Galatians 2

First. To me to live is Christ; [in non-Latin alphabet]. We must understand Paul of a spiritual life. To me to live is Christ, that is, Christ is my life; so Greg. Nyssen. Or thus, my life is made up of Christ. As a wicked man's life is made up of sin; so Paul's life was made up…

1. There is life. Faith is principium vivens, it is the vital artery of the soul (Galatians 2:20). The life that I live in the flesh, is by the faith of the Son of God.

The saints of old had it (1 John 2:3): We know that we know him. 2 Timothy 1:12: I know whom I have believed; here was Sensus Fidei, the reflex act of faith; and (Galatians 2:20) Christ has loved me. Here was faith flourishing into assurance.

Galatians 2:20. The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of GOD. The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us.

But he would not break a commandment to gratify any. When God's glory lay at stake, who more resolute than Paul (Galatians 2:5)? The three children were humble; they gave the king his title of honor; but they were not sordidly timorous.

Which shows there are two sorts of corruptions, one of the flesh, the other of the spirit; when we grieve for, and combat with spiritual sin, (as being the root of all gross sins) now the kingdom of grace increases, and spreads its territories in the soul. 4. Then the kingdom of…

Faith has a two-fold act, an adhering and an applying. By the first act we go over to Christ, by the second act we bring Christ over to us (Galatians 2:20). This is the great grace we must set to work (Acts 10:43).

It remains therefore, that we consider, (1.) how this is revealed and affirmed in the Scripture: and (2.) what is the true meaning of the expressions and propositions wherein it is revealed and affirmed; for in them, as in sundry others, we affirm, that the satisfaction pleaded…

(2.) In choosing sinners to a participation of the fruits of his love (Ephesians 1:3, 4, 5, 6). The love of the Son, is fixed signally on his actual giving himself to die for us (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 1:5). What balances these persons have got, to weigh thes…

But on the other hand, this is a notion that is very well agreeing with common reason, that another did such a thing for this man, such an one paid a debt for him, &c. that though the action terminated on the agent, yet the virtue of it extended to the benefit of another. And th…

Fifthly, In desiring or making use of the counsel and advice of one another, in such cases of doubt and difficulty, whether doctrinal, or practical, as may arise in any of them (Acts 15:2, 6). And from hence it follows, that in case any Church either by errour in doctrine, or pr…

What else may be said for the further clearing of this truth? Sometimes this phrase, to be justified by faith, is expounded in the words immediately following, to be nothing else but to be justified by Christ (Galatians 2:16, 17). What are the parts of justification?

We must walk by faith, and not by sight, says the Apostle, 2. Corinthians 5.7. So says he of himself, Galatians 2.20. I live by the faith in the Son of God: he says not, he hopes to die in that faith, but he lives by it.

In the explicating of it, I must first speak what it is that justifies us. First, we do believe, that in our effectual calling, God draws us to union with Christ (John 6:44), shedding abroad his Spirit in our hearts (Romans 5:5), and working faith in us to receive Christ (John 1…

So (1 Thessalonians 4:8; Jude 8). Sometimes it respects things (Galatians 2:21; 1 Timothy 5:12). But commonly it respects a law, and is applied to them who are absolutely under the power of the law, or such in whose power the law is.

And during this season it was of necessity that they should be kept under a Law that made nothing perfect. For as our Apostle speaketh, if they which are of the Law be heirs, faith is made void (Romans 4:14); and if righteousness come by the Law, then is Christ dead in vain (Gal…

1. The unspeakable love of Christ in offering himself and his own blood for us. See (Galatians 2:20; Revelation 1:5; 1 John 3:16; Ephesians 5:26, 27). There being no other way whereby our sins might be purged and expiated (chap. 10:5, 6, 7), out of his infinite love and grace he…

Besides that it is contrary to the whole declaration of himself, that he will not acquit the guilty, that he will not justify the wicked, nor accept the ungodly, it has an absolute inconsistency with the especial righteousness of his nature, and which he exercises as the supreme…

He willingly, and voluntarily, out of his own abundant goodness and love took upon him to make atonement for us, wherein he was our surety. And accordingly this undertaking is ascribed to that love which he exercised herein (Galatians 2:12; 1 John 3:16; Revelation 1:5). And ther…

But mercy and compassion, love and tenderness are constantly ascribed to him as our High Priest (see Chapter 4:15; Chapter 5:1, 2). So the great exercise of his sacerdotal office in laying down his life for us, and expiating our sins by his blood, is still peculiarly ascribed to…

The Apostle Paul had abundantly taught (as appears in divers of his Epistles) that man is justified by faith alone, without works: See (Romans 3:28) Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law. Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a [illegible]…

Our Gospel came, not in word only, but in power. The law must come in power to kill us, that we may live to God (Galatians 2:19). And so must the Gospel come in power too, or else we shall have no saving benefit by it.

Oh then esteem the righteous as most worthy, because of their intrinsic holiness, whereby they outshine their neighbors. The righteous carry Christ about them (Galatians 2:20). Christ lives in me.

