SERMON UPON GALATIANS V. 5.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness hy faith. — Gal. v. 5.
In the context the apostle persuadeth the Galatians to stand fast in the liberty of the gospel, and not to be entangled again in the bon- dage of legal ceremonies, as if they were necessary to justification or acceptance with God, He is earnest in the case, for the glory of his master and the good of souls was concerned ; and therefore useth divers motives. (1.) They lose all benefit by Christ, ver. 2. (2.) They are debtors to the whole law, ver. 3. (3.) They are fallen from grace, ver. 4. And now, in the fourth place, the consent of the christian gospel church, who, upon justification by faith, expect remission of sins and eternal life. Their judgment is the more to be esteemed because they are taught by the Spirit of God to renounce the legal covenant, and expect their acceptance with God by faith only : ' For we,' &c.
In these words observe — (1.) The end, scope, and blessedness of a christian, in the word 'Hope.' (2.) The firm ground of it, 'The righteousness of faith.' (3.) The carriage of christians, 'We wait.' (4.) The inward moving cause of waiting for this hope in this way, * Through the Spirit.' They are taught by him, inclined by him, so to do.
1. The blessedness of a christian is implied in the word ' Hope.' For hope is taken two ways in scripture — for the thing hoped for, and for the affection or act of him that hopeth. Here it is taken in the first sense, for the thing hoped for. As also Titus ii. 13, 'Looking for the blessed hope.' So Col. i. 5, ' For the hope which is laid up for us in heaven.'
2. The ground and foundation of this hope, ' The righteousness of faith.' What it is I will show you by-and-by. Only here it is opposed, partly to the covenant of works, which could not give life ; partly to the legal observances ; for it presently followeth, ' Neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision,' &c. But by no means is it opposed to evangelical obedience ; for the whole new testament obedience is comprised in this term, ' The righteousness of faith ; ' as appeareth by the apostle's explication in the next verse, ' But faith, which works by love.'
3. The duty of a christian, ' We wait.' De jure, we ought ; de facto, we do. All true christians wait for the mercy of God and life
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everlasting. And he calleth it waiting, because a believer hath not so much in possession as in expectation. And this waiting is not a devout sloth, but implieth diligence in the use of all means whereby we may obtain this hope.
4. The inward efficient cause, ' Through the Spirit.' We are taught by the Spirit, inclined by the Spirit so to do.
[1.] Taught ; for the doctrine is mystical : flesh and blood revealeth it not to us, but the Holy Ghost, Mat. xvi. 17.
[2.] Inclined to this spiritual course of life, wherein we obtain this blessed hope, by the same Spirit ; for this holy and humble way is contrary to the interest of the flesh. And we are told afterward, Gal. V. 25, that we live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit.
So that in effect here is all Christianity abridged. Our blessed- ness, the way to it ; our help, or how we are brought to walk in that way.
Doct That by the Spirit all true christians are inclined to pursue after the hope built upon the righteousness of faith.
1. What is the righteousness of faith ?
2. What is the hope built upon it ?
3. What is the interest and work of the Spirit in bringing us to wait for this hope ?
I. What is the righteousness of faith ? We told you before it is opposed either to the law of works or the ceremonial observances of the law of Moses. But more particularly it may be determined — (1.) Either with respect to the object of faith ; or (2.) To the act or grace of faith itself; (3.) With respect to the rule and warrant of faith, which is the gospel or new covenant.
1. This righteousness of faith may be considered with respect to the object of faith ; and the proper and principal object of faith is Jesus Christ and his merits ; and so the righteousness of faith is the obedience and death of Christ, which, because it is apprehended by faith, it is sometimes called the righteousness of Christ, and sometimes the righteousness of faith : Phil. iii. 9, ' And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is by the law, but that which is by the faith of Christ, even the righteousness which is of God by faith.' This certainly is the ground of our acceptance with God, and therefore the bottom and foundation of all our hope : Rom. v. 19, ' By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous ; ' that is, by Christ's merit and obedience; and 2 Cor. v. 21, 'He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' This is it we rely upon, as the only meritorious cause of whatever benefit we obtain by the new covenant.