24 For G1063 we are saved G4982 by hope: G1680 but G1161 hope G1680 that is seen G991 is G2076 not G3756 hope: G1680 for G1063 what G3739 a man G5100 seeth, G991 why G5101 doth he G1679 yet G2532 hope for? G1679
Now G1161 faith G4102 is G2076 the substance G5287 of things hoped for, G1679 the evidence G1650 of things G4229 not G3756 seen. G991
While G4648 we G2257 look G4648 not G3361 at G4648 the things which are seen, G991 but G235 at the things which are G991 not G3361 seen: G991 for G1063 the things which are seen G991 are temporal; G4340 but G1161 the things which are G991 not G3361 seen G991 are eternal. G166
If G1489 ye continue G1961 in the faith G4102 grounded G2311 and G2532 settled, G1476 and G2532 be not G3361 moved away G3334 from G575 the hope G1680 of the gospel, G2098 which G3739 ye have heard, G191 and which G3588 was preached G2784 to G1722 every G3956 creature G2937 which is under G5259 heaven; G3772 whereof G3739 I G1473 Paul G3972 am made G1096 a minister; G1249
Who G3588 by G1223 him G846 do believe G4100 in G1519 God, G2316 that raised G1453 him G846 up G1453 from G1537 the dead, G3498 and G2532 gave G1325 him G846 glory; G1391 that G5620 your G5216 faith G4102 and G2532 hope G1680 might be G1511 in G1519 God. G2316
Of G4012 which G3739 salvation G4991 the prophets G4396 have enquired G1567 and G2532 searched diligently, G1830 who G3588 prophesied G4395 of G4012 the grace G5485 that should come unto G1519 you: G5209 Searching G2045 what, G1519 G5101 or G2228 what manner G4169 of time G2540 the Spirit G4151 of Christ G5547 which G3588 was in G1722 them G846 did signify, G1213 when it testified beforehand G4303 the sufferings G3804 of G1519 Christ, G5547 and G2532 the glory G1391 that should follow. G3326 G5023
Blessed G2128 be the God G2316 and G2532 Father G3962 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 which G3588 according to G2596 his G846 abundant G4183 mercy G1656 hath begotten G313 us G2248 again G313 unto G1519 a lively G2198 hope G1680 by G1223 the resurrection G386 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 from G1537 the dead, G3498
That G2443 by G1223 two G1417 immutable G276 things, G4229 in G1722 which G3739 it was impossible G102 for God G2316 to lie, G5574 we might have G2192 a strong G2478 consolation, G3874 who G3588 have fled for refuge G2703 to lay hold G2902 upon the hope G1680 set before us: G4295 Which G3739 hope we have G2192 as G5613 an anchor G45 of the soul, G5590 both G5037 sure G804 and G2532 stedfast, G949 and G2532 which entereth G1525 into G1519 that within G2082 the veil; G2665
For G1063 the grace G5485 of God G2316 that bringeth salvation G4992 hath appeared G2014 to all G3956 men, G444 Teaching G3811 us G2248 that, G2443 denying G720 ungodliness G763 and G2532 worldly G2886 lusts, G1939 we should live G2198 soberly, G4996 G2532 righteously, G1346 and G2532 godly, G2153 in G1722 this present G3568 world; G165 Looking for G4327 that blessed G3107 hope, G1680 and G2532 the glorious G1391 appearing G2015 of the great G3173 God G2316 and G2532 our G2257 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ; G5547
Now G1161 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 himself, G846 and G2532 God, G2316 even G2532 our G2257 Father, G3962 which G3588 hath loved G25 us, G2248 and G2532 hath given G1325 us everlasting G166 consolation G3874 and G2532 good G18 hope G1680 through G1722 grace, G5485
To whom G3739 God G2316 would G2309 make known G1107 what G5101 is the riches G4149 of the glory G1391 of this G5127 mystery G3466 among G1722 the Gentiles; G1484 which G3739 is G2076 Christ G5547 in G1722 you, G5213 the hope G1680 of glory: G1391
For G1063 we G2249 through the Spirit G4151 wait for G553 the hope G1680 of righteousness G1343 by G1537 faith. G4102
For G1063 whatsoever things G3745 were written aforetime G4270 were written G4270 for G1519 our G2251 learning, G1319 that G2443 we G2192 through G1223 patience G5281 and G2532 comfort G3874 of the scriptures G1124 might have G2192 hope. G1680
Turn H7725 you to the strong hold, H1225 ye prisoners H615 of hope: H8615 even to day H3117 do I declare H5046 that I will render H7725 double H4932 unto thee;
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.