Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-05-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments
Fer May 81.
Subject: The Lie. living Spirit, Rom. WILL, liz
-Golden Text, Rom. viii, H-Mtmory
Verse, l. Co nmentary on the Days
Lesson.

sn0Wn IN the previous cnapter Cnat tne law
could not affect delveranee from sin, but
the gospel alone. "Now." The last chap.
ter closed with an account Of the deep dig
tress of the penitent; this one opens with
an account Of his salvation. The nov" in
.he text refers to the happy transition from
darkness to light, from condemnation to
pardon, which this, believer now enjoys.
the result Of disobedience this clearly i'm.
plies that the believer can live without
transgressing the law of God-le may live
free from sin. "In Christ Jesus" The
whole previous argument of the epistles
makes it plain that those who are in Christ
are those who have been justified through
'':sn sTRap'l a a.; A law is rule of action
force justice and direct duty. The word
law here means that rule, command or in.
Auence which the esprit of life" produces.
Esprit of life" The close argument fol.
lowing implies that the Spirit of life here
is the same as the Spirit of God and OF
Christ in verses 9. Il, IA; and this can be
no other than, the Holy Spirit in CHAPTER
springs from Him. The Holy Spirit is the
Spirit of life because He leads the soul to
escape the sentence of death, and then
Eliminates it with the energies of the new
life" "In Christ Jesus" Christ Jesus is
the meritorious cause of justification, the
head of the justified and the giver of the
Spirit. The meaning is that delivet,ance
through the medium of the Holy Spirit.
Free" Liberated from the bondage
caused by obeying the dictates of evil. This
is not a partial deliverance, but q freedom
from all bondage "Law of sin and
death" Sin and death are partners If one
throne and issue one law To obey sin is
to wall, in patti, marked out by death. H.,
moral code, as is always meant when not
otherwise defined "Weak," The law was
powerless to deliver from sin or to produce
holiness 1t could not secure its own fulfil
ment. "The flesh" The term flesh hns
several different Specifications. In this in
stance it has reference to mans corrupt
J and fallen nature. Sending" This refers
Christ was Gods Gown Son" before He
was sent-that is, before He became incar-
nate. 'In the likeness etc. That is, He
took upon Himself human body, similar
to ours, but not controlled by sin. In Him
was no sin. He was made of our flesh in
The likeness of its sinful condition: And
for sim "As an. offering for sim" K. V.
fall in the human heart. Christ came to
destroy the works of the devil. Through
the atonement man may be saved from sin.
4, s. "Thc Righteousness. The demands
of Gods righteous law which could not be
met by us when we followed the evil in.
cllnations of a corrupt, sinful nature are
now fulfilled in us who live and act as the
Spirit guides. "Flesh--Spirit." Men must
be under the predominating influence of
one or the other of these two principles,
and according as the one or the other has
the mastery will be the complexion of the
life and character of the actions" An evil
tree brings forth evil fruit and good tree
brings forth good fruit.
II. The carnal and spiritual contrasted
Tvs. G.S). 6. "Carnally minded" TO al
low the cQrnal or corrupt nature to. gain
led by it. Us death" Not will lead to
DEATH" but "is death" Such a course
not only ends in eternal death, but those
who are carnaly minded are dead already
spiritually dead; they are dead while
hey live Il Tim. 5: G; Eph. 2: |, 81, Out"
etc. On the other hand to follow the lead
ings of the Spirit. and cultivate, the ,graces
sign OF our existence and the only true
path Of happiness.
7, 8. us enmity." This is stated as a
reason why "the mind of the flesh is
death "; g.; it is opposed to God and
absolutely certain, because it is a carnal
mind and relishcs earthly and sinful things
$50 then" Because the carnal mind is
enmty against God, therefore they that
Are il the hesh"-those who are led and
controlled by the dictates of their corrupt,
fcshly nature, Cannot please God and
consequently are doomed to eternal death.
III. The condition of those, who follow
the Spirit Tvs. 9-l4). 0. Out Paul now
| er,.n ha of q
THE Spirit" The Spirit, the Spirit of
God and the Spirit OF Christ are merely
different expressions for the Holy Spirit,
the third person of the Trinity. Dwell in
you.' The Holy Spirit is often spoken Of
as dwelling in the hearts Of Christians.
See > Cor. G: l6; Gal. 4: 6. This is more
than good influence or disposition; it is
the actual and personal ndweling of the
Holy Ghost producing all the fruits of. the
truth. "None of his" This is the supreme
test by which we may know that we have
passed from death unto life; loud profes'
sons, the ordinances, zeal for the. cause.
many prayers, generosty-none OF these
can save us.
10. Body is dead" There are variety
of opinions as to the, meaning Of verses 10
and IL. The following from Beet seems
quite clear: Because >of Adams sin the
body of those in whom Christ dwels is
dead, that Is, is prey OF worms and cor
ruption, but because of the righteousness
which is through Christ and through faith
the spirit which animates that mortal body
possesses mdying life"
IL. "But it." etc. Barnes thinks this
verse does not refer to the resurrection of
the dead. But others think the reference
is to the resurrection. Quicken" Make
alive. The reference is to the resurrection
day.
the Spirit, but to the flesh we owe moth.
ing. We disown its unrighteous, claims,
"Shall die" If you live to indulge your
carnal propensities you will sink to eternal
death. "NIortify." ''Put to death, destroy.
Sin is mortified when its PI power lid" i de-,
of the body" The corrupt inclinations
cause they are supposed to hays, their orr;
gin in the feshly appetites. ".Shall live"
Shall be saved. Either your sins must die
you must; No h ca can h be n saved in ons s
control. "Sons of God" Children of God.
This expression is often applied to Chris