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CONVERSION A GROUND OF THANKSGIVING
EXEMPTION from the punishment of sin is doubtless an inestimable blessing; but deliverance from its power is equally precious. The most advanced Christians greatly delight in this part of salvation. Hence St. Paul thanks God for bestowing this mercy on the Church at Rome. We shall consider from the text,
I. The character of all while in an unconverted state—
All are “servants of sin” till they receive converting grace—
[All indeed are not slaves to the same sin. Some are led captive by their lusts and passions: others are drawn away by the pleasures and vanities of the world: others are under the dominion of pride and self-righteousness; but all, without exception, are alienated from the life of God [Note: Eph_4:18.]: all are full of unbelief and self-sufficiency.]
This, however humiliating, is an indisputable truth—
[The Scriptures every where assert this respecting fallen man [Note: Joh_8:34. Rom_6:16. with the text.]. The most eminent saints confess it to have been their own case [Note: Tit_3:3.]: experience proves it with respect to ourselves. The very excuse which men offer in extenuation of their sins, viz. “that they cannot live as God requires,” establishes this truth.]
But it does not remain so in regenerate persons; as appears from,
II. The change they experience in conversion—
God instructs them in “the form of sound doctrine”—
[There is in Scripture a “form of sound doctrine.” This in all its parts is set before them. They are enlightened by the Spirit to understand it: they have it applied with divine efficacy to their souls.]
This form of doctrine they “obey from the heart”—
[They yet indeed feel a law of sin in their members; but “they no more serve sin” willingly as before: on the contrary, “they now delight in the law of God.” They obey it, not in appearance only or by constraint, but willingly and without reserve.]
They are now cast, as it were, into the mould of the Gospel—
[This is the force of the original; and is the marginal version [Note: Å ἰ ò ὃ í ð á ñ å ä ü è ç ô å ô ý ð ï í ä ß ä á ÷ ῆ ò .]: this is also the case, wherever the Gospel takes effect [Note: Col_1:6.]. The wax has every lineament of the seal, and the coin of the die: so do they resemble God, who are renewed by the Gospel [Note: 2Co_3:18.].]
The blessedness of this change will appear if we consider,
III. How great a cause of thankfulness such a conversion is—
The Apostle thanks God that they were no longer slaves of sin—
[Sin is at all times a ground of shame and sorrow [Note: Rom_6:21.]. Paul esteemed it so in his own particular case [Note: 1Ti_1:13.]: every saint of God views it in the same light: St. Paul therefore did not mean that their subjection to it was a ground of thankfulness; but the subject of his thanksgiving is, that the Romans, who once were slaves of sin, were now entirely devoted to God.]
This is a ground of unspeakable thankfulness on many accounts:
1. On account of the moral change in the persons themselves—
[What can be more deplorable than to be a slave of sin? What can be more truly blessed than to have all our actions and affections corresponding with the word of God? Surely this is a ground of thankfulness.]
2. On account of the effects of this change on society—
[How much better member of society must a child of God be than a slave of sin! How much happier would the world be, if such a change were general! On this account therefore it became the Apostle to be thankful.]
3. On account of the eternal consequences that must follow this change—
[They who die slaves of sin must suffer its punishment: they are now the children of the devil, and must soon be his companions in misery [Note: Joh_8:44.]; but the regenerate are children and heirs of God. Surely eternity will scarcely suffice to thank God for this.]
We shall conclude with a suitable address—
1. To the unregenerate—
[All who have not been freed from sin are of this number. Alas! the friends of such have little cause to thank God for them: they have rather reason to weep and mourn [Note: Jer_13:17.]: they may indeed bless God that the stroke of vengeance has been delayed. O that all such persons might know the day of their visitation! Let all cry to God for his converting grace: nor let any rest in an external or partial change. Nothing but a cordial compliance with the Gospel, and a real conformity to it, will avail us in the day of judgment.]
2. To the regenerate—
[The foregoing marks have sufficiently characterized these persons. Such persons will do well to reflect on the mercy they have received: the recollection of their past guilt will serve to keep them humble. A consciousness of their remaining infirmities will make them watchful: a view of the change wrought in them will make them thankful. Let the regenerate then adopt the words of the Psalmist [Note: Psa_103:1-3.]— let them beware of ever returning to their former ways [Note: 2Pe_2:20-21.]: let them press forward for higher degrees of holiness and glory [Note: Php_3:13-14.].]
3. To those who doubt to which class they belong—
[Many, from what has been wrought in them, have reason to hope; yet, from what still remains to be done, they find reason to fear. Hence they are long in painful suspense. But let such remember, that sin, if truly lamented and resisted, does not prove them unregenerate [Note: Jam_3:2.]: on the contrary, their hatred of it, and opposition to it, are hopeful signs that they are in part renewed: nevertheless, let them endeavour to put this matter beyond a doubt [Note: 2Pe_1:10.]. Let them look to Christ as their almighty deliverer [Note: Joh_8:36.]: let them pray for, and depend upon, his promised aid [Note: 2Co_12:9.].]