Part 1321

Be heirs.... That is, if they alone, who follow the ceremonies of the law, be heirs of the blessings promised to Abraham; then that faith which was so much praised in him, will be found to be of little value. And the very promise will be made void, by which he was promised to be the father, not of the Jews only, but of all nations of believers.

4:15. For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

The law worketh wrath.... The law, abstracting from faith and grace, worketh wrath occasionally, by being an occasion of many transgressions, which provoke God’s wrath.

4:16. Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

4:17. (As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations), before God, whom he believed: who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that are not, as those that are.

4:18. Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be.

4:19. And he was not weak in faith. Neither did he consider his own body, now dead (whereas he was almost an hundred years old), nor the dead womb of Sara.

4:20. In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust: but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God:

4:21. Most fully knowing that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.

4:22. And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.

4:23. Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice,

4:24. But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead,

4:25. Who was delivered up for our sins and rose again for our justification.

Romans Chapter 5

The grounds we have for hope in Christ. Sin and death came by Adam, grace and life by Christ.

5:1. Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ:

5:2. By whom also we have access through faith into this grace wherein we stand: and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God.

5:3. And not only so: but we glory also in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

5:4. And patience trial; and trial hope;

5:5. And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is given to us.

5:6. For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly?

5:7. For scarce for a just man will one die: yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die.

5:8. But God commendeth his charity towards us: because when as yet we were sinners according to the time.

5:9. Christ died for us. Much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.

5:10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son: much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

5:11. And not only so: but also we glory in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation.

5:12. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world and by sin death: and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.

By one man.... Adam, from whom we all contracted original sin.