Wesley Corpus

In the former part of the fifth and in the sixth chapter, he describes the happiness and holiness of true believers. (The latter part of the fifth is a digression, concerning the extent of the benefits flowing from the death of Christ.) In the seventh he shows in what sense believers in Christ are delivered from the law; and describes the miserable bondage of those who are still under the law; that is, who are truly convinced of sin, but not able to conquer it. In the eighth he again describes the happy liberty of those who truly believe in Christ; and encourages them to suffer for the faith, as by other considerations, so by this in particular, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called” (by the preaching of his word) “accord ing to his purpose,” (verse 28,) or decree, unalterably fixed from eternity, “He that believeth shall be saved.” “For whom he did foreknow” as believing, “he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called,” by his word; (so that term is usually taken in St. Paul’s Epistles;) “and whom he called, them he also justified; ” (the word is here taken in its widest sense, as including sanctification also ;) “and whom he justified, them he glorified.” Thence to the end of the chapter, he strongly encourages all those who had the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, to have a good hope, that no sufferings should ever “be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.” 26. But as the Apostle was aware how deeply the Jews were offended at the whole tenor of his doctrine, and more especially at his asserting, (1.) That the Jews themselves could not be saved without believing in Jesus; and, (2.) That the Heathens by believing in him might partake of the same salvation; he spends the whole ninth chapter upon them; wherein, (1.) He declares the tender love he had for them. (Verses 1-3.) (2.) Allows the great national privileges they enjoyed above any people under heaven. (Verses 4, 5.) (3.) Answers their grand objection to his doctrine, taken from the justice of God to their fathers.