3
3
3 and 4, learn the penalty of death that lies upon mankind.
Chapter 5 helps us about the new Head, and sets us free from
the penalty of death. We learn what sin is, sin in the world, and
sin in, our members. Chapter 6 helps us in that; no longer
should sin reign in our members, but they should be yielded in
righteousness to God. We learn what the flesh is; that is
chapter 7 of Romans. We learn what the flesh is in ourselves,
the awfulness of it; a very necessary and practical experience.
Mr.J. Taylor said that he would like every young believer to
take up Romans 7. Sometimes we are, well into it before we
realize what it is, but he suggested that we take it up definitely
as an exercise and prove its value (Vol. 36, p.90). You will find
that there is nothing in you that will please God other than the
work of God. The flesh has no affinity with the work of God.
You find the awfulness of that, and the solemnity of it. Then
there is that cry, “Who shall deliver me …? I thank God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord”. We reach a personal
foundation when we get to that in a sense of deliverance with
that Man before us, Jesus Christ our Lord. How important
these exercises are! And the Spirit links on with them. He
helps us into deliverance, helps us to walk in righteousness, to
walk according to God. Paul tells us about that; it is part of
Paul’s ministry. He helps us as to our personal foundation.
Then he helps us too as to our testimonial foundation. That is
Timothy. He had a right foundation in the testimony. “The firm
foundation of God stands”, Paul says in 2 Timothy 2.
That is, it cannot be overthrown. You may wonder about that in
the time of confusion and breakdown in which we are, to which
we have all contributed, at least, those of us of responsible
years. You carry that sorrow with you. Some things go with
you and you
carry them in your spirit. But you come back to this, that “the
firm foundation of God stands”, and, “The Lord knows those
that are his”. Is not that reassuring? There is great comfort in
that, for it is the testimonial foundation. You stand on that, and