As if he had said "Since Christ by his death had purchased our freedom from the yoke and bondage of the ceremonial law, let us resolutely stand fast in this our Christian liberty, without subjecting ourselves again to circumcision, and the observation of the Mosaic rites." Here note, 1. The servile... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Behold,. Paul, your apostle, do positively declare, and expressly tell you, the Galatians, and all other Christians converted by me to Christianity, that IF YE BE CIRCUMCISED, that is, join circumcision with the gospel as. thing necessary to justification and salvation, Christ's undertakin... [ Continue Reading ]
He that urges the necessity of circumcision, IS. DEBTOR TO THE LAW, in. double respect, namely, in regard of duty, and in regard of penalty. First, he IS. DEBTOR in regard of duty; because he that thinks himself bound to keep the whole ceremonial law, yea, and the whole moral law too, without defic... [ Continue Reading ]
Here another argument is used, to show that believers are dead to the ceremonial law, and are by no means to expect justification by it: WHOSOEVER OF YOU says the apostle IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW, that is, whosoever seeks and endeavours to be so justified, (for in reality none can in that manner be j... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "We Christians, we believers, through the Spirit which we have received, and not by legal observances, do hope both for such. righteousness as will denominate and constitute us righteous in the sight of God, and also for the crown of righteousness in heaven, which now we wait and hope for h... [ Continue Reading ]
IN CHRIST JESUS, that is, in the economy of Christ Jesus, under the gospel dispensation, in our state of Christianity, since Christ's manifestation in the flesh, NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION AVAILETH ANY THING with God, as to our acceptance with him, or reward from him: but the qualificat... [ Continue Reading ]
YE DID RUN WELL; that is, in the race of Christianity; you set out well at first, and received the gospel in the plainness and simplicity of it, without any mixture of Jewish ceremonies: What hindered you? who stopt you? who drove you back from your belief of, and obedience to, the truth of the gosp... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "this judaizing opinion and practice of yours, this persuasion of the necessity of your being circumcised, and obeying the law of Moses; this new doctrine, so contrary to the spirit of the gospel, and the design of Christianity; was never taught you either by God or mysel... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The apostle's holy confidence, grounded upon charity; that THROUGH THE LORD, that is, through the Lord's assisting his endeavours, and through the Lord's blessing upon their serious consideration of what he had written to them they would be reclaimed from their errors, and brought t... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle, in these words, signifies to us, that some of the judaizing teachers had suggested to the Galatians, as if he himself had preached elsewhere the doctrine of circumcision, and also practised the duty of circumcision, (by circumcising Timothy,) which here he opposes. "True, he did circumc... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle's meaning is, "That it were very fit, were it seasonable, that those which had thus seduced them, should be excommunicated and and cut off from the church's communion. Where note, 1. How implicity and interpretatively St. Paul compares these seducers to rotten members, which are and oug... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having finished the former part of the chapter, which contains an exhortation to STAND FAST IN THAT LIBERTY WHICH CHRIST HAD PURCHASED FOR THEM; he now enters upon the second part of it, namely, to caution them against abusing of their Christian liberty, and by no means to apprehend or s... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle enforces the foregoing exhortation to love and serve one another, with. forcible argument or motive, namely, because love is the fulfilling of the law; that is, 1. it is the fulfilling of that part of the law which relates to our neighbour; all the moral law respecting our neighbou... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle, to enforce the foregoing exhortation to mutual love, urges here the dangerous effects which their animosities and strifes, with their controversies and contentions, would most certainly produce. By biting one another, says he, you will destroy and consume one another; where it deserves.... [ Continue Reading ]
"To prevent the fore-mentioned evils, as if the apostle had said,. advise and exhort you to walk had said,. advise and exhort you to walk in the Spirit, that is, according to the guidance and direction, according to the influence and motion, of the Holy Spirit speaking to you in his word, and then y... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are brought in as. special reason why Christians should walk in the Spirit, that is, after the motions and guidance of God's Holy Spirit: because otherwise the flesh will quickly prevail over them; for the flesh is continually lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, if ye be under the guidance and government of the Holy Spirit of God, and that renewing principle of grace which he had produced in you, you are no longer under the law; that is, not under the moral law as. covenant of life for our justification, though under it as an eternal role of living... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having in the foregoing verses, exhorted the Galatians to walk in the Spirit, to be led and guided by the Spirit, and by no means to obey or fulfil the lusts of the flesh; he comes in these and the following verses, to discover how they might, with certainty and assurance, know whether t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That the apostle, who called SIN the work of the flesh, doth here call GRACE the fruit of the Spirit. Sin is. work of our own; it proceeds wholly from ourselves, our own depraved minds and wills, without the least co-operation of the holy Spirit; he can neither be the author nor abe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT ARE CHRIST'S; that is, they that are truly his followers, and sincere disciples, they HAVE CRUCIFIED, that is, subdued, and in some degree mortified and put to death, their fleshly corruptions, their carnal lusts, and sinful affections and passions. They did, by baptism, engage themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, that is, if the Spirit lives in us, if the holy Spirit of grace be the principle of our life, LET US WALK IN THE SPIRIT: that is, let us live and act under the conduct and guidance, under the direction and influence, of the Holy Spirit; let us do the works of the Spirit, le... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle closes this excellent chapter with an exhortation to the Galatians to avoid all pride and ambition, all vain-glorious boastings and ostentation, not provoking one another by their contentions, not envying either the gifts or graces of God bestowed on others. Learn hence, 1. That there i... [ Continue Reading ]