Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Fear naturally follows guilt. When a breach has taken place the hardest to be won is always the offender. It is hard to believe that he whom I have provoked will forgive me, but how much harder is it to believe that he will be my greatest friend! For friendship does not necessarily succeed reconciliation, nor munificence forgiveness. It is no easy thing for a sinner to place his "faith and hope in God." But — 1. It is necessary. We shall never go to Him till we can see that "He is ready to forgive." 2. It is attainable. He has caused His goodness to pass before us, and the despairing soul reasons itself into light and comfort from the text. Note — I. A WONDERFUL FACT. There are marvellous displays of God's power, wisdom, truth, holiness; but the miracle before us is a miracle of love. To magnify this goodness observe — 1. The boon He did not withhold. He "spared not His own Son." How many things could you resign before you spared a child! How unwilling was Jacob to spare Benjamin though he had many children; how unwilling David to give up even a rebellious Absalom! History mentions a poor family in Germany who were ready to perish in the time of famine. The husband proposed to the wife to sell one of their children for bread. At length she consents. But which of them shall it be? The eldest was named, but he was the beginning of their strength. The second was the living image of his father. In the third the features of the mother breathed. The last was the child of their old age. And so they consented to starve together rather than sacrifice one. What was the severest trial of Abraham's regard for God? "Now I know that thou fearest Me, see that thou hast not with. held thy son, thine only son from Me," How dignified was God's Son (Hebrews 1:5, 6). How dear was God's Son! The Son of His love; who always did the things that pleased Him; in Him His soul delighted! Yet He "spared not His own Son." 2. The state into which He surrendered Him. He "delivered Him up." To what? To a world that disowned Him. To a people that abhorred Him, though prepared by miracles, and ordinances, and prophecies, to receive Him (John 1:11). To obscurity and indigence, He was born in a stable, and through life "He had not where to lay His head." To infamy and scorn. To pain and anguish. To be betrayed by Judas; to be denied by Peter; to be forsaken of all. To Caiaphas and Herod — who set Him at nought; to Pilate — who condemned Him; to the Romans — who crucified Him. Surely here is love for which we want a name! Especially when we consider — 3. Those for whose advantage He was given. Not angels; but men. Not men only; but sinners. Not sinners humbled under a sense of our misery, and applying for mercy; but sinners regardless of their deliverance, and abusing the Divine goodness. To love parents, children, friends, is just and natural. To do good to strangers is humane. To relieve the poor and needy is kind and generous. But to love our enemies is Divine. And not for a few of these rebels, but for "all." II. THE INFERENCE. 1. The way in which He communicates His favours — "freely." If the blessings are great, they are equally gracious: and we are invited to come and "take of the water of life freely." 2. The extent of His liberality — "all things" — pardon, to remove our guilt; strength, to aid us in duty; consolation in distress; guidance in perplexity; heaven, and supplies for the wilderness on this side of it. The grant has only one limitation — the goodness of the things conferred; of this God only is the Judge, and therefore with Him the determination must be left. 3. The reasonableness of our most enlarged expectation. "How shall He not with Him."(1) He was designed to prepare the way for the communication of all the blessings we need. Sin had stopped the effusion of the Divine goodness, but He came to remove every obstruction, and to render the exercise of Divine favour consistent with the honour of Divine government. And now, if we go to God there is nothing to hinder His mercy. (2) He is superior to every other blessing. You are sometimes dismayed at the thought of your demerit; but if your demerit restrained the Divine goodness, the Saviour would never have appeared. You are sometimes dismayed at the greatness of the blessing you ask; but if the greatness of the blessing restrained the Divine goodness, He would have denied giving His own Son. What God has already given is infinitely more precious than anything we can in future implore. (3) Yea, He is in reality every other blessing; and we have all with Him. Conclusion: The subject should — 1. Inspire you with encouragement. Never entertain any harsh and gloomy notions of God. 2. Impose upon you submission. Is anything denied you that seems desirable? He distinguishes between your welfare and your wishes. The blessing is not withheld from a want of power or love. 3. Inflame you with gratitude. "What shall I render?" etc. (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? |
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