By the Rev. JAMES MACLEOD, Greenock.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Roms. viii. 1).
OUR meditation this morning will be on the first verse of this chapter. Originally there were no chapters, nor verses. There were sections, that is various aspects divided into parts. Reading the Bible by chapters does not, sometimes, do full justice to the text. It is better for the student of the Word to read say the whole Epistle, and study the various aspects which the truth presents than bits here and there. Again, it is necessary to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit before the Word is read and the blessing of the Spirit on that which is read. The Word is pure and holy and our constant danger is that we approach the Word with carnal boldness which will not profit us. The Epistle to the Romans is the grandest oratory, the severest logic, and the sublimest “letter” ever written by a human agent! It is throughout Spirit-breathed. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. His love to the souls of men characterised all he said, all he did—his motive and aim were simple, earnest, stern, and lovable. He was like his Master. Some might be inclined to think, and say that he was cross, short tempered, and crabbed. That class of thinkers mistake firmness for bad temper. John Calvin took notice of this trick of Satan. The Holy Spirit, Paul, and all the true servants of Christ are no respecters of persons. What is of value is truth. We like flattery but what a bad companion at the end of the day! What can be more severe than the truth of God? Let us in mercy listen to the truth, hate lies, and the fruit of lies. “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This was his conclusion after his searching enquiry which we read of in the preceding chapter. There he was a “wretched man,” here, no “condemnation.”
Let us first of all consider them who are in Christ Jesus.
Who are they? And how are they in Christ Jesus? Paul treats of sinners who by nature are dead in sin, guilt, and corruption. In a spiritual sense buried.
In this grand Epistle he shews clearly the lost, and ruined state of man. Who can read the second half of the first chapter without a blush! That is man without moral restraint. What a monster! The same class of sinners are to-day in the world. Sin is the same in all ages. There is no change. There were, and there are some kept from wallowing in the mire of sin even in their most reckless days. What a mercy! Let us not be deceived though as if we could by education, and will-power keep ourselves from committing all the sins mentioned in the Book of God. No man can commit any sin but you and I could do the same, if permitted. We have nothing to boast of. Let us bow our heads with shame. Sin is our master. We are the slaves of our heart lusts.
Some “refined” sinners will argue, and reason with themselves that they never found such and such sins in their own hearts; therefore, they conclude that “some of the sins mentioned in the Bible are not in them.” The Word of God puts the pointed question, “who made thee to differ?” When the sinner is awakened to a sense of his lost state before God, and after his is freely justified in Christ, finds the corruption of his heart of such depth that he is ready to come to the conclusion that there was never such a vile wretch on the face of this earth he feels himself to be the chief of sinners in reality. Christ came to save sinners lost and ruined. The Holy Spirit quickens the dead soul. It is life from the dead. His carnal pleasures are blasted away for ever. His vain companions left behind. His sins, lusts, hell and death made a reality to his poor soul. The devil is revealed to him in the light of truth. The Law of God condemns and demands. Sin is revived in his memory, and conscience allowed to speak. Many a time that same conscience howled like a dying animal but was immediately silenced by carnal reason, and animal passions. It could not be silenced now. “There is a time to weep” and surely this was one of the times! Yes, heaven closed, God’s wrath against sin, and his evil conduct staring him in the face. It was not the sin of somebody else. His own sins. No sin so black as his own. No guilt so crimson-like as his. All sin was against God. Conscience, reason, law, justice, the animal kingdom, birds of the air, the tiny flower of the field bearing witness against him. His prayers, if they could be called prayers, tears, sighs, groans, reading, speaking, sleeping, eating all branded with the same curse. Naked and eternal death staring him in the face. How long till this sinful, guilty life would be, according to its deserts, in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death? It might come at any time. The material universe had as if it were disappeared out of sight. Eternity all day, and all night. His time in this world was to be but short. No comfort in the Bible for such a wretched sinner. He might go to the church but could he hear one word of the sermon? Perhaps not, as the furnace of his heart was at all times burning in pain and despair of his eternal future. “Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.” No fig leaves to cover his nakedness. Spiritually he was stark naked. He was He could not speak: blind, he could not see. All that he had was hearing. Had to hear and listen to his own doom as a lost sinner. He was cut away from the covenant of works for ever. All his works perished. The filthy rags of his own self-righteousness were turned into a curse. Who could pity such? He knew of none. God was holy and infinitely above him. He was a consuming fire to his benighted soul.