The Scripture would not have you mistake him that said so: men drink less freely of a suspected fountain. Partly because this would make the Epistle the more welcome: James was of great credit and repute, reckoned by Paul among the pillars (Galatians 2:9). From where observe, 1.…

For the first — by the privilege of authority I mean a preeminence in regard of estimation, whereby he was had in reverence above the rest of the twelve Apostles. For Cephas with James and John are called pillars and seemed to be great (Galatians 2:6, 9). Again he had the preemi…

Reason 1. The faith whereby we live, is that faith whereby we are justified: but the faith whereby we live spiritually, is a particular faith whereby we apply Christ to ourselves, as Paul says (Galatians 2:20): I live, that is, spiritually, by the faith of the Son of God: which…

Use it to carry you through afflictions, changes, troubles, trials. Use it to the increase of all grace, and live by it (Galatians 2:20). And God grant, as in (1 Peter 1:7): that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes; though it be tried with…

From where is the spring of your life? Is Christ the feeder and maintainer of your life by faith (Galatians 2:20)? Faith is the believer's daily work: he is often putting it forth and acting it upon Christ.

If old acquaintance and lusts would draw us away, we answer that we are dead, that we live no more to these, that now we have not our own wills. Christ lives in us and works in us (Galatians 2:20): It is not that live, but Christ lives in me. The same mind will be in us that was…

And as it is in 2 Corinthians 5:15: No man is to live to himself, etc. The great design of our being delivered from the law (namely, as a cursing, condemning law) is that we may live to God (Galatians 2:19): I am dead to the law, that I might live to God. This the unrenewed hear…

In this journey and travel for the propagation of the Gospel, he seems in all places to have been followed almost at the heels, by the professing Pharisees, who imposed the necessity of the observation of Mosaical Ceremonies upon his new converts; for instantly upon his return t…

But concerning these things, since they are particular matters and therefore do not immediately pertain to our present purpose, this is not the place to speak. XIV. Now from the year of the world 2083, this illustrious exposition of theology began; and it lasted, as the apostle…

Love never that faith that hungers not after the Word, that is supposed to be lively without being ever fed by the Word, that cannot claim either its rise and original, or its growth from the Word; I will not say from this or that word in particular, or at this or that time read…

The point might have also use for confirmation, but we do not follow these. 2. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, that is our griefs and sorrows who are his elect, his people, his seed, who flee to him for refuge, and are justified by his knowledge, or by f…

For as the Apostle says (2 Corinthians 6): Behold now is the day of salvation, behold now is the accepted time; and (Hebrews 2:2): If the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we…

It's that which cheers and delights them most, that Christ has stepped in and engaged to do that for them, which neither themselves nor any other person or thing could do. The life (says the Apostle, Galatians 2) that I now live in the flesh, is by the faith of the Son of God, w…

Who has made you to differ, and what have you, but what you have received? It sets you well therefore to be humble, and to put a price upon Christ, as the Apostle does on the same consideration (Galatians 2:20). When he says, Who loved me and gave himself for me — that makes Him…

And (Chapter 4:5): To him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness; which place demonstrates this, that an ungodly person, taking hold by faith of Christ's righteousness, may be, and is justified, and absolved, and fr…

(Ephesians 2:8) By grace are you saved, through faith. See more fully to this purpose, (Galatians 2:16) where the Apostle designedly as it were, sets himself to confirm this truth; for speaking of the way, how sinners come to be justified, and as it were entering in the debate,…

Though none of these acts can well be said to be before, or after the other in respect of time. For clearing of this a little more, consider that this resting may be looked on, either passively, or actively; passively, in respect of the believer's acquiescing in Christ, and assu…

We may confirm this either as to the positive part, that by believing a sinner is justified, or as to the negative part, that there is no other way possible whereby a sinner can be justified, but by believing; so that this great effect follows from a sensible sinner's taking hol…

If Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory, but not before God, for what says the Scriptures? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness, now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt, but to him that works not, but…

3. We seek only the evidence of justification in our holy walking; as the Scripture does, (1 Peter 1:24; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:18; 1 John 3:14). Countless places say, these that live to Christ, and are new creatures must be in Christ, and justified, (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Cor…

(1 Corinthians 15:10) By the grace of God, I am that I am. (Galatians 2:20) I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, etc. There is a great deceitfulness in our heart, in the matter of performed conditions, so soon as we have performed a…

It is true, the word, the works of God, are not the principal object of faith, nor objectum quod; faith rests only on God, and the Lord Jesus (John 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:8). Your faith toward God (1 Peter 1:21; Deuteronomy 1:32; John 3:12; Genesis 15:6; Daniel 6:23; Romans 4:3…

2. It's a blasphemous comparison to say the gracious good will of God to choose men to glory, and the highest and most matchless love of Christ (John 3:16; John 15:13; Ephesians 5:25-27; Acts 20:28; Titus 3:3-4) is but a common motive to induce us to pray for all men, and such b…

Secondly, we are not to rest in graces or duties; they all cannot satisfy our own consciences, much less God's justice. If righteousness could have come by these, then Christ had died in vain, as Galatians 2 last. What a dishonor were it to Christ that they should share any of t…

And now faith being such a shield, it is of mighty force, and is able to repulse all the fiery darts of the Devil, and all the rest of the enemies of their salvation, so that the servants of God, that know what use they have of their faith, they know they have need of the growth…

Doctrine. A faithful believer is not to hide his eyes from observing the sins and failings of his brethren. If any man see his brother sin a sin, he must observe him, else he cannot see him (Galatians 2:14). When I saw that they walked not uprightly, according to the truth of th…

How then? By the faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). It is one of the most important points that concerns our Christian practice, and therefore I pray you consider it; the life of Christianity is not a life of wisdom and graces, but of faith: if you would have Christ live…