bedience to magistrates, and becoming behaviour towards all,
are enforced from what believers were before conversion, and
what they are made, through Christ. (1-7) Good works to be done,
and useless disputes avoided. (8-11) Directions and
exhortations. (12-15)
Verses 1-7: Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but
confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not
enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but
to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but
to all men, though with wisdom, (Jam 3:13). And let this text
teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be churlish to the
worst, weakest, and most abject. The servants of sin have many
masters, their lusts hurry them different ways; pride commands
one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful,
deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners, that they
hate one another; and it is the duty and happiness of saints to
love one another. And we are delivered out of our miserable
condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God, the merit
and sufferings of Christ, and the working of his Spirit. God the
Father is God our Saviour. He is the fountain from which the
Holy Spirit flows, to teach, regenerate, and save his fallen
creatures; and this blessing comes to mankind through Christ.
The spring and rise of it, is the kindness and love of God to
man. Love and grace have, through the Spirit, great power to
change and turn the heart to God. Works must be in the saved,
but are not among the causes of their salvation. A new principle
of grace and holiness is wrought, which sways, and governs, and
makes the man a new creature. Most pretend they would have
heaven at last, yet they care not for holiness now; they would
have the end without the beginning. Here is the outward sign and
seal thereof in baptism, called therefore the washing of
regeneration. The work is inward and spiritual; this is
outwardly signified and sealed in this ordinance. Slight not
this outward sign and seal; yet rest not in the outward washing,
but look to the answer of a good conscience, without which the
outward washing will avail nothing. The worker therein is the
Spirit of God; it is the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Through him
we mortify sin, perform duty, walk in God's ways; all the
working of the Divine life in us, and the fruits of
righteousness without, are through this blessed and holy Spirit.
The Spirit and his saving gifts and graces, come through Christ,
as a Saviour, whose undertaking and work are to bring to grace
and glory. Justification, in the gospel sense, is the free
forgiveness of a sinner; accepting him as righteous through the
righteousness of Christ received by faith. God, in justifying a
sinner in the way of the gospel, is gracious to him, yet just to
himself and his law. As forgiveness is through a perfect
righteousness, and satisfaction is made to justice by Christ, it
cannot be merited by the sinner himself. Eternal life is set
before us in the promise; the Spirit works faith in us, and hope
of that life; faith and hope bring it near, and fill with joy in
expectation of it.
Verses 8-11: When the grace of God towards mankind has been declared,
the necessity of good works is pressed. Those who believe in
God, must make it their care to maintain good works, to seek
opportunities for doing them, being influenced by love and
gratitude. Trifling, foolish questions must be avoided, and
subtle distinctions and vain inquiries; nor should people be
eager after novelties, but love sound doctrine which tends most
to edifying. Though we may now think some sins light and little,
if the Lord awaken the conscience, we shall feel even the
smallest sin heavy upon our souls.
Verses 12-15: Christianity is not a fruitless profession; and its
professors must be filled with the fruits of righteousness,
which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. They
must be doing good, as well as keeping away from evil. Let
"ours" follow some honest labour and employment, to provide for
themselves and their families. Christianity obliges all to seek
some honest work and calling, and therein to abide with God. The
apostle concludes with expressions of kind regard and fervent
prayer. Grace be with you all; the love and favour of God, with
the fruits and effects thereof, according to need; and the
increase and feeling of them more and more in your souls. This
is the apostle's wish and prayer, showing his affection to them,
and desire for their good, and would be a means of obtaining for
them, and bringing down on them, the thing requested. Grace is
the chief thing to be wished and prayed for, with respect to
ourselves or others; it is "all good."
bedience to magistrates, and becoming behaviour towards all,
are enforced from what believers were before conversion, and
what they are made, through Christ. (1-7) Good works to be done,
and useless disputes avoided. (8-11) Directions and
exhortations. (12-15)