Gen. xii. 3. set forth, crucified among you? This only would learn of you,-received ye the spirit by the works the law, or by the hearing of faith ?—Are ye so fo ish? Having begun in the spirit, are ye now ma perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so ma things in vain, if it be yet in vain? He therefo who ministereth to you the spirit, and worketh mi cles among you, doeth he it by the works of the la or by the hearing of faith?-Even as Abraham lieved God, and it was accounted to him for righ ousness. Know ye, therefore, that they which a of faith, the same are the children of Abraham; a the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify t heathen through faith, preached before the Gosp unto Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations blessed." So then they which be of faith a blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as a of the works of the law are under the curse. Deut. xxvii. 26. is written,-"Cursed is every one who continue not in all things which are written in the book of t law, to do them." But that no man is justified t Habak.ii. 14.— the law in the sight of God is evident; for "the ju Heb. x. 38. shall live by faith."* And the law is not of faith Levit. xviii. 5. but "the man who doeth them, shall live in them. -Neh. ix. 29. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law -Ezek. xx. 11, being made a curse for us. For it is written,"Cursed is every one who hangeth on a tree :"† tha the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentile through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the pro mise of the Spirit through faith. 13, 21. Deut. xxi. 23. For 21 to 29.1-Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scrip *The just, by their righteous lives, shall place themselves in the state of those, who, as Christ tells us, (Luke xv. 7) "need no repentance, and who (Luke xv. 31) are ever with the Father, and partake in all which he hath. The just therefore need nothing but faith, and are justified by faith alone, having already established themselves in righteousness and good works. + It is to be remarked, that the literal rendering of the Hebrew words would be, He who is hanged is the curse of God." Christ, therefore, was literally made a curse for us. An argument to connect the new faith with the old law,-and to prove that the new faith abolishes all the distinctions which that law created or admitted, ar all are equal under the Gospel. ure hath concluded all under sin, that the promise V.1 to 6.*-Stand fast therefore in the liberty Obviously, an argument [connected with the preceding chapter] to deter Jewish Christians from relapsing into their former faith in the Mosaic law, by submitting to the distinctive ceremony of circumcision, after having been baptized into the faith of Christ. Here the Apostle closes one of his arguments on faith, with the strik ing conclusion, that they who do bad works "shall not inherit the kingdom" [without any allusion to their faith], and, in effect, that they who good works will be favored, for they "walk in the spirit." do ye would. But if ye be led of the spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law and they who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. EPHESIANS. II. 8. 9. 10.*-For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. PHILIPPIANS. III. 7. 8. 9.†-But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things; and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. * Part of an argument on the mysterious nature of the grace of God, beyond our understanding, and showing that salvation will come from the grace, or love, of God, through faith and good works, but that we can not rely on our works; which will be insufficient without faith and the divine grace or favor of God. + This is part of an argument against submitting to circumcision; and the Apostle pointedly alludes to his own personal history and example [v. 4, 5, 6] to enforce his injunctions. This is a strong corroboration of the fact, that all the arguments against works are directed solely against the deeds and ceremonies of the Mosaic law, and the Jewish traditions. COLOSSIANS. I. 21. 22. 23.*-And you who were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight; if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven; whereof I, Paul, am made a minister. HEBREWS. The main design of this whole Epistle appears to be, a contrast of the new faith with the obsolete works and ceremonies of the Jewish law, and to show that the old ceremonies and practices are abolished by the new covenant and the sacrifice of Christ. X. 23. 24. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful who promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. 38.-Now the just shall live by faith. Hab. ii. 4. · XI. 6.+-But without faith it is impossible to Galat. iii. 11. please him [God]. For he who cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him. 17.-Refers to the example of Abraham offering up Isaac. See James ii. 21. 22. from which it is obvious that works contributed with faith to Abraham's justification. * There is not here any separation of faith, as the means of salvation, from good works. The Apostle's design is to retain his Gentile converts, the Colossians, firmly in their new faith, and to his own ministry. He does not promise that they shall be saved by their faith, in spite of wicked works; but on the other hand, by the aid of good works. He says expressly, that they were formerly alienated by wicked works; and the obvious inference is, that these wicked works were now discontinued. To render that clear, he expressly commends their good works, (v. 4, 6, 8) and declares (v. 9, 10) that he prayed that they "might walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work." The whole of chapter xi. and the first two verses of xii. are argumentative exemplifications of the meaning of faith, showing it to be an entire confidence in the will of God, under such a revelation as he is pleased to make to us. JAMES. I. 5, 6.-If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he who wavereth, is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. II. 1 to 14.-Very eloquent and forcible arguments to good works, followed by these on faith; 14 to 26.*-What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; —notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body,—what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God;-thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man! that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect. And the Scripture was fulfilled Gen. xv. 6.-- which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was 2 Chron. xx. 7. imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was -Isai. xli. 8. called the friend of God."-Ye see how that by Rom. iii. 20.- works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Like1 Cor.xiii. 2,13. wise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent * Nothing can be more appropriate, strong and convincing, than the Apostle's illustrations and arguments. They are entirely conclusive and insurmountable. Faith and good works are needful; consequently the latter do aid in our salvation. The advocates for faith without works, extract parts of this chapter-single verses, or fragments, and then endeavor to argue away the effect of the whole. Many persons look no farther, and are satisfied. But let any unprejudiced mind read the whole extract here made, and the conclusion is irresistible; without looking at all those other auxiliary passages and arguments which are hereafter adduced, under the head of Works. |