Gal. v. 5. We, through the Spirit, iv ait for the hope of right- eousness by faith.
THE object of St. Paul, in this epistle is, to main- tain and establish the doctrine of justification by faith alone, without the deeds of the law. This doctrine had been assailed and controverted by Judaizing teachers, who had gained such influence in the Church, as to draw multitudes after them, and to intimidate even the Apostles themselves. We are told that Peter, through fear of the circumcision, dissembled, and drew Barnabas also, his friend and fellow-labourer, into a participation of his crime. St. Paul, with becoming zeal, set himself to stem the tide. He felt for the honour of God, whose Gospel was thus per- verted ; and for the welfare of immortal souls, whose salvation was endangered ; and, without partiality, he rebuked Peter in the face of the whole Church ; shewing that all mixture of the Law with the Gospel was a fatal error ; and that all who would be saved must seek salvation wholly and exclusively by faith in Christ.
Having concluded his argument, he enforces the truth he had established ; and declares, that all who were under the influence of the Spirit of God would wait for the hope of righteousness, not by works, but by faith alone.
The words before us will lead me to shew,
I. To what every true Christian looks for justification before God —
The context makes known to us the Apostle's views —
[The energy of the Apostle on this subject is such as must, on no account, be overlooked. He declares, in oppo- sition to the Judaizing teachers, that the blending of the Law with the Gospel, in any respect, would make void all that Christ has done and suffered for us ; that it would bring us back altogether to the covenant of works, which promised