The voice of the gospel had not come his way. It was near. The blessed Spirit was to lead to the Lamb of God. The time of love was at hand. The Lord was to make bare His holy arm—the arm of love, mercy, peace, holiness, happiness, and divine contentment. The Holy Spirit was to work saving faith in his soul. God was to reveal, bestow, and to put on the righteousness of Christ. He is just and justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. Christ was to have all the praise and glory of his redemption. God legally justified, Christ lovingly received, and the Holy Spirit wisely applied the balm—Christ’s blood to his deep and painful wounds. The peace of God entered into the soul. How wonderful! The new born child drinking the milk of eternal love! It was a time of supreme love. Divine love, unmerited love, and lasting love. The glory and beauty of Christ appeared so supremely lovely that the poor child of grace could not describe His suitableness, love, and mercy for millions of years in time. It was for eternity. Loved with an everlasting love. Christ died for His people. He rose for their justification. He paid their debts for them to law, and justice and crushed for ever the power of the devil over them. He glorified God for them. He bought, and paid all their blessings for them. Sun, moon, stars, birds of the air, seasons of the year, grass of the field, flowers, and trees, hills and dales all praise Him! Ye, mighty angels in heaven praise Him! The host of the redeemed praise Him. Who would not join in His praise but demons, and the ungodly! Oh! vile creatures you cannot praise Him. The sinner was made willing to be saved through Christ and Him crucified for him. The Holy Spirit made him willing. No cursed Arminianism here. The Arminian is the devil’s ass! Grace is from the sovereign mercy, goodness, and love of God. No sinner merits it. No sinner deserves it. Grace is from God. The believer’s righteousness, merits, hopes, aspirations, desires, and expectations are all centred in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The sentence of death is removed from their person for ever. It is not a reprieve. It is the blotting out of guilt which was but is not to be found from the moment sin and all its guilt is freely pardoned. Faith unites to Christ. The will is changed to submit, accept, and receive the gift of God in Christ which is eternal life. “There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” They are freed from the curse, from guilt, wrath, and eternal death through the blood of the Son of God. Christ endured the wrath, and curse for them. He suffered all that Law, and Justice required. If He had not suffered for them Law, Justice and wrath would have remained against them for all eternity! When He by the one sacrifice satisfied divine justice, and, as it is written, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” the work of perfect obedience was perfectly finished. He was the “Lamb without blemish.” His spotless purity, holiness, and righteousness were fitted in all respects to meet what justice required and demanded of the Surety of the lost sinner. It was the absolute satisfaction rendered by Him which was, and is the basis, or foundation upon which a sinner can be justified before God. It is the righteousness which He wrought out that God imputes to the sinner in the day that he is justified in His sight. “As for thee also, by the blood of the covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” They were His prisoners because He was responsible for their redemption. In love to them He laid down His life for the prisoners. They were held in prison as criminals, guilty, and deserving eternal punishment for their sin and rebellion against heaven. What manifestation of love and mercy on His part to come to our world of sin and misery assuming our nature, uniting it to His Divine Person in order to redeem the lost. He is the very embodiment of love! No human tongue can adequately describe the beauty, glory, and love of Jesus Christ. He is indeed the rose without thorns. His name is as ointment poured forth. The people of God are and will be indebted to Jesus Christ for all eternity. They are debtors to free and sovereign grace. God is glorified in Him, and just in removing the sentence of death from them for ever for His sake. All is for His sake, spiritual, and temporal mercies can only come through, and for His sake, Covenant mercies. He paid the debt. When they are let out of the prison by law, and justice the prison closes after them never to be opened again. “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” They cannot pass again into a “state of nature” to be under the wrath and curse of God. Faith looks to Christ. The adorable Surety remains the same Person, living, loving, active, and always engaged in their salvation, profit, comfort, peace, and happiness. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” He did come to them by His Word and blessed Spirit. The Bible to them is a living Book. It may be to others a mere dead historical record. Not so to living faith! Christ is in the Book of God and that Book is in the hand of faith, and in the centre of the heart of the believer. They experienced the condemning power of divine truth, and they experienced the power of the truth setting them free from condemnation. The truth to them is more valuable than life. It is divine, and eternal truth to their souls. Let us bear in mind that the removal of the sentence of condemnation does not remove the inherent corruption of the heart. Indwelling sin remains. God is at peace with them but they are not at peace with themselves.
Who walk not after the flesh.
That will bring us in the second place to consider:—”Who walk not after the flesh.” That is after the carnal wisdom of the world the religion of the world, the corruption of the world, and after the customs of the world. “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” We see the clearest distinction that was ever made in the 11th chapter to the Hebrews. There the difference between the religion which is of faith and the religion which is of the flesh is made plain. The world is full of religion. Although it goes by different, and many names, it has the same nature, inclination, and issue. It is death. It began in death, and it will end in death. The regenerated soul has been quickened to life. The grace of repentance, faith, hope and mercy have been sown by the Spirit of his soul. His walk, life, and conversation is changed. The lusts of the flesh are being crucified by saving grace. The believer’s companionship is also changed. They do not live with the world, nor according to the customs of the world. Although in the world they are not of it. It would be impossible to move about in the company of drunkards, vain fellows, blasphemers, known religious hypocrites, covetous extortioners, and the like. It is very hard for them to earn their bread and butter in the world when they must deal with graceless men. The world loves its own, and hates the godly. They simply hate them. They would have none of them in the world at all. They consider this world their own, although their lot like the devil is as low as hell! We do not say that it is absolutely impossible for a truly pious man or woman to have worldly transactions with the men of the world but we say that it must be most difficult. The worldly religious man is like the otter at home in the muddy waters of the river, or basking on the mountain top. So is the natural “religious” man. He is at home at the dance, gambling table, drinking, in the pew, singing vain songs, or hilarious hymns to the sound of the organ, cheating, or robbing his fellowman behind the counter, in the market place, in selling, and buying, gossiping, or back-biting his fellow man or near neighbour, coveting his lands, his cattle, his crop, and will daringly call God, his “Father.” We read of the character of the godly in many parts of the Word but we may quote the following which clearly distinguishes between the believer and the “good natural man.” “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. i. 1). They walk not after the flesh. They are governed by divine principles. Their own intelligence, experience, knowledge, conscience, and natural parts, and gifts must be subservient to the written Word of God. It is not with them “what saith my conscience,” but, what saith the Lord! What is written. The Bible to them is their charter, guide, daily companion, instructor and only comfort in this world.
