Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. I think, the sum and substance of my text amounts simply to this: that the attempt to add anything to Christ's perfect work in the salvation of a ruined sinner, is an entire rejection of Christ, and makes the man an infidel. I. First of all, let us look a little to the EFFECT. Now what effect has been produced upon your hearts by the preaching of the gospel? I will tell you three effects produced upon the hearts of many. In the first place, the preaching of Christ has produced the effect of pardon sealed upon the conscience — but not where justification is looked for from the law; in the second place, where Christ is preached and embraced by faith, reconciliation to all God's method of saving sinners, and to all God's dispensations, is wrought in the heart; and thirdly, the effect — and the prime effect — included in the covenant of grace, and registered in heaven to be carried into execution, is a vital oneness of soul with Jesus. II. A few words now respecting the APOSTASY. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are" seeking to be "justified by the law." I pray you, mark what an awful extent of apostasy this one short sentence proves: that all those, who are cherishing vain hopes of justification before God, in whole or in part, from anything that the creature does, or anything proposed to the creature, have "no effect" from Christ; they are rejecting Christ. I would have you think seriously upon this. You know, we do not now dwell upon the term ,, circumcision," nor yet the keeping of the ceremonial law: only we insist, that these are phrases, which set forth the folly and rebellion of attempting to put anything of the creature along with the perfect work of Christ. One single condition, if it be but an act of obedience, if it be but a word, "if it be but a thought — one single condition or contingency left with man, seals his damnation for ever. If the preaching of the Word of God does not give man a salvation without a contingency, it gives him none at all. III. A word or two now, relative TO THE APOSTLE'S TESTIMONY AGAINST THIS APOSTASY. Ah! I fear there are many such professors in these days; who receive the doctrines of grace as a whole in theory, but by and by abandon them for the first theory that seems more pleasing to their fleshly natures. "Fallen from grace" marks, then, a rejection of the doctrine once embraced or received — the doctrine once admitted to be correct. I think there is another class that might be included in this; and that is, the great class who hold the doctrines of grace while living in habits of sin. (J. Irons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. |
    |