and the Apostle in the comparison set forth betweene Christ and Adam, sheweth before, that grace in Christ is more able to saue vsus, then sinne was in Adam to condemne vsus: let no man then despare of merciemercy, and say with Cain, his sinne is greater then can be forgiuen; but rather with S. Paul, Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners, of whom I am chiefe, 1. Tim. 1.15.