There is no duty which believers do more willingly hear, or more difficultly observe, than the duty of spiritually rejoicing: had our apostle called upon the blessed angels to rejoice, who have neither sin, nor sorrow, nor fear, nor sufferings, nor enemies to annoy them, that might have seemed agree... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The cautionary directions given the Philippians to beware of false teachers, who adulterated and corrupted the doctrine of Christ, by joining the works and observances of the law with the doctrine of the gospel, in point of justification, making them at least the partial ground of t... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, we Christians are alone the true and spiritual circumcision, and accounted circumcised by God, because we have that which the outward circumcision signified, namely, the circumcision of the heart, and the mortification of all carnal lusts and desires; we have the substance of that ordinance... [ Continue Reading ]
As if our apostle had said, "Let no man think that. undervalue the Jewish privileges, because. want them; show me ever. judaizing teacher of them all that can pretend to more, or so many of them, as myself; so that, were this. ground of confidence,. can vie with any one of them in carnal privileges,... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, the fore-mentioned privileges, which heretofore he accounted gain, and thought to gain justification and salvation by, now, since his illumination, he counted them all LOSS; he saw he had lost his soul for ever, had he trusted to these; but Christ being made known to him as the only way to... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The subject matter of St. Paul's desire was to be found IN CHRIST. Beza, upon the place, brings in the justice of God pursuing Paul as. malefactor; and CHRIST, as. city of refuge which he desires to flee into and be found in. By being found IN CHRIST, then, understand ingrafting and... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle had, in the foregoing verse, expressed his earnest desire to be found in Christ, with respect to his justification; in this verse, with respect to his sanctification, he desires to KNOW CHRIST, as the Messiah and Mediator, that he might experience THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, raising h... [ Continue Reading ]
By THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, here, is not to be understood the general resurrection, for all men shall attain to that, whether they strive for it or no; but he intends that complete holiness, and absolute perfection in grace, which shall attend the state of the resurrection; so he explains it hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here compares himself to. person running in. race; the prize which he did contend and run for, was, perfection in grace. The highest degree of which, in this life, consists in. desire and endeavour to obtain the largest measures and fullest degrees of holiness, that are here attainable:... [ Continue Reading ]
LET AS MANY AS BE PERFECT, that is, grown Christians, instructed thoroughly in their Christian duty, who, compared with others, may be called PERFECT, BE THUS MINDED, as. am, namely, to believe the circumcision of the flesh abolished, and that no confidence is to be placed in any righteousness of ou... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle proposes his own example to their imitation: FOLLOW ME, who have renounced all my Jewish privileges, all confidence in any thing of my own; and mark them for your patterns, who walk so as to have us for an example. O! how happy is it when the ministers of Christ go before their peo... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "As you love your souls, follow not those false teachers afore described, for they are citizens of the world: but imitate and follow us, who are citizens of heaven, where our head is, where our heart is, where our happiness is. It is true we live here below, but we belong... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. All the faithful, who have their conversation in heaven, do expect and look for Christ coming from thence, not as. terrible judge, but as. gracious and powerful Saviour. Observe, 2. What they do expect at the coming of this Saviour, namely, the changing OF THEIR VILE BODY, THAT IT... [ Continue Reading ]