Praise God—Sunday is almost here. In order to help us get ready for the church’s Worship Services, here are some really good words from the great 20th century theologian/exegete John Murray. In the quote below, John is ex-plicating Rom. 5:5. This all comes from his amazing, “The Epistle To the Ro-mans” Commentary. . . .
“ ‘The love of God’ is not our love to God but God’s love to us. If we should suppose the former, the foundation of the assurance and of the security which this verse [Rom. 5:5] bespeaks would be destroyed. What is it that gives sol-idity to this hope and guarantees its validity? It is the love of God to believers; a love that allows no fluctuation or reverse. Hence the hope which it promises is as irreversible as the love itself. This love of God must, however, come within our apprehension and appropriation if it is to be the ground of assur-ance and evoke this confident glorying (Rom. 5:2). This is the significance of the shedding abroad in our hearts. The expression ‘shed abroad’ indicates the abundant diffusion of this love. The hearts of believers are regarded as being suffused with the love of God; it controls and captivates their hearts. And the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of God and of Christ . . . is the Person who sheds abroad this love; and He is the seal of its efficacy and genuine-ness. . . . "
