Romans 8

But the nation of the Jews were chosen to be the people of God,and were therefore styled,

"the children" or "sons of God," 14:1 ;

"holy people," 7:6 ; 14:2;

"a chosen seed," 4:37 ;

"the elect," 41:8 ,9; 43:10;

"the called of God," 48:12 .

And these titles were given to all the nation of Israel, including both good and bad.

"the children" or "sons of God," 14:1 ;

"holy people," 7:6 ; 14:2;

"a chosen seed," 4:37 ;

"the elect," 41:8 ,9; 43:10;

"the called of God," 48:12 .

Now the gospel having the most strict connexion with the Booksof the Old Testament, where these phrases frequently occur; and our Lord and his apostles being native Jews, and beginning to preach in the land of Israel, the language in which they preached would of course abound with the phrases of the Jewish nation.And hence it is easy to see why such of them as would not receive him were styled reprobated. For they no longer continued to be the people of God; whereas this and those other honourable titles were continued to all such Jews as embraced Christianity. And the same appellations which once belonged to the Jewish nation were now given to the gentile Christians also together with which they were invested with all the privileges of "the chosen people of God;" and nothing could cut them off from these but their own wilful apostasy.

It does not appear that even good men were ever termed God's electtill above two thousand years from the creation. God's electing or choosing the nation of Israel, and separating them from the other nations, who were sunk in idolatry and all wickedness, gave the first occasion to this sort of language. And as the separating the Christians from the Jews was a like event, no wonder it was expressed in like words and phrases only with this difference, the term elect was of old applied to all the members of the visible church; whereas in the New Testament it is applied only to the members of the invisible.

other creature;" "maketh intercession for us."Neither death - Terrible as it is to natural men; a violent death in particular, Romans 8:36 .Nor life - With all the affliction and distress it can bring, Romans 8:35 ; or a long, easy life; or all living men.Nor angels - Whether good (if it were possible they should attempt it) or bad, with all their wisdom and strength. Nor principalities, nor powers - Not even those of the highest rank, or the most eminent power. Nor things present - Which may befal us during our pilgrimage; or the whole world, till it passeth away. Nor things to come - Which may occur either when our time on earth is past, or when time itself is at an end, as the final judgment, the general conflagration, the everlasting fire. Nor height, nor depth - The former sentence respected the differences of times; this, the differences of places. How many great and various things are contained in these words, we do not, need not, cannot know yet. The height - In St. Paul's sublime style, is put for heaven. The depth - For the great abyss: that is, neither the heights, I will not say of walls, mountains, seas, but, of heaven itself, can move us; nor the abyss itself, the very thought of which might astonish the boldest creature. Nor any creature - Nothing beneath the Almighty; visible enemies he does not even deign to name. Shall be able - Either by force, Romans 8:35 ; or by any legal claim, Romans 8:33 , &c.To separate us from the love of God in Christ - Which will surely save, protect, deliver us who believe in, and through, and from, them all.