1 A tak teraz už nieto nijakého odsúdenia tým, ktorí sú v Kristu Ježišovi, ktorí nechodia podľa tela, ale podľa Ducha.
2 Lebo zákon Ducha života v Kristu Ježišovi ma oslobodil od zákona hriechu a smrti.
3 Lebo to, čo bolo nemožné zákonu, nakoľko bol slabý skrze telo, to vykonal Bôh pošlúc svojeho Syna v podobnosti tela hriechu a príčinou hriechu a odsúdil hriech v tele,
4 aby bolo naplnené právo zákona v nás, ktorí nechodíme podľa tela, ale podľa Ducha.
5 Lebo tí, ktorí sú podľa tela, myslia na veci tela, a tí, ktorí sú podľa Ducha, na veci Ducha.
6 Lebo myseľ tela je smrť, ale myseľ Ducha je život a pokoj,
7 pretože myseľ tela je nepriateľstvom naproti Bohu, lebo sa nepodriaďuje zákonu Božiemu, lebo sa ani nemôže podriadiť.
8 A tí, ktorí sú v tele, nemôžu sa ľúbiť Bohu;
9 ale vy nie ste v tele, ale v duchu, akže Duch Boží prebýva vo vás. Ale ak niekto nemá Ducha Kristovho, ten neni jeho.
10 Ale ak je Kristus vo vás, vtedy je síce telo mŕtve pre hriech, ale duch je život pre spravedlivosť.
11 A jestli Duch toho, ktorý vzkriesil Ježiša z mŕtvych, prebýva vo vás, tak tedy ten, ktorý vzkriesil Krista Ježiša z mŕtvych, oživí aj vaše smrteľné telá skrze svojho Ducha, ktorý prebýva vo vás.
12 A tak tedy, bratia, dlžníci sme nie telu, aby sme žili podľa tela.
13 Lebo ak žijete podľa tela, zomriete; ale ak Duchom mŕtvite skutky tela, budute žiť.
14 Lebo všetci, ktorí sú vedení Duchom Božím, tí sú synmi Božími.
15 Lebo ste nevzali ducha služby, aby ste sa zase báli, ale ste vzali ducha synovstva, v ktorom voláme: Abba, Otče!
16 Sám ten Duch spolu svedčí s naším duchom, že sme deťmi Božími.
17 A jestli deťmi, tedy aj dedičmi, dedičmi Božími a spoludedičmi Kristovými; akže spolu trpíme, aby sme aj spolu boli oslávení.
18 Lebo tak súdim, že utrpenia terajšieho času nie sú hodny, aby boly prirovnané k budúcej sláve, ktorá má byť zjavená na nás.
19 Lebo túžobné vyzeranie stvorenstva očakáva zjavenie synov Božích.
20 Lebo stvorenstvo je podriadené márnosti, a nepodriadilo sa dobrovoľne, ale pre toho, ktorý ho podriadil,
21 v nádeji, že aj samo stvorenstvo bude oslobodené od služby porušenia v slobodu slávy detí Božích.
22 Lebo vieme, že celé stvorenstvo spolu vzdychá a spolu bolestí jako v pôrode až doteraz.
23 No, nie len to, ale aj sami, majúc prvotinu Ducha, aj my sami vzdycháme v sebe, očakávajúc synovstvo, vykúpenie svojeho tela.
24 Lebo sme spasení v nádeji. Ale nádej, ktorá sa vidí, nie je nádejou, lebo na to, čo niekto vidí, prečo by sa na to aj nadejal?
25 Ale ak sa nadejeme na to, čoho nevidíme, vtedy očakávame v trpezlivosti.
26 A tak podobne i Duch spolu pomáha našim slabostiam. Lebo toho, čo by sme sa mali modliť, ako sa patrí, nevieme: ale sám Duch sa prihovára za nás nevysloviteľnými vzdychaniami.
27 A ten, ktorý zpytuje srdcia, vie, čo je myseľ Ducha, že sa podľa Boha prihovára za svätých.
28 A vieme, že tým, ktorí milujú Boha, všetko spolu pôsobí na dobré, tým, ktorí sú povolaní podľa preduloženia.
29 Lebo ktorých predzvedel, tých aj predurčil za súpodobných obrazu svojho Syna, aby on bol prvorodeným medzi mnohými bratmi.
30 A ktorých predurčil, tých aj povolal, a ktorých povolal, tých aj ospravedlnil, a ktorých ospravedlnil, tých aj oslávil.
31 Čo tedy povieme na to? Ak je Bôh za nás, kto proti nám?!
32 Ktorý to neušetril vlastného Syna, ale ho ta dal za nás za všetkých, ako by nám s ním potom i všetkého nedaroval!?
33 Kto bude žalovať na vyvolených Božích? Bôh je, ktorý ospravedlňuje.
34 Kde kto odsúdi? Kristus Ježiš je, ktorý zomrel, a viacej, ktorý aj vstal z mŕtvych, ktorý aj je po pravici Božej, ktorý sa aj prihovára za nás.
35 Kto nás odlúči od lásky Kristovej? Či súženie alebo úzkosť alebo prenasledovanie alebo hlad alebo nahota alebo nebezpečenstvo alebo meč?
