1764 ROMANS IV THE POWER OF FAITH 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him: 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Chapter 5 1 Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, 2 and joy in our hope, 8 that since we were reconciled by his blood, when we were enemies, 10 we shall much more be saved being reconciled. 12 As sin and death came by Adam, 17 so much more righteousness and life by Jesus Christ. 20 Where sin abounded, grace did superabound. HEREFORE being justified by faith, we have peace with 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. The Final Pilgrimage BY GEORG PAPPERITZ, THE GERMAN ARTIST, PAINTED 1883. + "And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.”—Mark, 15, 22. E VEN in the face of that last outcry, Pilate did not wholly yield to the Jewish priests. He was impressed, awed, by this conflict between such deep malignity on the one side, such patient endurance on the other. Again he questioned Jesus, but was told with gentle rebuke that all Rome's power was only such as God saw fit to give it. Again Pilate pleaded with the Jews, until their crafty leaders threatened to accuse him also, if he refused to punish this rebel against Rome. Poor, easy-minded man of intellect rather than of force, Pilate yielded then. "Shall I crucify your king?" he asked the rabble. And the priests answered for them with false lip-loyalty, "We have no king but Cæsar." “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away." The aim of the priesthood was accomplished. The plot of Caiaphas was successful. One man was to die that many might be saved. It was not yet noon on Friday, "Good Friday" to be called forever after, when Jesus set forth at last upon his final earthly pilgrimage, from Pilate's house to the execution place, from the splendid Roman palace to Golgotha, the barren hill of death. A Roman guard surrounded Him; a hooting mob followed Him; upon His bruised and beaten shoulders He dragged the heavy cross on which He was to make the final Expiation. |