Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

"

[ocr errors]

the fifth verse, he distinguishes between walking after the flesh, and minding the things of the flesh. The expression, "who walk not after the flesh," is similar to that which occurs, Acts xxi. 21, saying, "that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs." im lo 10119 bnIn further confirmation of the interpreta tion here given of walking not according to the flesh, it may be observed that in the sense thus ascribed to it, the word flesh is employed in the beginning of the fourth chapter of this Epistle Flesh, in that place cannot, it is evident, signify immoral conduct, for that Abraham was justified by wicked works never could be sups posed. It must there signify works moral or ceremonial, as is proved by the rest of that chapter. dgn to

In the Epistle to the Galatians, the terms flesh and spirit are likewise used in this acceptation. "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh ?" Gal. iii. 3. Having begun your Christian course by receiving the doctrine of the new covenant,

namely, justification by the righteousness of Christ, are ye seeking to be made perfect by legal wobservances, or works of any kind PtIn this passage, the word flesh cannot be taken for wicked works, any more than ins the fourth

chapter of the Romans, just quoted. It must be understood in the sense of working for life, or self-justification, in opposition to the way of salvation according to the Gospel. The Apostle's main object in the whole of that Epistle, is to reclaim the Galatian churches from the error of mixing ceremonial observances or any works of law with the faith of Christ, and thus walking according to the flesh, and not according to the spirit. "Behold, I Paul say anto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from (the doctrine of) grace. For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." This reasoning ap plies to all works of law, of whatever description, as clearly appears by the third chapter of the Epistle.

"In the same manner, the terms flesh and s 1 spi rit are employed, Phil. iii. 3, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." In the sequel, Paul furnishes a practical commentary on these words, by referring to his own conduct, as having for merly walked according to the flesh, resting

in

external privileges, and observances, and obe dience to the law; but afterwards as renouncing all of these, and relying solely on "the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

According, then, to the above signification of the word flesh, as employed in the fourth chapter of this Epistle, and of the word spirit, denoting the new covenant, 2 Cor. iii. 6, in which sense, too, it occurs in the following verse of the chapter bes fore us, this clause," who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit," indicates the conduct of those who are not walking according to the old covenant,-seeking justification by the works of law; but who attain it by faith in Him who is the Lord the Spirit.-2 Cor. iii. 17. The same idea appears to be expressed here as in the preceding chapter, where the Apostle reminds believers that they are delivered from the law under which, while in the flesh, they were held, that they should serve in newness of Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. This is consistent with the whole of the previous train of the Apostle's reasoning, in which, as has already been noticed, he has been asserting the freedom of believers from the law, and their justification by the righteousness of Christ through faith, in opposition to all self-justifying efforts or obedience of their own. They who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, are no

longer seeking justification by works of law, but are brought to act on gospel and spiritual principles. They live in the Spirit, and they also walk in the Spirit.

2.- For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death,

́ This verse, as is evident by the particle for, with which it commences, stands connected with the preceding, and assigns the reason why there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. They are delivered from the curse of the broken law. Many, by the phrase "law of the Spirit of life," understand the Holy Spirit to be intended, as the author of sanctification; and by "the law of sin and death," the corrupt principle or prevailing power of sin in the soul, as in chap. vii. 21, 23, 25. But these explanations do not suit the context. The main proposition contained in the preceding verse is, that to them who are in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation. But why is there no condemnation? Is it because they are sanctified? Nos but because they have been freed from the law and its curse, as the Apostle had fully shown in the preceding chapter. Besides, it is not true that believers are yet delivered from the law of sin in their members. This would contradict what had just before been said of the Christian's. internal warfare, and of his deliverance from it

being future, ch. vii. 24, as well as his constant experience. Nor do the above explanations accord with the verse that follows, in which the word law is evidently taken in the same sense as in the verse before us, of which it is explanatory where it means the moral law. The law of the Spirit of life, then, signifies the Gospel or new covenant, and the law of sin and death the moral law.

[ocr errors]

Law of the Spirit of life. The Gospel is called a law, because as a law has authority and binds to obedience, so the Gospel bears the stamp of the divine authority, to which it is our duty to submit.-Rom. x. 3. "Out of Zion shall go forth the law," meaning the Gospel, ❝ and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." to Isa. ii. 3. It is the law of the Spirit of life, as being ministered by the Spirit. It is called the spirit, in opposition to the letter, and is the spirit that giveth life, opposed to the letter, or law, that killeth.-2 Cor. iii. 6, 8. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."-John, vi. 63. The Gospel is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, denoting that it is so in and from him as its author. "The Lord is that Spirit," 2 Cor. iii. 17, who communicates life to those who had lost it.

[ocr errors]
« VorigeDoorgaan »