The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-30
THE sUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
May 81, 19O3-The Life-Giving Spirit
Romans viii. 1-14.

Romans Will, 1-14,
The very position of the Epistle to the Romans
among the books Of the New testament is In it
self significant. 1t stands first of its kind.
Rome" Is the talismanic name which greets
the eye after the historical portion closes. That
very circumstance signifies that the church, bent
on universal conquest, recognizes the strategic
position of the city of the Caesars. What is
said to the mistress of the world is said to
the world.
Paul gives frequent expression Of his desire to
preach In Rome. At this time in his missionary
journeys he was nearer to the city than ever
before. But before he could realize his hearts
desire he had a duty which he felt he must per-
form toward his suffering fellow-countrymen in
Jerusalem. He wished to bridge the chasm be-
tween Jew and gentle in the Christian church
by an Offering Of the latter to the former. So.
as he cannot go Immediately to Rome. he does
what he thinks to be the next best thing, but
which we, from our point of view, can perceive
TO be even a better thing. He sits down and
writes a letter. He employs in this way the
interval in which he waits at Corinth the re-
opening Of navigation
The letter is worthy its author, worthy the city
addressed. worthy the theme on which It dwells.
1t is most catholic of epistles. Though ad-
dressed to Romans, 1t is all mems epistle. 1t af-
firms. defines. illustrates and applies the chief
doctrines of Christianity. 1t has been aptly
called the most complete composition Of the
greatest apostle.
With the unerring fidelity of a skilled physi-
clan, Paul, in the opening Of the epistle. dag
noses the moral malady of the race. He per-
sistently describes every detail. The revolving
portraiture is still so faithful that the heather
tax the missionaries with having written it
themselves after their arrival in the missionary
field. After having described the disease, the
apostle turns to his materia medica and shouts
for Joy, for he finds In II the divine specific
which will certainly save every one who will
take IL. He puts no patent right on the remedy.
On the contrary, he feels II his duty to give it
to every class Of suffering humanity. The best
heather thought had egregiously failed to supply
even an alienation for human misery, much less
a cure. The system of the philosopher could not
save the people who lived on the same street
with him. let alone the race. Paul as the con-
scious possessor of a specific of divine energy
was eager TO apply 1t on a large scale at the
center of empire and in full view of humanity.
Paul was morally certain that Christianity
could never suffer by a competitive display Of
its principles and effects alongside of those of
heathenism. He would never need to blush for
his gospel. The gospel of heathenism was a
! revelation Of immoral divinities. But Paurs
| gospel flashed out a likeness Of the God of
righteousness.
Some one has said that IL the holy scripture
was a ring and the Epistle to the Romans its
| precious stone. Chapter viii would be the spark
ling point of the jewel. Paul is an expert in the
use of antithesis. but in this paragraph he sur
passes himself. The opposition of the sphere of
flesh and the sphere Of spirit is drawn with
consummate skill. The nature. characteristics
and resultant of each realm are delineated with
absolute fidelity. The mind of the flesh is de-
| scribed as inimical to God-not subject to Him,
| and consequently displeasing to Hin. Death
| reigns in this realm. But 1t is possible for ev-
cry man to make his exit from this sphere of the
flesh into the sphere of the spirit. the character
istics of which are life and peace. Here. ac-
cording to Paul, the divine dwells in him. or he
| comes to consciousness Of the divine within and
In harmony with the same, and thus becomes a
son of God. This was an Unreasonable ad-
vance upon the best teachings of the best re-
ligions Of antiquity. There was no mystery or
otscurity in it. 1t simply affirmed that the
choice of the divine. persistently renewed, would
ultimate in conformity to the divine.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
The planting OF the gospel in London is a
| more important matter than its planting in
| Dahomey; not. however. of necessity, because
| men are more valuable in the former place
| than in the latter. The reason is found in the
fact that tho means of dirusing the truth are
more numerous in the metropolis OF the Anglo
! Saxon race. The faith once established in Lon
don would quickly speed its way on the wings
| of ommerc not to Dahomey alone. but to ev-
cry other province.
The case stood exactly so in Paul's day. It
made him happy to think that by some means
the gospel had already found a Judgement in the
very heart of the empire. and by the power OF a
moral gravitation was speeding it's way as from
a lofty reservoir in streams Of salvation to the
most distant and arid wastes of heathenism.
| The faith of the Roman Christians was spoken
| NJ throughout the world. not Of necessity be-