Romans 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh… I. THE OCCASION OF ITS INTRODUCTION. The inefficiency of the law. 1. What could not the law do? That which man as a sinner required for his salvation. It could neither regenerate nor justify. Man wanted both the nature for and the title to heaven, and the law could give neither. 2. Why the law could not do this? (1) Not because there is anything in it essentially inimical to happiness: law is essentially good. "It was tweak through the flesh," i.e., in consequence of man's depravity. It cannot make man happy, because man is corrupt. (2) This weakness of law is its glory. It is the glory of law that it cannot stoop to human imperfections; were it to do so the order of the moral universe would be destroyed. II. THE HISTORY OF ITS DEVELOPMENT. "God sending His own Son," etc. Observe — 1. The mission of Jesus. "God sent" Him to do what the law could not do — regenerate and justify. Sovereign love is the primal spring. 2. The incarnation of Jesus. "In the likeness of sinful flesh." Only the likeness. His humanity was necessary as an example and as an atonement. 3. The sacrifice of Jesus. For a "sin offering," etc. III. THE DESIGN OF ITS OPERATION. He did not come to abrogate, relax, or supersede law, but to fulfil it, that "its righteousness might be fulfilled" in the sinner. The Christian plan does this by presenting law — 1. In its most attractive forms. In the life of Jesus. 2. In connection with the greatest motives to obedience. In Christ you see God's infinite respect for law as well as His love for sinners. 3. In connection with the greatest helper — the Holy Spirit. "It is expedient for you that I go away," etc., (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: |
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