BATTLE CREEK, MICH., 1891.
BIBLE STUDY.
LETTER TO THE ROMANS
BY ELDER E. J. WAGGONER
Chap. 3:1-4. "What advantage then hath the Jew?”—"Chiefly, because that
unto them were committed the oracles of God.”
Abraham was led out from
amidst heathenism, from faith to faith, and his descendants were beloved
for their father's sake.
--To them God committed His truth.
--They failed
to realize what the profit of being a Jew was, and rested confident, in
their high profession, with the thought that God must think more of them
than any other people.
-- God had given them the light that they might
carry it to others.
But filled with pride they did not do the work, and
God bore with them generation after generation.
God has sworn to Abraham, and His promises will be fulfilled, even
though men do not believe. Verses 3 and 4.
If none are found with the
faith of Abraham, God is able of the stones to raise up children unto
him.
God is himself on trial before the universe, and Satan and evil men
have always charged him with being unjust and arbitrary; but in the
judgment all the universe will say, "Just and true are thy ways, thou
King of saints."
Verse 19. "Under the law" ....means in the law, or within its jurisdiction. By this law all the world
becomes guilty; no man has any advantage over any other in the sight of
the law.
Verse 22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
All men are on a level.
The plan of salvation is one of
giving and taking; giving on the part of God and taking on the part of
man.
This is offered without money and
without price.
--Sometimes we hear people talk as though we must
ourselves put on a fairly presentable garment before we can ask for the
white raiment. But it is the very need and helplessness of the beggar
that recommends him to charity. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of
God." All men stand on the same level, and offer of mercy is to
whosoever will come and partake of the water of life freely. We are
"justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus." Verse 24.
It
is to the everlasting credit of the law that it cannot justify the
transgressor. The law requires in man the perfect righteousness
manifested in the life of Christ. No man ever lived as Christ lived—all
are guilty.