Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? A great delusion is upon the heart of man as to his salvation. His ways are perverse. He does not love the law of God; nay, his mind is opposed to it, and yet he sets up to be its advocate. When he understands the spirituality and severity of the law, he reckons it to be a sore burden; and yet, when the gospel is preached, and set forth as the gift of sovereign grace, and he is bidden to accept it by an act of faith, he professes great concern about the law, lest it should be made void by the freeness of grace. He takes the broken pieces of the two tables of the law, and hurls them at the cross. He will resort to any pretence to oppose the way of salvation appointed by God. The reason is, that man is not only poor, but proud; not only guilty, but conceited. He will not humble himself to be saved upon terms of Divine charity. Rather than believe God, he will accept the proud falsehoods of his own heart, which delude him into the flattering hope that he may merit eternal life. Against this error the text opposes itself. St. Paul points out to the Galatians that they were bound to admit, each one for himself, that they received the Holy Spirit by faith, and by no other means. I. AN ARGUMENT OF EXPERIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD. 1. See the testimony to this in the early history of the Church (Acts 1.- 8.). 2. In your own experience. (a) Enlightenment. (b) Peace. (c) Sanctification. (d) Communion with God. (e) Assurance. These are all received by "the hearing of faith." They cannot be obtained in any other way but that. II. AN ARGUMENT DERIVED FROM OBSERVATION FOR THE USE OF SEEKERS. Honesty, generosity, righteousness — these have not justified, cannot justify. Why not abandon this vain method, and try the Lord's appointed way "the hearing of faith"? 1. Personal hearing. Each for himself. 2. Hearing of the gospel. The faith that saves does not come by just hearing whatever comes first; it only comes by hearing the testimony of the Spirit to the appointed Saviour. 3. Attentive hearing. 4. The hearing of faith. Accepting the gospel as God's message, and depending upon it fully and wholly. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? |
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