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 EXALTED CHARACTER OF THE LAW. 1. Emanating from a Being infinitely perfect, it follows — (1) That the law, designed to be a transcript of God, must be in every respect perfect. "The law of the Lord is perfect."(2) That the law being perfectly holy, all its requirements must be equally so. It cannot compromise, nor soften down a single enactment. 2. In requiring this, the creature shall have no ground for impeaching the Divine goodness. As if fearful of perplexing the mind with a multitude of enactments, our Lord has presented one precept, the perfect keeping of which involves a virtual fulfilment of all (Matthew 22:37). What an unfolding of the wisdom of God is here! In securing to Himself the supreme love of His creatures, He wins a willing obedience to every precept of His law. II. IS WHAT SENSE IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW ACCOMPLISHED IN THE BELIEVER? 1. Not in our own persons. Where, then, would be the weakness of the law? The law has never yet received a complete fulfilment in any fallen creature. Where is the creature who can assert his plea of perfect love to God? 2. The Lord Jesus fulfilled the righteousness of the law in the behalf of His people. He only could do so who was Himself "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners." The first step in this wondrous achievement was His being made under the law. Having made Himself amenable to the law, He then proceeds to its fulfilment. Trace the outline of His obedience. Is the grand moving spring of the law, love? Where was ever seen such love to God as our Surety displayed? And did not that affection constrain Him to a supreme consecration to His Father's glory? In addition to supreme love, was there not the most perfect sanctity of life? Accompany Him to the baptismal waters, and hear Him exclaim, "Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Then follow Him to Calvary, and behold His obedience unto death — was there ever such a law fulfiller as the Son of God? III. IN WHAT WAY ARE WE TO RECONCILE THE HONOURING OF THE LAW BY CHRIST AND THE FULFILMENT OF ITS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN US? The difficulty is solved by a reference to the federal union of Christ and His Church. Standing to His people in the relation of a covenant Head, the law being fulfilled by Him in a legal sense, it was virtually a fulfilment of the law by us, His obedience being accepted in lieu of ours (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:19). Thus every humble sinner who, feeling the plague of his own heart, breaking away from his dependence upon a covenant of works, and reposing in simple faith beneath the righteousness of the Incarnate God, shall never come into condemnation. IV. THE RIGHTFUL CLAIMANTS OF THIS PRIVILEGED STATE ARE DESCRIBED AS THOSE WHO WALK, etc. A Christian may be ensnared and stumble, but he walks not after the flesh. "A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again." An unrighteous man falls, but where he falls he lies. "He that is unrighteous is unrighteous still." But those in whom the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in their Surety, and in whom a gospel righteousness, an evangelical obedience, is performed by themselves, "walk after the Spirit." Conclusion: 1. Behold, what an open door does this subject set before the humble, convinced sinner. The law, now honoured as it never was — think you that the Lord will reject the application of a single sinner who humbly asks to be saved? 2. Saints of God, keep the eye of your faith immovably fixed upon Christ, your sole pattern. Our Lord did not keep that law that His people might be lawless. The "righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us" when we "walk after the Spirit," in conformity to Christ's example. (O. Winslow, D. D.) 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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