Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. I. THE DESIGN OF GOD IN THUS, BY CHRIST, CONDEMNING SIN IN THE FLESH. The penalty of the law is fulfilled in us when, as members of Christ's body by spiritual union, we are freed from condemnation; but it is in sanctification that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled — i.e., when we have the law written in our heart, and obedience, flowing without constraint, is the inward instinct and law of life. Bear in mind that "Love is the fulfilling of the law." In this respect the law and the gospel are one. But as two dispensations or modes of treatment they differ in toto. The action of the law is by precept and constraint — it seeks to guide from without — urging its minute details upon a reluctant heart. The gospel frees us from this bondage of verbal precepts and details, and by the manifestation of God's love awakens love, thus beginning where the law left off, with love, which was the end of the commandment. There is nothing in the way of obedience that we cannot by love accomplish. Note — 1. That the gospel does not destroy the law. "Do we make void the law through faith? — nay, we establish the law." We are free from the law only that we may be under the law to Christ. 2. That the salvation of the gospel is not only a salvation from wrath, but from sin. 3. That however imperfectly this salvation is realised by us it may be fully accomplished — a righteousness fulfilled. II. THE PERSONS IN WHOM THIS DESIGN IS ACCOMPLISHED — "In us who walk," etc. 1. Only in proportion as the spirit works within can we take full possession of our privilege as believers in Christ, as free from the bondage of the law. Hence it is that character becomes the test of our Christian state. 2. Character is determined by the prevailing principle (or law) which governs the life. Two such principles divide all mankind — the flesh and the spirit. 3. Christian experience is a practical realisation of the spiritual life. It is not thinking or feeling, but walking after the spirit. They who sit down in spiritual sloth are not walking after the spirit, and therefore we have no evidence of their acceptance with God. Examine yourselves. Is your life Christ-like, or worldly? (P. Strutt.) Parallel Verses KJV: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. |
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