John Wesley

Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?

“Have ye suffered - Both from the zealous Jews and from the heathens. So many things - For adhering to the gospel. In vain - So as to lose all the blessings which ye might have obtained, by enduring to the end.”

Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

“Know then that they who are partakers of his faith, these, and these only, are the sons of Abraham, and therefore heirs of the promises made to him.”

He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the…

“That we - Who believe, whether Jews or gentiles. Might receive the promise of the Spirit - Which includes all the other promises. Through faith - Not by works; for faith looks wholly to the promise.”

Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

“I speak after the manner of men - I illustrate this by a familiar instance, taken from the practice of men.”

What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

“And this I say - What I mean is this. The covenant which was before confirmed of God - By the promise itself, by the repetition of it, and by a solemn oath, concerning the blessing all nations.”

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

“And again - This is a new argument. The former was drawn from the time, this from the nature, of the transaction.”

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred.

“Was added - To the promise. Because of transgressions - Probably, the yoke of the ceremonial law was inflicted as a punishment for the national sin of idolatry, Exod.”

A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.

“Now the mediator is not a mediator of one - There must be two parties, or there can be no mediator between them; but God who made the free promise to Abraham is only one of the parties.”

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from…

“They are well consistent. But yet the law cannot give life, as the promise doth. If there had been a law which could have given life - Which could have entitled a sinner to life, God would have spared his own Son, and righteousness, or…”

But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

“But, on the contrary, the scripture wherein that law is written hath concluded all under sin - Hath shut them up together, (so the word properly signifies,) as in a prison, under sentence of death, to the end that all being cut off from expecting…”

Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

“Came, we were kept - As in close custody. Under the law - The Mosaic dispensation. Shut up unto the faith which was to be revealed - Reserved and prepared for the gospel dispensation.”

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ - It was designed to train us up for Christ. And this it did both by its commands, which showed the need we had of his atonement; and its ceremonies, which all pointed us to him.”

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

“For as many of you as have testified your faith by being baptized in the name of Christ, have put on Christ - Have received him as your righteousness, and are therefore sons of God through him.”

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek - That is, there is no difference between them; they are equally accepted through faith.”

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

“But when the fulness of the time - Appointed by the Father, ver. 2. Was come, God sent forth - From his own bosom. His Son, miraculously made of the substance of a woman - A virgin, without the concurrence of a man.”

And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

“And because ye - Gentiles who believe, are also thus made his adult sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts likewise, crying, Abba, Father - Enabling you to call upon God both with the confidence, and the tempers, of…”

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

“Indeed then when ye knew not God, ye served them that by nature - That is, in reality. Are no gods - And so were under a far worse bondage than even that of the Jews.”

These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

“Which things are an allegory - An allegory is a figurative speech, wherein one thing is expressed, and another intended. For those two sons are types of the two covenants.”

But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

“But what saith the scripture - Showing the consequence of this. Cast out the bondwoman and her son - Who mocked Isaac.”

Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

“Are not children of the bondwoman - Have nothing to do with the servile Mosaic dispensation. But of the free - Being free from the curse and the bond of that law, and from the power of sin and Satan.”

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

“Therefore Christ is become of no effect to you - Who seek to be justified by the law. Ye are fallen from grace - Ye renounce the new covenant. Ye disclaim the benefit of this gracious dispensation.”

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

“Nor uncircumcision - With the most exact heathen morality. Availeth anything - Toward present justification or eternal salvation. But faith - Alone; even that faith which worketh by love - All inward and outward holiness.”

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

“Ye will be no otherwise minded - Than I am, and ye were. But he that troubleth you - It seems to have been one person chiefly who endeavoured to seduce them. Shall bear his judgment - A heavy burden, already hanging over his head.”

Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

“Why do I still suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased - The grand reason why the Jews were so offended at his preaching Christ crucified, and so bitterly persecuted him for it, was, that it implied the abolition of the law.”

For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

“Ye have been called to liberty - From sin and misery, as well as from the ceremonial law. Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh - Take not occasion from hence to gratify corrupt nature.”