Romans 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba… I. The state of THE NATURAL MAN. 1. It is a state of sleep: the voice of God to him is, "Awake, thou that sleepest." 2. For this reason he is in some sense at rest: because blind he is secure, he cannot tremble at the danger he does not know. He has no dread of God, because he thinks Him merciful, and that he can at any time repent. 3. From the same ignorance there may arise joy either in congratulating himself on his own wisdom and goodness, or in indulgence of pleasure of various kinds, and so long as he doeth well unto himself men will doubtless speak good of him. 4. It is not surprising if thus dosed with the opiates of flattery and sin, one should imagine among his other waking dreams that he walks in great liberty, being free from all vulgar errors, prejudices, enthusiasm, etc. But all this time he is the servant of sin. He commits it every day. Yet he is not troubled. He contents himself with "Man is frail; every man has his infirmity." II. The state of a MAN UNDER THE LAW. 1. By some awful providence, or by His Word applied by His Spirit God touches the heart of the slumbering stoner, who awakes into a consciousness of danger — perhaps in a moment, perhaps by degrees. 2. The inward spiritual meaning of the law now begins to glare upon him, and he sees himself stripped of all the fig leaves he had sewn together — of all his pretences to religion or excuses for sin. He now, too, feels that the wages of sin is death. 3. Here ends his pleasing dream, his delusive rest, his vain security, etc. The fumes of these opiates being dispelled, he feels the anguish of a wounded spirit — he fears, indeed — God's wrath, death, etc., almost to the verge of despair. 4. Now truly he desires to break loose from sin and begins to struggle with it. But though he strive with all his might, sin is mightier than he. The more he strives the more he feels his chains. He toils on, sinning and repenting, repenting and sinning, until he cries, "O wretched man that I am," etc. This whole state of bondage is described in chap. Romans 7. III. The state of a MAN UNDER GRACE. 1. His cry is heard and heavenly healing light breaks in on his soul — the light of the glorious love of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Overpowered by the sight he cries out, "My Lord and my God," for he sees all his iniquities laid on Christ and borne away; God in Christ reconciling him unto Himself. 2. Here end the guilt and power of sin. He can now say, "I am crucified with Christ," etc. Here ends the bondage unto fear. He cannot fear the wrath of God, for it is turned away; the devil, because his power is ended; hell, for he is an heir of the kingdom; death, for that is now but the vestibule of heaven. 3. And "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty," liberty not only from guilt and fear, but sin. Henceforth he does not serve sin; being made free from sin he is become the servant of righteousness. 4. Having peace with God, and rejoicing in hope, he has the Spirit of adoption who sheds abroad the love of God and man in the heart, and works in him to will and do of His good pleasure. Conclusion: The natural man neither fears nor loves God; one under the law fears: one under grace loves. The first has no light, the second painful light, the third joyous light, He that sleeps in death has a false peace; he that is awakened no peace; he that believes true peace. The heathen baptized or unbaptized has a fancied freedom, the Jew or legalist a grievous bondage, the Christian the glorious liberty of the children of God. An unawakened child of the devil sins willingly; one that is awakened sins unwillingly; a child of God "sinneth not" The natural man neither conquers nor fights; the man under the law fights but cannot conquer; the man under grace is "more than conqueror." (John Wesley, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. |
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