83
18. *E\euQzpuOevres, being made free) It will be of use to have this connected view of the plan of the apostle, up to the point which it has now reached : —
^ I. Sin, .... Ch. iii. 9.
II. The perception [the coming to “the knowledge”]’ of sin from the law ; the sense of wrath ; internal [spiritual] death , .... iii. 20.
f III. The revelation of the righteousness of God in Christ, by the Gospel, directed against sin, and yet in behalf of the sinner, .... iii. 21.
IV. The centre of Paul's system, Faith; embracing that revelation without reservation, and striving after, and q ] s succeeding in its effort to reach right- eousness itself, . . . iii. 22.
V. The remission of sins, and justification, by which God the judge, views sin committed by man, as if it had not been committed, and righteousness lost, as if had been preserved [re- L tained], .... iii. 24.
VI. The gift of the Holy Spirit ; love Divine shed abroad in the heart ; the L inner new life , . . . v. 5, vi. 4.
VH. The free service of righteousness in
good works, . . . vi. 12.
From this view, it is evident why Paul, in proving justifica- tion by faith alone, against those who are in doubt or error, makes frequent mention of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and of the other things, which follow as the consequences of justifica- tion. As righteousness flows from faith ; adoption [sonship] accompanies righteousness ; the gift of the Holy Spirit, with the cry, A bba , Father , and with newness of life, follows upon adop- tion ; but faith and righteousness are not in themselves clearly perceived by sense ; whereas the gift of the Holy Ghost pro-
84