Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v05900

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 11KB | 199 lines

05900
 * The apostle threatens obstinate offenders. (1-6) He prays for
 their reformation. (7-10) And ends the epistle with a salutation
 and blessing. (11-14)

 #1-6 Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with
 sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come,
 and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent.
 Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless
 man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So
 the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to
 the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of
 God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as
 gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove
 themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ,
 he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not
 disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in
 them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit,
 by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own
 souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers.
 Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our
 faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.

05906
 #7-10 The most desirable thing we can ask of God, for ourselves
 and our friends, is to be kept from sin, that we and they may
 not do evil. We have far more need to pray that we may not do
 evil, than that we may not suffer evil. The apostle not only
 desired that they might be kept from sin, but also that they
 might grow in grace, and increase in holiness. We are earnestly
 to pray to God for those we caution, that they may cease to do
 evil, and learn to do well; and we should be glad for others to
 be strong in the grace of Christ, though it may be the means of
 showing our own weakness. let us also pray that we may be
 enabled to make a proper use of all our talents.

05910
 #11-14 Here are several good exhortations. God is the Author of
 peace and Lover of concord; he hath loved us, and is willing to
 be at peace with us. And let it be our constant aim so to walk,
 that separation from our friends may be only for a time, and
 that we may meet in that happy world where parting will be
 unknown. He wishes that they may partake all the benefits which
 Christ of his free grace and favour has purchased; the Father
 out of his free love has purposed; and the Holy Ghost applies
 and bestows.
05914
 ** The churches in Galatia were formed partly of converted Jews,
 and partly of Gentile converts, as was generally the case. St.
 Paul asserts his apostolic character and the doctrines he
 taught, that he might confirm the Galatian churches in the faith
 of Christ, especially with respect to the important point of
 justification by faith alone. Thus the subject is mainly the
 same as that which is discussed in the epistle to the Romans,
 that is, justification by faith alone. In this epistle, however,
 attention is particularly directed to the point, that men are
 justified by faith without the works of the law of Moses. Of the
 importance of the doctrines prominently set forth in this
 epistle, Luther thus speaks: "We have to fear as the greatest
 and nearest danger, lest Satan take from us this doctrine of
 faith, and bring into the church again the doctrine of works and
 of men's traditions. Wherefore it is very necessary that this
 doctrine be kept in continual practice and public exercise, both
 of reading and hearing. If this doctrine be lost, then is also
 the doctrine of truth, life and salvation, lost and gone."

 * The apostle Paul asserts his apostolic character against such
 as lessened it. (1-5) He reproves the Galatians for revolting
 from the gospel of Christ under the influence of evil teachers.
 (6-9) He proves the Divine authority of his doctrine and
 mission; and declares what he was before his conversion and
 calling. (10-14) And how he proceeded after it. (15-24)

 #1-5 St. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ; he was expressly
 appointed by him, consequently by God the Father, who is one
 with him in respect of his Divine nature, and who appointed
 Christ as Mediator. Grace, includes God's good-will towards us,
 and his good work upon us; and peace, all that inward comfort,
 or outward prosperity, which is really needful for us. They come
 from God the Father, as the Fountain, through Jesus Christ. But
 observe, first grace, and then peace; there can be no true peace
 without grace. Christ gave himself for our sins, to make
 atonement for us: this the justice of God required, and to this
 he freely submitted. Here is to be observed the infinite
 greatness of the price bestowed, and then it will appear
 plainly, that the power of sin is so great, that it could by no
 means be put away except the Son of God be given for it. He that
 considers these things well, understands that sin is a thing the
 most horrible that can be expressed; which ought to move us, and
 make us afraid indeed. Especially mark well the words, "for our
 sins." For here our weak nature starts back, and would first be
 made worthy by her own works. It would bring him that is whole,
 and not him that has need of a physician. Not only to redeem us
 from the wrath of God, and the curse of the law; but also to
 recover us from wicked practices and customs, to which we are
 naturally enslaved. But it is in vain for those who are not
 delivered from this present evil world by the sanctification of
 the Spirit, to expect that they are freed from its condemnation
 by the blood of Jesus.

