(1) В¶ Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) (2) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: (3) Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, (4) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (5) To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
What a decisive testimony is here produced of Paul's commission and Apostleship? He did not run unsent. Neither did Paul receive his authority from any unauthorized to give it. Christ himself sent him; and God the Holy Ghost ordained him; and God the Father called him by his grace, verse 15. I beg the Reader to mark down, one by one, in the memorandums of his mind, what Paul here saith, on those most interesting points. First, he stiles himself an Apostle. Secondly, he shows his authority to the office. It was not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ. A most positive evidence to the Godhead of Christ. For if no man sent him, and yet Christ sent him; what can more fully prove Paul's firm persuasion, that Christ was, and is, God. And, thirdly, to show Paul's conviction of the oneness in the divine nature, as well as will and purpose in the divine Persons; he joins in the commission given him of his Apostleship, the authority of God the Father. And, fourthly; as none could properly be an Apostle, but such as could bear testimony to the resurrection of Christ from the dead (see Acts 1:21-22.) Paul having received confirmation, both of Christ's resurrection, and ascension, at his conversion, when Jesus called to him from Heaven; the Apostle introduceth the subject of Christ's, resurrection in this place, to show his qualification in that department also. Reader! you and I shall both do well, in often reviewing those evidences Paul here gives, to his Apostleship. It will help, through grace, to silence any and every objection, the carnal, and men untaught of God, bring to the writings of this great Apostle. Let Paul's character be but considered. Regenerated as he was, and then ordained by the Holy Ghost; Acts 13:1-5. and often blessed with the visions of God; (see Acts 18:9-10; Acts 18:9-10; 2 Corinthians 12:1, etc.) and the Lord's blessings over his ministry: yea, even at this hour, the continued testimonies the Lord bears to the word of his grace, by Paul's writings: of what avail ought the writings, or the preachings of any man, or men, to be considered, who plainly prove, that they were never regenerated themselves, nor ordained by the Holy Ghost to preach to others; and therefore, know not of the things which accompany salvation?. Let these things be well considered; and they must tend, under grace, effectually to silence all the objections of the carnal, to the distinguishing doctrines, Paul's ministry was intended, by the Holy Ghost, to establish!
I pass over what the Apostle saith of the brethren, which joined him in his salutation of the Churches of Galatia. The grand feature of Paul's ministry is his preaching Christ. And it is such, both the Writer and the Reader of this Poor Man's Commentary, ought to have always in view. The Reader will therefore pardon me, if I dwell but little, on everything I meet with in the Apostolic writings, of men, or things, which have not, immediately, or indirectly, a reference; to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the whole sum and substance of everything that is blessed. And the brethren of the Churches, yea, the Church herself, in all her glory, is only by so much made so, as she derives it from Christ. Reader! let you and I eye Him, as the one great object of every Chapter. And very sure we shall then be, to behold, at the same time, the Church's blessedness in Him; for she is always so in his view: and in him, will then be so in ours.
We must not pass away from this paragraph, before that we have first noticed, how sweetly Paul, upon every occasion, speaks of Jesus. Who gave himself for our sins, saith Paul. Yes! gave himself. It would have been an immense thing, had Christ given a world, or ten thousand worlds, for his Church. But to give himself, and that a sacrifice, for the sins of his people; this called up the more awakened astonishment of the Apostle. Hence that sweet prayer, for which he bent his knees continually, that the Church might be able to comprehend, somewhat of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Ephesians 3:14-19
And, let not the Reader overlook, how beautifully Paul blends the love of God the Son with the love of God the Father. For he immediately adds, according to the will of God our Father. Indeed, whoever reads attentively, the Scripture relations of the divine love, will discover, how blessedly the whole Persons of the Godhead have concurred, and cooperated, in the manifestation of love to the Church. In the office-characters, the glorious Persons have graciously assumed, to make known their joint love to the Church; the highly favored objects of this unspeakable mercy, are led, (when under divine teaching), to contemplate, with equal rapture, and delight; and to have their spirits going forth in equal adoration, and thanks, to the whole Three in One, for their unspeakable grace. How precious is the love of God the Father, in his having chosen the Church in Christ before the foundation of the world? Ephesians 1:4. How precious the love of God the Son, in having betrothed the Church unto himself forever? Hosea 2:19. And, how precious the love of God the Holy Ghost, in his quickening the Church by regeneration, when dead in trespasses and sins? Ephesians 2:1. How infinitely great, and equally blessed, are each of those acts, in the demonstration of the divine love! Had God the Father not chosen the Church in Christ; how would the betrothing of the Church by Christ have been accomplished? Had God the Son not betrothed the Church to himself; how would the Church have been redeemed from the ruins of the fall, in the Adam-nature, in which she was involved, in the present time-state of her being? And, had God the Holy Ghost not regenerated the souls of the redeemed by his quickening grace, how would the Church have ever known, or felt, the electing love of God the Father; or the betrothing, and redeeming love of God the Son? But now by each glorious Person having in Covenant-offices fulfilled the Covenant engagements made with each other, in relation to the Church, the whole Church is made everlastingly blessed in Christ; and hath now in time, and will have to all eternity, cause to bless Jehovah, in his threefold character of Person, with equal adoration, love, and praise, for those united tokens of divine favor. Oh! the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom, and knowledge of God! Well may every redeemed soul, conscious of these things, join the Apostle in his hymn of praise to Jehovah and which way well be supposed to include the whole Persons of the Godhead; To whom be glory, forever, and ever, Amen. To Him who gave himself! To Him who gave his Son! To Him who quickened the Church; be glory, forever, and ever. Amen. Reader! can you join in this hymn of praise.