(6) В¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (10) В¶ For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (11) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I beg the Reader to observe, how Paul hath worded his expression, on God's call of his people: Him that called you (he saith) into the grace of Christ. Not Paul! not ministers, not angels! There is nothing of human strength, or even angelic power, noticed; no, not even as instruments. We cannot be too jealous over our own hearts, how we look to men as instruments, lest in them we overlook the Lord. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord. Zechariah 4:6. It is blessed to keep unmixed, everything from the hallowed work, which is wholly the Lord's. If God was so jealous in the old Church, that He would have the Altar made of earth; (for the earth is the Lord's, Psalms 24:1.) and if of stone, which is also the Lord's, not hewn stone; for the very lifting of the tool upon it, polluted it: Exodus 20:25. can we suppose, that in the new Church, under the Gospel, the Lord is less concerned for his honor, to give his glory to another, and his praise to graven images? Isaiah 42:8. And is it not bordering upon this, when men talk of spiritual fathers, and begetting children to God, by their ministry?
Paul's surprise is strongly expressed, in noticing the backsliding of the Galatians. That it is backsliding, which he meant, by saying they were removed from Him that called them is very clear; because Him that called them, (meaning the Lord), must have made it an effectual call, and including regeneration. So that, though they were removed, as to certain points of faith, (and as it should seem by what follows in this Epistle on the method of justification), yet were they still real, and not nominal followers of the Lord. It is highly proper to notice this, for the comfort of the Church in all ages. Backsliding departures, and the like, very painful, and distressing as they are in themselves, and reproachful to God's people; yet they are consistent with the state of a truly regenerated child of God, The Church is described, in a cold, sleepy state, when Jesus called her; and even pleading excuses for not going to him, though she knew his voice. Song of Solomon 5:2-3. Oh! how certain it is, that we carry about with us a body of sin, and death, which often drags down the soul! Romans 7:18, etc.
I never can say enough to the Reader, in begging him to notice what Paul saith, of another gospel. Not that the Apostle allowed it to be called another gospel, for he immediately corrected himself, and said, it was not another; meaning, it was no gospel at all. And this was then, and is now, and always must be the case. For whatever is set up, different from the faith once delivered to the saints, ceaseth to be the Gospel, by so much, as there is a departure, from that standard. The pure Gospel of Christ, reveals Jehovah, in his threefold character, as raising up a Church, for the divine glory in Christ: and this, before all worlds. And the whole Persons of the Godhead are represented in Scripture, as engaged in Covenant settlements, to make this Church everlastingly blessed, in Christ, and to all eternity. As such the Church had a Being given her in Christ, from the moment the Son of God stood up, at the call of the Father. And for the present time-state of the Church, foreviewed in the Adam-fall of nature, provision was made for her recovery, in a way, which should illustrate the divine glory, and give the Church a blessedness in Christ, to secure her from all future possibility of evil. In this plan, founded in infinite wisdom, and resulting from infinite love, Christ became the One, and the only One Ordinance of Jehovah; for salvation is in no other. And consequently, justification by Christ alone, was the true Gospel, preached to the Galatians. This the Apostle had set forth, and it was called the Gospel. And well might it be called so. For it proclaimed pardon, mercy, and peace, through the sole labors, sufferings, and death, of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It appears, however, that through some means, of preachers, or others, the Galatians had been tempted to remove from this faith, unto what for the moment the Apostle called, though he allowed not the expression, another gospel. They still preached Christ as the Head, and thereby deceived the unwary; but they did not preach Christ as the whole of salvation. To the Jews (as should seem by what Paul said in another part of this Epistle, Galatians 5:2-4.) they taught, that it was necessary to add circumcision to a faith in Christ; and to the Gentiles they contended, that the works of the law were essential to salvation. (Galatians 4:21.)