36 Ako je napísané: Pre teba sme usmrcovaní celý deň; považovaní sme za ovce na zabitie.
37 Ale v tom vo všetkom statne víťazíme skrze toho, ktorý nás zamiloval.
38 Lebo som presvedčený, že ani smrť ani život ani anjeli ani vrchnosti ani moci ani prítomné ani budúce veci
39 ani vysokosť ani hlbokosť ani niktoré iné stvorenie nebude môcť odlúčiť nás od lásky Božej, ktorá je v Kristu Ježišovi, našom Pánovi.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer's person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead,
1Tim 5:6. A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not,
1Tim 5:9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example.
10 If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a moment to be put against this noble prize of our high calling? Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, through the darkness of that dispensation. The Spirit of adoption was not then plentifully poured out. Also it refers to that spirit of bondage, under which many saints were at their conversion. Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul. Though we may now seem to be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end.
18 The sufferings of the saints strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the present time, are light afflictions, and but for a moment. How vastly different are the sentence of the word and the sentiment of the world, concerning the sufferings of this present time! Indeed the whole creation seems to wait with earnest expectation for the period when the children of God shall be manifested in the glory prepared for them. There is an impurity, deformity, and infirmity, which has come upon the creature by the fall of man. There is an enmity of one creature to another. And they are used, or abused rather, by men as instruments of sin. Yet this deplorable state of the creation is in hope. God will deliver it from thus being held in bondage to man's depravity. The miseries of the human race, through their own and each other's wickedness, declare that the world is not always to continue as it is. Our having received the first-fruits of the Spirit, quickens our desires, encourages our hopes, and raises our expectations. Sin has been, and is, the guilty cause of all the suffering that exists in the creation of God. It has brought on the woes of earth; it has kindled the flames of hell. As to man, not a tear has been shed, not a groan has been uttered, not a pang has been felt, in body or mind, that has not come from sin. This is not all; sin is to be looked at as it affects the glory of God. Of this how fearfully regardless are the bulk of mankind! Believers have been brought into a state of safety; but their comfort consists rather in hope than in enjoyment. From this hope they cannot be turned by the vain expectation of finding satisfaction in the things of time and sense. We need patience, our way is rough and long; but He that shall come, will come, though he seems to tarry.
26 Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.
28 That is good for the saints which does their souls good. Every providence tends to the spiritual good of those that love God; in breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, and fitting them for heaven. When the saints act out of character, corrections will be employed to bring them back again. And here is the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, one which cannot be broken. 1. Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. All that God designed for glory and happiness as the end, he decreed to grace and holiness as the way. The whole human race deserved destruction; but for reasons not perfectly known to us, God determined to recover some by regeneration and the power of his grace. He predestinated, or before decreed, that they should be conformed to the image of his Son. In this life they are in part renewed, and walk in his steps. 2. Whom he did predestinate, them he also called. It is an effectual call, from self and earth to God, and Christ, and heaven, as our end; from sin and vanity to grace and holiness, as our way. This is the gospel call. The love of God, ruling in the hearts of those who once were enemies to him, proves that they have been called according to his purpose. 3. Whom he called, them he also justified. None are thus justified but those that are effectually called. Those who stand out against the gospel call, abide under guilt and wrath. 4. Whom he justified, them he also glorified. The power of corruption being broken in effectual calling, and the guilt of sin removed in justification, nothing can come between that soul and glory. This encourages our faith and hope; for, as for God, his way, his work, is perfect. The apostle speaks as one amazed, and swallowed up in admiration, wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things, the less we wonder; but the further we are led into gospel mysteries, the more we are affected by them. While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness.
32 All things whatever, in heaven and earth, are not so great a display of God's free love, as the gift of his coequal Son to be the atonement on the cross for the sin of man; and all the rest follows upon union with him, and interest in him. All things, all which can be the causes or means of any real good to the faithful Christian. He that has prepared a crown and a kingdom for us, will give us what we need in the way to it. Men may justify themselves, though the accusations are in full force against them; but if God justifies, that answers all. By Christ we are thus secured. By the merit of his death he paid our debt. Yea, rather that is risen again. This is convincing evidence that Divine justice was satisfied. We have such a Friend at the right hand of God; all power is given to him. He is there, making intercession. Believer! does your soul say within you, Oh that he were mine! and oh that I were his; that I could please him and live to him! Then do not toss your spirit and perplex your thoughts in fruitless, endless doubtings, but as you are convinced of ungodliness, believe on Him who justifies the ungodly. You are condemned, yet Christ is dead and risen. Flee to Him as such. God having manifested his love in giving his own Son for us, can we think that any thing should turn aside or do away that love? Troubles neither cause nor show any abatement of his love. Whatever believers may be separated from, enough remains. None can take Christ from the believer: none can take the believer from Him; and that is enough. All other hazards signify nothing. Alas, poor sinners! though you abound with the possessions of this world, what vain things are they! Can you say of any of them, Who shall separate us? You may be removed from pleasant dwellings, and friends, and estates. You may even live to see and seek your parting. At last you must part, for you must die. Then farewell, all this world accounts most valuable. And what hast thou left, poor soul, who hast not Christ, but that which thou wouldest gladly part with, and canst not; the condemning guilt of all thy sins! But the soul that is in Christ, when other things are pulled away, cleaves to Christ, and these separations pain him not. Yea, when death comes, that breaks all other unions, even that of the soul and body, it carries the believer's soul into the nearest union with its beloved Lord Jesus, and the full enjoyment of him for ever.