Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. The word "atonement" means reconciliation, and this is the old English meaning — at-one-ment. Thus Shakespeare, "He seeks to make atonement between the Duke of Glo'ster and our brothers." Learn that the atonement is — I. A CONSCIOUS POSSESSION OF THE SOUL. "We have now received." He does not speak of it as a fact accomplished years ago, nor as a speculative doctrine, but as something of which he and his readers were at that moment conscious. It is one thing for man to have an atonement in his theology, discuss it with ability and defend it with enthusiasm, and another thing for him to have it as a blessed experience. As a mere doctrine — 1. It often makes a man an arrogant bigot; but as a feeling always an humble saint. 2. It may light men to hell, and may there aggravate their misery. As a feeling it will conduct them to heaven, and encircle them with the light of immortality. II. A conscious possession of the soul IMPARTED BY CHRIST. "By whom." Christ is the Great, the only, Reconciler of the soul to God. "God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." How? In the only way in which reconciliation could be affected. By affording the strongest possible demonstration of Divine love. "God so loved the world," etc. Legislation, philosophy, ethics, religion, civilisation, poetry — none, nor all of these, can bring this at-one-ment into the soul. This is the exclusive work of Christ. III. A conscious possession of the soul, INSPIRING IT WITH JOY IN THE ETERNAL. "We joy in God." The joy springs from the assurance that the Almighty is once more our friend. This joy may include — 1. Thanksgiving, which inspires the songs of immortality; the reconciled soul traces its atonement to the free, tender, boundless love of God through Jesus Christ. 2. Security. If God is our friend, His love is unchangeable, His power almighty, His resources illimitable. And what a sense of security must His friendship inspire! 3. Adoration. Had we a friend that bestowed upon us the highest favours, inspiring our gratitude, and whose promises and capacities assured us of our security, if he were imperfect in moral character, we could not heartily rejoice in his friendship. Moral admiration is the highest element of joy: and this requires moral excellence in the object. God has this in an infinite degree. Thus, if He is our friend, we may well rejoice in Him, with the most ecstatic rapture and triumphant delight.Conclusion: Learn — 1. The paramount necessity of human nature — atonement with God. 2. To appreciate the intervention of Christ, by whom alone it can be affected. No system of belief, no code of morality can accomplish it. To the gospel men must look. 3. The test of genuine religion — joy "in God." The world has joy in creatures and in worthless things — the joy of the truly good is joy in God Himself. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. |
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