Reader! let us pause over the state of the Galatian Church, for a moment; and see, whether there have not been Churches, as well as in Galatia, tinctured with this leaven. Yea, it may be well to enquire, whether the Church to which we belong, is altogether free from it. Galatians 5:9. Paul's account of himself, and of the freeness, and fullness of salvation, may serve as a standard, to form our conclusions, of what in his view was, and is, truly Gospel. This is a faithful saying, (saith Paul), and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15. And worthy of all acceptation it is, (for all stand in need of it), if we have nothing to do but accept it, as a free gift, from free grace. But if it be clogged with doings, and workings of ours; if, with the merits, and blood-shedding of the Savior, there must be the minglings of the labors and merits of the sinner; if we are saved only in part, and we are to make up the deficiency in ourselves; if Christ hath only brought my poor soul into a salvable state, by procuring me favor to my sincere endeavors; and God's acceptance of me after all, will depend upon my tears, and repentance, and faith: this is no gospel, no glad tidings of good things, neither joy to all people; for sure I am, the whole Church of God, would be as certainly lost, in coming short of these things, as though Christ had not died; neither given his soul an offering for sin!
Reader! I beseech you to pause, again and again, over the important subject; for it is important. To talk of the sincerity of the heart in a man's best endeavors, when God, the searcher of hearts, declares, that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; and that none but Himself can know it: Jeremiah 17:9. To talk of suspending the grace of God, and the merits of Christ in redemption, upon the endeavors of man; leaving the event at a peradventure, whether God's grace, or man's will, shall triumph: these things are not simply rendering matters uncertain; but totally making the whole blessings of the Gospel ineffectual. And, to call this another gospel, is a false name, as the Apostle saith; for it is no gospel at all. And, though the advocates of such doctrine, put Christ at the head of it, and seem to pay him the compliment, of calling him Savior, while robbing him of his glory, in not allowing him to be wholly so; yet such a religion is neither law nor Gospel, nor can it lay claim to either. It is not law, for the law pronounceth a curse upon everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. See Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10; James 2:10. And it is not gospel, for the Gospel saith, that by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. And very certain it is, according to Scripture testimony, that as to law, all the world is become guilty before God. Romans 3:19, And, but for Christ's interposition, in redeeming from the curse of the law, every mouth must be stopped. For, as the Apostle in this same Epistle saith; if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21
The Reader ought not to wonder therefore, that Paul speaks so pointedly, against the awfulness of preaching such a doctrine. If an angel from Heaven were to preach it, let him be accursed, saith the Apostle. Paul doth not mean by this expression, to suppose such a thing possible; and everyone knows that the thing is impossible. For when the birth of Christ was made known on earth, Angels of Heaven, ambitious to be the first preachers of the wonderful event, posted down with the glad tidings. So that if an host of angels were to come again, they would only preach the same. But, saith Paul, if you could suppose it possible, for an angel to come from Heaven, and preach any other gospel than that I have preached, let him be accursed. And the Apostle repeats it, that no one might suppose he spake it from the warmth of the moment, or from inadvertency. But, as Paul very properly adds, it is not I, that seek to please, or to persuade men, but it is God!
It were earnestly to be wished, that Paul's faithfulness and zeal, were more followed than it is. When we look round, and behold, in the present awful day of the Church, what a mixture, of law and gospel, grace and works, make up for the most part, what is called evangelical preaching; how much the creature is cried up, and the Person, glory, and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, put down; how men are taught to live upon themselves, and their attainments, instead of living upon the Lord Jesus Christ; we have cause to tremble for the eventual consequences. And, although it would be highly unbecoming, and improper, in any, unless inspired as Paul was, to pronounce the Anathema he pronounced; (see Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:22.) yet this methinks I would do: wheresoever, and whensoever I hear the free will of man extolled, and the grace of God little regarded, I would do as holy men of old did, rent my garment, and pluck off my hair, in token of indignation, for the foul ingratitude offered to my God. I would look up to God, and say in language like his, who fell down astonied at the mingling of the holy seed, in direct defiance of God's law: O my God! I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the Heaven. Ezra 9:1 throughout.