n earnest exhortation to stand fast in the liberty of the
gospel. (1-12) To take heed of indulging a sinful temper.
(13-15) And to walk in the Spirit, and not to fulfil the lusts
of the flesh: the works of both are described. (16-26)
Verses 1-6: Christ will not be the Saviour of any who will not own and
rely upon him as their only Saviour. Let us take heed to the
warnings and persuasions of the apostle to stedfastness in the
doctrine and liberty of the gospel. All true Christians, being
taught by the Holy Spirit, wait for eternal life, the reward of
righteousness, and the object of their hope, as the gift of God
by faith in Christ; and not for the sake of their own works. The
Jewish convert might observe the ceremonies or assert his
liberty, the Gentile might disregard them or might attend to
them, provided he did not depend upon them. No outward
privileges or profession will avail to acceptance with God,
without sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. True faith is a working
grace; it works by love to God, and to our brethren. May we be
of the number of those who, through the Spirit, wait for the
hope of righteousness by faith. The danger of old was not in
things of no consequence in themselves, as many forms and
observances now are. But without faith working by love, all else
is worthless, and compared with it other things are of small
value.
Verses 7-12: The life of a Christian is a race, wherein he must run,
and hold on, if he would obtain the prize. It is not enough that
we profess Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to
that profession. Many who set out fairly in religion, are
hindered in their progress, or turn out of the way. It concerns
those who begin to turn out of the way, or to tire in it,
seriously to inquire what hinders them. The opinion or
persuasion, ver. (8), was, no doubt, that of mixing the works of
the law with faith in Christ in justification. The apostle
leaves them to judge whence it must arise, but sufficiently
shows that it could be owing to none but Satan. It is dangerous
for Christian churches to encourage those who follow, but
especially who spread, destructive errors. And in reproving sin
and error, we should always distinguish between the leaders and
the led. The Jews were offended, because Christ was preached as
the only salvation for sinners. If Paul and others would have
admitted that the observance of the law of Moses was to be
joined with faith in Christ, as necessary to salvation, then
believers might have avoided many of the sufferings they
underwent. The first beginnings of such leaven should be
opposed. And assuredly those who persist in disturbing the
church of Christ must bear their judgment.
Verses 13-15: The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, (1Ti
6:3), and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin,
that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and
subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law is fulfilled in
one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice
one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of
love should deny his grace, that the Spirit of love should
depart, and the evil spirit, who seeks their destruction, should
prevail? Happy would it be, if Christians, instead of biting and
devouring one another on account of different opinions, would
set themselves against sin in themselves, and in the places
where they live.
Verses 16-26: If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of
the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the
stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in
us, it shall not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in
a conflict, in which they earnestly desire that grace may obtain
full and speedy victory. And those who desire thus to give
themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the
law as a covenant of works, nor exposed to its awful curse.
Their hatred of sin, and desires after holiness, show that they
have a part in the salvation of the gospel. The works of the
flesh are many and manifest. And these sins will shut men out of
heaven. Yet what numbers, calling themselves Christians, live in
these, and say they hope for heaven! The fruits of the Spirit,
or of the renewed nature, which we are to do, are named. And as
the apostle had chiefly named works of the flesh, not only
hurtful to men themselves, but tending to make them so to one
another, so here he chiefly notices the fruits of the Spirit,
which tend to make Christians agreeable one to another, as well
as to make them happy. The fruits of the Spirit plainly show,
that such are led by the Spirit. By describing the works of the
flesh and fruits of the Spirit, we are told what to avoid and
oppose, and what we are to cherish and cultivate; and this is
the sincere care and endeavour of all real Christians. Sin does
not now reign in their mortal bodies, so that they obey it, (Ro
6:12), for they seek to destroy it. Christ never will own those
who yield themselves up to be the servants of sin. And it is not
enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well.
Our conversation will always be answerable to the principle
which guides and governs us, (Ro 8:5). We must set ourselves in
earnest to mortify the deeds of the body, and to walk in newness
of life. Not being desirous of vain-glory, or unduly wishing for
the esteem and applause of men, not provoking or envying one
another, but seeking to bring forth more abundantly those good
fruits, which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory
of God.
n earnest exhortation to stand fast in the liberty of the
gospel. (1-12) To take heed of indulging a sinful temper.
(13-15) And to walk in the Spirit, and not to fulfil the lusts
of the flesh: the works of both are described. (16-26)