All Articles For Romans

Hath God cast away His people? Thus the apostle Paul begins the eleventh chapter of his epistle to the Romans. And this indeed is a very important question. And seemingly there are good reasons to raise this question. For, is it not true, when we look round about us that we see the ungodly prosper? And on the other hand, is it not a fact, that the righteous have only a very little of the riches and the abundance of this world? Yea, is it not so that one of God’s dearest children complained, “All the day long I have...

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, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Rom. 8:15, 16 Blessed Spirit! It is through Him, the Parakleet, the Comforter, whom the Lord had promised to send from the Father, and Whom He poured forth into His Church on the day of the first fruits that we become heirs and partakers of all the blessings of salvation! He it is that imparts unto us the fullness of...

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 The inspired apostle Paul spent much of the first chapters in Romans establishing the depravity of mankind and God’s wrath against sin. He made it clear that “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified” (Rom. 3:20). He taught us that salvation is “of faith, that it might be by grace” (Rom. 4:16). But then he turned and began to give commands to God’s redeemed people: “Be...

* This is a reprint of a meditation by the late Herman Hoeksema from the September 1, 1928 issue of the Standard Bearer and translated by Henry DeJong, a member of First PRC of Holland. The entire meditation is printed. The ellipses are part of the original article. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Wondrous knowledge! We know, we are sure in our mind, that all things work together for our good, for us, who love God, whom He...

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 Herein is love. . . . Not that we loved God, but that He loved us. . . . And sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins! That is the story of the wondrous cross, its meaning, its eternal source, its glorious revelation. God loved us! That is the source of the amazing spectacle on Calvary. God, the Creator of the heavens and of the earth, the Triune, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the righteous and holy...

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:5-8 They that are after the flesh! A thousand times unhappy people! Note that I said: a thousand times unhappy people! How poor is...

“And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:6 What do you desire? To be saved by grace or by works?

“…unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate.”

In faithfulness to his calling Joseph gathered the surplus food in Egypt for seven years, and built up a huge store of food for the seven years of famine that were coming. Most likely he bought the food from the farmers, and it was not commandeered by the government. And I say that he did this in faithfulness because once again in servitude he does his calling in the fear of God’s name. In Potiphar’s house he was faithful, even though Potiphar thought otherwise of him. In prison his faithfulness was noticed and commended.

But if you hold fast to the organic idea, then all the difficulties disappear. Then you have here the one people which is nevertheless twofold; one vineyard which nevertheless brings forth a twofold fruit. From the viewpoint of its good kernel, that vineyard is the object of God’s favor. For the sake of that good kernel the Lord cultivates that vineyard. He does all that there is to be done to a vineyard. Thus the Lord did with Israel. Therefore He also expected good fruits. Nor was He disappointed in that expectation by that good kernel.