AS PERTAINING TO THE FLESH; in the way of the outward ordinances and works of law. These words should be connected with the following, HATH FOUND; that is, found as an advantage or cause of boasting. The answer, which the apostle omits, is, He hath found nothing. And this he proceeds to show.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH WHEREOF TO GLORY; if his works are the meritorious ground of his justification, he is saved of debt, not of grace. He might glory in his works as the ground of his salvation, and take to himself the praise. BUT NOT BEFORE GOD; that is, but he has not before God any thing whereof to glory. I... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WORKETH; so as to be saved on the ground of his own merit. THE REWARD; his salvation. NOT OF GRACE, BUT OF DEBT; if, in obedience to law, a person is justified, his salvation is merited, not bestowed as a gratuitous favor.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WORKETH NOT; who does not depend on his works for justification. THE UNGODLY; sinners who believe in Christ. HIS FAITH; is the means of his justification and salvation, through the atonement and righteousness of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID; PSALMS 32:1-2. IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS; accepts and treats as righteous, though he is a sinner. Saints under the Old Testament were saved in the same way as saints under the New: not on account of their own works, but on account of Christ, and through faith in him.... [ Continue Reading ]
SINS ARE COVERED; not punished, but forgiven.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT IMPUTE SIN; not charge it upon him, or inflict the suffering threatened against those who commit it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS BLESSEDNESS; the blessedness of having sin forgiven, being accepted of God, and rewarded as righteous. THE CIRCUMCISION; those only who are circumcised. UNCIRCUMCISION; upon those also who are not circumcised.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT IN CIRCUMCISION; not after he was circumcised. IN UNCIRCUMCISION; before he was circumcised.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SEAL OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE FAITH; a token, or visible sign, that by means of the faith which he exercised before he was circumcised, he was justified and accepted with God. THE FATHER; the model or pattern as to the way of acceptance with God, for all who should believe, though not descenda... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FATHER OF CIRCUMCISION; of his natural descendants who were circumcised, provided they exercised faith in Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEIR OF THE WORLD; GENESIS 12:2-3; Genesis 15:5-6; GENESIS 17:4-8; GALATIANS 3:6-9; Galatians 3:14; Galatians 3:16-18; Galatians 3:29. NOT-THROUGH THE LAW; not on the ground of obedience to the law, or through the merit of human works, but through the righteousness bestowed upon him by God through f... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WHICH ARE OF THE LAW; those who seek justification by their own works. BE HEIRS; if they are by their own merits entitled to the blessings which God promised to Abraham. FAITH IS MADE VOID; is not needful. THE PROMISE; which God made to faith. OF NONE EFFECT; useless. To connect this with t... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE LAW WORKETH WRATH; that is, this is its effect upon fallen sinful men. It lays God's authority upon their consciences, without furnishing the grace needful to enable them to overcome their corrupt passions. Instead of making them holy, therefore, and fit for heaven, it works wrath in two... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IT IS OF FAITH; the promise of justification and salvation made to Abraham and his seed, that Jehovah would be a God to him and his seed, Genesis 17:2-7, and referred to in Galatians 3:29, was not made on condition of perfect obedience to law, or on the ground of human merit, but of grace... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN; GENESIS 17:5. BEFORE HIM; in his sight, and according to his promise. QUICKENETH; giveth life to. THINGS WHICH BE NOT; which have not taken place. Though they may appear to men impossible, he speaks of them as if they were already accomplished, and thus shows their certainty.... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST HOPE; against all human expectation, or apparent possibility, IN HOPE; that the things promised would certainly take place. THE FATHER; an illustrious pattern of faith, for the imitation of all who should believe.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEAD-DEADNESS; as to what was promised, they being at a time of life when it would not be according to the ordinary course of nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE STAGGERED NOT; he did not let his advanced age, or that of his wife, prevent him from believing that they should have a son and receive the blessings which God had promised. GIVING GLORY TO GOD; by the manifestation of strong faith in him. We should never doubt the truth of what God has declared... [ Continue Reading ]
IT; his unwavering confidence in God. WAS IMPUTED TO HIM; as the means of his being accepted of God and graciously treated as righteous.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT; that his faith was imputed to him for righteousness. What is written in the Scriptures was written for the instruction of men, not only of that age but of all ages. They are given by inspiration, and are all profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. The... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL BE IMPUTED; if we possess and manifest faith similar to that of Abraham, our faith shall be imputed to us for righteousness, as his was to him. This account of Abraham was transmitted to us to induce us, by exercising similar faith, to become his spiritual seed, and heirs to the eternal ble... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFENCES; delivered to death on account of our sins. FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION; in which is implied the resurrection of our bodies, and our admission, complete in soul and body, to the enjoyment of eternal life in heaven. Both the death of Christ and his resurrection were necessar... [ Continue Reading ]