05919
 #6-9 Those who would establish any other way to heaven than what
 the gospel of Christ reveals, will find themselves wretchedly
 mistaken. The apostle presses upon the Galatians a due sense of
 their guilt in forsaking the gospel way of justification; yet he
 reproves with tenderness, and represents them as drawn into it
 by the arts of some that troubled them. In reproving others, we
 should be faithful, and yet endeavour to restore them in the
 spirit of meekness. Some would set up the works of the law in
 the place of Christ's righteousness, and thus they corrupted
 Christianity. The apostle solemnly denounces, as accursed, every
 one who attempts to lay so false a foundation. All other gospels
 than that of the grace of Christ, whether more flattering to
 self-righteous pride, or more favourable to worldly lusts, are
 devices of Satan. And while we declare that to reject the moral
 law as a rule of life, tends to dishonour Christ, and destroy
 true religion, we must also declare, that all dependence for
 justification on good works, whether real or supposed, is as
 fatal to those who persist in it. While we are zealous for good
 works, let us be careful not to put them in the place of
 Christ's righteousness, and not to advance any thing which may
 betray others into so dreadful a delusion.

05923
 #10-14 In preaching the gospel, the apostle sought to bring
 persons to the obedience, not of men, but of God. But Paul would
 not attempt to alter the doctrine of Christ, either to gain
 their favour, or to avoid their fury. In so important a matter
 we must not fear the frowns of men, nor seek their favour, by
 using words of men's wisdom. Concerning the manner wherein he
 received the gospel, he had it by revelation from Heaven. He was
 not led to Christianity, as many are, merely by education.

05928
 #15-24 St. Paul was wonderfully brought to the knowledge and
 faith of Christ. All who are savingly converted, are called by
 the grace of God; their conversion is wrought by his power and
 grace working in them. It will but little avail us to have
 Christ revealed to us, if he is not also revealed in us. He
 instantly prepared to obey, without hesitating as to his worldly
 interest, credit, ease, or life itself. And what matter of
 thanksgiving and joy is it to the churches of Christ, when they
 hear of such instances to the praise of the glory of his grace,
 whether they have ever seen them or not! They glorify God for
 his power and mercy in saving such persons, and for all the
 service to his people and cause that is done, and may be further
 expected from them.
05938
 * The apostle declares his being owned as an apostle of the
 Gentiles. (1-10) He had publicly opposed Peter for judaizing.
 (11-14) And from thence he enters upon the doctrine of
 justification by faith in Christ, without the works of the law.
 (15-21)

 #1-10 Observe the apostle's faithfulness in giving a full
 account of the doctrine he had preached among the Gentiles, and
 was still resolved to preach, that of Christianity, free from
 all mixture of Judaism. This doctrine would be ungrateful to
 many, yet he was not afraid to own it. His care was, lest the
 success of his past labours should be lessened, or his future
 usefulness be hindered. While we simply depend upon God for
 success to our labours, we should use every proper caution to
 remove mistakes, and against opposers. There are things which
 may lawfully be complied with, yet, when they cannot be done
 without betraying the truth, they ought to be refused. We must
 not give place to any conduct, whereby the truth of the gospel
 would be reflected upon. Though Paul conversed with the other
 apostles, yet he did not receive any addition to his knowledge,
 or authority, from them. Perceiving the grace given to him, they
 gave unto him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, whereby
 they acknowledged that he was designed to the honour and office
 of an apostle as well as themselves. They agreed that these two
 should go to the heathen, while they continued to preach to the
 Jews; judging it agreeable to the mind of Christ, so to divide
 their work. Here we learn that the gospel is not ours, but
 God's; and that men are but the keepers of it; for this we are
 to praise God. The apostle showed his charitable disposition,
 and how ready he was to own the Jewish converts as brethren,
 though many would scarcely allow the like favour to the
 converted Gentiles; but mere difference of opinion was no reason
 to him why he should not help them. Herein is a pattern of
 Christian charity, which we should extend to all the disciples
 of Christ.

05948
 #11-14 Notwithstanding Peter's character, yet, when Paul saw him
 acting so as to hurt the truth of the gospel and the peace of
 the church, he was not afraid to reprove him. When he saw that
 Peter and the others did not live up to that principle which the
 gospel taught, and which they professed, namely, That by the
 death of Christ the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was
 taken down, and the observance of the law of Moses was no longer
 in force; as Peter's offence was public, he publicly reproved
 him. There is a very great difference between the prudence of
 St. Paul, who bore with, and used for a time, the ceremonies of
 the law as not sinful, and the timid conduct of St. Peter, who,
 by withdrawing from the Gentiles, led others to think that these
 ceremonies were necessary.