The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 183

II. THE INEX0USABLENEss OF TIIEIR CONDUOT, "Before whose eyes Jesus Christ was evident.ly set forth in you, crucified." The apostle refers to his own clear exhibi- tion of gospel truth in Galatia, and especially to the individualizing distinctness with which the Redeemer was set before his converts as the only Hope of salvation. It was not only an exhibition, like a placard exhibited before their eyes, but it had its answering impression "within them." How, then, with such a view of Christ's person and work, could they have opened their minds to such destructive errors? III. THE TRUE THEME OF THE GOSPEL-CHillST CRU0IFIED. Naturalistic writers give us a Christ exalted far above the average altitude of men, but a man nevertheless • rationalistic writers give us a Christ as a leader of thought or as an example of self: sacri6ce and sympathy. "We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling-block, to the Greeks foolishness; but to them that are called, . . . Christ the Wisdom of God and the_ Po~er of God." The death o~ Ch_rist, as expressing the whole mystery of redemption, involved the whole matter In dispute. There could be no compatibility between Christ's cross and Jewish legalism. We can, therefore, well understand why the apostle resolved to know nothing in his preaching but Christ, and him crucified.. Vers. 2--5.-The apostle's first argument in this controversy. I. APPLICATION 011 THE TEST OF EXPERIENCE. "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?" He begins by a practical test, which can be easily settled by experience and history. He refers to the time of awakening grace and :first love. 'l'hey had "received the Spirit." 1. He concedeS that they were Christians, though they were neither faithful, nor stable, nor sound. " The Holy Spirit is the characteristic posse5sion of believers." " If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." The reference may have been both to ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit. 2. He concedes that they were conscious of the possession of the Spirit. They had no occasion to ask him what he meant by their receiving the Spirit. Christian people ought to possess, not only a good hope through grace, but "a full assurance of hope." I!. THE RECEPTION OF THE SPIBIT POSSIBLE, NOT ON THE PRINCIPLE OF LAW, BUT OF GRACE. Though the Spirit was given under the Law, it was never given on a principle of Law, but it was under the gospel dispensation that it was given in Pente- costal power and abundance. No man ever yet received the Spirit, as the Author and Sustainer of the new life, by "the works of the Law," or by a course of obedience specially designed to work out salvation. Conspicuously, as to historic fact and inward experience, the Spirit was given to men in connection with the first promulgation of the "word of faith" at Pentecost. The Spirit was given " by the hearing of fait.h." "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Yet the hearing that brings faiin with it is only possible through the Spirit's power, for many hear who do not believe, and therefore receive not the Spirit. There is no inconsistency here. We need the Spirit to enable us to believe, but the hearing is instrumentally necessary to our fuller reception of the Spirit. The apostle here, however, seems primarily to refer to the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, of which Peter spoke when he said that, after his preaching the Word," the Holy Ghost fell upon them as upon us at the begin- ning" (.Acts xL 15). Ill. THE DONATION OF THE SPIBIT IB NOT ON PRINCIPLE OF LAW, BUT OF GRACIP "He that ministereth to you the Spirit and worketb miracles in you, doeth he it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?" He first spoke of the reception, now he speaks of the donation of the Spirit : he :first referred to a particular point of time namely, their conversion; he now speaks of the principle ot' .God's continued actio'n. It is God who I!llllisters the Spirit--not the apostle-whether to work miracles of power or miracles of grace. But he does it, not on the principle of legal obedience, but on the principle of grace working through the instrumentality of the preached gospel He is "the God of grace," who sent his Son," full of grace and truth," to pour grace into iunumerable hearts. IV. THE FOLLY OF ATTEMl'TING TO BEGIN ON ONE PRIN0IPLE AND TO END ON ABO'l'Jl&B. "Aie ye so foolish? • having begun with the Spirit, are ye now being completed with the flesh?" This is folly, for it is to reverse the natural order of things. The opposites here are not Christianity and Judaism, but the essential and vital prillciple of each. If we begin our life with ~he Spirit1 it inus~ rc11ch i~s c,tt, tn. 1-29.] TlIE EPIS'fLE TO THE GALATIANS. 149