The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 89

enormity ie made manifest to all, Christ laid down hie life, then, in a. noble cause. Surely to take away ein, to remove from human hearts their heavy burdens, to bestow on men peace and deliverance from all fear, was a worthy object in self-sacrifice. We stand before tbe cross, therefore, believing that the sacrifice upon it is of infinite value and efficacy. He was no martyr by mistake as he died upon the tree, but the most glorious of all heroes. IV. CHRIST'S AIU IN SELl!'-SAORill'IOE WAS OUR DELIVERANCE FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD. (Ver. 4.) The world is the totality of tendencies which oppose them- selves to God. To love such a world is incompatible with love to God the Father (1 John ii. 15). It is, moreover, made up of "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John ii.16). Now, it is to this world that the ritualist falls a prey. This was the danger of the Galatians. The revival of rites and ceremonies, which had been fulfilled and therefore done awa.y in Christ, pa.ndered to the lust of the eyes and to the pride of life. Hence Paul proclaims at the outset that one purpose of the gospel of self-sacrifice is to deliver its recipients from the power of this present evil world which is constantly trying to bring us into bondage. The religion of Christ is freedom. He means to deliver us from bondage, It is our own fault if we a.re not delivered. V. THE FINAL END 01!' THE GOSPEL IS ALWAYS THE GLORY 01!' THE FATHER. (Ver. 5.) Hence the doxology with which the apostolic desire closes. It is with doxologies that the dispensation of grace must end. Heaven itself is the concentration of the doxologies which have been gathering upon earth ; the full concert after the terrestrial rehearsals. And it is here that the safety of the whole dispensation may be seen; for if the glory of some imperfect being were contemplated. his designs wonld of necessity run contrary in many cases to the real good of others. But God the Father is so perfect that his glory always consists with the real good of all his creatures. Doubtless some of his creatures will not believe this, and will insist on suspecting and bating his designs. In consequence they must be exposed to his righteous indignation. But this is quite compatible with the fact that the Divine glory and the real good of all are meant to harmonize. Happy will it be for us if we join in the rehearsals of his glory here, and a.re promoted to the chorus full-orbed and like the sound of many. waters above. But even should we insist on discord, our own discomfort alone shall be secured; discords can, we know, be so wedded to harmony as to swell and not diminish the effect of the full orchestra, And God will secure his glory even in our poor despite.-R. M. E, Vers. 6-10.-Paul's intolerance of any other gospel. After the usual apostolic greeting, Paul proceeds, not to congratulate or compliment the Galatians in any way, but to reprimand them for turning away from the gospel to ritualism. Their idea of salvation through becoming Jews was subversive of the gospel of grace, and so the apostle shows himself intolerant of the false doctrine which was so mischievous. So sure is he of his position that he does not hesitate to denounce with the curse of God any, be they men or angels, who would preach a different gospel from that gospel of Christ's self-sacrifice which he preached. Moreover, if they imagined that to be popular be would trifle with principle, he gave them to understand that he would never, to pro- pitiate public opinion, violate in the least degree his obligation as the slave of Christ. I. IT IS MARVELLOUS HOW ATTRACTIVE RITUALISM IS TO FICKLE ru:nms. (Ver. 6.) Now, by ritualism we mean a plan of salvation by rites and ceremonies. The prin?iple is the same whether the rites and ceremonies are Jewish or medireval. It is a substitute for the gospel of grace. Now, Paul marvelled that these Celts in Asia so speedil_y turned away from the gospel of grace to a gospel of ritual. He wondered at their :fickleness. And yet, when we consider the sensationalism which underlies every ritualistic system, we can understand the hold it has upon those constitutionally fickle. Whatever is showy, palpable, and helpful to self-esteem and pride secures the homa.g& of shallow minds. But the sad aspect of this tendency is that it removes souls fro~ God. Every rite and ceremony which is interposed as essential bet~een ~an and God• creates a sense of distance between those whom the gospel would bnng mgh. Instead of ritualism tending to intensify communion with God, it can only inten~ify the ,uperstitious feeling which puts ■oule at a distance from him. 54 THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. [en. r. i-24.