General Conference 1891 Study of Romans SERIES: 10

 GENERAL CONFERENCE.

BATTLE CREEK, MICH.,  1891.

BIBLE STUDY.

LETTER TO THE ROMANS

BY ELDER E. J.  WAGGONER

 

"Christ died for all men. 

We can acknowledge His death and die in Him and thus get His life; or on the other hand we may, if we wish, refuse to acknowledge Him and die in ourselves.  

But die we must. 

Death has passed upon all men, and all men must die. 

The sixth chapter of Romans commences with a continuation of the argument that is contained in the fifth chapter. That argument is that the life of Christ is given to us for our justification. 

 

Men who are sinners are stung by death. Death is in them already, and it is carrying on its work in them, and it is only a matter of time till it shall hold them in its grasp forever. But while probation is continued, there is a possibility that men may escape that sting, and the execution of that penalty. ....Sentence of death has been pronounced upon every man, and that sentence will

be executed. Every man must die, because that all men have sinned.

 

In the second letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, and verse twenty-one, the apostle Paul says: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." So it was that He suffered the penalty, not for himself, but for us. ...That new life,—that newness of life which we have, is the life of Christ, and it is a SINLESS LIFE. Knowing this, "that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we might not serve sin." (Romans 6:6).

 

"The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan." It is a household phrase among us. 

Q: What is the controversy over?

A: It is over the souls of men, and the place of their abode.

 

There are just two services. 

The service of Satan, 

which is of sin unto death, 

and the service of Christ, 

which is of obedience unto righteousness. 

A man cannot serve two masters.
But there is no consort between light and darkness,—between Christ and Belial. 

They are in deadly antagonism, 

they are opposed to each other, 

and they have fought a fight even to the death. There is no quarter on either side.