Matthew Poole Commentary - Romans 8:1 - 8:1

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Romans 8:1 - 8:1


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

ROMANS CHAPTER 8



Rom_8:1-4 Under the gospel we are free from condemnation, walking

after the Spirit.

Rom_8:5-8 The evil of being carnally minded, and the good of being

spiritually minded.

Rom_8:9-11 Christians have God’s Spirit to guide and assist them,

Rom_8:12,13 by which if they mortify the flesh, they shall live.

Rom_8:14-18 For they that are led by the Spirit are sons of God,

and heirs of glory,

Rom_8:19-22 whose manifestation the world hath long earnestly

looked for, hoping to be rescued thereby from the

bondage of corruption.

Rom_8:23 And even they who have the first fruits of the Spirit

do still long after it,

Rom_8:24,25 being hitherto saved by hope only,

Rom_8:26,27 the Spirit in the mean time aiding their infirmities

in prayer.

Rom_8:28-30 Nevertheless the final good of them that fear God is

all along pursued, being fore-ordained of God, and

brought about according to the course of his providence.

Rom_8:31-39 The ground and assurance of the Christian’s hope.







There is therefore now; seeing things are so as I have said, since believers do not allow themselves in sin, Rom_7:15, and are in part delivered from it, as Rom_8:25, therefore it follows as it is here.



No condemnation; or no one condemnation. He doth not say, there is no matter of condemnation, or nothing damnable in them that are in Christ, there is enough and enough of that; but he says, there is no actual condemnation to such: see Joh_3:18 5:24. There is a meiosis in the words, more is understood than is expressed; he means, that justification and eternal salvation is the portion of such. The positive is included in the negative; it is God’s condemnation only, from which such as are in Christ are exempted; they are nevertheless condemned and censured by men, and sometimes by their own consciences too.



To them which are in Christ Jesus; so we fill it up, but in the original it is only, to them in Christ Jesus. The phrase imports, that there is a mystical and spiritual union between Christ and believers. This is sometimes expressed by Christ’s being in them, Rom_8:10 2Co_13:5 Col_1:17; and here by their being in Christ: see 1Co_1:30 1Jo_5:20. Christ is in believers by his Spirit, and believers are in Christ by faith.



Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: this clause describes the persons who are united to Christ, or who are exempted from condemnation; they are such as walk not, & c. By flesh understand the corrupt nature that is in man: see Rom_7:18,25 Joh 3:6 Gal_5:17: to walk after it, is to be led and guided by the motions of it. That is, it is not their principle and guide, there is another nature or principle in them, by which they are guided and acted; and what that is the next words tell you.



By the Spirit some understand the person of the Spirit; others, the grace of the Spirit, the new or divine nature (as it is called) which is implanted in the soul in the work of regeneration: this is called the Spirit, Mat_26:41 Joh_3:6 Gal_5:17. To walk after the Spirit, is to be led and guided by the counsels and motions thereof. It is to regulate and order the whole conversation according to the rule of the new creature, or according to the line and square of God’s word and Spirit. You have the same phrase, Gal_5:16,25. To walk after the Spirit, is not only now and then to have some good motions, or to do some good actions, but it is to persevere and go forward therein; walking is a continued and progressive motion. The connexion of these two shows that negative holiness is not enough; we must not only abstain from evil, but do good.