Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.… I. IN ITS PRIVILEGES. As some painters can produce a striking likeness by a few clear though rapid strokes of the pencil, so is it with this beautiful sketch of the new man. 1. The first lineament is righteousness. By this must be meant an entire justification and freedom from every charge and condemnation which sin might urge, and which God's broken commands might pass upon the Christian. This is the choicest mercy in the catalogue of mercies. It is — (1) An enriching mercy, entitling to every good. (2) A most voluminous mercy, in which there is more than can be counted or imagined. 2. Peace is another lineament. Pardoning love hath subdued enmity against God. Peace hath been made by the blood of the Cross. This is one of the most gracious, as it is one of the most blessed, fruits of the Spirit. 3. Joy. It is the privilege of God's children to rejoice, as the distinguished objects of His adopting love. And, surely, when the Spirit bears witness with the Christian's spirit that he is a child of God, he hath the elements and materials for a holy joy, which the world, with all its pleasures, can never give, and which, with all its enmity, it is impotent to take away. II. IS ITS DUTIES. 1. It is righteousness in the Holy Ghost. Not only is the satisfaction of Christ's perfect merit imputed to the soul, but the work of his sanctification by the Holy Ghost, making the believer one with Him, is commenced within the heart. Then will conscience be made of every duty towards God and man. Faith is in the soul, as lightning in the air, which purifies; as fire in the metal, which refines. The heart, which heretofore was the thoroughfare of Satan, becomes the enclosure of God. 2. Peace also is a duty to the subjects of the Great Salem; and as wars and fightings come of the lusts of men, so will the disciples of Jesus be self-denying men, in order that they may dwell in peace with Him and with each other. 3. And how shall the Christian manifest his joy as a duty? Even by the holy delight which he takes in that service which is perfect freedom. (R. P. Buddicom, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. |
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