They walk after the Spirit. The Word of God is that “Spirit” which they follow. The Spirit of God in the Word which makes the Word a living power in their heart and conscience. Faith enables them to walk in the truth. We read: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” That is walking according to the truth of God. The truth separates them from the world and its religion. The gospel is to them “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” which regulates their whole conduct in this world. “I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.” However sorely tried they may be in the “night seasons” their desire is to walk in the truth. They struggle on towards heaven. Their back is to the world for ever. It was divine grace that separated them from the love of the world. It is one of the giant sins of our fallen nature—the love of the world. The love of carnal pleasure, ease, luxury, good times, plenty of money to spend, and ten times more to our credit for further use in the days to come! Oh, what a sink of depravity the human heart is! Every man and woman of the human race would be millionaires, would be kings, queens, dictators, of the highest power and rank! Some no doubt will refuse to accept this maxim and deny the fact as if the sin was not inherently woven in our deceitful hearts. It may be hid from some as Saul was among the “stuff” hid away from the eyes of his fellows. The sin is there and grace can crucify it and up-root it from our poor souls. The heart must be purged from dead and carnal desires to serve and love God. Whatever sin was most prominent, and predominant in the believers unregenerated days will seek first place in the spiritual life, and warfare that must go on to the end. In some it may have been the sin of atheism, in others pride, in some lust for strong drink, etc., but whatever it might have been, the giant sin, like Goliath’s brother, will make a final assault to bring the poor believer to shame, grief, and sorrow if grace will not prevent it. Sin is so crafty! The back-sliding from steadfastness often takes place in the late years of the believer’s pilgrimage in the wilderness. It was a considerable time after the children of Israel came out of Egypt they began to look and long for the flesh pots of Egypt. What a warning! There are dangers all the way to the end of the journey. “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I. Cor. iii. 15). How careful and circumspect one should walk passing through this world. We believe that some believers had very painful experiences on their death-beds. It was all caused by unfaithfulness to Christ, their own profession, and to the people of God in the world. Think on the modern preacher who will appear on the public platform, or even in the pulpit lecturing on the love of God, and love to one’s neighbour according to gospel precepts and would scorn to speak or recognise the poor believer on the street after leaving the place of worship! What consummate deception that must be reigning in that cold hearted preacher! Pride in the professed follower of Christ is like a person delirious with high fever. His speech is inconsistent with his conditions! The believer must learn of Christ to be meek and humble. It is no use trying to make ourselves and others think we are humble while pride is nursed and caressed in our hearts. That same sin will find us out some day to our shame and sorrow. When Paul said “I am crucified with Christ” he implies that all his heart, and life sins were crucified at the same time. The believer must walk in the Spirit. In faith, in love, in consideration for others, seeking, and longing for the good of all, praying for them in secret, in public, moaning and sighing before the Lord for the salvation of precious souls. This may be called by empty hearted hypocrites “Highland religion,” if so, it was the religion of the people of God in all ages. The prophets, saints, apostles, godly fathers, and mothers had this religion of weeping, sighing, and groaning over dear and near ones. They more or less have the same cause to “weep in secret” or to say with the Prophet: “Oh, that my head were waters and mine eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people” (Jer. ix. 1). How it pains the people of God to see sinners laughing, and sporting with sin on Sabbath days, and week days. “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord” against sin it grieves them to the quick to see precious souls hastening to their eternal doom if God will not prevent them in mercy. They pray in the Spirit for friends and enemies. They know the power of divine love and mercy. The God who turned themselves can surely turn from the brink of hell the greatest sinner on the face of this earth!
Their worship is also spiritual.
The last thing we shall consider at this time is that their worship is also spiritual. They worship God in faith, in knowledge, and in holy obedience to His revealed will. It is not by man-made religion, and forms they draw near unto God. No! It is through the precious blood of Jesus that they approach the Most High. It is passing strange how some Christians must have hymns choirs, organs, and other funny gestures in their form of worship! They are like the children of Israel after Jeraboam separated them and caused them to sin against the Lord by setting up altars contrary to God’s command: there were good prophets, and some godly people among them but the plague of idolatry followed them till they vanished out of sight. They will also vanish out of sight when the Millennium comes. It will be pure worship then; man-made hymns, silly choirs, and bellowing organs shall not be heard in the whole church of God in the land. May the Lord enable us to walk in the Spirit as long as He may be pleased to leave us in the world. May He add His blessing to our meditation at this time on His own Word.