8 So then G1161 they that are G5607 in G1722 the flesh G4561 cannot G3756 G1410 please G700 God. G2316
Jesus G2424 answered, G611 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto thee, G4671 Except G3362 a man G5100 be born G1080 of G1537 water G5204 and G2532 of the Spirit, G4151 he cannot G3756 G1410 enter G1525 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316 That which is born G1080 of G1537 the flesh G4561 is G2076 flesh; G4561 and G2532 that which is born G1080 of G1537 the Spirit G4151 is G2076 spirit. G4151
By faith G4102 Enoch G1802 was translated G3346 that he should G1492 not G3361 see G1492 death; G2288 and G2532 was G2147 not G3756 found, G2147 because G1360 God G2316 had translated G3346 him: G846 for G1063 before G4253 his G846 translation G3331 he had this testimony, G3140 that he pleased G2100 God. G2316 But G1161 without G5565 faith G4102 it is impossible G102 to please G2100 him: for G1063 he that cometh G4334 to God G2316 must G1163 believe G4100 that G3754 he is, G2076 and G2532 that he is G1096 a rewarder G3406 of them that diligently seek G1567 him. G846
But G1161 I have G568 all, G3956 and G2532 abound: G4052 I am full, G4137 having received G1209 of G3844 Epaphroditus G1891 the things which were sent from G3844 you, G5216 an odour G3744 of a sweet smell, G2175 a sacrifice G2378 acceptable, G1184 wellpleasing G2101 to God. G2316
That ye G5209 might walk G4043 worthy G516 of the Lord G2962 unto G1519 all G3956 pleasing, G699 being fruitful G2592 in G1722 every G3956 good G18 work, G2041 and G2532 increasing G837 in G1519 the knowledge G1922 of God; G2316
Furthermore G3063 then G3767 we beseech G2065 you, G5209 brethren, G80 and G2532 exhort G3870 you by G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 that as G2531 ye have received G3880 of G3844 us G2257 how G4459 ye G5209 ought G1163 to walk G4043 and G2532 to please G700 God, G2316 so G2443 ye would abound G4052 more and more. G3123
Make G2675 you G5209 perfect G2675 in G1722 every G3956 good G18 work G2041 to G1519 do G4160 his G846 will, G2307 working G4160 in G1722 you G5213 that which is wellpleasing G2101 in his G846 sight, G1799 through G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ; G5547 to whom G3739 be glory G1391 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 Amen. G281
And G2532 he that sent G3992 me G3165 is G2076 with G3326 me: G1700 the Father G3962 hath G863 not G3756 left G863 me G3165 alone; G3441 for G3754 I G1473 do G4160 always G3842 those things that please G701 him. G846
But G1161 ye G5210 are G2075 not G3756 in G1722 the flesh, G4561 but G235 in G1722 the Spirit, G4151 if so be G1512 that the Spirit G4151 of God G2316 dwell G3611 in G1722 you. G5213 Now G1161 if any man G1536 have G2192 not G3756 the Spirit G4151 of Christ, G5547 he G3778 is G2076 none G3756 of his. G846
Children, G5043 obey G5219 your parents G1118 in G2596 all things: G3956 for G1063 this G5124 is G2076 well pleasing G2101 unto the Lord. G2962
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Romans 8
Commentary on Romans 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
The apostle, having fully explained the doctrine of justification, and pressed the necessity of sanctification, in this chapter applies himself to the consolation of the Lord's people. Ministers are helpers of the joy of the saints. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,' so runs our commission, Isa. 40:1. It is the will of God that his people should be a comforted people. And we have here such a draught of the gospel charter, such a display of the unspeakable privileges of true believers, as may furnish us with abundant matter for joy and peace in believing, that by all these immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation. Many of the people of God have, accordingly, found this chapter a well-spring of comfort to their souls, living and dying, and have sucked and been satisfied from these breasts of consolation, and with joy drawn water out of these wells of salvation. There are three things in this chapter:
Rom 8:1-9
Rom 8:10-16
In these verses the apostle represents two more excellent benefits, which belong to true believers.
Rom 8:17-25
In these words the apostle describes a fourth illustrious branch of the happiness of believers, namely, a title to the future glory. This is fitly annexed to our sonship; for as the adoption of sons entitles us to that glory, so the disposition of sons fits and prepares us for it. If children, then heirs, v. 17. In earthly inheritances this rule does not hold, only the first-born are heirs; but the church is a church of first-born, for they are all heirs. Heaven is an inheritance that all the saints are heirs to. They do not come to it as purchasers by any merit or procurement of their own; but as heirs, purely by the act of God; for God makes heirs. The saints are heirs though in this world they are heirs under age; see Gal. 4:1, 2. Their present state is a state of education and preparation for the inheritance. How comfortable should this be to all the children of God, how little soever they have in possession, that, being heirs, they have enough in reversion! But the honour and happiness of an heir lie in the value and worth of that which he is heir to: we read of those that inherit the wind; and therefore we have here an abstract of the premises.
Rom 8:26-28
The apostle here suggests two privileges more to which true Christians are entitled:-
Rom 8:29-30
The apostle, having reckoned up so many ingredients of the happiness of true believers, comes here to represent the ground of them all, which he lays in predestination. These precious privileges are conveyed to us by the charter of the covenant, but they are founded in the counsel of God, which infallibly secures the event. That Jesus Christ, the purchaser, might not labour in vain, nor spend his strength and life for nought and in vain, there is a remnant given him, a seed that he shall see, so that the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. For the explication of this he here sets before us the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, which cannot be broken. There are four links of it:-
Rom 8:31-39
The apostle closes this excellent discourse upon the privileges of believers with a holy triumph, in the name of all the saints. Having largely set forth the mystery of God's love to us in Christ, and the exceedingly great and precious privileges we enjoy by him, he concludes like an orator: What shall we then say to these things? What use shall we make of all that has been said? He speaks as one amazed and swallowed up with the contemplation and admiration of it, wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things the less we wonder at them; but the further we are led into an acquaintance with gospel mysteries the more we are affected with the admiration of them. If Paul was at a loss what to say to these things, no marvel if we be. And what does he say? Why, if ever Paul rode in a triumphant chariot on this side of heaven, here it was: with such a holy height and bravery of spirit, with such a fluency and copiousness of expression, does he here comfort himself and all the people of God, upon the consideration of these privileges. In general, he here makes a challenge, throws down the gauntlet, as it were, dares all the enemies of the saints to do their worst: If God be for us, who can be against us? The ground of the challenge is God's being for us; in this he sums up all our privileges. This includes all, that God is for us; not only reconciled to us, and so not against us, but in covenant with us, and so engaged for us-all his attributes for us, his promises for us. All that he is, and has, and does, is for his people. He performs all things for them. He is for them, even when he seems to act against them. And, if so, who can be against us, so as to prevail against us, so as to hinder our happiness? Be they ever so great and strong, ever so many, ever so might, ever so malicious, what can they do? While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with a holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness. Let Satan do his worst, he is chained; let the world do its worst, it is conquered: principalities and powers are spoiled and disarmed, and triumphed over, in the cross of Christ. Who then dares fight against us, while God himself is fighting for us? And this we say to these things, this is the inference we draw from these premises. More particularly.
Mr. Hugh Kennedy, an eminent Christian of Ayr, in Scotland, when he was dying, called for a Bible; but, finding his sight gone, he said, "Turn me to the eighty of the Romans, and set my finger at these words, I am persuaded that neither death nor life,' etc. "Now,' said he, "is my finger upon them?' And, when they told him it was, without speaking any more, he said, "Now, God be with you, my children; I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night;' and so departed.